Apologies I don’t have any photos of my issue, but I’ve just bought my son a 2016 ST line and tonight was my first night drive, I noticed that on dipped beam there are quite a lot of shadows and distinct shapes on the road ahead being cast by the headlights, this may sound completely stupid but I just wanted to check if this was normal for this type of headlight and if there are any simple checks I can do on the beam pattern or the alignment 

Hi Rob,

Couple of quick thoughts but no doubt others will have more sensible things to say...

A photo would help if possible  - could you add one?

Also, don't mean to patronise but have you checked the headlamp levelling was set at 0 if car is unladen? 

Otherwise I'd guess that any MoT test centre could check the beam pattern for you 'cos it has to be within certain parameters to pass, to my knowledge. 

🤓

Thanks,the level was at zero, I’ll try and get some pics and some point tomorrow, it’s more the shadows and patterns to be honest 

Shadows and patterns are typical of a headlight housing which has the wrong type of bulb - for instance an LED bulb in a headlight/reflector that is designed for a halogen.

What kind of headlight does it have?

9 hours ago, orangecurry said:

Shadows and patterns are typical of a headlight housing which has the wrong type of bulb - for instance an LED bulb in a headlight/reflector that is designed for a halogen.

What kind of headlight does it have?

Hi, it’s the projector style with the LED DRL, I’ve actually ordered some replacement bulbs to try and been looking how to remove the unit on YouTube 

So it's a halogen headlight/housing (projector type) with separate LED DRLs?  Perhaps a previous owner has stuck cheap LED bulbs in the halogen housing?

2 hours ago, orangecurry said:

So it's a halogen headlight/housing (projector type) with separate LED DRLs?  Perhaps a previous owner has stuck cheap LED bulbs in the halogen housing?

I managed to check the bulb without removing the headline unit on the drivers side as it was that side that looked the most strange, it didn’t feel to me that it was seated very well so I removed the headlight, fitted a spare H7 I had and let’s see what tonight brings.  I thought the bulb set are by twisting it but looked to be just held in with some spring clips, hope that’s correct 

16 minutes ago, Robstokie1974 said:

...  I thought the bulb set are by twisting it but looked to be just held in with some spring clips, hope that’s correct 

...Yep, that's the way H7 bulbs are held in. They are also 'slotted' on the base so you can't get the orientation wrong.

1 hour ago, StephenFord said:

...Yep, that's the way H7 bulbs are held in. They are also 'slotted' on the base so you can't get the orientation wrong.

Thanks, i guess I’ll see later, I’ve also ordered some brighter Osrams 

3 hours ago, StephenFord said:

They are also 'slotted' on the base so you can't get the orientation wrong.

Are you a betting Man ? 🤣🤣

17 minutes ago, unofix said:

Are you a betting Man ? 🤣🤣

mmm... dam you and your good memory 😂

I’m pleased to report that refitting the bulb seems to have done the trick, but wow, how rubbish is the light output, some Osram upgrades on order, thanks all for the replies

13 minutes ago, Robstokie1974 said:

... some Osram upgrades on order...

Don't get your hopes up too high. Yes the Osram packaging is excellent showing 100% brighter image than standard, that cartoon car is very impressive. At the end of the day, it's still a halogen bulb which has been around since the 1960s...

6 minutes ago, StephenFord said:

Don't get your hopes up too high. Yes the Osram packaging is excellent showing 100% brighter image than standard, that cartoon car is very impressive. At the end of the day, it's still a halogen bulb which has been around since the 1960s...

Just ordered some Philips 200 as well, good job it’s Black Friday 😂

Is there an easy to fit LED option?

7 minutes ago, Robstokie1974 said:

Just ordered some Philips 200 as well, good job it’s Black Friday 😂

Just keep your sensible head on, halogen bulbs get 100% brighter every 6 months, in the same way that soap powder washes whiter every 6 months

2 minutes ago, Robstokie1974 said:

Is there an easy to fit LED option?

Yes - but it's illegal...

 

29 minutes ago, StephenFord said:

Just keep your sensible head on, halogen bulbs get 100% brighter every 6 months, in the same way that soap powder washes whiter every 6 months

Yeah, I’ll stop now, just want anything better than stock

 

6 hours ago, StephenFord said:

...Yep, that's the way H7 bulbs are held in. They are also 'slotted' on the base so you can't get the orientation wrong.

I just got concerned as most of the guides show a different bulb holder that seems to lock better in place than just pushing in to clips