brighter lights?

[5-90]

I've seen the kit that converts the standard sealed beams on a xj to a "headlight shell" like newer vehicles have.This allows the use of halogen bulbs that plug into the light housing.
I think the shells were like $40.00....maybe on e-bay?Then again isn't everything?

Susquehanna Motorsports - www.rallylights.com. Hella E-code reflectors with stock-wattage bulbs will run you about $40 a copy - at least, they did when I got mine a few years back. They take a standard H4 bulb, available anywhere.

If you're going to go up with your wattage, you will want a replacement harness - the wiring is just enough for the stocker bulbs, and the headlamp switch will have trouble passing higher power. The replacement harness will allow the OEM switch to turn on a relay, which handles the power to your headlamps. Advantage? The relay is cheaper and easier to replace, and the wiring will be heavier. I haven't gotten mine finished yet, or I'd tell you to check my website (this past year has been Hell, and I'll be glad to see it done!)

You'll note an improvement whether you go with the Vision Plus (DoT-legal) or the E-Code sets, due to the fact that they're built better - by dint of not being "disposable parts." Mine have CRES bowls and cut glass lenses - they may not still be using CRES for the bowl, but they're still using a cut glass lense - rather than the moulded lense that you get with the sealed beam assemblies (which means you can get a better pattern, sharper cutoff, stronger beam collimation, ...)

Even without upgrading the bulbs, I think getting a set of H4 replacement housings is a good idea. However, do not bother with the "ebay" variants, unless they're a name brand like Hella, Cibie, or PIAA. (I happen to favour Hella.) The "no-name" crap just isn't worth the material used to make it, y'ask me.

Also, stick with "name brand" bulbs - I order Hella bulbs in batches (again, I happen to like them) from SMS - but you can use anything you like (PIAA, Cibie, Sylvania, GE, whatever.)

If you have trouble seeing in the rain, then a stronger headlamp isn't the answer you're looking for. Get a quality amber fog lamp instead - the amber colour helps to reduce "flare" from weather, and the "fog lamp" beam (do not get a driving light!) has a wider and lower dispersion pattern - which also reduces "flare" and increases both driver visibility and visibility of your vehicle...

5-90

 

[XgeekstarX]

silverstars all the way

 

[DenLip]

Susquehanna Motorsports - www.rallylights.com. Hella E-code reflectors with stock-wattage bulbs will run you about $40 a copy - at least, they did when I got mine a few years back. They take a standard H4 bulb, available anywhere.

You'll note an improvement whether you go with the Vision Plus (DoT-legal) or the E-Code sets, due to the fact that they're built better - by dint of not being "disposable parts." Mine have CRES bowls and cut glass lenses - they may not still be using CRES for the bowl, but they're still using a cut glass lense - rather than the moulded lense that you get with the sealed beam assemblies (which means you can get a better pattern, sharper cutoff, stronger beam collimation, ...)

If you have trouble seeing in the rain, then a stronger headlamp isn't the answer you're looking for. Get a quality amber fog lamp instead - the amber colour helps to reduce "flare" from weather, and the "fog lamp" beam (do not get a driving light!) has a wider and lower dispersion pattern - which also reduces "flare" and increases both driver visibility and visibility of your vehicle...

5-90

I have the Hella Vision Plus in my 2000... have for three years now. FAR better than stock... but perhaps not better than a good-quality aftermarket sealed-beam (aka, Silverstar).

The "better built, non-disposable" lens on one of mine took a rock hit after TWO MONTHS, and cracked right in half. It pissed me off doubly, because the cheesy factory lights had lasted four years...

I've also lost three turn signal lenses and a windshield... and the new windshield is pretty well pockmarked, like my paint. I will NOT go on a rant about PennDOT's winter "anti-skid material" applications....

Den