Headlight HID lamp comparison.

[Spannaz]

well, seems giving the cheapo's is worth a pun then. If they fail, at least i'd have to original ones as backups.........depending on how much of a pain in the arse these are to replace lol

 

[Spannaz]

I'm pleased people have found this thread useful.

For the record, I bought my lamps from here. And they're cheap - £10 for the pair at the time. Anyone who spends dealer prices for a headlight lamp must be completely hat stand!

thanks for that, have ordered a pair and will do some pics of before, during and after and let you all know how I got on.

Interesting point about fog light colour, I had previously fitted HID's to my old Vectra Gsi, i thought they'd be good..................oh in fog they were useless!!! All i got was a face full of light. Shame, as my current fogs work great, but look awful against the side lights! Maybe a project for me to make it house 2 sets of lights!!!! hmmmmmmmm lol

 

[Corned]

You WILL skin your knuckles to some extent.

The n/s headlamp unit is easier to access than the o/s. You also get a better view of the back of the n/s unit. Beware dropping the bin lid covers when you remove them - they will drop down onto the undertray where they are either impossible to get to (unless you remove the undertrays), or will sit there rattling for the rest of time.

Also worth bearing in mind that the 2-wire connector WILL come apart from the whatever-electronic-box-of-tricks which plugs onto the back of the lamp itself, and on the o/s it is underneath (as opposed to on top on the n/s) where it is impossible to see where you are attempting to plug it back in!

However, it can be done - with some patience - and once you have done it the once, you then know what to expect for next time...

 

[Spannaz]

****** hell........sounds like great fun................NOT!!! lol best not do on an ice cold freezing day then eh

 

[DY2]

Just recieved my new set of 5000k D2S's... Shame the rain wont hold off

 

[Spannaz]

Just recieved my new set of 5000k D2S's... Shame the rain wont hold off

oh you can practice on mine if you like lol I got a garage you can nose it into!

 

[ROBGOSTY]

Just changed mine, managed to turn a quick job into a marathon, good tip for anyone doing their own, remember on the offside lamp, yellow writing for open & close on igniter goes at the bottom so arrow points down ( I didn't and spent a fair while trying to refit upside down :Oops
Access is a bit easier on n/s if you move header tank, takes somewhat longer if you drop filler cap into bowels of engine, having done em once, reckon ten minutes a side tops.

 

[Spannaz]

Just changed mine, managed to turn a quick job into a marathon, good tip for anyone doing their own, remember on the offside lamp, yellow writing for open & close on black box goes at the bottom ( I didn't and spent a fair while trying to refit upside down :Oops
Access is a bit easier on n/s if you move header tank, takes somewhat longer if you drop filler cap into bowels of engine, having done em once, reckon ten minutes a side tops.

So big question is are they any better?

 

[ROBGOSTY]

So big question is are they any better?

Fitted 5000k ones from E-Gay, seem to be brighter but have read they have to run for an hour or so when new to burn in ?
Going for a run out later on some dark roads so will post back later.

 

[DY2]

Ok, Ive managed to put in the 5000k Bulbs.

Though on first impressions, next to the LED side lights, they look a little yellowish compared to the 6000k that Ive just taken out.

But the 5000k gave a more white light on the road, where as the 6000k was more blue.

Will go out for another drive in a while, once the traffic has calmed down. One of the main roads has been shut down, and every side road is clogged up with traffic, and the A2 wont be much better for a while yet

 

[Spannaz]

Yeah i have a feeling that the blue/white LED sidelights are going to become redundant, and probably find the old bulbs going in, unless I can get a LED to match the same colour as the headlamp.........fussy yes i know! lol

 

[DY2]

Yes, Shame.

I still have the blue bulb side lights I bought last week, I will try these out in the morning and see if the lights match better.

The 6000k + LEDs are a nice match, in terms of bulb whiteness.
maybe the 5000k will match better with the blue bulbs.

 

[Spannaz]

I can see this thread getting very picture heavy..........lol

 

[Spannaz]

this was the Vec.......as you can see, sidelights were spot on, and really does show up yellow of street lights, but then, that's probably why they use more yellow light as it's better????

 

[DY2]

Have just taken a drive down the M25 and A21, between J3-J5 and Sevenoaks-Tonbridge where the roads are 'dark' with no road lights.

The 5000k do give a slight better road illumination over the slight bluer 6000k.

Shame we couldnt have the nice bulb brightness of the 6000k to match the LED side lights, and the illumination of the 5000k :neutral:

This is the match of the 6000k + LED

5000k + LED

 

[Spannaz]

Have just taken a drive down the M25 and A21, between J3-J5 and Sevenoaks-Tonbridge where the roads are 'dark' with no road lights.

i know those roads very well :wink: and yup they are very dark......and nice to drive lol

I am hoping that the new lamps will be a big improvement over my 8 year old ones that are in there, they are good, but not AS good as i had hoped for when first driving it at night.
At £15.00 a pair, i might be tempted to get a set of 6000k and do a back to back comparison.
But that all depends on how ****** hard they are to replace lol

 

[Spannaz]

Wow, just a quick update, I ordered a set of bulbs (or lamps whatever you call them) from Xenons online at 16.18 yesterday, and opted for the Free delivery.

Postman just handed me my order...............22hrs after ordering NOW THAT'S WHAT I CALL SERVICE!!!!

 

[Spannaz]

seems a quick check turns out the car had a new bulb fitted in 2010, not bad really, part number E481770312 came in at an Eye watering £99.88 for just ONE!!!!
14.99 a pair......rock on lol

 

[DY2]

Yes... when i was in the dealers a few days ago, i asked how much they sold them for..... £107 per bulb. Silly prices.

 

[Corned]

At £15.00 a pair, i might be tempted to get a set of 6000k and do a back to back comparison.

That's what I've already done in this thread! Save yourself the bother. They're not worth it.