High power headlamp bulbs - which Cree H4 LED bulbs?

[m500dpp]

Hi all,

Amongst our cars my daughters first car is an 18 year old VW Polo with just 34k miles. Its a great car but the lights are like candles and I have been looking at upgrades and thats where the trouble began.! There is so much choice and at many different price levels, it seems the cheaper ones are around 1000lumens, whilst from around £45 a pair they stretch to a more useful 2600 - 3000 lumens.

Has anyone got any experience of these bulbs, are they really worth the extra over halogen, or even HID conversions (which appear pretty cheap now?) I am currently looking at these:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/191452171097

Any help appreciated!

[David87]

I wouldn't bother dicking around with LED or HID bulbs - the Polo's headlamp reflectors were designed for halogens and so that's what will work best, both in terms of seeing where you're going and preventing glare for oncoming cars. An upgraded set of halogen bulbs will make a big difference!

[Fleckers]

Are the Polo lights that bad ?

What are you comparing them against ? One of the new VW range with bonkers bright led lights ?

[SonicShadow]

Get decent regular bulbs, like Osram Nightbreakers.

Clean the headlights, polish them if they are looking scratched / dull.

Check the wiring - if the output is still low you might have a poor connection.

[Nickyboy]

I bought some similar for my high beams just to go with my HID's, i tried them in place of the HID's to see how bright they were and they were crap. I wouldn't use them for everyday lighting

[Dogwatch]

In a similarly themed thread here a little while ago somebody commented that a car fitted with after-market LEDs had failed its MOT as the tester couldn't determine the top edge of the beam.

I've got a torch fitted with a Cree LED. You wouldn't want to look down the beam, or if you do you won't do it again in a hurry!

[MC Bodge]

Clean the lens and reflector inside.

Run heavier cables from the battery direct (fused) to the lamps, with relays switched from the original lamp wiring.

Fit Ring Xenon ultima plus bulbs.

This even gives an improvement in modern vehicles.

Edited by MC Bodge on Sunday 4th January 12:59

[radiodanno]

SonicShadow said:

Get decent regular bulbs, like Osram Nightbreakers.

Clean the headlights, polish them if they are looking scratched / dull.

Check the wiring - if the output is still low you might have a poor connection.

I do 30,000 miles a year in a 15 year old car. At this time of the year, 100% of my driving can be in the dark.

I have Osram Nightbreakers and they're a great improvement. I changed just the dips, but ought to do the 'main beam' headlights too for when I'm on my own on B roads.

Many favourable reviews for the Philips bulbs too. Both readily available at Euro's.

Good luck.

[lufbramatt]

Very common issue with VWs of that age is high resistance in the switch contacts coupled with the fact that the switch handles all the current for the bulb rather than controlling a relay. You'll find there is a good couple of volts drop when you compare alternater output voltage to what youre getting at the bulbs. output of a halogen bulb drops off very rapidly even with just a 1 or 2 volt drop.

You can make a relayed headlight loom to restore full voltage to the bulbs with some wire, an automotive relay and fuse for each bulb.

Wouldn't bother looking at better bulbs until you've checked what voltage your getting at the bulb plug, should be 13-14v with the engine running.

First result in google but loads more on various forums:

http://www.matey-matey.com/uprated_headlight_wirin...

ebay result, should work on your polo:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/vw-golf-corrado-uprated-...

[m500dpp]

Appreciate the input guys many thanks, the lenses are fine as they are glass so looks like high output nightbreakers or the ring bulbs, much cheaper as well!

[mph1977]

SonicShadow said:

Get decent regular bulbs, like Osram Nightbreakers.

Clean the headlights, polish them if they are looking scratched / dull.

Check the wiring - if the output is still low you might have a poor connection.

like most things first check what you've got is working well

clean and polish the headlight units - are they glass or plstic fronted ? if plastic they might need a veryveryvery gentle abrasive clean and polish

[Scuffers]

HID's are OK (decent ones)

LED's are just not going to work like that.

[terenceb]

m500dpp said:

Appreciate the input guys many thanks, the lenses are fine as they are glass so looks like high output nightbreakers or the ring bulbs, much cheaper as well!

For the small extra cost involved, go with the Philips type, ring are just not worth fitting.

[MC Bodge]

terenceb said:

For the small extra cost involved, go with the Philips type, ring are just not worth fitting.

On the contrary, the Ring Xenon are very good, as are the Philips. Not worth making an issue over.

[m500dpp]

My first post and what a great response from a load of helpful and knowledgeable people - many thanks.

Will order a couple of relays from the bay and do a rewire of the headlights, I have loads of wire connectors etc and its a simple job I am familiar with. The lights appear very orange so I am certain this will be most of the solution - thanks again!

[Scuffers]

m500dpp said:

My first post and what a great response from a load of helpful and knowledgeable people - many thanks.

Will order a couple of relays from the bay and do a rewire of the headlights, I have loads of wire connectors etc and its a simple job I am familiar with. The lights appear very orange so I am certain this will be most of the solution - thanks again!

a common issue, if you put a meter across the bulbs when on (and the engines running) what voltage do you see?

A lot have issues of poor earth to the bulbs dropping volts.

[m500dpp]

Scuffers said:

a common issue, if you put a meter across the bulbs when on (and the engines running) what voltage do you see?

A lot have issues of poor earth to the bulbs dropping volts.

Yep again good common sense I'll check the earth first!!!!

[Scuffers]

m500dpp said:

Scuffers said:

a common issue, if you put a meter across the bulbs when on (and the engines running) what voltage do you see?

A lot have issues of poor earth to the bulbs dropping volts.

Yep again good common sense I'll check the earth first!!!!

not so much how good the earth is, but the gauge of wire from it to the bulb..

used to be a common problem with Jap stuff, they used to loose 2V between the bulb and earth.

[SonicShadow]

radiodanno said:

SonicShadow said:

Get decent regular bulbs, like Osram Nightbreakers.

Clean the headlights, polish them if they are looking scratched / dull.

Check the wiring - if the output is still low you might have a poor connection.

I do 30,000 miles a year in a 15 year old car. At this time of the year, 100% of my driving can be in the dark.

I have Osram Nightbreakers and they're a great improvement. I changed just the dips, but ought to do the 'main beam' headlights too for when I'm on my own on B roads.

Many favourable reviews for the Philips bulbs too. Both readily available at Euro's.

Good luck.

And with their seemingly perpetual up to 50% off promotion, prices are usually very competitive for bulbs too. I think I paid about a tenner or so for two from ECP a couple months ago.

[g3org3y]

My sister's 2001 Polo suffered with significant dulling of the headlamp glass. Plenty of polish (well toothpaste!) and elbow grease later there was a notable difference in the beam. That would be my first port of call.

I'd certainly recommend Philips X Treme Vision bulbs. Very decent value for money upgrade with an appreciable improvement in light output.