New bulbs for Focus

Farmer_3650

Just wondering whats the difference between xenon and LED bulb and what would be the best option for a mk2 ford focus headlights/fog lights? Ideally something that'll pass NCT and not affect other road users vision too much. Seen these online and they seemed like a good option, should the be a straight fit to replace standard ones?. Thanks. https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00MZQU8D6/ref=au_as_r_pf_vs?_encoding=UTF8&newVehicle=1&selectVehicleSource=vehicle%2Battributes&submodelId=18934&th=1

bazz26

The headlight lens on your Focus is not designed to house either LED or XENON bulbs, best stick to original halogen bulbs. You can get something like Osram Nightbreakers halogen bulbs to improve visibility of existing headlights.

Farmer_3650

bazz26 wrote: »

The headlight lens on your Focus is not designed to house either LED or XENON bulbs, best stick to original halogen bulbs. You can get something like Osram Nightbreakers halogen bulbs to improve visibility of existing headlights.

Once its a H1 bulb, would it not fit in the same? Are them Osram Nightbreakers legal? I'll have a look into them, thanks.

bazz26

It's not as simple as just whether the fittings are the same, it's about the light coming out. Your car's lenses were never designed for LED and XENON light output. This can scatter the beam making them next to useless to the driver and annoying or dangerous to oncoming traffic. Nightbreakers are perfectly road legal and are a direct replacement for what you currently have. The only downside is that they tend to have a shorter life span than normal halogen bulbs.

Farmer_3650

bazz26 wrote: »

It's not as simple as just whether the fittings are the same, it's about the light coming out. Your car's lenses were never designed for LED and XENON light output. This can scatter the beam making them next to useless to the driver and annoying or dangerous to oncoming traffic. Nightbreakers are perfectly road legal and are a direct replacement for what you currently have. The only downside is that they tend to have a shorter life span than normal halogen bulbs.

Thanks for the informative reply. The bulbs in the link below are halogen but would they still be affected by the lenses on the focus as they are very bright? https://www.philips.ie/c-p/12258WVUB1/whitevision-ultra-car-headlight-bulb#see-all-benefits

punisher5112

Farmer_3650 wrote: »

Thanks for the informative reply. The bulbs in the link below are halogen but would they still be affected by the lenses on the focus as they are very bright? https://www.philips.ie/c-p/12258WVUB1/whitevision-ultra-car-headlight-bulb#see-all-benefits

Is the H1 not the fog???

You need H7 for ordinary dip beam.....

greasepalm

I would ask if the lens is milky or see through as that also has a bearing on light emitted.

Farmer_3650

punisher5112 wrote: »

Is the H1 not the fog???

You need H7 for ordinary dip beam.....

H7 is the low beam and H1 is the high beam. H8 is the fogs

Farmer_3650

greasepalm wrote: »

I would ask if the lens is milky or see through as that also has a bearing on light emitted.

No its clear. There is good light out of the standard bulbs but I'd like to replace the lights with whiter lights.

punisher5112

Farmer_3650 wrote: »

H7 is the low beam and H1 is the high beam. H8 is the fogs

Ah that's it, sorry I do always mix up the fog...

teediddlyeye

bazz26 wrote: »

It's not as simple as just whether the fittings are the same, it's about the light coming out. Your car's lenses were never designed for LED and XENON light output. This can scatter the beam making them next to useless to the driver and annoying or dangerous to oncoming traffic. Nightbreakers are perfectly road legal and are a direct replacement for what you currently have. The only downside is that they tend to have a shorter life span than normal halogen bulbs.

Nobody seems to know this but you can actually get the aftermarket HID bulbs for reflector headlights.

I had a set of H7R bulbs in my own car a while back and they had perfect beam pattern. Great light and no blinding other drivers.

Shame too many dopes going around with the wrong type prompting a blanket ban at the NCT.

mikeecho

Promo code: CAR23. We'll give 23% off at powerbulbs.com for anyone that's interested

Farmer_3650

teediddlyeye wrote: »

Nobody seems to know this but you can actually get the aftermarket HID bulbs for reflector headlights.

I had a set of H7R bulbs in my own car a while back and they had perfect beam pattern. Great light and no blinding other drivers.

Shame too many dopes going around with the wrong type prompting a blanket ban at the NCT.

Could be worth looking into them so, can always be switched before NCT if I have to.

Farmer_3650

mikeecho wrote: »

Promo code: CAR23. We'll give 23% off at powerbulbs.com for anyone that's interested

I'll have a look, thanks. Whats the story with them phillips whitevision ultra bulbs? Are they road legal in Ireland? Look like a good option.

mikeecho

Farmer_3650 wrote: »

I'll have a look, thanks. Whats the story with them phillips whitevision ultra bulbs? Are they road legal in Ireland? Look like a good option.

Look at the specs, some bulbs that are very white, ie have a high Kelvin no, can have a low lumen rating.

I had some whiter than white Philips h7s a few yrs ago, and while they looked great, and were very white. They were useless at night time, they didn't light up anything.