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Bulbs
Feb 19, 2018 10:59:25 GMT
Post by racingteatray on Feb 19, 2018 10:59:25 GMT
Modern cars being what they are, there really isn't much scope for the old-fashioned joys of gently improving them yourself (something I used to much enjoy in my old Mk2 Golf days, whilst trying to ensure I stayed the right side of a fine line, the other side of which lies Max Power and looking like you enjoy evening gatherings in the car park of a Essex industrial estate). If I wanted to alter anything on the GC, it would really need to be done professionally.
So there was some minor retro pleasure at the weekend in changing a defunct dipped beam bulb on my wife's Fiat. Since it has never had the brightest of eyes and Halfords were doing BOGOF on uprated bulbs, I decided to treat the mighty 500 to a pair of GE's Megalight Ultra bulbs, which promise up to 130% greater brightness.
I couldn't tell you whether they are now 130% brighter, but certainly they cast a much, much stronger beam than before. Plus it's a noticeably whiter light compared to the previous defiantly old-school yellowish glow.
This, in its own tiny way, is very pleasing for an outlay of £35. I am waiting to see if my wife will notice - I haven't said anything. I suspect not.
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Bulbs
Feb 19, 2018 11:04:17 GMT
Post by Deleted on Feb 19, 2018 11:04:17 GMT
I genuinely can't remember the last time a bulb went in any of our cars, though they aren't driven a great deal at night (though auto lights mean they are on a fair amount.) Contrast with the Rover 620GSi I had a great many years ago. That blew a bulb every few weeks...
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Bulbs
Feb 19, 2018 11:16:52 GMT
Post by michael on Feb 19, 2018 11:16:52 GMT
At least you were able to fix it. The passenger side side light bulb on the Alfa 156 I had was a bumper off job to replace it. It wouldn't have mattered, I always put the dipped beams on rather than side lights, but it insisted in throwing up an MOT failing fault warning when it had done it.
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Bulbs
Feb 19, 2018 11:54:22 GMT
Post by Blarno on Feb 19, 2018 11:54:22 GMT
I upgraded the bulbs on the Mint just before Crimbo to some ebay special nightkillers with a lovely blue glow and brighter intensity. They lasted about 4 weeks and I'm back to the old spec ones that emit a glow like smoker's teeth.
I will get some better ones soon when I can be arsed.
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Bulbs
Feb 19, 2018 12:08:20 GMT
Post by LandieMark on Feb 19, 2018 12:08:20 GMT
I’ve got Osram Nightbreaker unlimited in the Land Rover and the new Philips Extreme Race in the TVR. They are a lot better than standard bulbs. The TVR had 100/80 in before and despite the higher wattage, were dimmer than the Philips and very yellow.
The lights in the Hilux are pretty good - probably down to reflector size - I haven’t a clue what bulbs are in there. The Mazda lights are like candles, but I can’t be arsed to do anything about it.
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Bulbs
Feb 19, 2018 12:49:50 GMT
Post by racingteatray on Feb 19, 2018 12:49:50 GMT
I went with the GE ones having read a couple of on-line reviews and having ascertained that my local Halfords had them in stock.
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Bulbs
Feb 19, 2018 12:52:58 GMT
Post by racingteatray on Feb 19, 2018 12:52:58 GMT
At least you were able to fix it. The passenger side side light bulb on the Alfa 156 I had was a bumper off job to replace it. It wouldn't have mattered, I always put the dipped beams on rather than side lights, but it insisted in throwing up an MOT failing fault warning when it had done it. The dipped beam and indicators on the 500 are accessed by raising the bonnet. The daytime running lights and main beams sit in a separate lower unit and are accessed via a cover in the front wheel arch, which by all account is a bit of a skinned knuckles job.
It would be nice to swap the current DRLs, which are very anaemic, for some brighter whiter ones, but that's one for another day.
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Bulbs
Feb 19, 2018 13:02:51 GMT
Post by PG on Feb 19, 2018 13:02:51 GMT
I used Osram Nightbreakers in my X Types and the first XF that had halogens. The X Type headlights had access requirements to the dip bulb that meant you needed one hand with fingers like ET.
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Bulbs
Feb 19, 2018 13:24:44 GMT
Post by Boxer6 on Feb 19, 2018 13:24:44 GMT
I'm dreading the day a front bulb goes on mine; off-side means removing the whole air intake, box and filter, then getting the support bracket(s) out of the way. Nearside, it's battery, tray and some other air con-related gubbins I can't remember.
Rears are much simpler, just two screws to remove the whole assembly then swap out the appropriate bulb. |
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Bulbs
Feb 19, 2018 14:27:02 GMT
Post by Martin on Feb 19, 2018 14:27:02 GMT
I upgraded the bulbs in the 520d to Nightbreakers and they did help but I wasn’t blown away.
I’m spoilt now, even the Xenons in the Boxster feel weak by comparison and they’re the full fat ones with PDLS. They have an additional halogen bulb for the main beam, so are pretty good on main beam, but being able to have partial main beam on most of the time makes a huge difference, especially with the additional LED units that light up the side of the road.
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Bulbs
Feb 19, 2018 18:53:47 GMT
Post by Alex on Feb 19, 2018 18:53:47 GMT
I hope the bulbs are easier to get to on th 500 than they are on the Panda. I had a right nightmare getting a new headlight bulb in at the weekend. It has a backing plate that was designed to hinge into place, only the headlight unit designed had no idea (or forgot to check) that there’s bits of car in the way which prevent this. I ended up having to take the light unit out just to get the backing plate back in! Didn’t upgrade the bulbs though as I doubt the wife would notice.
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Bulbs
Feb 20, 2018 10:57:20 GMT
Post by ChrisM on Feb 20, 2018 10:57:20 GMT
The Kuga has Xenons that appear to have a moving reflector that changes the beam from dipped to main... the cornering lights I noticed a few weeks ago fill what would be the otherwise empty place for cars with halogens where there are separate bulbs for dipped and main beam. They appear to be an "undocumented" feature.
Whatever..... the headlights on the Fiesta, which does have separate halogens for dipped and main, appear better than those of the Kuga, both on dip and (particularly) main
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Bulbs
Feb 20, 2018 11:50:30 GMT
Post by racingteatray on Feb 20, 2018 11:50:30 GMT
I hope the bulbs are easier to get to on th 500 than they are on the Panda. I had a right nightmare getting a new headlight bulb in at the weekend. It has a backing plate that was designed to hinge into place, only the headlight unit designed had no idea (or forgot to check) that there’s bits of car in the way which prevent this. I ended up having to take the light unit out just to get the backing plate back in! Didn’t upgrade the bulbs though as I doubt the wife would notice. Doddle for the dipped beams. Lift bonnet, remove circular rubber cover, pull out bulb holder, replace bulb, click back into place and replace rubber cover. Slightly fiddlier on the right-hand side as the battery crowds the available space to access the cover and bulb but still not that tricky. |
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Bulbs
Feb 20, 2018 11:57:14 GMT
Post by michael on Feb 20, 2018 11:57:14 GMT
Rears are much simpler, just two screws to remove the whole assembly then swap out the appropriate bulb. That was like my Fiat Puntos. You unscrewed the units from within the D-pillar with a special tool from the tool kit and then took the lens off giving you will access to all the rear bulbs. |
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Bulbs
Feb 20, 2018 12:18:01 GMT
Post by Martin on Feb 20, 2018 12:18:01 GMT
The Kuga has Xenons that appear to have a moving reflector that changes the beam from dipped to main... the cornering lights I noticed a few weeks ago fill what would be the otherwise empty place for cars with halogens where there are separate bulbs for dipped and main beam. They appear to be an "undocumented" feature. Whatever..... the headlights on the Fiesta, which does have separate halogens for dipped and main, appear better than those of the Kuga, both on dip and (particularly) main That’s a bi-Xenon unit. Not bulb with a blanking plate that creates dipped beam. If they’re not that powerful they could be the low powered xenon units (there are two types with different wattage). |
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Bulbs
Feb 27, 2018 14:06:10 GMT
Post by Nelson on Feb 27, 2018 14:06:10 GMT
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Bulbs
Feb 27, 2018 15:44:42 GMT
Post by Deleted on Feb 27, 2018 15:44:42 GMT
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Feb 27, 2018 16:06:38 GMT
Post by Blarno on Feb 27, 2018 16:06:38 GMT
The light pattern is less to do with the bulbs and more to do with the reflectors and lenses...
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Bulbs
Mar 5, 2018 8:24:13 GMT
Post by Roadsterstu on Mar 5, 2018 8:24:13 GMT
I upgraded the bulbs on the Mint just before Crimbo to some ebay special nightkillers with a lovely blue glow and brighter intensity. They lasted about 4 weeks and I'm back to the old spec ones that emit a glow like smoker's teeth. I will get some better ones soon when I can be arsed. I put some Twenty20 things in the Captur from (I think) Autobulbs Direct, last year. Excellent bulbs, much whiter and brighter and have a 2 year warranty. Well worth a try. One of the xenons in the V60 was starting to go a bit purple so I chanced a pair of 37 quid "whiter with a hint of blue" cheapies. They are a bit shit. One is a slightly different colour to the other. Back to decent Osram Xenarc Nightbreakers, then. |
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Bulbs
Mar 5, 2018 8:25:47 GMT
Post by Roadsterstu on Mar 5, 2018 8:25:47 GMT
I upgraded the bulbs on the Mint just before Crimbo to some ebay special nightkillers with a lovely blue glow and brighter intensity. They lasted about 4 weeks... I love it when a car fitted with those is heading the other way, indiscriminately scattering that wonderful bluey light straight into my retinas. Not. I once bought some Halfords own brand uprated bulbs and they both blew within about 2 minutes of each other after about 6 months. As it was dark I was forced to drive home on a side light/fog light combo like what dickheads use. Never again will I be buying Halfords bulbs! I think Halfords own brand upgrade bulbs are Osram. |
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