308GT4 Headlight upgrade | FerrariChat
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308GT4 Headlight upgrade

Discussion in '308/328' started by GavC, Oct 27, 2015.

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  1. GavC

    GavC Formula Junior

    May 9, 2004
    492
    Lincolnshire, Englan
    Full Name:
    Gavin Culshaw
    #1 GavC, Oct 27, 2015
    I am looking to upgrade my headlights. Have any of you guys have done this and with what replacements. It's mainly the low beam Carrello units as the beam pattern is poor. Happy with high beam units I have looked on Superformance site, they list a 5" replacement but I an sure they are 5 1/2" and I feel @ £60 each they are rather expensive, many 5 3/4" units are half that. looking for some help.
    Car UK Spec RHD. not seal unit. running H1 halogen bulbs standard watt 55.
    Thanks Gav
     
  2. Ehamilton

    Ehamilton F1 Rookie
    Rossa Subscribed

    Jun 13, 2010
    2,644
    Durham, NC; USA
    Full Name:
    Eric Hamilton
    #2 Ehamilton, Oct 27, 2015
    Have you installed relays to switch the headlight power supply? That's necessary to get full value from any headlight upgrade... and may make the upgrade unnecessary.
     
  3. miketuason

    miketuason F1 World Champ
    Owner Silver Subscribed

    Feb 24, 2006
    15,812
    Cerritos, CA.
    Full Name:
    Mike
    #3 miketuason, Oct 27, 2015
    I converted mine to HID and I like it a lot.
     
  4. Jack-the-lad

    Jack-the-lad Seven Time F1 World Champ
    Owner Silver Subscribed

    Jun 22, 2004
    78,256
    Danger Close at Moot Pointe, Gulf of America
    #4 Jack-the-lad, Oct 27, 2015
    Are US and Euro headlight housings identical? If so you might want to try the Cibie H4s.
     
  5. GavC

    GavC Formula Junior

    May 9, 2004
    492
    Lincolnshire, Englan
    Full Name:
    Gavin Culshaw
    #5 GavC, Oct 27, 2015
    Can't us US or Euro as beam patern is different and without some black tap on headlight it's an Annual MOT failure. It's not a relay problem I just think the original units are very poor on a reflective output. HID in Uk needs to have headlight wash system or will fail MOT.
     
  6. Jack-the-lad

    Jack-the-lad Seven Time F1 World Champ
    Owner Silver Subscribed

    Jun 22, 2004
    78,256
    Danger Close at Moot Pointe, Gulf of America
    #6 Jack-the-lad, Oct 27, 2015
    I realize that, I'm just wondering if Euro and US GT4 headlight housings will accept all 5-3/4" lights, H1, H4 or sealed beam.
     
  7. francisn

    francisn Formula 3

    Apr 18, 2004
    2,015
    Berks, UK
    Full Name:
    francis newman
    #7 francisn, Oct 27, 2015
    I converted mine to run direct from the battery, with relays in a box by the battery triggered by the original switching.

    I installed 2 new Cibie 5 3/4 inch dipping lights for the outers as the ones in place were non dipping, and replaced all bulbs with Phillips Xtreme Vision H4.

    My lights are now incredibly bright.
     
  8. GavC

    GavC Formula Junior

    May 9, 2004
    492
    Lincolnshire, Englan
    Full Name:
    Gavin Culshaw
    #8 GavC, Oct 28, 2015
    Thanks Francis, I had been talking with Mark @ Petronix about the ignition problem which is now sorted and mentioned Headlights and was going to give you a shout as I knew you had done yours with the headlights. Did the standard Cibie 5 7.5 inch ones fit straight in to replace the carrello units and I presume that you have converted these to H4 bulbs from H1, as all mine are H1 bulbs and I do have no flash, though the driving lights do flash?? looks like i am doing this upgrade next.
     
  9. PDB

    PDB Formula Junior

    Feb 1, 2011
    602
    Leicestershire, UK
    Full Name:
    Paul
    #9 PDB, Oct 28, 2015
    Hi Francis,

    Am I missing something? Why didn't you simply replace with the corresponding Cibie H1 headlight units with the upgraded H1 bulbs? That wouldn't have required any wiring changes.

    Paul
     
  10. francisn

    francisn Formula 3

    Apr 18, 2004
    2,015
    Berks, UK
    Full Name:
    francis newman
    #10 francisn, Oct 28, 2015
    Because with the old wiring I was only getting about 9 volts at the lamps.
     
  11. francisn

    francisn Formula 3

    Apr 18, 2004
    2,015
    Berks, UK
    Full Name:
    francis newman
    #11 francisn, Oct 28, 2015
    Yes - the Cibies were a direct replacement. As far as I recall (a lot of the work was done by a friend though I held the tools for him) the H4s were a straight fit. I don't have any flash. Something I still have to sort. Still unsure as to what exactly is meant to flash.
     
  12. PDB

    PDB Formula Junior

    Feb 1, 2011
    602
    Leicestershire, UK
    Full Name:
    Paul
    #12 PDB, Oct 28, 2015
    I have the same question. :)
    If I have the headlights on dip and then pull the headlight stalk towards me, the main beam lights will flash. But they're the only ones that do and only with the lights on dip.
    My front "fog" lights don't work at all at the moment.
    Should the fog lights flash?
    My headlights aren't actually too bad on dip and they're surprisingly good on main beam.

    Paul
     
  13. Patrick Dixon

    Patrick Dixon Formula 3

    Mar 27, 2012
    1,131
    UK
    #13 Patrick Dixon, Oct 29, 2015
    AFAIK the UK Importer (Maranello Concessionaires) modified 308s to flash the front fog lights rather than the main or dip.

    My car isn't here ATM so I can't tell you what it does, but I don't go round flashing the lights much anyway.
     
  14. PDB

    PDB Formula Junior

    Feb 1, 2011
    602
    Leicestershire, UK
    Full Name:
    Paul
    #14 PDB, Oct 29, 2015
    Hi Patrick,

    That would make more sense, but as my fog lights don't currently work at all, I don't know if that's the case or not with mine, which is a '74 Series 1.
    The previous owner replaced the fuse panels and none of the positions now seem to match those in the Owner's Handbook. :(
    There are extra wires in there and others, like the heated rear window, have been disconnected for some reason.
    On the plus side, I discovered that the steering wheel position can be adjusted and I can now get my knees under it rather than having to splay then either side. :)

    Paul
     
  15. Jack-the-lad

    Jack-the-lad Seven Time F1 World Champ
    Owner Silver Subscribed

    Jun 22, 2004
    78,256
    Danger Close at Moot Pointe, Gulf of America
    #15 Jack-the-lad, Nov 23, 2015
    Can someone tell us if European and U.S. GT4s have identical headlight mountings? I have a chance to get a set of H1 Carellos (Euro) but I'd like to make sure the headlight nacelles in my US market car will accept them

    Thanks.
     

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