Car Headlamp Bulbs

[Ubique]

have you checked voltage to the headlights and across the battery?
ive noticed more and more people going through bulbs especially in stop start motors
have a suspicion the higher charge voltage is causing them to burn out faster and/or susceptible to knocks like potholes

That's exactly it - which is why more & more vehicles are being fitted with LED lighting as standard. Charge voltages rise based upon ambient temperature for modern batteries, anything up to 15.5VDC is normal, conversely, once the battery is at optimum charge, the voltage drops to 12.3 - 12.5VDC to minimise alternator load and therefore lower emissions. The problem with tungsten lamps is that the tungsten is shed onto the enclosure in normal use, Quartz enclosures along with halogen gas causes this effect to be reversed but the tungsten does not re-populate evenly, so you still end up with a weak point which will break due to heat and/or vibration, however, the tungsten element can be thinner than the traditional tungsten/glass lamp, also why they provide almost the full rated light output for the duration of their life, rather than the slowly dimming output of the tungsten/glass version.

LED/HID lighting is actually more efficient and has a better focus than incandescent, the perception of 'blinding' is mainly due to a harder cut-off (rather than the fading-out effect of incandescent) giving a higher contrast between lit & unlit, or, retrofitted LED's or high power 'blue' incandescent lamps overwhelming the carefully designed prefocus reflectors - that and the Halfords car-park fitter not clipping the lamp in correctly so it doesn't point at the drivers eyes of oncoming traffic....

Vehicle lighting has to pass strict construction & use design rules, tests and verification, does anyone really think that manufacturers would be allowed to design & fit something that doesn't comply with the requirements for dip beam to not interfere with the visibility of oncoming traffic?

 

[voipio]

...... does anyone really think that manufacturers would be allowed to design & fit something that doesn't comply with the requirements for dip beam to not interfere with the visibility of oncoming traffic?

Sadly, yes, based on actual driving experience. There are way too many LED bobby dazzlers on the road.

 

[richard s]

Don't know if any use but I've seen something on MK2 golfs where the light loom is cut into then a relay wired in and the lights then fed from the relay, this apparently improves the light output

 

[Ubique]

Sadly, yes, based on actual driving experience. There are way too many LED bobby dazzlers on the road.

Well if you're sure, you could always start a class action for contravention of this https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1989/1796/made

There is some justification to criticise the muppets that drive with the DRL's on all the time instead of actual lights - DRL's are not focussed lighting, unlike headlights and foglights.

 

[grim_d]

They don't last particularly long, brighter by burning hotter then fail early.

Never had one fail yet and been using them in every vehicle (apart from the Subaru, has factory fitted hid) I've had for the past 13 years, which isn't that many. They were in my old fiesta for 3 years/30k ish and I used that car to commute to my permanent Nightshift job AND they were harvested from my previous car.

Think you've been buying knockoffs!

Acquaintance of mine put a new hid kit on his car the other week....not even 24hrs and both were burst.

 

[bricol]

Never had one fail yet and been using them in every vehicle (apart from the Subaru, has factory fitted hid) I've had for the past 13 years, which isn't that many. They were in my old fiesta for 3 years/30k ish and I used that car to commute to my permanent Nightshift job AND they were harvested from my previous car.

Think you've been buying knockoffs!

Acquaintance of mine put a new hid kit on his car the other week....not even 24hrs and both were burst.

I joined a bulkbuy on Scoobynet what must be over 20 yrs ago for Autoamps HID conversion "bulbs". It was expensive (£300?) but fitted my Lancia headlamps (replacements after the reflector melting episode) - that same conversion is still working well in the second Lancia - done a lot of miles in each (200,000 total I think).

I've had three sets of cheaper ones in the main beams - the current set usually come on, sometimes both of them do If i have to dip, its pot luck which one will come back on . . . or any at all . . . a little rest, and they both usually come back on . . . usually just in-time to dip for oncoming traffic.

 

[james butler]

Don't know if any use but I've seen something on MK2 golfs where the light loom is cut into then a relay wired in and the lights then fed from the relay, this apparently improves the light output

it does but no cutting of looms required! simple push connections will do then it can always be returned to factory spec later

 

[blackolive (Ste)]

I've used Autobulbs Direct stuff for a fair few years with no complaints, a couple of bulbs here with a 4 years guarantee that should do you, one of Mrs Robo's cars (Peugeot?) was notorious for breaking headlamp bulbs so I fitted a pair of their "endurance" bulbs which where still working fine when the car was sold.

Also consider the bulbs you show will draw almost twice the current your car's wiring is designed for which will could lead to problems (burnt switchgear, melted cables etc.)

ABD are ok but forget about the brighter bulbs if you want longevity. Ive fitted them and they last less than 12 months. They are guaranteed for 2 years but they want to see the old one so you end up buying new ones anyway so you dont end up removing the headlight twice . Im sure ABD do some rough service ones.

Edit. Im wrong, the brighter type bulbs only have a 6 month warranty .

 

[blackolive (Ste)]

Here https://www.autobulbsdirect.co.uk/h4-twenty20-endurance-12v-60-55w-472-halogen-bulb.html

 

[blackolive (Ste)]

Im tempted now. Ive been through 2 sets of halogen lamps already and they get a good review for beam cut off https://www.autobulbsdirect.co.uk/h7-twenty20-led-12v-55w-headlight-bulbs-pair.html

 

[ukracer]

I've used Autobulbs Direct stuff for a fair few years with no complaints, a couple of bulbs here with a 4 years guarantee that should do you, one of Mrs Robo's cars (Peugeot?) was notorious for breaking headlamp bulbs so I fitted a pair of their "endurance" bulbs which where still working fine when the car was sold.

Also consider the bulbs you show will draw almost twice the current your car's wiring is designed for which will could lead to problems (burnt switchgear, melted cables etc.)

Seems to be far too many available for the passatt.

Upgrade Headlight Bulbs for Cars and Motorcycles | Xenon | Halogen | Standard

Brighter light, whiter light and long life bulbs all available to upgrade your halogen headlight bulbs. A full range of standard replacements also available.

www.autobulbsdirect.co.uk

They seem to be a single filament of 55 watt. How does that work.?

 

[ukracer]

Here https://www.autobulbsdirect.co.uk/h4-twenty20-endurance-12v-60-55w-472-halogen-bulb.html

Strangely really cheap....

 

[ukracer]

I dont think @Onoff is looking to blind anyone, its the longevity of the bulbs he is concerned about, truck versions of any of the normal car bulbs are HD and easy to get hold of .

Bob

What's a truck version?

 

[johnyev]

I dont think @Onoff is looking to blind anyone, its the longevity of the bulbs he is concerned about, truck versions of any of the normal car bulbs are HD and easy to get hold of .

Bob

But most trucks are 24V

 

[a111r]

Tell her everytime she hits the pothole, she owes you sex.

You may or may not, want to introduce the term 'rims' into this conversation?

 

[MetalMonkey]

You may or may not, want to introduce the term 'rims' into this conversation?

... Oh err misses!

 

[Trevorleach]

Modern h7 headlamp bulbs are pretty crap, we change bucket loads at work, the no name ones are proper dogpoo, named ones are better, they all seem to fail the same way filament gets a bit saggy then a huge white flash and they have blown, some take the fuse with them.
No rhythm or reason for them, different makes of trucks as well.

The elcheapo h4 in my 90 have been in there for years.

 

[mechman]

I went to Halfraudes some years ago to to enquire about those HID conversions etc and the very knowledgeable assistant told me, (Wait for it) They are good but they don't last long if you use them when it's DARK. WTF

 

[8ob]

What's a truck version?

They are readily available right across the range in both 12/24v, its a bit like a rough service bulb but the motoring version, there are more supports holding the filaments. I will take some snaps of them later when I am in the workshop.

Bob

Have a read https://www.eltaeurope.com/automotive-bulbs/24v-commercial-bulbs/

 

[armalites]

Osram nightbreaker

Job jobbied.

Nightbreakers are great but if you do a fair but of mileage with them on they just don't last. I ran them for a while but they rarely lasted more than a few months.