Headlight bulb upgrade.

[Chris_B]

Hi all.

I have a 2004 Seat Ibiza 1.2 and I would like to make the headlights brighter and whiter as they seem a little dull. I don't want to change the whole headlight assembly or lenses, etc. so I guess the only option is to change the existing bulbs.

What bulbs do you recommend which are road legal and will fit my car? I've heard good things about the OSRAM Night Breakers and the Philips X-Treme bulbs. Is there anything else I need to know? I don't understand the differences between H4, H7, HID, etc. It's all confusing.

I've also noticed that one of my sidelights has become very dull and is on the verge of failing so I might as well replace that at the same time. What bulb do I need for that and where is the best place to buy it?

Many thanks in advance.

 

[Wash It!]

Many options for headlight bulbs.

The 2 makes you have mentioned are probably the best non-HID solutions out there, both are very good. Ring have also announced recently a road-legal 100% brighter halogen bulb too.

H4 and H7 are bulb sizes so you'll need to make sure you get the right replacements for your car.
As an example, my facelift Mk 4 uses a H7 dipped beam bulb and a H3 hi-beam bulb.
I believe the pre-facelift Mk4 Ibiza has a different headlight in some models, which uses 1 bulb for both dipped and hi-beam so be sure to check which fitting you'll need!

HID is a replacement bulb system, which utilises a bright bulb that 'burns' at various colours/brightness levels but actually uses less energy to light. They give excellent road visibility and aren't too expensive to purchase.
There's a ballast pack as an extra to just the bulb and some extra cables too, so this install will need more work but still doesn't require a new headlight assembly.

There are many threads on here about HID systems and which ones are rated best so do a quick search through.

Something to consider with HIDs also is that by 2012 they will be illegal unless fitted as original equipment. This mean you'll fail an MOT with them and may incur fine and points from the Police (not sure if it'll be that drastic yet!).

Sidelights have many options from LED replacements, which are very bright indeed, to standard bulbs.
It's a fairly standard fit bulb (a push fitting) so shouldn't be difficult to source replacements.

Hopefully you're now less confused than when you started reading, let us know which solution you chose. All the best!

 

[Chris_a_73]

I originally had Osram Nightbreakers, and they were okay. However I've now moved onto 5000k HIDs and they are great; much whiter and brighter light, plus they aren't a 'chavvy blue' as you sometimes see around.

I got mine from HIDs4u.co.uk, and they include a 1 or 2 year warrantee (cant remember which one), and the build quality is second to none! I also have a discount code, which takes £25 off, if you want it.

I also have LED sidelights with a very slight blue tinge; never found a set of LED sidelights which are perfect white.

 

[DEAN0]

never found a set of LED sidelights which are perfect white.

Same here - would be nice to find a good led sidelight without the blue tint that lasts more than a month or so.

 

[Chris_B]

Thanks everyone, I feel a lot less confused now. I don't think it'll be worth me changing to an HID setup as I do plan to sell the car within the next 12 months anyway. Will I notice a difference changing the standard bulbs to something like the Philips Xtremes?

My Ibiza is the 02 model, so it's pre facelift I guess? I'll have to look in the manual for the correct fitting.

Thanks again.

 

[Cos]

Osram Nightbreakers are good bulbs. Yes, yours is a prefacelift. I believe you'll need H7 bulbs

 

[Bondiblu]

+1 for Osram nightbreakers all round

 

[.Phase]

I have some Ring 100W Main Beam bulbs, they go further & show road signs much further away!

They are illegal but no one actually see's your main beam so you shouldn't have any problems

Definately recommend them, would go for 130W next time though

 

[DEAN0]

I have some Ring 100W Main Beam bulbs, they go further & show road signs much further away!

They are illegal but no one actually see's your main beam so you shouldn't have any problems

Definately recommend them, would go for 130W next time though

Have you not had any issues with melting headlights ?

The plastic lenses don't take too well to high temps and the wiring does not look thick enough for 100w bulbs

 

[.Phase]

to be fair I don't really do night driving much and even if I do it is busy A roads where they aren't ever on for more than a minute

will keep an eye out though :S

 

[Chris_B]

I had a look through the manual and it lists two possible types of headlights for my car.

Either "One reflector lights" which uses a single H4 bulb for both main and dipped beams.

Or "Double reflector lights" which uses an H7 bulb for the dipped beam and H3 bulb for the main beam.

I'm still not exactly sure whether my Ibiza has one or double reflector lights. I know it's the 02 model on a 04 plate; can anyone confirm it for me?

 

[mick-fr]

Yours will be H4.

 

[DEAN0]

I had a look through the manual and it lists two possible types of headlights for my car.

Either "One reflector lights" which uses a single H4 bulb for both main and dipped beams.

Or "Double reflector lights" which uses an H7 bulb for the dipped beam and H3 bulb for the main beam.

I'm still not exactly sure whether my Ibiza has one or double reflector lights. I know it's the 02 model on a 04 plate; can anyone confirm it for me?

Have a look at one of your headlights.

Ignore the sidelight and indicator lenses.

If there is one big oval shape reflector with a single bulb in the middle its a H4

If there are two separate reflectors with bulbs in the middle of each - its H7 & H3

 

[mick-fr]

Prefacelift 1.2... it'll be H4 single reflectors. Unless they have been changed before....

 

[DEAN0]

Prefacelift 1.2... it'll be H4 single reflectors. Unless they have been changed before....

I agree - but knowing our luck someone may have had a play.

 

[mick-fr]

They will either look like this:

H4 Single Reflector (Ignore the green circle)

Or this:

H7/H3 Double Reflector

 

[Chris_B]

Thanks. I couldn't check because my car isn't with me at the moment but I managed to dig out an old photo on facebook and it is indeed an H4 single reflector.

 

[Chris_a_73]

I'd personally agree with the others; Nightbreakers are a great upgrade from standard.

Marksy made this upgrade recently, check this thread;

http://www.seatcupra.net/forums/showthread.php?t=282360&page=26

 

[zach225]

just get some 100w jobbies from aceparts on ebay mate. nice anc cheap and does the job well, i had them for about 6 months before my hid's and know a few people with them, and no problems with heat from wiring or lense