Aha it's those three letters again (HID), now being joined with another three (LED).

Leaving the legal arguments aside (as they are very well trodden paths here), has anyone compared HID to LED in Octavia headlights (dipped or main)?

(Not worried about the fogs as there has been previous discussion about the best colour to use in the fog.)

Surely the light output from LED H7's wouldn't be anything near enough for driving?

I've got HID's fitted and have never had any bother with them at all, and they are a huge! improvement over the original bulbs

The problem with all these aftermarket led bulbs is they're use of low power cheap emitters, look at Audi A8 headlamp that actually use multiple leds for dipped and main alongside the DRL's.

They use high power leds with at least 3W per emitter, there is no way an aftermarket H7 will have enough heatsink volume to dissipate the heat those high power emitters put out

For LED headlights to be bright and the light directed in the correct way then need to be in a purpose built housing with specific reflector design and substantial heat-sinks.

If you put aftermarket H7 led bulbs in your dipped beam they won't even light up the front bumper

Example:

Landrover defender run Halogen Headlights (1500lm), A HID kit 4300k 35w offer around 3200lm over twice as bright for under £40

They do a Fully E-marked all LED headlight offering LESS output than a HID kit for only £...................I'll let you look at the website, bargain if you ask me

http://www.mudstuff.co.uk/Defender%20LED%20Headlamps.shtml

I have HID as dipped beam, massive improvement and LED as sidelights this was just to make the sidelights white which IMO looks better, not bothered with main beam, that's off 90% of the time and good enough for the other 10%

They do a Fully E-marked all LED headlight offering LESS output than a HID kit for only £...................I'll let you look at the website, bargain if you ask me

http://www.mudstuff....Headlamps.shtml

:o :o :o

Thanks for the input guys.

Think it'll be a pair of 6000k HIDS to match the sidelights then

6000k is what I've had in for 2yrs now, never had any issues with them.

I've even followed traffic cars etc with them on and not been pulled.

But I do take them out for the day at MOT time, because the law has changed now and you are supposed to have washers fitted if you have HID's

If your looking for the most useable light go for oem spec colour temp, 4300K or there abouts.

6000K claims to be daylight but they really just light everything up with a blue cast and depth of vision is reduced, although they will look a lot brighter its just our mind playing tricks on us, black tarmac isnt really the best material to reflect light as is.

They will still look like HID compared to your regular 2100K halogen bulbs in the cars beside you but will benifit greatly in light output.

If you want looks go for 6000k 35w

If you want performance go for 5000k 55w - this is what I have, the extra wattages pushes the blue out slightly leaving pure white.

An example of 35w vs 55w both 4300k, the camera makes the 35w look a little bluer than it actually is and the 55w is a little more yellow. For me that's why 5000k 55w is perfect. It will also depend on your projector optics, look at how much the floor in front is lit between the 2. this wasn't an octavia.

Edited 7 September, 201213 yr by xpower

My 6000k are 55w not 35w, like you say I find the 55w alot better than the 35w

Who are y'all recommending for H7 55w 6000k?

Thanks

My mate mick owns crazyleds.co.uk, and only lives a couple of mile away from me so I got them off him.

I am sure his prices are comparable, and he only deals in quality stuff so you should have no bother.

6000k is what I've had in for 2yrs now, never had any issues with them.

I've even followed traffic cars etc with them on and not been pulled.

But I do take them out for the day at MOT time, because the law has changed now and you are supposed to have washers fitted if you have HID's

You don't need to take them out. The MOT regs are 'headlight washers must work if fitted'. This is in their as there are some cars that come with xenon's as OEM but without Headlight washers.....ie Atom, X-bow etc.

You don't need to take them out. The MOT regs are 'headlight washers must work if fitted'. This is in their as there are some cars that come with xenon's as OEM but without Headlight washers.....ie Atom, X-bow etc.

Yeah but my car is a taxi, and as such I have to take it for 2 MOT's a year at local council testing station.

The bloke there is known for being very strict and by the book, but also he has his discretion. I know he's not a fan of HID's, so 5 mins to swap them over every 6 month just makes life easier :-)

Had my car MOT'd today. Passed, no advisory. HIDs fitted. As they have been for the previous 2 tests. All at different stations. I have washers.

Aren't we lucky! the octavia must be one of the easiest cars on which to change headlamp bulbs/ignitors.

You don't need to take them out. The MOT regs are 'headlight washers must work if fitted'. This is in their as there are some cars that come with xenon's as OEM but without Headlight washers.....ie Atom, X-bow etc.

Given that ECE approval for OEM spec includes washer and auto-levelling, I can't see how the Atom and the X-bow would have got type approval for use on the road.