Anyone without xenons tried LED headlight bulbs?

[Bluebeard]

As above. Driving home tonight reminded me how diabolical the headlights are on my passat. I need brighter and whiter lights as opposed to the dim yellowy rubbish it currently has.
I don't want an HID kit because I don't trust the cheap ones and I don't want to pay £100's on a proper kit.

What you sayin?

 

[sburrell93]

Do I hear @McGherkin coming?

I wouldn't bother with LED's. They just can't throw the light far enough to be effective. Even the brightest ones only light up everything close to the car. Osram Nightbreakers or Philips Xtreme vision bulbs would be my choice if you're looking for more light output. I've never tried the Osram ones myself but I've had both Philips Xtreme and Diamond Vision bulbs. Diamond vision is a very HID looking white if that's the kind of thing you're after, but the light output of the Xtreme vision ones is far superior, although not as white.

I take it there's no plug n play alternative xenon/hid option with the passat like there is with a clio?

 

[McGherkin]

Basically the above. There's no real plug 'n' play LED replacement that can punch as far as a halogen/xenon/HID bulb. Very good for filling the immediate area with light, but not concentrated enough to reflect properly and focus on a long distance. There are LED kits available which put out some serious lumens but again they're very difficult to get focused, involve hacking your headlights apart, and are megabucks.

OSRAM Nightbreaker Ultimate, or HID kit if you have projectors. And the cheap ones are alright TBH.

 

[Bluebeard]

I have projectors yes. What would you fit gerk??

 

[McGherkin]

What fitment are they? H7?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/55W-H7-XE...rg=20140407115239&rk=1&rkt=30&sd=251768103489

Colour temperature is up to you, personally I'd recommend either 5000k or 6000k. Much further either way looks chav and also reduces output.

 

[.GAZ.]

I have projectors yes. What would you fit gerk??

Candles.

 

[Gorms]

Having had both 5k and 6k I would recommend going for the 5k. 6k are far too white/verge of chav.

 

[dajones]

I have osram nightbreaker unlimited fitted. When i first fitted them i noticed they where better but not by much, MOT time picked up that my headlight levels where all over the shop, they got sorted out, I rarely use full beam now!!!
When i purchased them, GSF where the cheapest to buy locally at £19.50. Can get them for 13 on amazon.
I had HID's in a previous car and found them unreliable. One ballast unit failed within 2 months.

 

[Bluebeard]

That's what I don't want. It's a mammoth job on the passat as the undertray has to come off, front grill off, bumper off, all to get the headlights out. If an HID kit keeps packing up I don't want the grief.

Looking like it might be the Osrams then.

 

[Mr R.]

Dan ive just bought 2 sets of H7s for Tan's car.
They are made by a company called MTX i think and a few of the fiesta St boy's on here have them. @Scrooge

Oh and they where only £11 a pair delivered.

Side light's.

 

[.Stevo.C.]

I've got 5k HIDS in my ph1. Perfect light colour and actual light too imo.

 

[McGherkin]

That's what I don't want. It's a mammoth job on the passat as the undertray has to come off, front grill off, bumper off, all to get the headlights out. If an HID kit keeps packing up I don't want the grief.

Looking like it might be the Osrams then.

Bear in mind that high output conventional bulbs like Nightbreakers etc also have a limited life too.

 

[..Jack..]

I've heard some Skoda owners rave about the 5K H7 kit from HIDSDIRECT

 

[Mr R.]

I've heard some Skoda owners rave about the 5K H7 kit from HIDSDIRECT

That's where my bulbs came from, they have a ebay store.

 

[sburrell93]

Bear in mind that high output conventional bulbs like Nightbreakers etc also have a limited life too.

Good point that.

Also with cheap HID kits, it's usually the ballast that goes wrong if anything. If the hassle in the passat is getting in to change the bulbs, you could always place the ballasts in an easier to access area? (Although I've never seen under the bonnet of a passat, so I could be making a completely irrelevant point here).

 

[Fudge]

Are your headlights clouded at all?
I've just gone for some clear halogen wipacs and osram nightbreaker unlimited on my mx5 and the light output is ridiculous now the high beam is so nice and white as well.
So with the price of nightbreakers I'd try that and if it's really not good enough then try fitting a good quality hid kit.
Then again I didn't think the lights before all that where even that bad.

 

[Gorms]

That's what I don't want. It's a mammoth job on the passat as the undertray has to come off, front grill off, bumper off, all to get the headlights out. If an HID kit keeps packing up I don't want the grief.

Looking like it might be the Osrams then.

Even if the ballast did pack up you wouldn't need to remove the light again as they are normally external to the headlight. Just put the ballasts somewhere accessible. Most are normally covered with a couple of years warranty.

 

[Mr R.]

This is where i got my bulbs from.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/271678686681

 

[Bluebeard]

This is where i got my bulbs from.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/271678686681

Much difference at night mate?

 

[Mr R.]

Yes mate, Tania went to see her parents yesterday and she said that they where so much brighter on the drive home.
Even her dad commented on how bright they where as she was leaving.

As i said Ant and i think Matthew use these bulbs in there ST's.

 

[Djw John]

This is where i got my bulbs from.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/271678686681

That's exactly what I put in my brothers civic and I'm really impressed with them, superb light and so cheap

 

[Bluebeard]

In hoping halfords do them because I want to get/fit some tomorrow.

 

[Mr R.]

They won't.
ECP do a Philips white bulb but there double the price.

 

[Mr R.]

Here you go mate.
http://www.eurocarparts.com/ecp/c/V...cea31239de27f34773c38d93d494c15a13b1eb&000384