Hi guys and gals, I have a 1980 244 GL in great condition with a really healthy B23E. Everything works perfectly all bar the headlights, these stink! I have to drive with the high beam on to see the road. I just replaced the bulbs with some new bulbs which claim to be 50% brighter but no difference (marketing hype I expect). How can I impreove the performance of the lights? I have read that re-wiring may be the answer? I am reasonably handy with the DIY stuff but was really hoping for a simple fix like a better relay or something would do the trick? Mind you I don't know where the headlight relay lives so some pointers on that wopuld also be appreciated. I am a bit of a dumb a&^e so what would the simpliest fix for this issue be? Any help would be greatly appreciated as I am thinking of holding a flash light out the window next!

FWIW, my 1989 740 was terrible with normal (local Austa brand) H4 bulbs. I switched to Philips +50% bulbs and the improvement has been breathtaking, even without doing any maintenance to the grounds.

I then used Narva branded +50% rated H1 bulbs on my 850. I am less than impressed with these Narvas I must say. It's brighter but not THAT much brighter I don't think.

Cheers mate. I am now starting to wonder if I am going to have a collection of globes.....? I bought the new ones this morning from the loocal Repco store and although they are not Phillips (I would have purchased Phillips if they had any) they are a Halogen 50+ globe made apparantly. They look like just another globe and cost me $30 so I am really hoping not to have to spend more on globes as collecting these suckers is not a hobby I was planning on. The old globes were a miss match of Osram and Weurth globes. Maybe I'll look for some Phillips ones but this is starting to get expensive....... maybe I am just a tight a$%e!

Mate, you're not a tightass at all! I am with you here: What are we to do with our collection of many bulbs???? ;-)

Is the 1980 not a sealed beam system? if it is, clean the grounds for the lights (trace the wires from bulbs), (they are on the upper inner fenders on mine). Test the alternator output.

I think he's in Australia, (the B23E is a big hint, the user name is another) so his car has reverse pattern e-codes (suitable for RHD) Whatever type of lights are involved, the suggestion to make sure the ground connections are clean and tight is a good one. Another possibilty, as these are bulb type headlights (non-sealed) is that the reflectors are dull, tarnished or otherwise deteriorated. If that's the case, replacement is probably the only satisfactory answer, as cleaning the reflectors is just about impossible. (it is a very fragile surface coating)

OK, I've returned the El Cheapo ones I purchased from Supacheap Auto (amazing they let me) and I have bought these Philips X-Treme Power +80% off ebay. Should have them in a day or so and will report back on them. From what the internet is telling me they are a pretty good bulb. They would want to be as they were twice the price of the ones I returned $67 pair, ouch!

Thanks for your responses guys! I sure am Down Under in sunny Sydney! I've checked the earths and they are rock solid! One of the lenses internals has some slight surface rust but not on the reflective surface, mor on the front face as it comes out of the "dish". I have heard that it helps if you re-wire from the bulbs back to the relay as the factory wiring is a little dicky but to be honest the wiring looks in great condition and a decent enough size. Perhaps it needs to be a bigger cable to reduce the voltage drop? This sounds like a pin in the a&^e job thou..... I've taken the acrylic protectors off and cleaned them as well as the glass, not real dirty but trying everything. Is it possible that the relay could be getting some build-up and replacing would help or am a clutching at straws for a plug-and-play fix?

Here is a test that should work, to see if you are indeed losing voltage due to inadequate wiring:

Install two identical bulbs, turn the headlights on and observe the brightness. Both sides should be equal. (if not, you have another problem somewhere) Turn the lights off, disconnect ONE bulb, then use jumper leads to connect it directly to the battery. Turn the lights back on and see if there is any difference in brightness. Make sure you are comparing EITHER both high beam filaments or both low beam filaments, not one of one and one of the other. If the jumpered bulb is brighter, a wiring upgrade might be in order, if not, the wires are conducting sufficient current for the purpose. Of course, you will want to use jumper leads of a heavier gauge than the car wiring for it to be a valid test. Be careful not to short anything accidentally while connecting the leads, particularly at the terminals on the bulb.