Side light bulbs, what to buy and what not to buy!

[The Seer]

When I first bought my Ibiza back in September I couldn't help but think the side lights were more or less a waste of time.

Despite the usual horrible orangey/yellowey glow from conventional bulbs I found the illumination to be pretty dim and poor.

I reckon this lack of illumination is mainly down to the lack of reflection.
Noticed where the side light bulbs protrude into the main headlight reflector i.e situated close to the main or dipped beam bulbs greater reflection is present. Sadly not so with the Ibiza.

So first I purchased one of these http://www.autobulbsdirect.co.uk/50...60-Degree-5-LED-bulbs.html?bulb_search=c22039

Looks quite nice, but the light given off is less so than the conventional 501 bulb! Waste of money and expensive, avoid!

Secondly these http://www.ultraleds.co.uk/501-194-t10-anti-bulb-warning-xenon-white-wide-angle-13-leds.html

Much better than the overly expensive ones listed above. The illumnation was definately better than the conventional bulbs, despite not sliding all the way in (they were too long). At 195 lumens they were rather bright, good value for money I thought . However, three months later I noticed they seemed be dimming. When extracted from the headlight cluster much to my dismay the dimming had been caused by the L E D's falling off!! I suspect this was down to heat, either poor componentary was used or simply the heat built up to an excessive point due to the design of the cluster.

So the other day I bought a pair of these http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/350604461211?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649

Fitted today and these are the results

[img=http://imageshack.us/scaled/thumb/585/dscn1376l.jpg]
[img=http://imageshack.us/scaled/thumb/842/dscn1380a.jpg]

I'm very pleased with them, they're like minature cree torches!! Ok the beam isn't a full 360 degrees but as you can see from the photo of the garage doors it's certainly acceptable. The construction of the bulbs is good as is the fitment. No problems connecting them up or sliding them into the sidelight tunnels, also the light given off is a lovely clean white. Does help to angle them though as the beam can be directed due to the nature of the cree bulb.

These have to be the best side light bulbs I've come across yet, they certainly solve the dim conventional bulb problem above and beyond. For 15 quid delivered I'm very happy, I'd highly recommend.

 

[Razzario]

May invest, just had the drivers one go out on mine... What a pig to change!

 

[lil3520]

Great information. Tks.

Andy

 

[The Seer]

May invest, just had the drivers one go out on mine... What a pig to change!

Admittedly they can be a tad difficult. But there is a knack to it, however I've had the bulbs out and headlight bulb covers off a few times in the past months!

 

[DScape]

Presumably they're not road legal?

Might be tempted to use them for the interior reading lights, but might be a tad too bright!

 

[Chino_UK]

Not bad! I've got Prism ones in at the moment that seem alright, but not as bright as those.

 

[Timmyk]

How do these compare with the Osram Cool Blue?

I am looking to change mine and I have been impressed with the Osram range since fitting Nightbreakers to my wifes Swift Sport.

 

[Earthling]

Seems like a waste of money, especially as it's necessary to drive with headlights at night.

 

[DScape]

Seems like a waste of money, especially as it's necessary to drive with headlights at night.

I always drive with my sidelights on; very paranoid driving a grey car in the dull UK weather.

 

[The Seer]

How do these compare with the Osram Cool Blue?

I am looking to change mine and I have been impressed with the Osram range since fitting Nightbreakers to my wifes Swift Sport.

Never used the Osram I'm afraid, as such I can't comment. However these Cree L E D s are in a different league to any of the others mentioned above. The last L E D s were 195 Lumens, I'd estimate these at over 200. As said even though the illumination isn't dispersed at 360 degrees the spread is certainly enough. I imagined these Cree bulbs would have a very focused beam like their counterpart torches, but they don't and spread of light emitted is good.

The Osram bulbs are of a Cree variety?

 

[The Seer]

Great information. Tks.

Andy

Thanks Andy you're welcome Just wanted to let people of my experiences with these L E D bulbs. Quite a difference in price and quality. So far the Cree bulbs are brightest and most pleasant I've come across yet.

 

[The Seer]

Not bad! I've got Prism ones in at the moment that seem alright, but not as bright as those.

I was suprised too, I didn't quite expect them to be as bright as they are. It's possible to manoeuvre the car in total darkness with the side lights illuminating obstacles up to 20 ft away.

I'll post some more photos up soon.

 

[The Seer]

Presumably they're not road legal?

Might be tempted to use them for the interior reading lights, but might be a tad too bright!

I'm not sure exactly what the laws are on sidelight bulbs. I wouldn't expect them to dazzle oncoming motorists. Though if you stare into the glare of the bulb for more than a few seconds it does become uncomfortable.

 

[The Seer]

Seems like a waste of money, especially as it's necessary to drive with headlights at night.

It's necessary to drive with headlights on at night? That's a new one on me!

The reason behind buying these bulbs is simply because there's no reflector to help amplify OEM 501 bulbs output in the cluster. Hence the reason for looking for better bulbs to use when the daylight is limited (I.e dawn, twilight/dusk or when the weather draws in) which is what sidelights are for.

If Seat had designed a better cluster I wouldn't of been on the look out to upgrade.

 

[The Seer]

I always drive with my sidelights on; very paranoid driving a grey car in the dull UK weather.

Totally, driving a car in this colour isn't the most obvious, not compared to yellow or red anyway!

 

[Earthling]

There's no time of day or weather condition that warrants sidelights only, but that's only my opinion.

 

[Blanco92]

I always run with my sidelights on, even during the day. Modern cars are fitted with LED DRLs so what's wrong with my LED sidelights?

Avoid turning my headlights on until it's dark enough too, less strain on the alternator

 

[Timmyk]

Never used the Osram I'm afraid, as such I can't comment. However these Cree L E D s are in a different league to any of the others mentioned above. The last L E D s were 195 Lumens, I'd estimate these at over 200. As said even though the illumination isn't dispersed at 360 degrees the spread is certainly enough. I imagined these Cree bulbs would have a very focused beam like their counterpart torches, but they don't and spread of light emitted is good.

The Osram bulbs are of a Cree variety?

Im going to give the nightbreaker gold's a shot with the cool blue side lights. I have been really impressed with them on the Swift.

I have used ebay specials before on my Lexus however they are very very dim.

 

[Eric87]

Might give these a go, as like you say the standard ones are poor.

Found some on eBay for £9.95 + 95p p&p. it says the angle is 180degrees

 

[The Seer]

Im going to give the nightbreaker gold's a shot with the cool blue side lights. I have been really impressed with them on the Swift.

I have used ebay specials before on my Lexus however they are very very dim.

I agree, eBay is fraught with sub standard products in many areas. Though these are far from dim as the photo s justify. The night breaker golds are a Cree variety of bulb?