Anyone tried LED headlight bulbs? they seem to have moved on again with passive cooling, brighter than Halogen and consume less energy.

 

Curious if anyone has tried them in normal halogen Fabia headlights.

 

If you have was it a success? 

Not in my VRS but tried some H4's in my kit car and they were truly awfull!

Lovely bright white light when you were looking at the car from in front,but the light output on the road was shocking :(

Pic of the LED output on right compared to standard H4!

Strictly for the MaccyD's carpark crowd who never leave the urban street-lit environment.

Pic of the LED output on right compared to standard H4!

Are you sure the LED unit had lit off?

 

Alternatively, was it better on full beam than dip?

Are you sure the LED unit had lit off?

 

Alternatively, was it better on full beam than dip?

No it was the same result!!!!

Are you sure the LED unit had lit off?

 

Alternatively, was it better on full beam than dip?

If you look on the toolbox you can see the LED side looks brighter than the standard bulb,but light output on the cardboard is a different story :(

If you look on the toolbox you can see the LED side looks brighter than the standard bulb,but light output on the cardboard is a different story :(

That looks like a beam pattern issue (and might also be the cause of the luminous intensity differences {a true spotlight beam is always brighter than a true foglight one given the same bulb and reflector design}).

I have them on my Octy, got them from www.fourby.co.uk and they are fantastic!

(The yellow tinge at the edges is the front fog lights)

Edited 4 October, 20169 yr by octyal

I have them on my Octy, got them from www.fourby.co.uk and they are fantastic!

(The yellow tinge at the edges is the front fog lights)

 

that's fantastic???   looks awful to me in terms of light spread, scatter and glare!!

 

It mirrors what I've seen in Civic headlights recently using the latest Phillips LED bulbs and confirms that, in my opinion, at present they aren't worth having.

that's fantastic???   looks awful to me in terms of light spread, scatter and glare!!

 

It mirrors what I've seen in Civic headlights recently using the latest Phillips LED bulbs and confirms that, in my opinion, at present they aren't worth having.

 

Compared to the Nightbreakers that were in there, they are miles ahead. Not been flashed by anyone, light spread is good, as is the range. The photo's aren't taken in the best location

Compared to the Nightbreakers that were in there, they are miles ahead. Not been flashed by anyone, light spread is good, as is the range. The photo's aren't taken in the best location

They don't look to be matching my QX dip on range (they seem to run out about the verge the signposts are on?) and I'll get 3x that.

I just came across LED headlight bulbs by chance, looked up some reviews they seemed ok, the light output is way beyond what a halogen bulb can manage.

 

Interesting to hear some real life experience using them.

 

coskev - how long ago did you try them out? when I was looking up info they seem to have moved on a lot over the last year or so, could you have tried some when they were not so good?

I personally wouldn't go anywhere near them unless you have projector lenses (not the normal reflector one).

 

At least with the projector lens the light beam if focused in the right direction and you get a nice clean cut off.

They don't look to be matching my QX dip on range (they seem to run out about the verge the signposts are on?) and I'll get 3x that.

QX, is that a brand?

I'm looking for some improved halogen bulbs, not interested in the LED route. Are Qx expensive to buy?

JRJG

QX, is that a brand?

I'm looking for some improved halogen bulbs, not interested in the LED route. Are Qx expensive to buy?

JRJG

QX - Quartz-Xenon, Xenon being the noble gas used in the otherwise conventional H4 bulbs advertised as "+30% (or better) output" when compared with a Quartz-Iodine bulb of the same power.

I'm using the 2nd generation kit from Horizon Leds in my SLK and you have to get a kit matched to the headlamp so the point the light is emitted is the same as the Halogen bulb it's replacing. My kit was almost £130 when new and it does use active cooling but the light output is bang-on 2000 lumens (so they are legal without washers and levelling) and the beam is white and bright. I love them. SWMBO is quite happy with the Nightbreakers in the vRS so I see no reason to spend £100+ on another set.

I just came across LED headlight bulbs by chance, looked up some reviews they seemed ok, the light output is way beyond what a halogen bulb can manage.

 

Interesting to hear some real life experience using them.

 

coskev - how long ago did you try them out? when I was looking up info they seem to have moved on a lot over the last year or so, could you have tried some when they were not so good?

Couple of months ago,they advertised them with all the outputs etc showing they were brighter than standard bulbs.

They weren't the cheapest of the cheap,but not over £100 as above

QX - Quartz-Xenon, Xenon being the noble gas used in the otherwise conventional H4 bulbs advertised as "+30% (or better) output" when compared with a Quartz-Iodine bulb of the same power.

Ah so you have xenon lights fitted then? Are those drop or factory?

JRJG

Ah so you have xenon lights fitted then? Are those drop or factory?

JRJG

NO I DO NOT HAVE PLASMA DISCHARGE LIGHTS FITTED!!

Ah so you have xenon lights fitted then? Are those drop or factory?

JRJG

 

I believe they are just a standard bulb but filled with xenon gas which allows the filament to burn a bit brighter that's all.

I believe they are just a standard bulb but filled with xenon gas which allows the filament to burn a bit brighter that's all.

That's a better explanation

Thank you very much, I will have a look into xenon gas filled bulbs then. Is that all that needs changing, or do you have to start faffing with reflectors etc?

JRJG

I've tried the cheaper LED bulbs and they turned into magical smoke.

 

By all accounts the newer ones are better and popular in motorbikes etc. but they're quite expensive.

I've tried some fancy Cree LED lights in the main beam and fog lights but the light output was truly awful. Nice and bright to look at, but would be dangerous for the normal dipped beam head lights.

Swapped to Osram night breaker + and they are fantastic

Thanks for the replies, I think I shall save my money and stick with my Philips X-treme Vision bulbs