The lamps in there are, I suspect, already the max at 21W. IIRC part of the problem may be that the newer models have a red "mask" over the reverse lamps. Have you checked both lamps are working and are the correct wattage?

 

I suspect you're right about the film. Trying to work out if it's cheaper to buy some spare bulb clusters, remove the red film and put the originals back on for sale, or risk removing one side of the car on the gates Not had a look at the bulbs, but I can't see them having been downgraded as the car came with 3 months use by Saab GB . Will have a look later if I can work out how to get into them (will RTFM).

 

Have you considered LED bulbs as favoured by the Corsa with huge speakers kiddies? Lots around if you Google or look in e**y. At least they give a bright white light and have a long life and I assume they are now legal as Audi/BMW seem to have them on new models. I am going to fit them to replace sidelight bulbs and get rid of that feeble yellow glow!

 

Have you considered LED bulbs[/b]

The LED bulbs will not be anywhere near as bright as 21W incandescent lamps. Also, as their light is fairly blue, this will be filtered out even more by the red mask than the yellowish light of tungsten.

 

An alternative solution might be to put reflective tape on the edge of the gates you want to miss - that will give you two bright "aiming marks" to go between. Another might be to mount a PIR security lamp so that it will iluminate the area as you back in to it.

 

Another might be to mount a PIR security lamp so that it will iluminate the area as you back in to it.[/b]

An old electrician friend of ours had mounted some low-power PIR-controlled lights facing towards his property, less than 30cm above the ground just inside the low wall facing the pavement. Very effective - especially on the footpath as it only lit up the path and not whoever was walking along the path.

Most people mount big security lights high up which completely floods the area with light (normally including the neighbours' properties and anybody who sets them off as they walk past on the pavement).

 

Most people mount big security lights high up which completely floods the area with light ..................[/b]

A great example locally is a house at a T-junction in an unlit country lane. Its driveway and garage are directly opposite the leg of the T, and as you approach up the leg, the floodlight over the garage door, which is aimed almost horizontally, comes on and blinds you so you can't see left or right before pulling out.

I have a PIR over my garage door, too. 60w pearl bulb - just enough to find the door lock......

 

I bought some Philips bulbs from Motorbulbs (see link at bottom of this page) They are brighter than the standard.

If you mirror is a factory fit, it should "un-dim" when you select reverse..... well it did on my 2002 car, not sure about the current one. I'll check.

 

Thanks guys. The mirror certainly doesnt un-dim when i selct reverse, and it is a factory fit.

I do have a PIR flood, but it only kicks in once I'm through the gate. I don't like the reflective tape suggestion as although it's very sensible, I live in an old house and the gateposts are 200year old stone and I think it would spoil the aesthetics of my house / look awful for the neighbours. The low mounted PIR may work on the passenger side, but on the drivers side there is no room between my drive and the neighbour, although having one side to aim at would be an improvement. May just have to issue SWMBO with a torch and kick her out ;-)

 

My 2007 car has the following note:

A switch back of the mirror allows the [auto dim] function to be turned off manually. When reverse gear is engaged, the function is automatically turned off[/b]

Sounds slightly cheeky to suggest this, but if your mirror isn't dimming, is the car aware that you are in reverse? Are the reversing lights actually coming on? Or possibly just one of the two?

 

Hmmm, will definately need to check that as teh manual switch cetainly turns the dimming off whereas the selction of revers doesn't. At least one reverse light comes on, but not stood outside to see if it's both. Also the reerse sensors are working. I dd have a problem on the old car after a clutch swap where they hadn't reconnected the gearbox cable, but neither sensors nor lights worked then.

 

Both lights working, both 21w. Note in the manual does say the mirror dimming will stop when reverse is selected, but I don't think that's working. Will check on Monday night.

 

Found the picture I took after I put one Philips bulb in her 9-3 rear brake lights....I put the other one in after I took the comparison photo!!

 

'I do have a PIR flood, but it only kicks in once I'm through the gate'. You could fit another, smaller, flood with a radio-controlled switched socket to illuminate the area on command. Alternatively, if your PIR flood comes on for a short time when power to it is turned on after being off, you could simply supply that one from a radio-controlled switch. One snag with that is that if it is left 'on', the first press of the radio control will turn it off; the other is that sooner or later, it will be left 'off' rather than 'on' overnight. HTH.

BOF

 

Not sure how much brighter but it may be worth looking at these

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/AUTOLAMPS-HALOGEN-BU...A1%7C240%3A1318