Upgrade headlight bulbs?
Discussion
I've upgraded the bulbs in every car I've had for the last 5 or 6 years and found it makes a massive difference, especially on unlit A roads where the volume of oncoming traffic prevents you from using your main beam.
I've had a couple of sets of Osram Silverstars, which were alright, but the newer Nightbreakers are meant to be better and can be found cheaply on Ebay.
I've also got the Philips Xtreme bulbs in my Mondeo, which are excellent, if a bit pricier than the Osrams.
I'm about to buy a couple of sets of Nightbreakers for the dipped and main beam on the Saab 9000 I've just bought.
For the money you can get the branded ones for on Ebay I've never bothered looking at the unbranded alternatives.
I've had a couple of sets of Osram Silverstars, which were alright, but the newer Nightbreakers are meant to be better and can be found cheaply on Ebay.
I've also got the Philips Xtreme bulbs in my Mondeo, which are excellent, if a bit pricier than the Osrams.
I'm about to buy a couple of sets of Nightbreakers for the dipped and main beam on the Saab 9000 I've just bought.
For the money you can get the branded ones for on Ebay I've never bothered looking at the unbranded alternatives.
matchmaker said:
Unless you have projector headlights, DO NOT go down the path of fitting HID bulbs in the existing lights. You will blind every other b
d on the road and look like a chav 
d on the road and look like a chav 
and for the most optimal lighting you want 4300k NOT 6000k , the OEM Bi-xenons i had on the focus were fantasticDennisTheMenace said:
matchmaker said:
Unless you have projector headlights, DO NOT go down the path of fitting HID bulbs in the existing lights. You will blind every other bd on the road and look like a chav
d on the road and look like a chav and for the most optimal lighting you want 4300k NOT 6000k , the OEM Bi-xenons i had on the focus were fantastict by comparison. I'd like to upgrade them with better bulbs. The annual bonus may be utilised..............
julianm said:
This is a very helpful site :
http://www.danielsternlighting.com/tech/bulbs/bulb...
hmmm thanks muchly, just had a read and makes for some interesting information absorption http://www.danielsternlighting.com/tech/bulbs/bulb...
A couple of years back I got some halfrauds "super bright super white +70%" ones for my old 3 series. They were £12 quid for the set (bogof) and were a vast improvement over what was in it.
This is a good post as it reminds me to get some better bulbs for my car, current bulbs are rubbish.
This is a good post as it reminds me to get some better bulbs for my car, current bulbs are rubbish.
uncinqsix said:
Ray Luxury-Yacht said:
HID conversion all day long. Just done my 911 - if you'll pardon the pun, they're brilliant! Like night and day (groan...)
Sourced from here
I'm sure other drivers just love being dazzled by you at night...Sourced from here
There's a reason why these kits are illegal.
Jag-D said:
uncinqsix said:
Ray Luxury-Yacht said:
HID conversion all day long. Just done my 911 - if you'll pardon the pun, they're brilliant! Like night and day (groan...)
Sourced from here
I'm sure other drivers just love being dazzled by you at night...Sourced from here
There's a reason why these kits are illegal.
The projectors have a very clear cut off line where the light is prevented from shining across the road to cars coming the other way, cars without the projector part have an approximate cut off, combine this with 'turns night into day' HID its totally blinding for anyone coming the other way and so dangerous its been banned in most countries.
uncinqsix said:
Ray Luxury-Yacht said:
HID conversion all day long. Just done my 911 - if you'll pardon the pun, they're brilliant! Like night and day (groan...)
Sourced from here
I'm sure other drivers just love being dazzled by you at night...Sourced from here
There's a reason why these kits are illegal.
In all honesty, since I've fitted this kit, and spent time adjusting the angle of the lamps, I have a very definite cutoff to the beam pattern that shines down onto the road and nowhere else. I haven't been flashed once by any oncoming traffic, and the nature of my car being my P&J means that the headlamp lenses are kept scrupulously clean.
I see no problem.
Mk2 MR2s have notoriously poor headlights so I've always used upgraded bulbs in mine. The Halfords Super Brilliance bulbs make a huge difference plus they're always on buy one get one free so £15 all in. They're supposedly 50% brighter and I can well believe it. Its the cheap yet effective option.
Philips Vision Plus bulbs (+ 50% light apparently) - had them on my E36 (prior to the HID conversion) and was impressed for the price. Probably the best £12 I spent on the car.
Did a write up for the BMW forum a while back...
Alternatively, if projector lenses - HID conversion is an option.
Did a write up for the BMW forum a while back...
Me said:
Decided the only way to really have a good look at the difference was to have a couple of night shots on both dipped and main beam. As such went down to the local sports center car park as it seemed like the best location.
I took shots with one side having the regular and the other the philips, and then philips bilaterally.
Certainly in person you really do notice the difference. Although the appearance of the bulb light is not noticably difference the output defo is, the philips bulbs genuinely throwing a longer beam.
Unfortunately it's difficult to capture the difference on the camera but I think you get the general idea:
Slightly brighter Philips bulb (judging by the size of the surrounding glare/halo)
Comparison Pics:
Worth looking at the lines on the floor and the hut in the distance as reference points to appreciate the difference.
If you've got crappy headlight bulbs in your E36. this is a great upgrade for the price. Best £12 you will spend on the car imo.
If your lights are H7 then you can go for the new Philips X-Treme power (+ 80% light apparently).I took shots with one side having the regular and the other the philips, and then philips bilaterally.
Certainly in person you really do notice the difference. Although the appearance of the bulb light is not noticably difference the output defo is, the philips bulbs genuinely throwing a longer beam.
Unfortunately it's difficult to capture the difference on the camera but I think you get the general idea:
Slightly brighter Philips bulb (judging by the size of the surrounding glare/halo)
Comparison Pics:
Worth looking at the lines on the floor and the hut in the distance as reference points to appreciate the difference.
If you've got crappy headlight bulbs in your E36. this is a great upgrade for the price. Best £12 you will spend on the car imo.
Alternatively, if projector lenses - HID conversion is an option.
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