I have just replaced the halogen headlamp bulbs with a set of brighter ones. Not as easy as I expected simply because there is so little room between the headlamp cover and the bodywork/fusebox (SE). I suggest that a torch and a small mirror may come in useful.

Technically replacing the bulbs is easy, just unclip, replace bulb and reclip. The release for the clip is at the top and the clip folds down so removing the old bulb is ok. Seating the new bulb becomes a problem for folk with larger hands, first because of the limited room and second because you can't see to seat the bulb from the back. View it through the headlamp glass. Replacing the clip requires a bit of force and patience.

The torch and mirror come in handy to check that the top of the clip is seated properly. Before unclipping the bulb look at the proper location of the clip so that you can check that, when you close it, it is returned to the correct point.

Hope this is of some help.

I have just replaced the halogen headlamp bulbs with a set of brighter ones. Not as easy as I expected simply because there is so little room between the headlamp cover and the bodywork/fusebox (SE). I suggest that a torch and a small mirror may come in useful.

Technically replacing the bulbs is easy, just unclip, replace bulb and reclip. The release for the clip is at the top and the clip folds down so removing the old bulb is ok. Seating the new bulb becomes a problem for folk with larger hands, first because of the limited room and second because you can't see to seat the bulb from the back. View it through the headlamp glass. Replacing the clip requires a bit of force and patience.

The torch and mirror come in handy to check that the top of the clip is seated properly. Before unclipping the bulb look at the proper location of the clip so that you can check that, when you close it, it is returned to the correct point.

Hope this is of some help.

Interesting .........

Be interested to hear how good the upgrade is, and which blubs you used.

Did a similar thing with my 2CV except at the time I put those new fangled Halogen lights in.

The bulbs were a +50% from Lidl. i bought a set for my X-Trail and found them to be good so I bought a second set when I knew that i would be changing to the Yeti.

This was a trial run to make sure that replacing the bulbs would be practical. (without dismantling half the engine compartment) I intend to upgrade to Osram Nightbreaker +90% Xenon before next winter.

A run over to Llandudno last night proved that the change was worthwhile. Much sharper definition on dipped beam and better long range light on main beam.

As well as Osram I note that Philips do a range of halogens from +30% to +80%

Great feed back on the upgrade Terfyn. I was interested to see how well the Yeti headlights work, especially on dipped beam. Only a couple more weeks to wait now.

My last car I used Osram Silverstars and with my new car I've gone for Phillips X-Treme bulbs after reading several good reviews. In both cases they made a considerable difference to the dipped beam (seperate main/dipped units).

100% Brighter

I am looking at the Ring bulb as well as Osram. I recently bought a LED inspection lamp from Ring and I am very impressed with the quality. So Ring is definitely a contender. (Plus, if I buy themfrom Auto bulbs Direct, I get a free gift!!??!!)

The Ring +100% is supposed to comparable with the HID lights for brightness. So I can dazzle others as well as myself! - Only joking - honest.

Edited 20 February, 201016 yr by Terfyn

Now then, young Terfyn, who was it that said in another thread:

'I agree with the majority. Xenons are a menace because of the dazzling effect they have for oncoming drivers. For that reason I won't have them. I am sure that, provided you are sitting behind them, they will seem like the best thing ever to be fitted to a car.

My question is:- Is it necessary to have so much light available? It does not make driving any safer than being behind a good set of halogens. If you need so much light, should you be driving at all?

When the experts remove the dazzle created by (badly adjusted? - maybe) xenons then I along with many others will sign on.

I accept that many cars have badly adjusted headlights, but, as the on coming driver, I can cope with being dazzled by halogens. It is very unpleasant but not as bad as having my vision being wiped out completely due to too powerful lights. For all of you who disagree with me, just go and sit in front of your xenons and have them switched on full in your face.'

And now, a person by a very similar name has fitted Halogen +50% bulbs and is thinking of going to Xenon +90%.... So are these upgraded bulbs legal for road use?

Now then, young Terfyn, who was it that said in another thread:

'I agree with the majority. Xenons are a menace because of the dazzling effect they have for oncoming drivers. For that reason I won't have them. I am sure that, provided you are sitting behind them, they will seem like the best thing ever to be fitted to a car.

My question is:- Is it necessary to have so much light available? It does not make driving any safer than being behind a good set of halogens. If you need so much light, should you be driving at all?

When the experts remove the dazzle created by (badly adjusted? - maybe) xenons then I along with many others will sign on.

I accept that many cars have badly adjusted headlights, but, as the on coming driver, I can cope with being dazzled by halogens. It is very unpleasant but not as bad as having my vision being wiped out completely due to too powerful lights. For all of you who disagree with me, just go and sit in front of your xenons and have them switched on full in your face.'

And now, a person by a very similar name has fitted Halogen +50% bulbs and is thinking of going to Xenon +90%.... So are these upgraded bulbs legal for road use?

It says so in the advertising blurb! But, as these halogens are a mere candle flame compared to the Xenon searchlights, I can't see a problem - can you? LOL

Halogen is not so dim as a cande flame and increased power halogen most certainly is not either.. Some of these uprated bulbs are producing very nearly as much light intensity as HID xenon and yet their is no automatic leveling, no power wash, no projector lenses, just light scattering reflectors.

Edited 20 February, 201016 yr by Anthony 1

Yes the uprated +50% or whatever bulbs are legal as they are still only a max of 70 watts, as specified by the Construction & Use Regs. They get their greater light output by altering the filament construction and replacing the gases in the envelope with variuos other mixtures, commonly xenon or argon mixes.

It says so in the advertising blurb! But, as these halogens are a mere candle flame compared to the Xenon searchlights, I can't see a problem - can you? LOL

So, I can see at the first SMOC meeting there'll be awards given for the brightest non-dazzling lights at 20 paces, how much one can get into a Yeti boot and how deep is the deepest snow that can be safely traversed by a CR170 Yeti Elegance (obviously sans snow chains) and all held in the winter wilderness that is West Sussex. It will be judged by a mixed bunch of EU lawyers upholding EU law and people from places where it does actually snow (like Scandenavia and most of the rest of Europe) who like a good laugh and where they don't need to call International Rescue every time a snowflake is forecast...

So, I can see at the first SMOC meeting there'll be awards given for the brightest non-dazzling lights at 20 paces, how much one can get into a Yeti boot and how deep is the deepest snow that can be safely traversed by a CR170 Yeti Elegance (obviously sans snow chains) and all held in the winter wilderness that is West Sussex. It will be judged by a mixed bunch of EU lawyers upholding EU law and people from places where it does actually snow (like Scandenavia and most of the rest of Europe) who like a good laugh and where they don't need to call International Rescue every time a snowflake is forecast...

Re: SMOC meeting

By the time most of ever get our Yetis the snow will have been gone a long time - when we arrive, if we haven't been run off the road by Xenons, you might smell a SMOC member before you see them, due to lack of fresh clothes they can fit in the boot!

Having xenons as main beams, I have only replaced the fog light bulbs with Osram high power, whatever they are called. They were left over with spares from the Octy. They do give more light and are legal.

I can only second the torch and mirror idea. Actually finding the right orientation is difficult, as your hand is in the way, so you cannot see what you ae doing. IF you drop the mirror, it can fall into the left front wing space and be difficult to retrieve. All is not lost, as it will find it's way onto the plastic or metal shield under the engine and stay there. You need the car on a lift to et the shield off unless you are very skinny.

Btw, what type bulbs are they? Are they H4s?

And do you know what type bulbs the daylight running light are?

Btw, what type bulbs are they? Are they H4s?

And do you know what type bulbs the daylight running light are?

Hi,

yes low/high beam H4, fog H7 and DRL are a special ultra long life P13W.

Regards,

TP

This months Which magazine has a test on replacement halogen bulbs and compares them with Xenons as fitted to a new Astra.

They rate the Bosch Pure Lights as best - scored 141 on dipped beam compared to 164 for the Astra Xenons. (55 vs 131 on main beam)

Next came Osram Night Breakers with a dipped beam score of 97 (63 main)

Then Philips X-treme with a dipped beam score of 102 (62 main)

Then original Vauxhall fitment with a dipped beam score of 91 (48 main).

Terfyn, I don't suppose you noticed if you can 'flat beam' the headlights when you changed the bulbs did you? This is easy to do on Halogen equipped Octavias for continental driving and avoids having to fit stickers to you headlamps.

Terfyn, I don't suppose you noticed if you can 'flat beam' the headlights when you changed the bulbs did you? This is easy to do on Halogen equipped Octavias for continental driving and avoids having to fit stickers to you headlamps.

No I'm sorry. I just replaced the bulbs. The beam remains the same with the normal lift on the LHS.

In another thread about adjusting the headlamp beam for height,(I think it was)Yetii showed a picture from the Yeti Service Manual giving the adjuster positions and instructions for setting the beams correctly. I was wondering if this same Service Manual has the information to "flat beam" the headlamps. I did notice two levers on the back of the headlamps but I don't know what they do.

I hope you find the required info.

I hop eit is possible to 'flat beam' them as I hate using those stickers as they always seem to leave a residue on the lights that I can't shift.

On the Octavia flat beaming them took about 10 minutes once you knew what you were doing, hopefully the Yeti will be similar.

If not does anyone know if headlamp protectors are available yet thet I can stick the stickers to?

I hop eit is possible to 'flat beam' them as I hate using those stickers as they always seem to leave a residue on the lights that I can't shift.

On the Octavia flat beaming them took about 10 minutes once you knew what you were doing, hopefully the Yeti will be similar.

If not does anyone know if headlamp protectors are available yet thet I can stick the stickers to?

So what sort of thing do you have to do on an Octavia to flat beam it?

Does the back of the headlight on an Octavia look anything like that on a Yeti?

tom

No idea what a Yeti one looks like as I haven't got a Yeti yet.

With the Octavia you just pull the headlamp unit out and there's a little lever inside you flick to one side to flat beam it. It just moves a shield in front of the bulb to stop the beam kicking up on the left hand side.

I originally found out how to do it on here in the Octavia forum.

http://www.octavia-vrs.com/technical/EU_headlight.htm

It looks complicated but once you've done it at leisure at home it's very easy to do the next time and only takes a few minutes.

Hi,

yes low/high beam H4, fog H7 and DRL are a special ultra long life P13W.

Regards,

TP

I've never heard of P13W bulbs, and can't find any on the usual auto bulb websites. Any idea if the bulb goes by a different code / part number?

Having xenons as main beams, I have only replaced the fog light bulbs with Osram high power, whatever they are called. They were left over with spares from the Octy. They do give more light and are legal.

I'm getting Xenons - are the fogs the ones that are turned on when cornering ?

I'm getting Xenons - are the fogs the ones that are turned on when cornering ?

Yup, 'inside' fog light lights up at slow speed (can't remember the speed, it's in the manual) and the Xenons both turn when cornering (above a certain speed) - both work very well - much better than I imagined.

Yup, 'inside' fog light lights up at slow speed (can't remember the speed, it's in the manual) and the Xenons both turn when cornering (above a certain speed) - both work very well - much better than I imagined.

Corner Fogs work up to 40Kph; standard Elegance option on SE. Unsure at first but becoming a fan for country night driving.

Replying to another post the DRL bulbs are designed to outlast the lifetime of the car; approximately 8000 hours of illumination. Listed as a dealer replacement item only, hence the difficulty in finding a stockist I suppose.

Regards,

TP

edit typo

Edited 24 February, 201016 yr by The Plumber