Hi Bill:

You are correct - I had Cibie Biode's in my first Z. HLS30 01777. Burned the entire engine bay wiring harness up. The Biode's had metal backs - worked great when the headlight housings were out of the car - - - at that point they grounded as they should though the wiring harness. Once I reinstalled them in the car, in the headlight housings - they created a dead short though the body metal... Very expensive lesson!!

Lesson learned - we put rubber insulators at the three mounting points on the back of the lights - and added relays etc. They were FANTASTIC! The high beams would light up road signs miles down the road. Very directional light pattern as well. They used a two bulb set up..

After much experimentation with several other suppliers - I finally settled on the Hella lights for many years after that... Today I use GE or Sylvania Halogen Sealed Beams - they are tough to beat for $14.00 to $16.00 each. Very good lights for street use here in Florida and I drive very little at night anyway.

If I were to upgrade headlights today - I'd go all the way with HID's.

No matter what headlights you are going to use - their performance potential can only be realized if your wiring, connectors, power source and ground are up to the job.

FWIW,

Carl B.

I'd ditch my Cibié H4s in a heartbeat for a pair of Biodes. Or Marchal Ampliluxes, same type of thing.

I just got a pair of autopal and 5000K HID. I can post pics once I install them this weekend if you're interested OP.