Looking for Halogen bulbs upgrade - Xenon look

[Jake242]

Thanks for all the answers guys, The Xenon upgrade ainarssems linked to is COMPLETELY illegal here

To have Xenons here you need the headlamp itself to be approved for Xenon, self level adjusting of the lamps + wipers/washers for the headlamps... so aftermarket is close to impossible.


Im gonna find some H1 and HB3 that suits my needs


Cheers, Jake

[Norretal]

Originally Posted by ainarssems

Low beam is H1, main beam 9005/HB3(same thing, different names) and fog is H3. You don't want cool looking blue/white halogen lamps. The way they achieve this is by colouring glass blue which filters out yellow spectrum of light so you end up with less light. High output bulbs have reduced lifespan because they burn at higher temperatures, Philips Premium +30% is a good compromise between light, price and lifetime. Not sure if it is legal in Norway but you might consider updating H1 lamps with aftermarket HID kit like this one: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/12V-55w-He...item48437eb7a9

Thanks for that info ainarssems, do you know anyone that's fitted these and seen good results over standard? They're not much more expensive than a pair of supposed brighter halogen bulbs so I'd consider trying them if anyone else has benefitted from installing them?

[HPsauce]

I upgraded my main beams (HB3?) a while back (2 or 3 years now?) to brighter/whiter ones.
Trouble is I'm not sure exactly which brand/model they were.

Reasons were twofold:
1. One bulb had failed
2. I have HID (factory) dipped beams and the full beam was pathetic and yellow in comparison.

It's a pig of a job to do because the HID kit blocks access to the bulbholders and you need to take a fair bit of stuff out of the way, so I employed a mobile mechanic with lots of appropriate tools.

End result is good. The new bulbs are still somewhat yellower (and dimmer) than the dipped beams but they do at least have some value/effect and don't just look like stupid yellow candles.

Edit: Found the packaging which has the old working bulb in as a spare.
HB3/9005 "6500K Xenon Upgrade" from Autobulbs Direct Ltd. "Ice Blue Light and Style".
Of course they're not that colour still being yellower than the HID which are probably around 4500K, but they're not bad.

[ainarssems]

Thanks for that info ainarssems, do you know anyone that's fitted these and seen good results over standard? They're not much more expensive than a pair of supposed brighter halogen bulbs so I'd consider trying them if anyone else has benefitted from installing them?

Yes me , Mike and couple of others. I used them with good results on PF S8 and C5 A6. Not so good on Freelander in H4 dual beam bulbs. There is a thread somewhere on the forum. Only problem was water getting in one of the ballasts so I have resealed all of them.

[Norretal]

Originally Posted by ainarssems

Yes me , Mike and couple of others. I used them with good results on PF S8 and C5 A6. Not so good on Freelander in H4 dual beam bulbs. There is a thread somewhere on the forum. Only problem was water getting in one of the ballasts so I have resealed all of them.

Cheers, I will bear that in mind. I'll fit them and make sure they're well sealed.

I've read all the threads but the detail and differences of opinion makes the decision even harder, I've got to start somewhere and these seem like a good option, thanks for the advice

[Norretal]

Well, I bought the HID's recommended and eventually fitted them and I'm very happy with the results, much better than "upgrade bulbs" that I tried for a similar cost. The only problem now is the poor sidelights, as discussed on other threads. There seems to be much debate about the preferred option, based on reliability mainly, has anyone tried any LED's or an alternative upgrade that has proved reliable, and satisfactory in terms of looks, and is also reasonable regarding cost?

Thanks in advance

Norretal

[Architex_mA8tey]

I used to have projection headlights and I swapped mine for standard xenons rather than xenon pluses as I prefer the look of the headlight.
my sidelights are stacked LEDs off ebay and I'm very happy with the brightness/look -







More pics and a discussion is also on THIS THREAD

[Norretal]

Thanks very much, that was the particular thread I was talking about. The photos look great and I'd be keen to try those if possible. It's when you start getting into the detail of standard xenons, xenon plusses and projection headlights that I start to get lost in the detail. I'm assuming that my PF would have the most basic so I'd appreciate it if anyone could confirm and I'd look using that information. If photos or details are needed to confirm than I'd gladly supply. It hasn't had a headlight upgrade as they're still the seperate headlight and indicator units so maybe that is all the detail required?

Thanks in advance

[Architex_mA8tey]

OK so on a Pre Facelift car do you even have sidelight bulbs? the workshop manual is calling them "fog light" bulbs which they may well have been prior to facelift as the fog lights then dropped down into the lower bumper

ELSAWEB PF Headlights

Mine is slightly different like THIS ONE

[HPsauce]

Originally Posted by Architex_mA8tey

OK so on a Pre Facelift car do you even have sidelight bulbs?

Of course you do!
(And yes, the foglights ARE in the headlight cluster which makes life very tricky with Xenons. )