100w in Hella or ZKW headlamps?

[bovilexic]

Just recently acquired an e36 318ti, and of course one of the first things I need to upgrade are the U.S.-spec headlights...

I'm going with either euro-spec Hella or ZKW. Both spec out 55w h1's or h7's.

On my e28, I replaced the headlights with euro-spec Hellas and run 100w highs and h4s, and I just love the way they light up the road at night without blinding oncoming drivers.

So, from my point of view, a 55w high-beam seems pretty weak, even with the better euro cutoff...

I've contacted several suppliers of each about whether 100w highs would cause heat problems, and I'm getting mixed replies: "no problem", "dunno", or "don't do it". Does anyone out there have any real-world experience with 100w highs in a Hella or ZKW?

(Yeah - I know some wiring/relay/fuse upgrade would need to be done, as well..just wondering about heat issues in the headlamp itself... :-)

Thanks!

[J!m]

You will only get so much brighter, as the wiring resistance become equal to the filiment resistance.

Bigger wire, bigger fuse (and maybe) bigger relay, but probably not.

55w @ 12V = ~4.6A

100w @ 12V = ~8.3A

that looks like a 55% increase in amperage; therefore if the wiring is rated for 5 amps, as the fuse is, then you will not get a lot brighter with a "brighter" bulb. If the wiring is rated for 10 amps, then all you need to do in increase the fuse value to 8.5 amps; however I don't think those are very common at all, so you might be stuck with a 10 amp fuse. This high-power fuse leave little safety margin...

Better to search for a "headlight brightener" kit, which takes heavy-gage wire right from the battery through relays controlled by the existing headlight wiring. THAT works- even with stock bulbs, you can clearly see the difference...

[bovilexic]

Since I'd have to upgrade the wiring to support 100w, I might as well start with that upgrade right off, and then see if I still felt I needed more bulb...thanks!

[Jean H.318TI]

what about hids 55w?

[yoda]

Originally Posted by Jean H.318TI

what about hids 55w?

55w HID's are not recommended for FOG Lights, because of how small the housing is against the amount of heat the 55w HID generates. Besides, you can do 35w HID's on your FOGS and they'll be bright as hell.

I did 55w HID's on my headlights and I think they are too bright, If I were to do it again I would go 35w. Besides, if you want to get a whiter/brighter light from the fogs you can always upgrade the H1 bulbs with Hyper White lights... unless they are as much as the 35w HID's, then I would go for the HID's...