Hi to All

I am going for the Osram Silverstar upgrade to dipped beams, but can anyone suggest a good upgrade for the H3 main beam? I dont want to go up in wattage, just light output, so Xenons. Also dont go for coloured bulbs.

Chris

I went for the Philips Premium H3s. 30% more light apparently, and that figure seems quite accurate to me.

Steve

Hi

Thanks Steve, is it a noticable upgrade or a subtle one?

Chris

I'd go for Phillips Vision plus or the Osram Silver Star for dipped and the higher wattages Phillips Rallye for teh main beam. Do a search, Jason (Devonutopia) posted some photos of the differences between the standard ad that combo

Picyures here

@TaviaRS - That thread is in the archive section, just wondering about if it's worth copying your last post from there into the fabia guides section etc, as that is a complete listing of the fitting types (minus front fogs) which seems useful

Thanks

Hi

Thanks Steve' date=' is it a noticable upgrade or a subtle one?

Chris[/quote']

IMO, it is noticeable. There's always the placebo effect with these sort of upgrades; 'oh it must be better because I've changed something!'

But I think the main beam now has a better, more consistant spread, along with an increase in illumination. Got them for about

I'd go for Phillips Vision plus or the Osram Silver Star for dipped and the higher wattages Phillips Rallye for teh main beam. Do a search, Jason (Devonutopia) posted some photos of the differences between the standard ad that combo

Hi

I would normally go for the 100 watters myself, and upgrade the wiring / relay, but as it is a car used professionally, I dont want to start messing about with the wiring or making it in any way obviously non standard. The car will have to last me a minimum of 3 years and the extra load of the 100 watters may cause long term problems with the relay or other wiring.

Casting my mind back, I think I have Osram Xenon H3 in the Omega. The main beam light is very white and they are very good for pattern and brightness. I got them from the Vauxhall dealer.

Chris

Update on the quest

The Vauxhall dealers no longer seel the H3 Xenons. Been to Halfrauds to have a look today and see the following:

Halfords Xenon super brilliance 55w (+30% more light)

Halfords Rallye 100w

Halfords Rallye 130w

The two uprated wattage bulbs (8.3A and 10.8A) respectively are in the wiring frying / lamp lens melting league (the fuse is 10A per lamp for mains 15A per lamp for dipped:confused: ).

Has anyone had the Phillips Rallye (80w) bulbs in for a long period of time and used them for long night journeys where they are on for half hour at a time or more? Next to the 100w and 130w the 80w at 6.7A (compared to the 4.6A standard bulb) seems a pretty conservative upgrade. May well go for these. I have only ever used 100 or 130 in the past and did not want to go that far.

Also, anyone compared the 80w with Xenon H3?

Chris

I'd avoid Halfrauds myself and buy from Powerbulbs.

I've always stuck with upgrades from 'standard' ranges of Philips and Osram. They're an improvement over the OEM bulbs, without having to worry about frying the wiring.

Steve

I'd avoid Halfrauds myself and buy from Powerbulbs.

I've always stuck with upgrades from 'standard' ranges of Philips and Osram. They're an improvement over the OEM bulbs' date=' without having to worry about frying the wiring.

Steve[/quote']

Hi Steve

The Halfrauds price on H7 bulbs is obscene, but they carry a bigger selection of upgraded H3 and at a similar price to power bulbs. I will get something tomorrow as the H7 should turn up then. It will be +30% Xenons or 80 watt Lucas available locally. Next step is to get out and photograph the standard illumination, record the setings, then change bulbs and photograph the same scene at the same settings to give an objective comparison for posting.

Chris

Chris

Chris - fair enough, especially if they're at a similar price. Don't go near my local branch unless I can seriously help it. They're always moving stuff round and it seems to be a magnet for the Pax Power brigade :thumbdwn:

That aside, I'd be interesting to 'see' (intentional pun) your findings, once you've swapped over

Steve

Got myself a Canadian brand recently, STC...it is PURE WHITE AND BRIGHT! Fitted H7s too, has xenon output and look...betterthan the Philips...

Got myself a Canadian brand recently, STC...it is PURE WHITE AND BRIGHT! Fitted H7s too, has xenon output and look...better than the Phillips...

Has anyone had the Phillips Rallye (80w) bulbs in for a long period of time and used them for long night journeys where they are on for half hour at a time or more?

I do a lot of night-time driving in the winter months as I work in the middle of nowhere and drive a lot of pitch black country lanes. I never had a problem in the 10k winter miles I covered with the 100W Philips bulbs and they were on for a minimum of 30 minutes at a time. They were so good, I bought some for the Mondeo when I switched cars

Chris

Hi,

can anybody supply the correct code for the Lucas H3 in 12v/80w mentioned previously, my local Lucas depot can't find it!!

Thanks

Hi' date='

can anybody supply the correct code for the Lucas H3 in 12v/80w mentioned previously, my local Lucas depot can't find it!!

Thanks[/quote']

I am guessing Lucas as that is what the guys at MPD sell. May not be though.

Chris

I do a lot of night-time driving in the winter months as I work in the middle of nowhere and drive a lot of pitch black country lanes. I never had a problem in the 10k winter miles I covered with the 100W Philips bulbs and they were on for a minimum of 30 minutes at a time. They were so good' date=' I bought some for the Mondeo when I switched cars

Chris[/quote']

Hi Chirs

Can you confirm 100w? This is up the top of the fuse rating, but if they were OK on for 30 mins at a time, I would imagine things are rated sufficiently.

Chris

Hi Chirs

Can you confirm 100w? This is up the top of the fuse rating' date=' but if they were OK on for 30 mins at a time, I would imagine things are rated sufficiently.

Chris[/quote']

Yep - they were 100W and I know Andy Ellis used them on a tour of Scotland where he had them on for ages.

Chris

Hi,

far as I can tell Lucas do a 70w/24v in H3 profile but only a 55w or 100w in 12 volt. The code for the 100w one is LLB483/100

Yep - they were 100W and I know Andy Ellis used them on a tour of Scotland where he had them on for ages.

Chris

Why or Why am I such a numbers tart? Against my better judgement and with apologies in advance to the wiring and relays, I think I will go for the 100w bulbs and just keep a nostril open for the smell of burning. 8.3A on a 10A circuit. Repeat "it should be OK.... it should be OK... Besides, a relay cant be that expensive can it?

I have run 100 / 130 watters in other stuff, but not without a seperate relay and supply. Heres hoping the Skoda electrics are up to it. Experience tells me that the lighting upgrade to 100w is certainly very good.

Chris