Headlight bulb gone - recommended after-market bulb?
Discussion
Hi folks.
Got the 330ci yesterday, and I like it a lot. With typical timing, however, the passenger side low beam bulb appears to have gone. Manual says it's a 55w H7 bulb (car is pre-facelift and not Xenon)
I'm wondering what compatible bulbs there are out there and whether there's much improvement to be had over the standard bulbs (which aren't wonderful) by selecting a particular make/model. I even see some 'Xenon' bulbs advertised from Ebay sellers which purport to be Xenon but I thought one needed dedicated Xenon lights to be able to use Xenon bulbs.
So, basically, yeah, I need a bulb, but I'm prepared to try something better if better is available. So, if you can recommend, please do*.
Ta.
john
Got the 330ci yesterday, and I like it a lot. With typical timing, however, the passenger side low beam bulb appears to have gone. Manual says it's a 55w H7 bulb (car is pre-facelift and not Xenon)
I'm wondering what compatible bulbs there are out there and whether there's much improvement to be had over the standard bulbs (which aren't wonderful) by selecting a particular make/model. I even see some 'Xenon' bulbs advertised from Ebay sellers which purport to be Xenon but I thought one needed dedicated Xenon lights to be able to use Xenon bulbs.
So, basically, yeah, I need a bulb, but I'm prepared to try something better if better is available. So, if you can recommend, please do*.
Ta.
john
- car won't be driving in the dark at all this coming week so I can afford to try a mail order outfit.
I bought a pair of their 90% extra "Extreme Brilliance" bulbs a while back - principally because one of my bulbs had just gone and the £23 was a BOGOF.
Obviously I fitted both of them and kept my remaining standard bulb as a spare. I actually thought the light output was a reasonable improvement.
Trouble is, about 3 months after fitting them, one of them has blown already. Obviously it's been winter and I've probably been driving with them on for 8 hours a week on average but 3 months doesn't seem much like stellar longevity to me.
Philips Extreme H7's are sometimes available in pairs on fleabay for not disimilar money though so I might give them ago and see if 'branded' is any better than Halfrauds own...
Obviously I fitted both of them and kept my remaining standard bulb as a spare. I actually thought the light output was a reasonable improvement.
Trouble is, about 3 months after fitting them, one of them has blown already. Obviously it's been winter and I've probably been driving with them on for 8 hours a week on average but 3 months doesn't seem much like stellar longevity to me.
Philips Extreme H7's are sometimes available in pairs on fleabay for not disimilar money though so I might give them ago and see if 'branded' is any better than Halfrauds own...
Bulbs arrived yesterday and I put them in last night. Not had a chance to use them in the dark yet but they are working and I reckon a good bit brighter than the Osrams it had in (based on a one-side-new, one-side-old comparison in daylight - not ideal).
Only trouble I had was that in a moment of careless-ness, I put the O/S bulb into the light fixture the wrong way around. Polarity obviously doesn't matter as it worked fine, but the bu66er refused to clip back in and I spent ages thinking I had a clip/lock problem when in fact I should have taken the bulb out and checked.
Easy to miss, and I will know better next time
Only trouble I had was that in a moment of careless-ness, I put the O/S bulb into the light fixture the wrong way around. Polarity obviously doesn't matter as it worked fine, but the bu66er refused to clip back in and I spent ages thinking I had a clip/lock problem when in fact I should have taken the bulb out and checked.
Easy to miss, and I will know better next time
Edited by oktapod on Wednesday 8th April 08:25
Cheers. just ordered with the benefit of 10% discount courtesy of:
http://www.retailmenot.com/view/powerbulbs.co.uk
powerbulbs is the same company as directbulbs (the latter being a dedicated online offering)
http://www.retailmenot.com/view/powerbulbs.co.uk
powerbulbs is the same company as directbulbs (the latter being a dedicated online offering)
I bought mine off of ebay from autobulbs. They were about £9 IIRC. Miles better than the standard ones and they offer a clear clean white light without even a tinge of blue that frankly looks crap IMO (unless they are proper Xenon discharge bulbs as opposed to Halfords Xenon gas filled bulbs...)
I didn't see the point in spending £25 on 2 bulbs personally for a marginal difference.
I didn't see the point in spending £25 on 2 bulbs personally for a marginal difference.
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