H7 bulbs

33754k

Active Member
Dec 4, 2006
159
0
Manchester
Can anyone recommend replacement H7 bulbs with a higher output than the standard fit? Can I put 100w in? Cant be bothered with HID conversion kits!

Cheers:think:
 

lc_allan

Northern Monkey
Sep 15, 2006
3,389
4
Quite a few people on here recommend either Osram Silverstars (+50%) or Philips X-treme (+80%) but i've noticed Osram now do some called Nite Breaker (+90%) which sound good, dunno if anyone has tried them on here?

http://www.autobulbsdirect.co.uk/home.php?cat=256

£32.99 minus any postage :blink:, for an extra £12 or so you can get a set of HID's that I'm sure will be better light output. I know you said no to HID kits but they really aint difficult to fit/purchase now etc.. If I can fit a set :lol:
 

sheffboy

avoiding potholes
May 25, 2007
655
1
I bought some philips x-treme vision H7's last week. They only give a slightly whiter light than standard bulbs but performance wise they're excellent. I got some free philips bluevision sidelights thrown in as well. £25 the lot :funk:
 

NickT

Active Member
Mar 29, 2004
429
0
LB, Beds
I bought some philips x-treme vision H7's last week. They only give a slightly whiter light than standard bulbs but performance wise they're excellent. I got some free philips bluevision sidelights thrown in as well. £25 the lot :funk:

Where'd ya get them from then mate?
 
Jan 3, 2006
834
1
East Kilbride
As Allan said, £46 will get you HIDs which no ordinary bulb will come close to!

If you upgrade your bulbs from standard you will notice a difference, buy HIDs and you will be amazed by the difference... :D
 

pete8tch

Full Member
Nov 1, 2005
38
0
just fit the hids , you will be impressed total doddle to fit and much better in poor weather.
 

sheffboy

avoiding potholes
May 25, 2007
655
1
I'm an importer for brightstar HID products and also sell various other HID products to the diving and broadcasting industry. The cheap HID kits are ok. But dont for one minute think they'll be reliable. Dont get me wrong some kits are good but until the reliable kits that use decent ballasts and bulbs come down in price i aint gunna bother. The bulbs they supply with the cheap kits are renowned for blowing. To give you an example, a top quality HID bulb will set you back £150 each!
 

NickT

Active Member
Mar 29, 2004
429
0
LB, Beds
I was seriously considering getting HID's until I read the link in this post:

http://www.seatcupra.net/forums/showpost.php?p=1609497&postcount=125

What with this, sheffboy's info and the old addage "you get what you pay for" I'm a bit cagey about the cheaper options currently flooding the market and aftermarket HID's in general.
I have this nagging doubt they are almost too good to be true, dunno why, probably just my age. :shrug:

I reckon after having put up with the p*ss poor headlights on my old '73 Beetle and the Mk2 16v GTI, I'll manage with a set of X-Tremes in the LC.
 

lc_allan

Northern Monkey
Sep 15, 2006
3,389
4
Nik,

Without reading through all that link I wouldn't worry about output or alignment, MOT's etc.. Plenty of people on here have had them checked, aligned and passed MOT's without issue. Yes there is the legality aspect that seems to have a grey area with the DOT but I got them because although cheap they have been fitted by several members on here and on the golf forums. While lastabilty has yet to be tested, so far they are fine and for £46 they are not much dearer than getting a set of decent bulbs for which these peform and look better anyway. I would not be fussed if I had to buy a new set of bulbs once of year for £17 and well, if the ballasts did fail then they were only £46. There is no way I would pay for a set that is £150+ when people have shown on here there is little or no difference in output, actual ballast and wiring quality and so far have lasted the same amount of time.

Have search for HID installs on here and how many people have commented it's one of their best and cheapest mods fitted to date :)
 

Tyler Owen

Active Member
The illegality of the aftermarket HID's is all abit of internet hype with keyboard warriors imo!

Mitsubishi fit HID to new Evo's yet no headlamp washer are fitted either, they are spec'd up in the UK and to get the car to pass the SVA test they are declared as "non factory" extra therefore don't require the headlamp washers like the rest of the new cars with HID's.

And knowing the vast majority of MOT Test Centres .... i doubt they lift the bonnet so as long as the new HID's are alligned correctly i can't see them failing it, i seriously doubt they'd even notice they wern't standard bulbs

But hey that's my 2 pence worth on the saga!
 

dainott2105

mk1 Cupra and mk2 FR TDI
Nov 4, 2006
685
0
swansea
i finally got around to fitting my 6000k HID's last week (took about 30 mins and dont have to cut a single wire) and the difference with them is amazing, worth every penny. i have bought a spare set of bulbs for £17 delivered incase they blow and they complete kits have dropped so much in price who cares if they blow the odd bulb. Id rather that than hit something lurking in the dark!! They also look so much better than the yellow standard lights.

ps anyone know if i can get bulbs for the spots that emit a white light. Also wouldnt mind the full beam the same?
 
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edmong

GHE Tuning
Aug 15, 2007
567
0
Plymouth, Devon
I was seriously considering getting HID's until I read the link in this post:

http://www.seatcupra.net/forums/showpost.php?p=1609497&postcount=125

What with this, sheffboy's info and the old addage "you get what you pay for" I'm a bit cagey about the cheaper options currently flooding the market and aftermarket HID's in general.
I have this nagging doubt they are almost too good to be true, dunno why, probably just my age. :shrug:

I reckon after having put up with the p*ss poor headlights on my old '73 Beetle and the Mk2 16v GTI, I'll manage with a set of X-Tremes in the LC.

Check the link out. I have commented in there somewhere. HIDS are the way to go def. Ive got mine in and for £46 you cant complain. Like Alan says if they braek you buy a new one!

http://www.seatcupra.net/forums/showthread.php?t=143136
 
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sheffboy

avoiding potholes
May 25, 2007
655
1
Nick T. dont let me put you off mate. I'm not saying there not good for the money, because they are. All i was trying to say is there not for me at the moment. Because i work with high end HID equipment i've been spoilt a bit i suppose.
as for the legal issues, i wouldn't worry to much.
Just make sure you buy a couple of spare bulbs and make sure the supplier can send you spare ballasts should the need arise.
 

CupraMVR

Awesome GTi Technician
Oct 19, 2006
1,371
0
Crewe Cheshire
Only 1 thing i dislike about LCR is the dipped beam headlights,changed mine to the HID's and its the best money spent really amazing.Loads of my mates hav put them in there cars after being in mine.so much better.
 

mathias.leon

Guest
I read a couple of tests before I changed my H1 & H7 bulbs. Generally Philips comes out on top, then Osram and then the rest. I switched H7 from Osram Standard to Philips NightGuide. Quite a diffrence but Philips Premium is probably the best buy. Same with H1; Philips VisionPlus is better than Osram Standard but not as obvious as with the low-beams.


As for 100W: the risk is that the reflector becomes murky or crackled because of the higher heat dissipation. I know a few people with larger reflectors than ours (saab & volvo of course ;) that have 100W with no probs. It's not that common because they're illegal in Sweden and it's a bit hard to find quality bulbs.
 

33754k

Active Member
Dec 4, 2006
159
0
Manchester
Have fitted Osram Night Breaker H7 and FREE Philips Blue Vision W5W from Power Bulbs Ltd- definitely better than standard, almost white light
 
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