How do you like your headlights?
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Junior User
Joined: Mar 2001
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How do you like your headlights?
We've never liked the headlights on our '03 F350. They're nice and bright, but the illumination seems to abruptly end on the road. We can see the road directly in front of us just fine, but there's practically no illumination on the surrounding area or further ahead. We've had the beams adjusted several times and they're exactly per factory spec. I'm guessing this is just a function of the design of the reflector and shield. Anyone else feel this way? Any clever headlight mods out there to improve this?
Tuned
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 284
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I've replaced my factory headlight and fog light bulbs with Silverstars bulbs and made a little bit of an improvement but I do wish they were aimed more out further as even with the high beams on they don't go very far out,, I plan on adding driving lights as I've done on past trucks and they seem to make a big difference but do make any oncoming traffic not happy with you but I can see the road, , I've used the Hella 550's in the past on several trucks and may do the same on my 04 but exploring my options right now,, I like the Piaa Pro 90xt's but been told that there almost to bright to use all the time, plus can't see spending $400 on driving lights,, I haven't heard of any mods.. just my $ .02
Elder User
Joined: Nov 2001
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From: S.W. Oregon
I did replace the factory bulbs with brighter ones shortly after the truck was new. Don't remember which ones I used, but got the middle brightness of the the three they offered. The brightest were a real blue color, which I don't like. Bought them at Schucks. Noticeable, but not great improvement.
Tuned
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 284
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Originally Posted by iskybantilus
are you sure your headlights are aimed properly? maybe i just have good night vision, i am very satisfied with my 04's headlights since i put the silverstars in.
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Junior User
Joined: Mar 2001
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Thanks for the response guys. The problem isn't brightness, the factory bulbs are plenty bright enough in my opinion. The problem is the reflector/shield design, which creates an abrupt end of illumination (the part that is illuminated is plenty bright). I may try to carve a little on the bulb shields to see if that helps ... after I determine how much new shields would cost! I can't think of anything I could do to the reflector, and I'm guessing there aren't any aftermarket reflectors out there for these trucks.
Tuned
Joined: Mar 2004
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Logistics Pro
Joined: Mar 2004
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There's a tech article here on FTE called Whiter Whites, Brighter Brights, by Steve Delanty. It is a little rewiring mod you do to your headlights so they get power directly from the battery, I believe. Everyone who's done it says it's made their lights MUCH brighter. I know you said your issue is where the light is projected, but perhaps if the light is brighter it could help compensate for that. Just a though... Here's the article:
https://www.ford-trucks.com/articles...er_lights.html
https://www.ford-trucks.com/articles...er_lights.html
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Senior User
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 108
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From: Spokane WA.
Your definitly not alone on this one. I only have 1100 miles on my 04, and got my first night time use the other night. The headlights definitly need some attention. I agree with you, they seem to be bright enough, they just don't shine down the road.
It will be interesting to see what kind of fix you all come up with.
It will be interesting to see what kind of fix you all come up with.
Senior User
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 410
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i like my aftermarket euro headlights.
http://[img]http://www.harris-supply....jpg[/img]
http://[img]http://www.harris-supply....jpg[/img]
Last edited by southernfordman; Aug 27, 2004 at 03:24 PM.
Post Fiend
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 21,285
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From: Nutter Fort, WV
Wow and I put aftermarket lights in my 86 to get that sharp light cut off pattern on the low beams.
But then I have west coast mirrors on my truck, and there is little that ****es me of more than some guy on my back bumper with his driving lights lighting up the trees in front of me.
Sure he can see good, but I can not see anything.
But then I have west coast mirrors on my truck, and there is little that ****es me of more than some guy on my back bumper with his driving lights lighting up the trees in front of me.
Sure he can see good, but I can not see anything.
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 247
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From: Helmville MT
I guess I am spoiled by the Euro lights on my 91 Audi. Very bright, very sharp cutoff with a flare to the right so you can see the road signs and so as not to blind oncoming traffic. I'm running 80/100 bulbs and I never get "flashed". High beams will illuminate 8 reflectors at a time that are 500 feet apart. Currently, I have the passenger side head light out on the Audi and I still prefer to drive that at night over the 2000 F350!
The next $650 I spend will be for a 4 in. stainless exhaust - after that, the headlights are going to be replaced. I figure spending the money on better headlights is better than spending it on a deer guard. I'd rather see 'em than knock 'em out of the way.
mike in montana
The next $650 I spend will be for a 4 in. stainless exhaust - after that, the headlights are going to be replaced. I figure spending the money on better headlights is better than spending it on a deer guard. I'd rather see 'em than knock 'em out of the way.
mike in montana
New User
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 19
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From: Katy, TX outside Houston
Hey 66CoupeNW, my 2001 lights don't cut off. They illuminate everything. I will give you $100 and you can have my lights for yours. I'm kidding, I am sure you don't want that. I really want to change mine to the newer ones because they look so good. I don't care how they illuminate. They look so much better!
Post Fiend
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 5,330
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From: Dryden, ON, Canada
I hate them!
I just picked up all the parts to convert my 00 to the XL sealed beams so I can put in Bosch european spec reflectors and 50/100W H4 bulbs like I have in my 86 F250.
This is a halogen sealed beam(approx. the same light pattern as the composites in my 00) on the drivers side, and the Bosch reflector with a 50/65W bulb(I didn't find the 50/100's for a while...) on the pass side. Both on relays and 8 guage wire, low beam.
For what it's worth, stock wiring on the drivers side, still with the sealed beam:
http://www.bigblocksix.com/f100swb/f...ckdrivers2.jpg
I can see just as much with my low beams on that truck as I can with the high beams on my SD, and it doesn't blind anybody(my 50W lows are the same brightness as any standard bulb...) Lets just say you don't wanna have me forget to dim them if you meet me when I have all 300W(it's wired so the lows stay on with the highs) on though
I just picked up all the parts to convert my 00 to the XL sealed beams so I can put in Bosch european spec reflectors and 50/100W H4 bulbs like I have in my 86 F250.
This is a halogen sealed beam(approx. the same light pattern as the composites in my 00) on the drivers side, and the Bosch reflector with a 50/65W bulb(I didn't find the 50/100's for a while...) on the pass side. Both on relays and 8 guage wire, low beam.
For what it's worth, stock wiring on the drivers side, still with the sealed beam:
http://www.bigblocksix.com/f100swb/f...ckdrivers2.jpg
I can see just as much with my low beams on that truck as I can with the high beams on my SD, and it doesn't blind anybody(my 50W lows are the same brightness as any standard bulb...) Lets just say you don't wanna have me forget to dim them if you meet me when I have all 300W(it's wired so the lows stay on with the highs) on though