To upgrade the stock 355 lighting, I am looking at http://www.hids4u.co.uk/store/product.php?productid=47&cat=13&page=1 1. Is the wattage on the F355 55W? Just want to be sure I don't fry anything. 2. Any experience on the above kit? Alex
There is no "power supply" on the 355 it is simply a halogen bulb, probably around 35w. So you will be drawing more current than the factory wiring and switch are designed to handle. Seriously, if you do not understand these things, you should not be messing with the electrical system on your car. I would leave it alone. Most aftermarket HID kits end up blinding on coming drivers as the bulbs are not correctly centered in the reflector/lens. This problem means the light does not end up on the road either. I believe some folks have sucessfully done this, best to search the archives for their posts.
If you want more light for less money (about $25 per bulb), just swap out your OEM bulbs with HIR. Multiple 348 and 355 owners listed their photometer tests in the HIR thread linked in my signature below:
Only took a short search, the HIDs4u kits have been used before. I remember one guy who had a yellow modded 355 who also did the xenon conversion. There is also a hid4u 355 conversion in one of the links bellow. http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=160825&highlight=hid http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=158959&highlight=hid http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=137235&highlight=ballast
Thanks. However only US and Canadian 355s can use HIRs as they use 9006 / 9005. The rest of the world run H1 bulbs.
be aware that those kits are not road legal in the UK. However, I know of a couple of people who have installed them without any problems.
The dipped, main and for light beams are 55W on the Mondial t. I think on the 355/348, the dipped/main are and the fogs are a little lower. I changed my dipped beams to HID and found the ballast (not power supply) to draw about 15 watts on each side. This is normal of HID, it draws a very low current, then generates a very high voltage to light up the bulb (same concept as strobes, stun guns etc). I had to cut about the back of the head light unit to do this. My suggestion is you take off the Ferrari badged headlight lens housings and put them somewhere safe (they do cost over 350 pounds each), buy the exact same non badged HELLA headlight used by many buses and garbage trucks in the UK for GBP 70 a pair new (no cavallino on them though) hack away and don't worry about stone chips ;-) - that way you can revert to stock if you ever need to sell etc. The Hella part number is 1LL 005 600-337 for left, and -338 for right... As the 255 uses a standard Hella focal headlight, you will find that aligning the units is very easy. You have the diagram on how to do it in the back of the user manual, and ll you need is a flat surface to park the car on, a wall to shine the lights on (park the car perpendicularly to the wall) and a measuring tape. Then follow the adjustment notes in the manual. The results for me, is a bright razor sharp white light pattern which increased th visibility VERY substantially. The only down side is looking like all those baseball cap wearing "modders" driving around with gold teeth and angel eyed cars. I can live with that given the better visibility. Marco
None, Just need to make sure the headlights are adjusted to the spec in the manual. These are focused headlights, therefore the precision beam remains the same. These do not dazzle any more than the modern Xenon gas / HIDs in Posche etc. do. A bit brighter but workable. Marco
I wondered if this Hella 1LL 005 600-337 and -338 is only for the UK RHD cars ? I need these headlights for a LHD car. Here are some places where I have googled them, do you guy's have other sources ? http://www.kauflux.de/hella-hauptscheinwerfer-det_7357832.htm http://www.wir-lieben-preise.de/products.php/53130_1_84_Hauptscheinwerfer_teilesuche24.html Also if some of you guy's could get the " E " numbers that are written on the light that would help ! Because my source for aftermarket parts is not getting any further with this number : 1LL 005 600-337 and -338 Looks expensive !!! Thanks
Just had a phone call with my parts supplier, the 1LL means that it is protected and can only be sold by the patent holder. At Hella they refuse to say who the patent holder is .... If we know this we can order our Headlights at for example a bus builder or garbage truck builder ... If someone can help let us know !!! Thanks
This guy can get them from the UK bus Depot supplier. Sometimes you can get him to order them and send them to you for a margin, but suggest it to him without forcing him. If he gets nailed he'll get fired. Tell him you were referred by a guy who once dropped by in a Ferrari - he'll remember me! and suggest to him, you'd be happy to pay him for his services, or if he can't then ask him to refer you to their supplier. His name is Paul and the cell phone number is intl. +44 793 967 7101. He is in the UK (GMT) so be sensitive to his timezone. The guy does not earn much as a bus repairman and has a nose for some extra income, but don't scare him off. The bus depot reference numbers are: Right unit - Hella ref. 1LL 005 600 - 347, internal depot number 005980A Left unit - Hella ref. 1LL 005 600 - 337, internal depot number 005981A You can also get a hold of Scuderia Sales and Spares (look their ebay shop up for email contacts) as I have told them of this and I believe they managed to get a line on some stock, but be sure they will put on a bigger margin than Paul. On the other hand, they will have them on the ready and able to ship immediately. Eurospares and the rest of them will overprice you chronically! Remember, these will not have the prancing horse on them, but have a small logo looking like a seagull emblem similar to an "m" Marco
