Mk4 Bulb upgrades

[dasmith83]

Just to update you all...I decided to bite the bullet, and went for a set of these-
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=8047147569&category=36476

Here is a pic of my car (with the new dipped beam bulbs), and my bro's ibiza, standard all over

This pic shows the difference in colour of the new bulbs, compared to the standard foglight bulbs

Apologies for the poor quality pics, but they're off my phone. BTW they aren't actually as blue as the pics make out, but it certainly shows the difference!

They're a really nice bright white colour, with a subtle amount of blue.

Next on the cards is to change the sidelights, main beam, and fogs so they all match

With regards to changing the fogs...has any1 done this b4? Is it more or less fiddly than the headlights?

 

[gazjones]

they look nice them are they better on the road on the dipped beam?

 

[dasmith83]

dunno yet gaz...only got dark half hour ago! lol...i'll test em properly later and let you know

I just had a look in the manual about replacing the foglight bulbs and it looks pretty straight forward, so hopefully by next weekend, i'll have changed all the bulbs to 8500K

 

[gazjones]

cool i just think the dipped beam is slightly to weak but dont like driving around with main on on country roads constantly turning it on and off

 

[dasmith83]

dipped beam with the bulbs ive got above? or just in general?

 

[gazjones]

general ones like ive got when driving at night on B roads with no lights around

 

[dasmith83]

ah ok...the ones ive just fitted are in theory meant to improve that...but i dnt drive on many roads like you just described so it'l be hard for me to compare...i should still notice if they're any better in normal driving, so i'll let you know if they're brighter

 

[gazjones]

yea cheers mate think i need better ones

 

[Nathanio]

One thing to consider with the mains is that HIDs take a few seconds to warm up correctly. Soooo using them for flashing people or for few seconds at a time its not as good as halogens for that. Thats one of the reasons i'm not changing my mains at the moment.

I have noticed quite a few factory fit cars come with Xenon dips and halogen mains for this very reason.

EDIT: Just a warning but it has been known for 8500k Xenon to fail MOTs due to being too blue. Really 4300k and 6000k is the best colour and anything above 6000k actually makes a worse light pattern due to the way lumience works.

And please tell me you don't drive around with your fogs on

 

[dasmith83]

I have noticed quite a few factory fit cars come with Xenon dips and halogen mains for this very reason.

EDIT: Just a warning but it has been known for 8500k Xenon to fail MOTs due to being too blue. Really 4300k and 6000k is the best colour and anything above 6000k actually makes a worse light pattern due to the way lumience works.

And please tell me you don't drive around with your fogs on

Thats interesting...I used to have a set of 6500k in my old car, and tbh these 8500k actually look less blue. However that may be because i havn't changed to the led sidelights yet, and even though they're white leds, they look really blue!

The car is brand new (5months old) so i don't have to worry about any mots for a while!

As for the fogs, only used when foggy, or raining really really hard, but still, they've gotta be the same colour

 

[CHR15B]

How many people here run HID's?

I had a 6500K set in my Toledo and I'll also be fitting a set to the Ibiza

 

[Nathanio]

As for the fogs, only used when foggy, or raining really really hard, but still, they've gotta be the same colour

Raining really hard? Why do the fogs need to go on then? That just causes glare for other road users! Use is a give away in the name

Chr15b I run HIDs in the toledo and I know DevonMikeyBoy did in his bezza and lots of other people

 

[davels]

allright then peeps i'm just a bit cofused i have just changed my bulbs the are now about 50% brighter on dipped but about the same on main just a higher beam,
but i thought that dipped and main beam was the same bulb just different filiments activating
what bulbs should i be getting to take them upto maximum legal level, i want main, dipped and side light blbs changed but what do i need to be buying and where from.
thanks in advance

 

[CHR15B]

Nathanio - I also have a hate for those who drive with their fogs on when it isn't foggy, in the rain it makes it worse rather than better!

I had HID's in the Toledo too - will be getting a set on the Ibiza ASAP!

 

[Rhine9]

Hi Guys

I emailed a bulb company and they gave me the follwing ref numbers for a ibiza 2002 onwards:

2002-

High Beam H1
Low Beam H7
Fog Lights H3
Parking Light 501
Indicator 581

Is this correct? Is there anyway of telling if you already have xenon bulbs in?
Cheers

 

[CHR15B]

I checked autobulbsdirect.co.uk it says the same thing.

 

[S13]

There's also a list of bulbs needed in the manual

 

[dasmith83]

Raining really hard? Why do the fogs need to go on then? That just causes glare for other road users! Use is a give away in the name

I see your point...When i say raining really hard, i mean when its soo bad, it makes it look foggy cos of all the extra moisture in the air etc. I didn't realise it caused glare for others though...Thanks for the correction

 

[Nathanio]

Fogs are unfocused lights and so are just spewing light out everywhere to give low level coverage with no real light patterns like headlights . When the road is wet the light reflects off the road into your eyes and also the water refracts the light and causes serious glare etc.

Basically the only time you should use fogs is if it is foggy and visibility is less than 15metres.

I have been in rain like that and can understand why you've done it but if its that bad its time to slow down! I can't tell my fogs are even on with the HIDS!

 

[Nathanio]

allright then peeps i'm just a bit cofused i have just changed my bulbs the are now about 50% brighter on dipped but about the same on main just a higher beam,
but i thought that dipped and main beam was the same bulb just different filiments activating
what bulbs should i be getting to take them upto maximum legal level, i want main, dipped and side light blbs changed but what do i need to be buying and where from.
thanks in advance

If you want to stay with Halogens you'll need to change both mains and dipped. Sounds like you've done H7 (dipped) but still need to do H1s (Main). I would go for Osrams or Philips to be honest for halogens and for maximum light you'll need 4300/6000k HIDs.

Autoexpress H4 test - http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/carreviews/producttests/203974/bulb_test_h4_blue.html

Auto Express H7 + 50 - http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/carreviews/producttests/61032/bulb_test_h7_50.html

Auto Express H1 + 50 - http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/carreviews/producttests/61027/bulb_test_h1_50.html

I have use AutoBulbsDirect and was very impressed with the service