Bulbs/Lamps

Author
Discussion

F.C.

Original Poster:

3,896 posts

207 months

Sunday 21st December 2014
quotequote all
I can't get to my car at the moment to have a look and I need to buy a replacement headlight bulb.
While I am at it and have the pod covers off I've decided to change all of the lamps,
so what type lamps/bulbs do I need to replace everything in the headlamp pod(s)?
Also has anyone tried LED technology yet? I don't think there are any CE marked kits available but I'm curious all the same.

Racing Roj

488 posts

162 months

Sunday 21st December 2014
quotequote all
Ditto that.
Roj

confusionhunter

448 posts

221 months

Sunday 21st December 2014
quotequote all
Ive just completed this exercise recently. I have to say the difference in the lighting is incredible,

I uprated the 2 full beams, 1 dipped to a xenon and the sidelight to a 5w LED. And fitted iridium indicator bulbs. Looks much better day and night!

I investigated the LEDS stuff but there isn't a common tried and tested product yet so I think its still in its infancy so I decided to leave it for a couple more years but results look promising! For my dipped projector lamps I fitted the H7 55w Xenon kit. Amazing. However I needed to add in a relay and do some additional wiring to make sure they stay on when the full beam is put on (std wiring cuts the power to the dipped when selecting full beam).

Check it out:

Also note the new spongue tape I used to improve the seal (and stop the inside of the lights getting dirty again). I also covered the seals once the covers were refitted with weatherproof unibond duck tape! I refuse to clean out the headlamps again!

From Memory and looking at the pics,The 2 full beams are different The lower one is H1 and the upper is H7. I bought these for the full beams (and the H1 equivalent).
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B005ZSUNL8?psc=...
I found the product name ironic too wink, not bad for halogen bulbs. But LEDS ideal for full beam, Xenons would ben no good for full beam as they take a few moments to power up so flashing folk with xenon full beam would be ineffective.

I think the dipped are H7s and I resed a kit I already had but this is the equivalent kit:
http://www.hids4u.co.uk/h7-55w-pro-max-xenon-hid-c...
I went for 6000k from memory.

and the LED sidelights are capped which I bought from these guys.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/300593408416
I bought a load for my other car too so I think these are the right ones. Just be aware that LED light only work with the DC current in one direction so you may need to swap the wires over.

While I was at it I bought the capless ones for my number plate lights to go with my LED rear lights. The total mod makes the car look far more modern, more than you might think!


Just the sidelights:


with dipped.... I appreciate the pointlessness of this picture but the difference in the visible road is quite spectacular.


Very worthwhile mod....
Hope that helps! biggrin

Edited by confusionhunter on Sunday 21st December 14:08


Edited by confusionhunter on Sunday 21st December 14:10

confusionhunter

448 posts

221 months

Sunday 21st December 2014
quotequote all
If you get these capped sidelight bulbs check if you have the 180 degree pinned capped bulbs or the offset ones (both are a vailable from that supplier)

F.C.

Original Poster:

3,896 posts

207 months

Sunday 21st December 2014
quotequote all
All the HID kits I have seen put the light source too far forward in the lamp holder and result on poorly diffused light, with the obvious problem of blinding oncoming traffic.

do you have a photo of the light pattern against a wall or like?
This usually shows the light pattern nicely, I'd consider HID lights if they produced a "proper" beam pattern.

confusionhunter

448 posts

221 months

Sunday 21st December 2014
quotequote all
I'll get one! I think its got a pretty decent beam pattern!

V8Dom

3,546 posts

201 months

Sunday 21st December 2014
quotequote all
i thought hid was mot failure unless had self adjustment and washer?

confusionhunter

448 posts

221 months

Sunday 21st December 2014
quotequote all
Only if it has them as far as I'm aware.

Just went outside to take a picture or two.
On garage door:


Outside sidelights:


With Dipped:


The outside picture its diffucult to get an idea of the beam pattern because of the terrain but you can clearly see it move from the hedge on the right onto the roof of the house (which is a good 20yds further back).
Hope that helps.

confusionhunter

448 posts

221 months

Sunday 21st December 2014
quotequote all
Oh dear god, I've just spent 30 mins googling about the use of HIDs and its as clear as mud. It look like the UK rules say you need self leveling and washer kits but there are many exceptions to this too, on various models and there's european legislation that overrides the UK law, even exceptions on the brightness of the bulb too! Total nightmare! How the hell anyone is supposed to know the real answer is beyond me. The actually MOT wording looks like it say they MAY have them fitted and if so should be tested.....
Its a total can of worms...... Just fit LEDs (assuming they aren't subject to the same)!

Also the beam pattern on the ultima lights aren't as good as my Audi either. It seems to me the projector lamps in the ultima just arent as good quality as certainly audi OEM kit, no doubt due to the £££ spend in R&D.... wonder if I could modify the spare audi headlamps I have? Regardless..... for the night time driving I do (ie None) and the height of the car.... this is not a priority for me to address. IMHO The danger to dazzling other road users in such a low car is far less than running the original headlamps set up where I couldn't see a damn thing! wink


Edited by confusionhunter on Sunday 21st December 18:24

confusionhunter

448 posts

221 months

Sunday 21st December 2014
quotequote all
These might be good, but there may be clearance issues to the tyre???
http://www.horizonleds.co.uk/cree-leds/headlamp-cr...

F.C.

Original Poster:

3,896 posts

207 months

Sunday 21st December 2014
quotequote all
V8Dom said:
i thought hid was mot failure unless had self adjustment and washer?
Me too but there are exceptions, as far as I understand washers and self levellers are only an issue if they are fitted and don't work.
HID lamps in non HID housings are illegal, though many have passed MOT with them fitted.
If you purchase the whole lamp unit i.e. designed for HID use from Hella et al and they are "E" marked then this is supposed to be legal.
There is a lot of contradiction on the web, both on government sites and public forums.
Caveat Emptor.

F.C.

Original Poster:

3,896 posts

207 months

Sunday 21st December 2014
quotequote all
confusionhunter said:
Also the beam pattern on the ultima lights aren't as good as my Audi either. It seems to me the projector lamps in the ultima just arent as good quality as certainly audi OEM kit,
Edited by confusionhunter on Sunday 21st December 18:24
Nothing wrong with the Ultima lamps, they are designed for filament lamps, HID's light source is further away from the base of the bulb thus the focus on the reflector is "off" compared to a unit (as per your Audi) that is designed for the light source in this position IYSWIM.

confusionhunter

448 posts

221 months

Sunday 21st December 2014
quotequote all
Hmmm I know what you mean by light source position, which is why HIDs in reflector headlamps are such a bad idea.
I just don't think the ultima lamps give as good a pattern even with Halogens. So I hear what you are saying but I've had this very HID kit in my old A3 halogen projector lamps and the beam pattern is the same as my s4 xenon projectors. And tends to be an 's'bend pattern. ie:
'_
' \ _ kind of shape rather than a \_ like the ultima lamps gives. (ignore the ', I had to put them in for the shape to show correctly!)
Like this:


I do have a spare set of A3 lamps actually I could retro fit if I needed to! smile I'll run these for a bit and get some opinions from friends to see if they do bother other motorists more than normal HIDs.

The Std Ultima projectors are of course fit for purpose. Ultima aren't the manufacturers of the lamp they buy em in so I'm not knocking them! Like I said Valeo/VW/Audi have spend lots of ££££ developing their lamps.

LEDS and Audi projectors are the ultimate answer I think, might get the measuring for next winter to see if those LEDS bulbs fit! smile

I mean I don't think the beam pattern is that bad with that HID kit and ultima lamps?


Edited by confusionhunter on Sunday 21st December 23:29

UltimaCH

3,155 posts

188 months

Monday 22nd December 2014
quotequote all
I have to say that photos are worth a thousand words. Wow, what an improvement. However I think I'll be waiting until some LED system becomes available (Factory supplied if it doesnt take too long...). Good quality bulbs like Osram Night Breaker Unlimited is probably a good starting point.

confusionhunter

448 posts

221 months

Monday 22nd December 2014
quotequote all
and I didnt even do a full beam shot! smile (i'll do that tonight if I remember). I spent ages getting the spots pointing in the in the right place!

F.C.

Original Poster:

3,896 posts

207 months

Monday 22nd December 2014
quotequote all
This has planted a seed, I'm off to find suitable donor vehicles HID projector lamps.
There must be loads out there now, even on more "budget" makes. (looks up spec on KIA, Hyundai etc.) wink

confusionhunter

448 posts

221 months

Monday 22nd December 2014
quotequote all
Renault Lagunas buddy....! Most of them had them early 2000s on, I know because they use Valeo HIDs, same as my S4. I had a blister back go in my s4 and they are 130 quid plus for audi ones! They are the exact same as the renault lagunas and I got one for 40 quid! I think they fit into the bottom of the headlight just like the audis too but Im guessing the headlights are 10 a penny compared to audi units. Also the lagunas are one of the cars that many had HIDs and no headlight washers etc and are legal in the UK.

The A3 halogen units are good too I picked up a set for 80 quid for the purposes of hacking up for another car. Problem is the blister packs on the OEM kit that Im talking about VW/Audi Renault they are all quite bulky and would be difficult to fit behind an ultima headlight cover. I'm thinking more an more about this too biggrin.....

I know HIDs wind up some other motorists, but I don't get it personally, as user i love them, I mean night driving is so much safer. As a fellow motorist, they dont bother me. Yes over the crest of a hill they are vary bright, but if you are looking at the road and not the headlights its not lethally dangerous as people sometimes make out..... But I do like to be a considerate motorist where possible (allowing for the deafening but glorious V8 SBC in the Ultima) biggrin....
Spot whos off work btw .... wink

F.C.

Original Poster:

3,896 posts

207 months

Monday 22nd December 2014
quotequote all
Right then, off to have a look for some old Lags in the scrappy / Ebay wink

V8Dom

3,546 posts

201 months

Tuesday 23rd December 2014
quotequote all
just asked an mot tester and he failed one last week as had hid headlights and no self levelers..

but 1.7 headlamp

vehicles with hid or led ''may'' be fitted with headlamp washers or self leveling system.

reason for failure to work......not missing''

so maybe you can. be interesting to see what factory say? i would suggest if production must have, but us fitting them maybe we dont.....

dom

Edited by V8Dom on Tuesday 23 December 14:08

V8Dom

3,546 posts

201 months

Friday 2nd January 2015
quotequote all
confusionhunter said:
Ive just completed this exercise recently. I have to say the difference in the lighting is incredible,

I uprated the 2 full beams, 1 dipped to a xenon and the sidelight to a 5w LED. And fitted iridium indicator bulbs. Looks much better day and night!

I investigated the LEDS stuff but there isn't a common tried and tested product yet so I think its still in its infancy so I decided to leave it for a couple more years but results look promising! For my dipped projector lamps I fitted the H7 55w Xenon kit. Amazing. However I needed to add in a relay and do some additional wiring to make sure they stay on when the full beam is put on (std wiring cuts the power to the dipped when selecting full beam).

Check it out:

Also note the new spongue tape I used to improve the seal (and stop the inside of the lights getting dirty again). I also covered the seals once the covers were refitted with weatherproof unibond duck tape! I refuse to clean out the headlamps again!

From Memory and looking at the pics,The 2 full beams are different The lower one is H1 and the upper is H7. I bought these for the full beams (and the H1 equivalent).
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B005ZSUNL8?psc=...
I found the product name ironic too wink, not bad for halogen bulbs. But LEDS ideal for full beam, Xenons would ben no good for full beam as they take a few moments to power up so flashing folk with xenon full beam would be ineffective.

I think the dipped are H7s and I resed a kit I already had but this is the equivalent kit:
http://www.hids4u.co.uk/h7-55w-pro-max-xenon-hid-c...
I went for 6000k from memory.

and the LED sidelights are capped which I bought from these guys.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/300593408416
I bought a load for my other car too so I think these are the right ones. Just be aware that LED light only work with the DC current in one direction so you may need to swap the wires over.

While I was at it I bought the capless ones for my number plate lights to go with my LED rear lights. The total mod makes the car look far more modern, more than you might think!


Just the sidelights:


with dipped.... I appreciate the pointlessness of this picture but the difference in the visible road is quite spectacular.


Very worthwhile mod....
Hope that helps! biggrin

Edited by confusionhunter on Sunday 21st December 14:08


Edited by confusionhunter on Sunday 21st December 14:10
hi can i just see what exactly you changed to make the conversion please as im seriously looking at this too.

from what i have read you cant convert your excisting lamp but have to change the lamp itself

ref autoexpress here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y5n38wDe684

did you change the unit itself and if so which unit did you use and what do i need to make mine hid?

thanks dom