Hello , any help on this is much appreciated, I am after some headlight bulbs for my cr 170 tdi Octavia, at the moment there a awful standard yellow colour, I am after somthing as close to the colour of my drl on the front, so as white as possible whilst still being legal, could someone point me in the right direction where I could get some, thanks again 

Philips White Vision Ultra seem to be the whitest ones you can buy, 4200 K, while still being road legal (ECE approved). 

When you say legal, do you mean "Legal" Or that will pass an MOT cod not get me pulled up by the fuzz? (Sounds painful).

As mentioned are good, Osram Nightbreakers, too. I think Halfords do some blue-white thingies but for the "Pass the MOT" type, clean white, you might want LED bulbs.

They are not strictly legal, despite now being fitted to all and sundry, but very unlikely to get you pulled and will pass an MOT, in most instances. (Only a small job to swap back and forth, if problematic in your area).

Both the Osram Cool Blue Intense and the Philips WhiteVision Ultra are labelled as 'upto 4200k' but in reality you'll probably find they aren't super white although both should have ECE approval for road use.

 

Also notice that both have blue filters on the bulbs which will reduce the light output even if it makes them appear whiter...

 

4 minutes ago, mrgf said:

you might want LED bulbs. They are not strictly legal, despite now being fitted to all and sundry, but very unlikely to get you pulled and will pass an MOT

 

LED bulbs in headlamps designed for halogen bulbs aren't 'road legal' for at least two reasons:

- the LED bulb won't be ECE approved

- the headlamp won't have ECE approval with an LED light source

 

Using LED's in a halogen headlight *should* also now fail an MOT with 'light source and lamp not compatible'.

I meant completely legal, ECE aprroved, meaning you will for sure pass the MOT and won't have any problems with police. A lot of people use them.

Osram Nightbrakers are good bulbs, also completely legal, but not as bright as the White Vision Ultra. But the Night braker Laser does have the most light out of any bulb (but also not as bright).

If you are retrofitting LED bulbs instead of halogen, you will NOT pass the MOT, no chance. And people do get pulled over sometimes because of them. Unfortunately, there aren't any LED bulbs with ECE approval (meaning legal) to be retrofitted anywhere in the world. 

I personally plan on installing LEDs soon (my MOT inspection is next week so after that). I'll have to swap to halogen then before every next MOT. 

The biggest mistake people make when retrofitting LEDs, they order cheap non-branded ones from Ebay or Aliexpress which are always too bright and too strong and it blinds other drivers. Use Philips or Osram LEDs. They cost more but are worth it.

3 hours ago, marcusmarcus said:

 

If you are retrofitting LED bulbs instead of halogen, you will NOT pass the MOT, no chance.

I did and I did! Twice.

Hi thanks for all the suggestions, for some reason I've not been notified of the replies, I'm just wanting so thing that's a lot whiter then the standard yellow thi ha that's in, I've done all the Interior lights and im planning to get the number plate lights soon so just want somthing that's as white as possible but still legal, I'll look the bulbs mentioned up, thanks again

@Catzeye I'm getting same issue with missing some notifications, i think.

Edited 24 May, 20197 yr by Tilt

Been happening to me for ages, anyway, after looking at various reviews of the orsram and Phillips bulbs mentioned in this thread I started looking at retrofit leds!!! Lots of pros and cons for LEDs but also quite a few bad reviews of the orsrams and Phillips bulbs, settled on the idea of getting either the orsrams or Phillips bulbs but wondering if anyone on here has had both and which is best out of the two, the Phillips or the orsrams  

Osrams NB bukbs tend to be a little lower on light output, but... they last a lot longer..

On the mk1 forum a few yrs bavk, this debate went on for ages too. I opted for Osrams and they lasted on average 18-24months, with people who went Philips... 12-15months tops..

 

I put these in. A bit brighter than the halogens that were in and a very white light that helps to see the road better. (Update: I think the seller has changed the item. You want the led bulbs with the removable plastic adapter so that you can fit the additional metal adapter).

 

The beam pattern (against the garage door) was virtually identical to the halogens but not as focused at the bright spot as the halogens.

 

They are definitely an improvement and I have had no errors etc. Been in for a couple of months now.

 

Make sure you get the correct adapter to fit them and they are held in securely. Also check the height adjustment of the halogens against a wall etc and adjust the let's too the same so they are not too high or low.

 

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/110W-H7-COB-Chip-LED-Headlight-Bulb-Kit-Canbus-Error-Free-White-30000LM-White/392131779951?ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT&_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649&redirect=mobile

 

I bought several adapters to get ones for my 2010 FL but I think these were the ones that fitted.

 

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/H7-LED-Convert-Car-Bulb-Holder-Adapter-Base-Retainer-Clip/292809782399?ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT&_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649&redirect=mobile

 

 

 

Edited 25 May, 20197 yr by FatblokeVRS

On my previous Octavia  VRS I used Ring xenon 150 and found them to have the best white light output of all the bulbs I had tried over the years. Ring state these bulbs last longer than the other upgraded bulbs you can buy. They did however last 16months before one bulb blew. 

I did loads of research, googling and reading test results when looking to buy new bulbs for my Oct 3.  The conclusion from all of that was the cheap LEDs aren't worth the money and in most cases are actually dimmer (in terms of light output on the road),  The top end LED bulbs are better, however testing in a lab, the conclusion was a decent halogen bulb was best.  

 

The one that came out on top was the General Electric 150% Brighter.  You can get these in Halfords ....Now, Halfords do their own brand 150% Brighter but the tests I read showed varying bulb quality and some being visibly brighter than others.  I actually went for Halfords own and after fitting one bulb was brighter than the other, swapped them round and the same bulb was brighter in other lamp so took them back, paid more and went with the GE.  They have been in 17 months so far and no issues to date.

 

If you want a cheaper solution then that's up to you, just don't buy a bulb that's completely coated in blue as all that does is look white, but critically, reduces light output.  I brought some fully blue, mega uprated, Xenon filled all singing and dancing H15 for my DRL/ full beam.  From a distance they were LED white, but on full beam at night, I kid you not, couldn't actually tell they were on 

Use H7 4,000k HID bulb kit with 55w ballest... that’s what I use and there awesome.

changed the foggys to LED as in the bottom photo 

Yes I second that,. I've tried numerous H7s night breakers, LEDs, LEDs with inbuilt cooling fan etc and after years of not being overly impressed in 2 cars (Vw Passat also)I then installed after market hid kit 4500k with canbus error ballast,. Very impressed and badly needed as I do lots of night driving.. now most light is shíte on wet roads and in rainy conditions,so wasting your time drawing comparisons unless it's dry road conditions. 

Edited 29 May, 20197 yr by Ardle

Here’s a photo of my identical Octavias one with HID headlights and LED fog lights compared to standard bulb, taken in bright/strong day light. 

Edited 1 June, 20197 yr by Mick562008

On 01/06/2019 at 12:01, Mick562008 said:

Here’s a photo of my identical Octavias one with HID headlights and LED fog lights compared to standard bulb, taken in bright/strong day light. 

Hi Mick, looks good, please could you send me the link for both the hid kit and the LEDs that you have used in the fogs thanks, did it go through mot ok with the hid kit? Thanks again

On 25/05/2019 at 08:48, FatblokeVRS said:

I put these in. A bit brighter than the halogens that were in and a very white light that helps to see the road better. (Update: I think the seller has changed the item. You want the led bulbs with the removable plastic adapter so that you can fit the additional metal adapter).

 

The beam pattern (against the garage door) was virtually identical to the halogens but not as focused at the bright spot as the halogens.

 

They are definitely an improvement and I have had no errors etc. Been in for a couple of months now.

 

Make sure you get the correct adapter to fit them and they are held in securely. Also check the height adjustment of the halogens against a wall etc and adjust the let's too the same so they are not too high or low.

 

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/110W-H7-COB-Chip-LED-Headlight-Bulb-Kit-Canbus-Error-Free-White-30000LM-White/392131779951?ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT&_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649&redirect=mobile

 

I bought several adapters to get ones for my 2010 FL but I think these were the ones that fitted.

 

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/H7-LED-Convert-Car-Bulb-Holder-Adapter-Base-Retainer-Clip/292809782399?ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT&_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649&redirect=mobile

 

 

 

Thanks

On 18/05/2019 at 18:11, Catzeye said:

Hello , any help on this is much appreciated, I am after some headlight bulbs for my cr 170 tdi Octavia, at the moment there a awful standard yellow colour, I am after somthing as close to the colour of my drl on the front, so as white as possible whilst still being legal, could someone point me in the right direction where I could get some, thanks again 

Philips diamond vision h7 are good, 5000k and good visibility in night time. Also legal

43 minutes ago, vrsdx57 said:

Philips diamond vision h7 are good, 5000k and good visibility in night time. Also legal

Unfortunately Diamond visions aren't legal in the EU. Most white and legal ones are either White Vision Ultra or Osram Cool Blue Intense

On 03/06/2019 at 16:13, Catzeye said:

Hi Mick, looks good, please could you send me the link for both the hid kit and the LEDs that you have used in the fogs thanks, did it go through mot ok with the hid kit? Thanks again

 

Yes mine passed MOT no problems, the beam angle and pattern as exactly as it should be, soon as I’ve got a min il have a look and send you the links so you can have a look. 

On 16/06/2019 at 19:27, Mick562008 said:

 

Yes mine passed MOT no problems, the beam angle and pattern as exactly as it should be, soon as I’ve got a min il have a look and send you the links so you can have a look. 

Thanks alot m8, cheers

Just now, Catzeye said:

Thanks alot m8, cheers

Did they take much fitting? Seriously thinking of going down this route👍🏼

Just as a quick reminder, a H7 HID kit fitted to a headlamp designed for halogens will (or at least should) fail an MOT in the UK given the current regulations.

 

Although Mick's MOT tester has previously passed them, it doesn't mean they will pass in the future nor that you MOT tester will allow them to pass.

2 minutes ago, langers2k said:

Just as a quick reminder, a H7 HID kit fitted to a headlamp designed for halogens will (or at least should) fail an MOT in the UK given the current regulations.

 

Although Mick's MOT tester has previously passed them, it doesn't mean they will pass in the future nor that you MOT tester will allow them to pass.

But does this still count for Octavia as they have the projector style headlamp not the standard bulb and normal glass. 

Just now, Mick562008 said:

But does this still count for Octavia as they have the projector style headlamp not the standard bulb and normal glass. 

 

In short, yes.

 

The projectors fitted in halogen and xenon versions of the MK2 Octavia headlamps are different, this is to account for the difference between H7 and D1S bulbs. Each headlamp will have an ECE marking stating which it's been designed for.

 

The MOT has been updated to fail mismatched light sources and lamps which would include using either a HID or LED light source in a lamp designed for halogen bulbs. It's covered by section 4.1.4: https://www.mot-testing.service.gov.uk/documents/manuals/class3457/Section-4-Lamps-reflectors-and-electrical-equipment.html#section_4.1.4