I am coming very late to this conversation and not particularly technical. I have a 2017 L&K with Xenon, UK market. I am disappointed with the headlight performance in general, on both high and low beams I feel they should be brighter. If I understand correctly there are H7 bulbs in the main beam, D3S in low beam, and a ballast resistor that also affects output. Without getting in to the ins and outs of Osram versus Philips, do I upgrade all 3 factors? Should I also upgrade the cornering lights? 

7 hours ago, Parahandy said:

I am coming very late to this conversation and not particularly technical. I have a 2017 L&K with Xenon, UK market. I am disappointed with the headlight performance in general, on both high and low beams I feel they should be brighter. If I understand correctly there are H7 bulbs in the main beam, D3S in low beam, and a ballast resistor that also affects output. Without getting in to the ins and outs of Osram versus Philips, do I upgrade all 3 factors? Should I also upgrade the cornering lights? 

 

That's incorrect - there is no seperate bulbs.

ur car has Bi-Xenon headlights, which means a single xenon bulb, in this case D3S, for both low and high beams.

It uses a shutter to switch between the two.

 

U can change the D3S bulbs for something brighter, like Osram or Phillips.

Make sure it's aimed correctly - the lights on mk3 Superb r good.

Don't change the ballast.

 

I have Phillips xTremeVision Gen2 D3S bulbs in mine.

Below is a vid of them in action.

 

https://youtu.be/h4MRMKYGTTY?si=zmYmaYQ48C2Fiebs

 

7 hours ago, Parahandy said:

D3S in low beam

I found out my factory fitted D3S were quite tired and fitting fresh ones, same as OEM,  made an improvement. Could be yours are exhausted too and need replacing. Might as well upgrade to laser night breakers but for me the OEM does a decent job.

19 hours ago, JR RS said:

 

That's incorrect - there is no seperate bulbs.

ur car has Bi-Xenon headlights, which means a single xenon bulb, in this case D3S, for both low and high beams.

It uses a shutter to switch between the two.

 

U can change the D3S bulbs for something brighter, like Osram or Phillips.

Make sure it's aimed correctly - the lights on mk3 Superb r good.

Don't change the ballast.

 

I have Phillips xTremeVision Gen2 D3S bulbs in mine.

Below is a vid of them in action.

 

https://youtu.be/h4MRMKYGTTY?si=zmYmaYQ48C2Fiebs

 

 

Thanks very much for your help and advice. Your video certainly shows a dramatic improvement to what I experience with my lights. I will organise a set of Phillips and have them fitted. 

1 hour ago, Parahandy said:

 

Thanks very much for your help and advice. Your video certainly shows a dramatic improvement to what I experience with my lights. I will organise a set of Phillips and have them fitted. 

I was going to say as you got L&K your install should be easy enough to DIY, I changed mine recently and it was a nightmare but I have version B I think it is without eyelash.

 

Expect a big ish bill to have them fitted, wheel off and arch liners, I suspect some dodgy places might say bumper off which will take hours

2 hours ago, Danoid said:

I changed mine recently and it was a nightmare but I have version B I think it is without eyelash.

 

Version B has eyelash DRLs, and uses the green retainer ring for the D3S bulb.

Version A doesn't have eyelash DRLs and uses the springs to retain the D3S bulb.

 

The green retainers r a royal pain to remove.

I found the spring mounted version much much easier to use.

1 hour ago, JR RS said:

 

Version B has eyelash DRLs, and uses the green retainer ring for the D3S bulb.

Version A doesn't have eyelash DRLs and uses the springs to retain the D3S bulb.

 

The green retainers r a royal pain to remove.

I found the spring mounted version much much easier to use.

Ah wasn’t sure which is which.

 

I had a nightmare with the springs, hardly any access but iirc you had the light cluster out, but I thought the green anti clockwise to unlock would’ve been easier 😮

I've just taken delivery of a pair of OSRAM Xenarc Night Breaker Laser NextGen D3S +220% Brighter bulbs today - c. £144 on eBay.   However, that may not the complete answer to why the Bi-Xenons in my Yeti aren't a patch on what they were when I bought the car 4 years and 22k miles ago.

 

Do you have Dim Low Beam from your Projector Headlights?