Headlight Bulb Swap for MK3 lights...

[cp81]

I know this has been raised many a time, however with technology changing with bulbs very quickly it seems, wish to know what bulbs people have recently purchased.

My car is a MK1 but at some point in its life has had the lights converted to MK3.

I don’t use the car much at night, but I am looking for a quick simple improvement via updating my headlight bulbs. There seems numerous LED types, but which are good I have no idea hence reaching out or maybe just getting H4 Phillips Xeon type might be an option.

Your feedback and experiences would be appreciated. Not looking to spend £100+... probably around £50 mark.

Thanks

[swisstoni]

There’s another TVR thread where someone said it’s an MOT fail of you’ve put LED bulbs in a fitting designed for halogen or whatever.
I may have misunderstood but it’s worth checking.

[Zener]

Been on Bosch stock wattage but high output for years no problems nothing wrong even with the stock format providing the reflectors and lenses are healthy anything else warrants a visit to spec savers or just slow down at night have witnessed Osram daylighters/Philips in various stuff are very good too , no need to blind everyone with non-conforming LED bulbs IMO like all the Land Rover tits out my way its so obvious too

[sgrimshaw]

Just get some more powerful H4s.

Osram Nightbreakers or Philips X-tremeVision Pro, both have a +150% version. Road legal.

Philips also offer RacingVision GT200, supposed to be +200% and road legal.

https://www.powerbulbs.com/product/philips-racingv...

I have the +150% Philips in mine and they are excellent.

[QBee]

Agree with sgrimshaw - that's all you need.

Steer clear of installing 100 watt in place of the standard 55/60 watt bulbs.
They can melt your wiring.

[LucyP]

If you look on Power Bulbs who are a very reliable, genuine supplier, all of the LED bulbs which range from £80 to £170 say - "not road legal".

They rarely fit anyway. Have a look at the PIAA ones, which are the most expensive. They are much bigger than a normal H4. A normal H4 ends where the metal disc is, and has the 2 teminals to plug in the power supply. The PIAA has that big plastic disc at the bottom. That will be in the way, and then you have to find room for the ballasts, and no doubt alter the wiring to fit the connections. There is never enough room in a headlight enclosure, whatever the vehicle, as they were never designed for that.

They never work properly either. The beam pattern is always wrong, because they are not designed for a standard "old fashioned" headlight lens. If you look at any car manufacturer that offers LEDs from the factory, they are never behind that kind of lens.

As someone else said, just go for one of the upgraded halogen H4 bulbs that Power Bulbs offer. Don't get too carried away with the 200% or 2 million % increase promises either. Look at the reviews on Auto Express and other sites, because what you want to improve is the beam length, and not just end up with a massive floodlight style pool of light about 6 inches in front of the number plate, which is useless.

Also bear in mind that the upgraded bulbs don't last as long as "normal" H4s. That is fine if you don't drive in the dark much, but if you do, then you don't want something that you have to change every few months in a Chimaera, as it's not just a case of opening the bonnet, pulling the rubber cap off, moving the clip, and changing the bulb like in an "ordinary" car!

[SILICONEKID 357HP]

Is it possible to remove the unit from the back ?

If it's the early Folf lights ,there are loads of proper leds available .

[Zener]

sgrimshaw said:

Just get some more powerful H4s.

Osram Nightbreakers or Philips X-tremeVision Pro, both have a +150% version. Road legal.

Philips also offer RacingVision GT200, supposed to be +200% and road legal.

https://www.powerbulbs.com/product/philips-racingv...

I have the +150% Philips in mine and they are excellent.

I may of got that Osram name wrong

[cp81]

Thanks guys for thoughts... gone with Phillips bulbs, arrived today, so will try fitting next weekend when finished decorating on house... got to get brownie points in.



Will post pictures of differences on bulbs and how I got on...

[Penelope Stopit]

cp81 said:

Thanks guys for thoughts... gone with Phillips bulbs, arrived today, so will try fitting next weekend when finished decorating on house... got to get brownie points in.



Will post pictures of differences on bulbs and how I got on...

You'll be amazed by the daytime driving at night, made a massive difference when fitted to my beloved Peugeot 306D, don't understand what all the fuss is about regarding LED's especially when they're often not legal

[cp81]

Well got around to fitting them, as you can see initial difference is great. Passenger light is new bulb and driver’s is original bulb:



Both fitted:



From a quick check alignment looked ok, will see more later when get car out.