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What Bulbs

  • 29-11-2007 10:27pm
    #1
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,413 ✭✭✭


    I'm stuck in a dilemma, anyone know what bulbs I should get, I am looking at

    These

    OR

    These

    Has anyone fitted either, I do a lot of back road driving, very early in the morning/late at night. I heard these bulbs are very good I just cant decide which are better.


Comments

  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,391 ✭✭✭VeVeX


    Ive heard good things about them new nightbreakers. I have Osrams Silverstar bulbs in my car at the minute and they are a good bit brighter then standard. The nightbreakers are said to be better again.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 673 ✭✭✭TychoCaine


    I've an NCT coming up in March and I know in the UK some of these high output lights are "for show use only" i.e. not street legal. Is there a similar requirement here, and do the NCT guys check that bulbs aren't too bright when they're checking alignment?

    Also, some of these bulbs burn pretty hot and the heat can damage polycarbonate headlight lenses..... I had some Philips +30% bulbs in my old Focus for a while (they blew after 4 months!) and the lenses have been slightly cloudy since. Headlamp glass for my S80 is €60 a side and a total b1tch to swap, so I'd rather not have it happen again.


  • Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 11,001 ✭✭✭✭Masada


    maybe you should look into HIDs if you drive on very dark roads a lot.,


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 727 ✭✭✭Oilrig


    Snakeoil. Both aimed at the "cosmetic" market.

    You'll be replacing them so often you'll soon get pissed off.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 3,413 ✭✭✭HashSlinging


    Whenever you change bulbs ensure you do not touch the glass with you fingers as the residue on your fingers will leave a mark which creates a hot spot on the bulb causing the bulb to blow pretty quickly. I have fitted upgraded bulbs in most of my cars and have never had any problems with bulb life. If you do accidently touch the glass you need to clean it with IPA to remove the residue. You could of course have just had a faulty batch for the focus but these bulbs are usually very well made.

    Is there anywhere in dub that would do a HID conversion, changing bulbs is about as good as it gets for me.. :o


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  • Closed Accounts Posts: 90 ✭✭oilsheik


    This weeks autoexpress has a feature on bulbs they tested Osram, Bosch, Philips and other brands, might be worth a look.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 1,435 ✭✭✭C_Breeze


    VeVeX wrote: »
    Ive heard good things about them new nightbreakers. I have Osrams Silverstar bulbs in my car at the minute and they are a good bit brighter then standard. The nightbreakers are said to be better again.


    Yeah same here, Ive heard and read only good things about the osram nightbreakers. I'd be curious to see what theyre like myself. ... But after having HID's installed on my last car 3 cars i doubt they'd be an improvement!

    HashSlingin .. Again HIDs are also a good option - very easy to fit - if you can change a light bulb you would definitely be able to have a go at it yourself.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 7,686 ✭✭✭JHMEG


    You can legally use any wattage bulb here. Just get 80w H7's, and you will be guaranteed a lot more light.

    I'd avoid HID retro fit as most kits are cheap chinese muck.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,266 ✭✭✭MercMad


    JHMEG wrote: »
    You can legally use any wattage bulb here. Just get 80w H7's, and you will be guaranteed a lot more light.

    I'd avoid HID retro fit as most kits are cheap chinese muck.

    Ehhh ??

    I thought 55w/60w was the maximum that were allowed. Certainly you see a lot of bulbs clearly marked "Off Road Use Only"


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 1,435 ✭✭✭C_Breeze


    Yeah, get 80W bulbs - you'll have the added benefit of blinding other road user aswell as a potential fire hazard and risk frying your wires :rolleyes:


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,495 ✭✭✭Zorba


    C_Breeze wrote: »
    Yeah, get 80W bulbs - you'll have the added benefit of blinding other road user aswell as a potential fire hazard and risk frying your wires :rolleyes:

    Exactly, i put some 100W bulbs in my car and was told to get them out quick before they melt the casings and burn out wires which was gonna happen cos of the extra heat.

    Got some Nightbreakers and they're just as good as the 100W for light but at 35 quid a go they're a bit expensive, will see how long they last, might end up going down the HID road myself.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,454 ✭✭✭tc20


    Lads, what is/are HID ?

    cheers


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 569 ✭✭✭Ice_Box


    I use the PHILIPS X-TREME H7 in my car and they're good. They're 100% legal as far as I know. Passed NCT with them too.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 1,435 ✭✭✭C_Breeze


    tc20 wrote: »
    Lads, what is/are HID ?

    cheers

    HIGH INTENSITY DISCHRAGE or Xenons - they are the bluey white lights you see on the likes of mercs and beemers. They light up using xenon gas rather than regular halogen filaments.

    Produce much better quality light basically ;)


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 7,686 ✭✭✭JHMEG


    MercMad wrote: »
    Ehhh ??

    I thought 55w/60w was the maximum that were allowed. Certainly you see a lot of bulbs clearly marked "Off Road Use Only"
    UK ONLY! Find me proof of such legislation here (don't waste your time, there is none).

    I've been running with 100W/80W H4's for years without any problems. And I've passed the NCT every time.

    OP, never mind cheap chinese HIDs or 55w bulbs that have been painted blue. 55W is 55W is 55W.
    C_Brreeze wrote:
    you'll have the added benefit of blinding other road user aswell as a potential fire hazard and risk frying your wires
    That's what you'll get with your cheap chinese retro fit HIDs.. the beam won't be focussed properly, so "dips" won't really be dipped, and as for fire risks... putting two or more high voltage ballasts of dubious quality under your bonnet isn't too smart:rolleyes:


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,454 ✭✭✭tc20


    @ c_Breeze - cheers. Im aware of xenons alright, just hadnt heard HID before. Ta


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 569 ✭✭✭Ice_Box


    oilsheik wrote: »
    This weeks autoexpress has a feature on bulbs they tested Osram, Bosch, Philips and other brands, might be worth a look.


    Here is that test
    http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/products/products/212937/make_light_of_winter.html

    Philips X-treme Power is the winner.

    "On the road, the difference between the best and the worst bulbs was enormous. Adjusted to prevent glare, the Classic Professional barely reached 40 metres, with a mass of distracting light just in front of the car.

    Peripheral vision was a little over six metres either side of the driver.
    Our Best Buy, the Philips X-treme Power, illuminated the road over 90 metres away with a 20-metre-wide beam and a bigger spread of usable light ahead of the test Volvo. That’s easily the difference between having a collision and avoiding one."

    "Head and shoulders above the rest in this test was the Philips X-treme Power, which put in a performance no rival bulb could come near."


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,929 ✭✭✭Raiser


    Oilrig wrote: »
    Snakeoil. Both aimed at the "cosmetic" market.

    You'll be replacing them so often you'll soon get pissed off.

    I'd just like to absolutely contradict Oilrig here; my experience [3 X instance]of these bulbs [Osram Silverstars et al] has been absolutely positive. Definitely brighter, whiter light no negative side-effects and the last set I had lasted beyond my ownership of the car and are prob. still in the new owners motor today.......

    Snakeoil? I bet this is pseudo-wisdom and not experience speaking here.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,929 ✭✭✭Raiser


    Ice_Box wrote: »
    Here is that test
    http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/products/products/212937/make_light_of_winter.html

    Philips X-treme Power is the winner.

    "On the road, the difference between the best and the worst bulbs was enormous. Adjusted to prevent glare, the Classic Professional barely reached 40 metres, with a mass of distracting light just in front of the car.

    Peripheral vision was a little over six metres either side of the driver.
    Our Best Buy, the Philips X-treme Power, illuminated the road over 90 metres away with a 20-metre-wide beam and a bigger spread of usable light ahead of the test Volvo. That’s easily the difference between having a collision and avoiding one."

    "Head and shoulders above the rest in this test was the Philips X-treme Power, which put in a performance no rival bulb could come near."
    Philips’ 75-metre light tunnel at its plant in Aachen, Germany, allowed us to measure beams accurately

    Horsesh|t - you flew to jack-boot-land and ate wurst with Fritz until you were comfortably assured that every bulb other than Philips was "kaputz" - Impartiality and journalistic integrity took a back seat once the deutschmark was waved in your greedy little Brit-scribbler face.

    /at a guess ;-)


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,467 ✭✭✭smemon


    Just out of interest, these just replace normal bulbs? No extra work needed?

    My own lights are brutal atm, just standard bulbs and the past few weeks (now that it's dark all day) i've actually been double checking to make sure they're on in town areas as i can barely make them out when behind the wheel.

    I then see every tom dick and harry coming along with their 2 lighthouses blinding me :)

    For the sake of 30/40 quid, i might invest in a set of these bad boys, provided you just need to plug in an go.


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  • Closed Accounts Posts: 569 ✭✭✭Ice_Box


    smemon wrote: »
    Just out of interest, these just replace normal bulbs? No extra work needed?

    My own lights are brutal atm, just standard bulbs and the past few weeks (now that it's dark all day) i've actually been double checking to make sure they're on in town areas as i can barely make them out when behind the wheel.

    I then see every tom dick and harry coming along with their 2 lighthouses blinding me :)

    For the sake of 30/40 quid, i might invest in a set of these bad boys, provided you just need to plug in an go.

    Yes these are just normal type bulbs. Plug and go as you say.

    Also, I find it helps if I keep a cloth in my car and give my headlights a wipe every now and then.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 29,088 ✭✭✭✭_Kaiser_


    I have the Philips ones and find them very good. I had a set of the previous gen Osram's in my last car and they were nowhere near as good - don't know about the latest ones though...

    For comparison, how much is a HID conversion (for a Passat ideally) and is there anywhere in Dublin that does a good job at a fair price?


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 6,093 ✭✭✭Amtmann


    What wattage are Philips X-treme Power?

    Will they annoy other drivers?

    I'm thinking of getting them, and was wondering if they are suitable for a 1.4 '96 VW Golf 5-door CL. Anyone know?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 19,102 ✭✭✭✭Del2005


    smemon wrote: »
    Just out of interest, these just replace normal bulbs? No extra work needed?

    My own lights are brutal atm, just standard bulbs and the past few weeks (now that it's dark all day) i've actually been double checking to make sure they're on in town areas as i can barely make them out when behind the wheel.

    I then see every tom dick and harry coming along with their 2 lighthouses blinding me :)

    For the sake of 30/40 quid, i might invest in a set of these bad boys, provided you just need to plug in an go.

    Clean you lense as Ice_Box says. I'm having to clean mine every couple of days or whenever I've been behind a truck. Going home from work last week though lights where off. Gave the lenses a wipe and had great lights again. Bit of a pain, never used to drive on back roads before and never really noticed how filthlly my lights got.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 3,413 ✭✭✭HashSlinging


    Furet wrote: »
    What wattage are Philips X-treme Power?

    Will they annoy other drivers?

    I'm thinking of getting them, and was wondering if they are suitable for a 1.4 '96 VW Golf 5-door CL. Anyone know?[/QUOTE

    80watt = H7

    You might find these handy

    H1 = main beams
    H7 = dipped beams
    w5w = side lights


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 569 ✭✭✭Ice_Box


    Furet wrote: »
    What wattage are Philips X-treme Power?

    Will they annoy other drivers?

    I'm thinking of getting them, and was wondering if they are suitable for a 1.4 '96 VW Golf 5-door CL. Anyone know?

    They're 55 watts. And will only annoy other drivers if they're pointing too high. I have them in my car and Im also getting them for my dads car.

    They are bright but still only half as bright as modern xenons.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 6,093 ✭✭✭Amtmann


    I went into Halford's today and asked if they had the Philips bulbs. They didn't, and some guy there tried to tell me that their own Halford's bulbs were just as good. Needless to say, I didn't buy them!

    I then went to another shop and while they didn't have the Philips bulbs either, they did have a range of 55W halogen bulbs for around 22 euro.

    Here is a question: when buying them, two bulbs come in a pack. Are these dims or full lights? Could I put them in either position?

    Another question - do the Philips bulbs last a long time?

    And another: was I right to turn down the Halford's bulbs?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 82 ✭✭smitas5


    HID KIT is a lot better then any halogen bulbs. you think it's expensive? how much is a halogen bulb in the shop? 20-30euro or even more if you want philips painted in blue :) nonsence. HID (xenon) lasts 8-10 times longer so 160euro for a kit is not very dear. also there is no risk in getting your wires melted like you have with 80 or 100W halogen. you get 1year warranty too. you don't get any warranty when you buy a bulb in the shop. so 3000h of good bright light is what you need. even 100w halogen bulb, doesn't matter if it's Osram or Phillips... can't compare them to gas discharge.
    by the way HID means High Intensity Discharge and Xenon is the name of the gas that gives the light. small buble in the middle of the bulb that make the magic.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,231 ✭✭✭MuffinsDa


    smitas5 wrote: »
    HID (xenon) lasts 8-10 times longer so 160euro for a kit is not very dear.

    And...WHERE can you get a HID conversion for €160?!


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 82 ✭✭smitas5


    address bellow


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 82 ✭✭smitas5


    http://www.hid.lt/marius/
    just in case you have signatures disabled.
    Thanks


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 569 ✭✭✭Ice_Box


    Furet wrote: »
    Here is a question: when buying them, two bulbs come in a pack. Are these dims or full lights? Could I put them in either position?
    You can put them either position in most cars. My audi takes H7 is both for example.
    Furet wrote: »
    Another question - do the Philips bulbs last a long time?
    I have mine about 6 months without a problem
    Furet wrote: »
    And another: was I right to turn down the Halford's bulbs?
    Halford bulbs are probably OK but are only +30%, the phillips are better as they are +80%. Have a look at the autoexpress link in the previous page.

    as for those xenon things for €160 they are probably illegal in this country and will blind other drivers. The phillips bulbs are 100% legal in the EU and are not coloured blue.

    I got mine from this website.
    http://www.powerbulbs.com/


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 82 ✭✭smitas5


    HID KIT's are legal as EC approved.

    you can alway buy 4300K or 5000K HID to have it white.

    if you blind the drivers in front of you it is not HID problem... it is your lamp adjustment problem. because HID bulb is designed differently it gives light through all the bulb unlike the halogen where light comes from the spring area only. that is why adjustment needed. well only for reflector lights. projector ones 99% are ok without any adjustment.
    also HID bulbs last at least 8 times longer, so it is not expensive. well you have to make sure you get warranty on it.
    Anyway. you have to try it for yourself before you start telling everyone that it's not this or it's not that.
    check another forums. read something about the technology of xenon gas. and then please do tell us what you think. Don't get me wrong I'm here to share info and to gain some too.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 29,088 ✭✭✭✭_Kaiser_


    Kaiser2000 wrote: »
    For comparison, how much is a HID conversion (for a Passat ideally) and is there anywhere in Dublin that does a good job at a fair price?
    Anyone have any suggestions on this? Supply and fit ideally.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 82 ✭✭smitas5


    Hi there,
    check the website in my signature. I'm around Dublin few days a week


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  • Closed Accounts Posts: 7,686 ✭✭✭JHMEG


    @smitas5, oblige me if you will.

    Park a car that has these HIDs fitted 7 to 8 metres back from a wall at night, with the lights on low beam and shining on the wall.

    Then take a photo of the pattern on the wall and post it here.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 82 ✭✭smitas5


    Now.. I just did like you asked me. have to warn you that my peugeot 406 has reflector light... which is not ideal... best result is on the projector type.
    -First picture is the difference between 8000K & halogen. (alignment not done)
    48688.JPG
    -Second one is the picture you requested with 6000K HID 35W
    48689.JPG
    Not sure what should I look for as I can see a lot more during the night and I don't really get flashes like I used to when I had halogens and tryed to aim them higher in order to see something on the road.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 67 ✭✭Boots2006


    Another vote here for philips xtreme power (+80%), I've had them in about 6 months on dipped beam only. Huge improvement in light output. They look slightly whiter than the full beams. I bought them off powerbulbs.co.uk.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 2,460 ✭✭✭workaccount


    Hi,
    I would like to get Osram H7 nightbreakers for my car. Will these bulbs fit into my Nissan Sunny?


  • Registered Users, Subscribers, Registered Users 2 Posts: 13,631 ✭✭✭✭antodeco


    @smitas.

    Question for you. PM sent.


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