Need brighter lights

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outoforder
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Need brighter lights

Postby outoforder » Fri Jan 15, 2021 6:04 pm

Here’s my situation-bought my pathy new in 2005-love it, great car-I’m handing it down to my daughter as I have a new Titan. The problem is that the headlights are extremely dim. I was driving with her tonight on her learners permit and it’s really bad. I have replaced the bulbs within the past few years and cleaned the plastic headlight covers with the specific stuff made for that. What else can I do? Is there some type of light bar I can put on? I would not mind buying new headlight casings if that is what I need to do. I am going to try and keep this vehicle in my family until at least 200K (160 now). Thanks for any help!


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palmerwmd
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Re: Need brighter lights

Postby palmerwmd » Fri Jan 15, 2021 8:31 pm

This is what you want:
https://www.tirerack.com/lighting/detai ... odClar=4wd

These bulbs are noticeably brighter than Stock, yet are direct plug in and dont draw extra juice.
How do they do it?

Thinner filament which burns brighter with same current.

Sylvania offers a similar product but it does not last as long as this one.
Even this one will not last as long as a ""normal" bulb... but still reasonably long.

These bulbs on my Xterra are now 3 years old. (your milage may vary that is certainly an outlier for this class of bulb, others have reported 12-18 months. still thats plenty IMHO given how useful they are..)

I had them on my previous Pathfinder to good effect.
And am also about to put them into my new (to me) Pathfinder I just bought.

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palmerwmd
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Re: Need brighter lights

Postby palmerwmd » Fri Jan 15, 2021 8:43 pm

PS: Since your car is an SE I presume you also have foglights?
Another trick is to aim those a bit higher than spec (dont go crazy or u may blind oncoming traffic) and upgrade those bulbs as well with these:

https://www.tirerack.com/lighting/detai ... odClar=4wd

Previous owner has done this on my 2011 Xterra (which share a great many mechanical and electrical parts with our R51s) and the fogs now really do "help" the low beams quite a bit.
Will do same to my R51 shortly.

outoforder
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Location: Columbia, MD

Re: Need brighter lights

Postby outoforder » Sat Jan 16, 2021 7:16 am

Thank you. Yes I have fog lights on my SE. Neither of those links You posted are working-can you just tell me the name of the lights you are talking about?

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palmerwmd
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Re: Need brighter lights

Postby palmerwmd » Sat Jan 16, 2021 2:34 pm

You are right the links dont work.. hmm.. :oops:

Here is the info:
For your headlights:

-PHILIPS
9007/HB5 X-TREMEVISION BULBS

Manufacturer Part #:
9007XVB2

For your Foglights:

-PHILIPS
H11 X-TREMEVISION BULBS

Manufacturer Part #:
12362XVB2

Be sure to match the exact name and/or partnumbers.

Phillips has other products out as well, which do not give as much extra light as these, but focus quite a bit on the Xenon look.
Then here is also a "milder" upgrade available too.
Might as well go with the brightest, "X-tremevision" (not Ultravision)

Both are available and in stock at Tirerack.
I imagine Rockauto as well though I have not checked yet.

I do not buy at Amazon, as I fear they are becoming too much of a Monopoly and also don't like Oligarch Bezos.

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smj999smj
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Re: Need brighter lights

Postby smj999smj » Sat Jan 16, 2021 7:13 pm

The one question I would ask is what do the lenses look like? Are they clear like they should be or are they pitted and cloudy. If it's the latter, then it would be a good idea to replace the lamps. Yes, they can be restored, but they usually don't last as long afterwards before they start getting cloudy, again. I think last time I looked for lamps for my 06, Rockauto had them for around $70 each.

outoforder
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Location: Columbia, MD

Re: Need brighter lights

Postby outoforder » Sun Jan 17, 2021 7:12 am

Thanks guys. The lenses are cloudy so I am going to look into replacing them as well as using the stronger bulbs.

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smj999smj
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Re: Need brighter lights

Postby smj999smj » Sun Jan 17, 2021 10:37 am

That sounds like a good plan! Outside of spending a lot of money for HID conversions, that'll be your best option. Neither the R51 05-07 nor the 08-12 headlamps are very good and, at best, are "adequate." The stock lighting on my 03 Frontier lights the road so much better than my Pathfinder.

outoforder
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Re: Need brighter lights

Postby outoforder » Wed Jan 20, 2021 4:46 pm

0FCFFA35-F747-4B8B-A03E-E6253461B621.jpeg

outoforder
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Re: Need brighter lights

Postby outoforder » Wed Jan 20, 2021 4:49 pm

I used the meguiars heavy duty to clean the plastic and swapped out the bulbs...it HAS to be better than it was.

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palmerwmd
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Re: Need brighter lights

Postby palmerwmd » Thu Jan 21, 2021 6:45 pm

Good job on the polishing!
Did you put in the brighter Xtremevisions?

outoforder
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Re: Need brighter lights

Postby outoforder » Sun Jan 24, 2021 5:41 pm

Yes-but I haven’t driven it at night yet to see how bright they are!

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palmerwmd
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Re: Need brighter lights

Postby palmerwmd » Sun Jan 24, 2021 6:21 pm

outoforder wrote:
Sun Jan 24, 2021 5:41 pm
Yes-but I haven’t driven it at night yet to see how bright they are!
Great!

Drive it at night soon, while you still remember the light (or lack thereof) the old ones. :lol:

I just got a set of these Bulbs for my new ride also.
Haven't put them in yet (on the V8 models the battery is in the way for the right side especially and I am in a hotel with no tools)

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palmerwmd
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Re: Need brighter lights

Postby palmerwmd » Mon Jan 25, 2021 7:53 pm

Ok my own Phillip XtremeVisions are in the '08 now! :D
Can definitely tell a difference.

I admit for the foglights (H11 bulb) i enlisted the help of a shop that was installing a new windshield washer reservoir pump (turns out u need the entire assembly to include the reservoir).
I just couldnt get in there on the hotel parking lot otherwise.

PS: Seeing yours is an 05 and you haven't been on here all that much.... you did do either the bypass or a new radiator to prevent SMOD, yes? :idea:

outoforder
Posts: 51
Joined: Wed Feb 18, 2009 8:11 am
Location: Columbia, MD

Re: Need brighter lights

Postby outoforder » Thu Jan 28, 2021 8:26 am

PS: Seeing yours is an 05 and you haven't been on here all that much.... you did do either the bypass or a new radiator to prevent SMOD, yes? :idea:

Oh yeah, I did the bypass at 80K—-at 160K now. I wouldn’t say my pathy has been “trouble fee” -timing chain, valve covers, rusted out exhaust, but it’s still rolling and my goal is to keep it in the family to 200K. I submitted the claim for the timing chain lawsuit in December but still have not seen a check for that! If I get that check (which should be about $ 700), I’m going to put A remote start on my Titan!


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