New LED headlight bulbs
#1
New LED headlight bulbs
I just changed my standard dip beam headlight bulbs for LED (due to the standard lights being poor).
Initial impressions are that they appear to be a big improvement (hasn't got dark yet to try on the road but will do tonight) with a much whiter light (6000k) and appear to be far brighter than standard H1 bulbs.
The bulbs I chose were these
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/...?ie=UTF8&psc=1
The whole thing will fit under the plastic cover so no need for alterations to the car.
Fitting them was initially problematic with the limited space to work in but after I realised that the small plastic mounting collar comes off the bulb it became easier.
After struggling for about an hour on the drivers side lamp I gave up and removed the wheel to gain more access and then the job literally took 30 seconds (apart from taking off and putting back on the wheels.
If you are going to change the dip beam bulbs, take off the wheel, it makes a fiddly job simple.
I'll report back on how the bulbs perform once it gets dark here.
Initial impressions are that they appear to be a big improvement (hasn't got dark yet to try on the road but will do tonight) with a much whiter light (6000k) and appear to be far brighter than standard H1 bulbs.
The bulbs I chose were these
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/...?ie=UTF8&psc=1
The whole thing will fit under the plastic cover so no need for alterations to the car.
Fitting them was initially problematic with the limited space to work in but after I realised that the small plastic mounting collar comes off the bulb it became easier.
After struggling for about an hour on the drivers side lamp I gave up and removed the wheel to gain more access and then the job literally took 30 seconds (apart from taking off and putting back on the wheels.
If you are going to change the dip beam bulbs, take off the wheel, it makes a fiddly job simple.
I'll report back on how the bulbs perform once it gets dark here.
The following 5 users liked this post by tberry6686:
150FHC (11-15-2016),
2002xtypejamo2956 (05-28-2022),
blindside (11-13-2016),
Johnken (11-14-2016),
Ungn (11-13-2016)
#2
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2002xtypejamo2956 (04-30-2022)
#3
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2002xtypejamo2956 (04-30-2022),
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#4
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#6
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#7
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#8
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#9
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2002xtypejamo2956 (05-28-2022)
#11
there is also this version which is fanless and uses ribbons to dissipate the heat:
Fan less H1 LED's
I may try these to see if they work.
Last edited by Ungn; 11-15-2016 at 04:48 PM.
#12
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Ungn (11-15-2016)
#13
LED's generally operate at less than 4 volts and a very small amount of amps. When the cars light controller sees a small amount of amps, it thinks the bulb is burned out and can throw a code, etc.
To step the voltage down and use more amps, resistance is used. This resistance adds the heat that needs to be dissipated.
Even with the power lost to added resistance, the bulbs are still more efficient than std bulbs. Ideally, the resistance wouldn't be needed. But even without added resistance, LED Headlight bulbs have a lot o power going through a tiny chip and get hot and need to remove that heat.
Incandescents are in a vacuum. If they weren't, everything around them would instantly catch fire. LED are not that hot, but are still pretty hot.
To step the voltage down and use more amps, resistance is used. This resistance adds the heat that needs to be dissipated.
Even with the power lost to added resistance, the bulbs are still more efficient than std bulbs. Ideally, the resistance wouldn't be needed. But even without added resistance, LED Headlight bulbs have a lot o power going through a tiny chip and get hot and need to remove that heat.
Incandescents are in a vacuum. If they weren't, everything around them would instantly catch fire. LED are not that hot, but are still pretty hot.
Last edited by Ungn; 11-15-2016 at 10:02 PM.
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Johnken (11-16-2016)
#14
#16
Got a few pictures. They are crap but might serve their purpose.
Been driving in the dark with them for a few days now and can only say that they are a big improvement over the old halogen bulbs. The best part is that they don't appear to be causing any issue to oncoming cars as I haven't been flashed at once.
Been driving in the dark with them for a few days now and can only say that they are a big improvement over the old halogen bulbs. The best part is that they don't appear to be causing any issue to oncoming cars as I haven't been flashed at once.
#18
Bought the bulbs - cover doesnt fit.
I purchased the exact bulbs from Amazon and put them in. All was good until I tried to put the cover back on. It doesn't even come close to fitting, I'd say it needs about another 1.0" of clearance, certainly at least 0.75". How did you get the covers back on?
On the upside, the wiring was plug and play and the lights work great and look superb - just need that cover to fit ...
On the upside, the wiring was plug and play and the lights work great and look superb - just need that cover to fit ...
#19
#20
I removed the mount from the bulb (as you suggested - thanks for that, made things loads easier) and had everything properly clipped into place, so I don't think the bulb could have been in the socket any farther than I had it. The image of the bulb from the UK site appears identical to mine so I'm not sure where the problem is unless the back cover is a different design on the UK cars? There is some room between the bulb cover and the fender liner panel, so I guess the next step is to head to the hardware store. I'm thinking something in the shape of a small plastic bowler hat, a hole saw and some silicone might do the trick...