over wattage bulbs ? - Page 2 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Joe Blowe · #16 08-25-2002, 04:58 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by The Bob

I have a night blindness and generally crappy vision. That is the primary reason why I started driving diesels in the first place. As a teenager I thought that it would be wreckless for me to speed around in a fast car so I decided that diesel powered vehicles would fit my driving style as well as my thrify finances. I still enjoy my slow pace in my heavy diesel. I just wish it had better lights.

I guess what I am saying is that if anyone could benifit from this upgrade it would be me.

Thanks again

i sincerely don't mean for this thread to take an ugly turn, but what are you doing driving at night? what about our safety?

#17 08-25-2002, 10:57 PM

Hey folks,

Dont mean to scare anyone. My vision is adaquate. Medically speaking, I wear corrective lenses and have 20/25 vision with contact lenses. Which is not so bad. It is common for people whom are as nearsighted as I am to have some difficulty seeing at night. My prescription strength is -10.0 diapter. For folks who dont wear glasses I got those Coke bottle type. I see alot better with contact lenses so I assure you that we are safe with me driving. I have other vehicles that I have no problem with at all. My assumetion is that the round shape of the sealed beam is inefficient at projecting light to the road.

I am sure the that term night blindness implies blindness to those whom do not first hand know the condition, and because of that implied meaning I should not have used it. It does not mean blindness in darkness. It refers to the phenomenon of adaptation to ambient light levels. People who have moderate nearsidedness have trouble with this function of vision. Simply stated it takes them longer to adjust to dark enviroments. Also, moderately nearsighted people also have trouble with peripheral vision.

Now, that all being said I do take my visual health seriously and have yearly exams. I fully understand my limitations and behave accordingly. I do not have Ted William's vision but I do employ a low risk driving philosophy and have for the past 16 years. Furthermore, In my own humble opinion, driving is by far the most risky and potentionally dangerous acivity that anyone undertakes. I know that I have respect for others safety in mind when I drive every time I drive and as I get older it just makes more and more sense to me.

Thank you for all your comments and help

bob c

JCE · #18 08-25-2002, 11:51 PM

Hi Bob:

I upgraded to the Euro lights from the standard US headlights, and kept the same wattage bulbs. The changed reflector design in the Euros easily put 3x the light on the road, without causing problems for other drivers (the light pattern actually is identical on low beam to the US pattern on my 1998 C230! The US finally caught up to Europe 10 years later!!!)

After I had the Euros for about a year, I bought some '+50' Philips bulbs from www.Powerbulbs.com . These are the same bulb at the same wattage as the stock bulbs, but are refocused to cut scatter and glare, and re-direct it into the regular beam pattern. They added even more to the Euro lights. Never had a car flash their beams at me with these bulbs on low beam, and they are the same wattage as stock, so no wiring problems.

The Euros are worth every penny of the price, IMHO.