Omega Owners Forum

Omega Help Area => Omega General Help => Topic started by: warnysouth on 27 November 2008, 10:55:48

Title: Headlight Confusion
Post by: warnysouth on 27 November 2008, 10:55:48
Hi all,

I've just got hold of an 'M-reg' 94/95 Omega Elite. Its fine, apart from the headlights are so bad they are nearly dangerous.

Having read many of the threads on this forum (and others), I am still slightly confused. The car is only worth about £250 so I really dont want to have to spend much money (certainly no more than £100) to improve them.  I know the lights have a switch inside to move them up and down, and I think they have washers. I have the self levelling suspension.

Now, the way I understand it, I have several options

1) Upgrade bulbls - cheap, but probably still rubbish
2) Install aftermarket HIDS - I've done this on my other vehicle for the grand sum of £70 (with ballast and all) and they are fantastic, but people are talking about £200 for HID kits for the Omega - is this right?
3) Replace headlamps with later (CDX?) projection units

My questions is, therefore, how good are the CDX units, and how much should I expect to pay for a secondhand set, and, has anyone got any?!

Any help is much apprecaited!

Many Thanks,

Scott
Title: Re: Headlight Confusion
Post by: markey mark on 27 November 2008, 10:58:21
as you have an elite get a set of hid xenon headlamp units from later model elite say 98 onwards makes a massive difference  :y
Title: Re: Headlight Confusion
Post by: warnysouth on 27 November 2008, 11:15:03
Thanks Mark, but where can I get some, and how much should I expect to pay?

Scott
Title: Re: Headlight Confusion
Post by: markey mark on 27 November 2008, 11:25:57
i havnt got any at min ! mabye chris (mutantcav) has some around £100/120 inc delivery is the going rate but that includes everything bud ! :y :y
Title: Re: Headlight Confusion
Post by: MutantCav on 27 November 2008, 11:29:59
Agreed going rate for genuine second hand ones about £100 plus postage (approx 15-20)...I had 5 sets, sold 2, 2 were broke and sold ballast packs...not 100% sure if I have any left or not, depends what the last set is like...as said on an elite, nothing needed beause of self levelling rear suspension other than some minor rewiring...

Alternatively the projetor headlights from later 98 on models have clear glass and are better, but HID's are distintly MUCH better  :y
Title: Re: Headlight Confusion
Post by: warnysouth on 27 November 2008, 11:38:06
So the ones you sold were HID ones?
Title: Re: Headlight Confusion
Post by: warnysouth on 27 November 2008, 11:47:23
PS are the 94/95 Omega lamps H1 fitment?

Scott
Title: Re: Headlight Confusion
Post by: markey mark on 27 November 2008, 11:56:51
Quote
PS are the 94/95 Omega lamps H1 fitment?

Scott

yes h1 all round on early models  :y
i might have a set of projectors for sale very soon minters as well then you could get one of the hid kits from ebay ! :y
Title: Re: Headlight Confusion
Post by: warnysouth on 27 November 2008, 12:00:09
Mark I'm confused, can I not fit the HID kits to my existing lamps?

So there are 3 types of Omega headlamps

Early rubbish ones (like mine)
Later HID ones (like the ones you sold 5 sets of)
Even later projector ones (CDX one).

That right?
Title: Re: Headlight Confusion
Post by: markey mark on 27 November 2008, 12:13:30
Quote
Mark I'm confused, can I not fit the HID kits to my existing lamps?

So there are 3 types of Omega headlamps

Early rubbish ones (like mine)
Later HID ones (like the ones you sold 5 sets of)
Even later projector ones (CDX one).

That right?

yes you can but being the ribbed style a bit of a waste
from 98ish onwards the omega had projector stlye lamps much better than the early ones but still not great ! 98ish onwards the elite and mv6 had hids fitted these are much better ! all 98 onwards omegas had the projectors apart from the elite and mv6 !  :y
Title: Re: Headlight Confusion
Post by: warnysouth on 27 November 2008, 12:34:10
Right,

So I could fit the HID kits from ebay like in this post:

Hi,
Had same problem. Fitted clear lens headlights - no good. Fitted brighter bulbs - no good. Bought an H.I.D. conversion kit for £60 + £10 postage (J.A.M. Performance) on ebay. Plug and play, no modifications needed, easy as you like, solves the problem. Bright blue/white  lights that make you actually see where you are going.
Fredsta

But because of the ribbed lens they will still be rubbish?

How much is a secondhand set of Elite HIDS (post 98) ones?

Cheers

Scott
Title: Re: Headlight Confusion
Post by: MutantCav on 27 November 2008, 12:42:01
As said, second hand set of elite HID's with ballast packs about £100 plus postage and yes they are the ones I have been selling recently...

You could fit the kits BUT they are illegal to fit to a non HID designed headlight...
Title: Re: Headlight Confusion
Post by: ngrainqey on 27 November 2008, 12:42:24
Quote
Right,

So I could fit the HID kits from ebay like in this post:

Hi,
Had same problem. Fitted clear lens headlights - no good. Fitted brighter bulbs - no good. Bought an H.I.D. conversion kit for £60 + £10 postage (J.A.M. Performance) on ebay. Plug and play, no modifications needed, easy as you like, solves the problem. Bright blue/white  lights that make you actually see where you are going.
Fredsta

But because of the ribbed lens they will still be rubbish?

How much is a secondhand set of Elite HIDS (post 98) ones?

Cheers

Scott

going rates about 100 pounds as either markey or mutantcav mentioned,
you might find an mv6 being broken for spares- i looked on ebay and there were alot of projectors but it's wether they're hids or not (they look the same but hids have the ballast pack on the bottom)
Title: Re: Headlight Confusion
Post by: warnysouth on 27 November 2008, 12:48:55
OK, thanks all, understood, I will look out for a set of factory HID lamps,

Thanks again,

Scott
Title: Re: Headlight Confusion
Post by: MutantCav on 27 November 2008, 13:01:21
I will check the ones I have left and see if they are any good...
Title: Re: Headlight Confusion
Post by: Humpy on 27 November 2008, 22:26:07
I bought a pair from Chris (MutantCav) and I'm thoroughly pleased with them! My '95 Elite started with the early lights which were next to useless, bought a pair of (clone) projectors which were better but the HID lights are the business :y

IMHO its the only way to go.

Humpy
Title: Re: Headlight Confusion
Post by: FREDSTA on 28 November 2008, 12:41:13
I bought some clear projector units on ebay for about 130 squids brand new (depo i think), I have recently seen the same ones for about 300 squids. Might be worth having a look for a while to see if they come up cheap again. :-/ :-/ :-/
Don't be put off by the value of the car - it's worth bugger all in a hedge on a dark night. 8-) 8-) 8-)

Fredsta
Title: Re: Headlight Confusion
Post by: MutantCav on 28 November 2008, 12:53:48
I have some of the clear projector ones here, but genuine Vaux, not copies...£120 delivered...
Title: Re: Headlight Confusion
Post by: ngrainqey on 28 November 2008, 12:58:59
Quote
I have some of the clear projector ones here, but genuine Vaux, not copies...£120 delivered...

if only they were hids...*rolls eyes*
Title: Re: Headlight Confusion
Post by: Humpy on 28 November 2008, 14:54:53
Fredsta,

Not that I want to rain on your bonfire but I had a pair of the Depo (?) lights and they're not that good :( I wasn't that impressed and wished I'd just bought a pair of secondhand genuine Vx units from someone on here. Just my pennyworth.

Humpy

PS Not wishing to rub salt in the wounds but I only paid £90 for the two brand new ::)