LED headlight bulbs

canhefixit

im looking at these bulbs online and was wondering if anyone knows if they work on high and low beam, ive a mk1 connect and one bulb does both high an low so need the led to do the same

Even as a headlight bulb do these give of alot more light than a regular bulb? the light of mine at the min on low is terrible and i have put in new bulbs and cleaned the headlight housing like new but still the same

I know there are the philips stronger bulbs but i cant justify spending 20quid on a bulb for it only to blow in a few months

slimjimmc

Like HID conversion kits, LED conversion kits are illegal for on-road use unless you swap out the entire headlamp unit with a EU-type approved replacement unit. I'm not sure if there are any approved LED headlamps currently available yet but they seem quite scarce.

You may be able to improve your lamps by polishing the plastic front of the headlamp if it's faded. You should get a heck of a lot longer than a few months from the brighter 55W bulbs from Osram/Philips even with daily use.

Special Circumstances

Show us a link to one of these long lasting and bright led retrofit kits. I'll buy one if they are any better than a HID retrofit without being more than my annual car tax.

I'm not all that optimistic though!

biko

The usual recommendation for "brighter bulbs" is Osram Nightbreakers which I've used myself without issue. Can't remember how long they lasted but do try a pair.

colm_mcm

You won't get universal led bulbs that are any good. If you look up what a factory led system looks like you'll see why.

amurph0

What about Philips Lumileds? I only came across them a while ago, i think they're fairly new. Only came out less then a year ago.

http://www.aurorabulbs.com/collections/led-headlight-kits/products/philips-lumileds-g7-led-4000-lumens-headlight-conversion-kit?variant=10675313475

As far as i understand it, these LEDs are designed to replicate the light pattern of halogen bulbs so they are a direct swap and will work in halogen headlight units. They work as full and dipped beam as well as foglights and don't cause any dazzle/glare to other road users.

I've only read about them on UK forums so far and it seems that they are legal in the UK, so i would assume that they are legal here as well?

amurph0

What about Philips Lumileds? I only came across them a while ago, i think they're fairly new. Only came out less then a year ago.

http://www.aurorabulbs.com/collections/led-headlight-kits/products/philips-lumileds-g7-led-4000-lumens-headlight-conversion-kit?variant=10675313475

As far as i understand it, these LEDs are designed to replicate the light pattern of halogen bulbs so they are a direct swap and will work in halogen headlight units. They work as full and dipped beam as well as foglights and don't cause any dazzle/glare to other road users.

I've only read about them on UK forums so far and it seems that they are legal in the UK, so i would assume that they are legal here as well?

Special Circumstances

amurph0 wrote: »

What about Philips Lumileds? I only came across them a while ago, i think they're fairly new. Only came out less then a year ago.

http://www.aurorabulbs.com/collections/led-headlight-kits/products/philips-lumileds-g7-led-4000-lumens-headlight-conversion-kit?variant=10675313475

As far as i understand it, these LEDs are designed to replicate the light pattern of halogen bulbs so they are a direct swap and will work in halogen headlight units. They work as full and dipped beam as well as foglights and don't cause any dazzle/glare to other road users.

I've only read about them on UK forums so far and it seems that they are legal in the UK, so i would assume that they are legal here as well?

A) that is not an official philips product, although the seller is vague to the point of implying that it is. (Its a philips led chip, probably. It's at least as likely to be Philips as all the LED's that claim to be cree "model whatever" actually are I suppose. Driver,housing, "optical" design are not philips)

They appear to imply that this is legal because their factory was thinking about an e-marked halogen bulb while they dreamed this led set up. But the led product doesnt appear to be emarked at all. So I wouldn't even assume they are legal in the UK. Which to be fair, would make them no less legal than any of the shoddy hid retrofits.

C) they are manufactured for and sold by a company with no postal address or company number.

amurph0

Special Circumstances wrote: »

A) that is not an official philips product, although the seller is vague to the point of implying that it is. (Its a philips led chip, probably. It's at least as likely to be Philips as all the LED's that claim to be cree "model whatever" actually are I suppose. Driver,housing, "optical" design are not philips)

They appear to imply that this is legal because their factory was thinking about an e-marked halogen bulb while they dreamed this led set up. But the led product doesnt appear to be emarked at all. So I wouldn't even assume they are legal in the UK. Which to be fair, would make them no less legal than any of the shoddy hid retrofits.

C) they are manufactured for and sold by a company with no postal address or company number.

I can't comment on the product myself as I haven't seen it in person, I was just curious about the idea.

I can say though that Aurora Bulbs is a legit shop, albeit small. It's run by a man named James, I think he runs it out of his house. And i don't think he manufactuers his products, he's merely a reseller. I have dealt with him before when I was buying smaller LED bulbs for my cars interior lights and number plate lights, etc. The LEDs I got from him were much better quality then anything I got from eBay, and he seemed professional and knew what be was talking about.

He is known as Mr JP on the civinfo forums, where he has a very good reputation as a lighting specialist (with over 13,000 posts on that forum alone). I think he is known on other automotive forums, although the only one I follow is civinfo.

There are several threads on civinfo where people have reported to have either the Philips or CREE kit installed and have had no problems, light cut off is said to be the same as halogen bulbs and there was no mention of being flashed or dazzling other drivers. And several people have said they have passed the MOT with them installed.

http://www.civinfo.com/forum/lights/208161-mr-jp-h1-h7-led-headlight-bulb-fitted.hthtml


http://www.civinfo.com/forum/lights/201433-h7-led-headlight-kit-mr-jp-fitted.html


http://www.civinfo.com/forum/aurora-bulbs/254650-new-philips-lumileds-led-conversion-kits-4000lm-aurora-bulbs.html#post3576985

Also would you happen to know of a link where I can read about the laws governing vehicle lights? The only thing I can find is "Road Traffic (Lighting of Vehicles) Regulations, 1963.", and I can't seem to find any reference to LED or HID type lights.

Special Circumstances

" mate I'm told they are fully legal and MOT compliant yes. New technology with no restrictions at present."

Poppycock. I'm told.

slimjimmc

amurph0 wrote: »

Also would you happen to know of a link where I can read about the laws governing vehicle lights? The only thing I can find is "Road Traffic (Lighting of Vehicles) Regulations, 1963.", and I can't seem to find any reference to LED or HID type lights.

It falls under EU regulations which are ratified in Irish law by various 'entry into service' regulations.
Basically no lamp may be fitted (entered into service) for road use unless it has obtained EU type approval from a member state. To date no certifying EU country has granted type-approval for aftermarket HID/LEDs bulbs to fitted to lamp units designed for halogen lamps. You can do what you like off-road but such a setup is illegal for use on public roads.

Special Circumstances

slimjimmc wrote: »

It falls under EU regulations which are ratified in Irish law by various 'entry into service' regulations.
Basically no lamp may be fitted (entered into service) for road use unless it has obtained EU type approval from a member state. To date no certifying EU country has granted type-approval for aftermarket HID/LEDs bulbs to fitted to lamp units designed for halogen lamps. You can do what you like off-road but such a setup is illegal for use on public roads.

But mate, new technology innit? No restrictions mate. :pac:

You'll love this slimjimmc, hilarious stuff:
http://www.civinfo.com/forum/horizon-leds/184522-horizonleds-co-uk-h7-philips-lumileds-luxeon-headlight-kit-fitted.html#post2697690

"A lot of you were a bit unsure about the beam pattern effect when fitted to a Civic, but we have done the tests for you! Of course you will never get the exact beam pattern from any LED bulb when in comparison with halogen bulbs, but we think its safe to say these are a very very close match!

Sadly we couldn't take pictures at night* as it wasn't our personal vehicle and time was limited. But these daytime shots do really show off the results."
*LOL