30 replies to this topic

[Duncan VXR]

Ended up going crazy on the light bulb side of things Techiboy its your fault I was happy with upgrading the dipped and side lights lol

So final spec is;
H1 (dipped) = HID 6000k -
http://cgi.ebay.co.u...em=290285836907


H7 (full beam) = Philips Xtreme power 80% brighter bulbs - http://www.lighting....s...ing&lang=en
http://www.carbulbsd...ail.asp?prod=81


PY21W (front indicators) = Philips silver vision - http://www.lighting....s...ing&lang=en
http://www.carbulbsd...ail.asp?prod=69

P21/5W (tail lamps) = Philips vision plus - http://www.lighting....s...ing&lang=en
http://www.carbulbsd...ail.asp?prod=79

T4W (front side lights) = Superlux 180 LED bulbs - http://cgi.ebay.co.u...em=220338936086

P21W (Reversing lamp & fog light bulbs) = Philips vision plus - http://www.carbulbsd...ail.asp?prod=83

W5W (side indicators) = Philips blue vision - http://www.lighting....s...ing&lang=en
http://www.carbulbsd...ail.asp?prod=31

Not changed the C5W (number plate lights) lol

Will keep the old bulbs as spares and total cost each inc P&P
H1 = £44
H7 = £29.35
PY21W = £13.45
P21W = £9.95
T4W = £9.94
P21/5W = £9.95
W5W = FREE (should be £9.95) free with orders over £10, so you know I got my friend to order 1 set of the bulbs over £10 so I have a spare set FREE again - credit crunch, got to save where you can lol

Total for all bubls on car exc number plate = £116.64

As per links either ebay or carbulbsdirect.com

Will post pics and a review after not sure just how much difference the rear lights will make but will find out in 1 working day

Edited by Duncan VXR, 07 January 2009 - 08:40 PM.

[Yellow_or_black?]

You forgot the courtesy light Pretty impressive list!

[Duncan VXR]

Bugger lol - might as well put a light in the boot also

[Yellow_or_black?]

Well........I got the idea from Ouchie to stick two of those Osram (although there are other makes) LED, press on/off lights on the boot lid - one either side They're great They come with velcro attachments, so you can just pull them off if you want to use them to look deeper into the boot, but the didn't hold - so I used the industrial velcro people use for number plates instead

[Strugs]

Not changed the C5W (number plate lights) lol

The new BMW 3 series has got LED number plate light bulbs which I think look quite cool..

[alanoo]

Can you use HID legally in UK without any MOT issue ? In France these are forbidden by the MOT-equivalent now, if not factory fitted with the HID washers

[techieboy]

Can you use HID legally in UK without any MOT issue ?

In France these are forbidden by the MOT-equivalent now, if not factory fitted with the HID washers

It's a bit of a grey area. If the HID lights are supplied as OEM, then the car needs washers and either self-levelling lights or self-levelling suspension. As an aftermarket fitment, there isn't currently anything law that makes them illegal to fit without the other bits. Government is trying to clamp down on them but no clear law yet. Certainly not had an MOT issues either with the VX lights, or the retrofitted HID's on my previous Audi (current one has OEM HID's).

[savvy]

Can you use HID legally in UK without any MOT issue ?

In France these are forbidden by the MOT-equivalent now, if not factory fitted with the HID washers

No problems with MoT as long as the light alignment is still correct you should be fine (technically they are illegal - a letter from Department of Transport confirmed it when asked by a member of the Type R forum wrote in and asked. Though, they did say there wasn't going to be an active persuit in chasing up there illegality)

That said, with non projector type headlights, when fitting aftermarket HIDs you can get a very erratic beam pattern - that would fail an MoT.

[cheeky_chops]

Cant work out if you have too much money, time, sense... Or all of the above!!! Any reason you didnt fit HID's to the full beams? Before after pics of these would be good edit: just ordered the sides...

Edited by cheeky_chops, 08 January 2009 - 11:31 AM.

[savvy]

HID's for mainbeam are no good if you use them for flashing people as they take a few seconds to warm up

[techieboy]

HID's for mainbeam are no good if you use them for flashing people as they take a few seconds to warm up

[Duncan VXR]

HID's for mainbeam are no good if you use them for flashing people as they take a few seconds to warm up

[Retset]

This is serious bulb commitment I had a headlamp bulb blow so went on ebay and got all 4 headlight bulbs as Osram Silver Star (I think .. +50% anyway) and Philips Blue Vision sidelights. The whole lot was £14 delivered. The headlights are now quite reasonable and the sidelights look bright white instead of dull yellow. All in all, good VFM. I'd recommend the sidelight bulbs to anybody - they were about £4. Edit: You can see them on in my sig pic.

Edited by Retset, 08 January 2009 - 12:29 PM.

[cheeky_chops]

HID's for mainbeam are no good if you use them for flashing people as they take a few seconds to warm up

iirc Guy182 had them and posted they were no problem...

[techieboy]

HID's for mainbeam are no good if you use them for flashing people as they take a few seconds to warm up

iirc Guy182 had them and posted they were no problem...

It's not a "problem" if you're prepared to live with it. It's unlikely the few seconds it take to warm up to full intensity are going to kill you (they're not widowmakers after all) but my preference is for instant-on main beams. The best compromise for me was to fit the Philips Extreme Vision +80% bulbs, huge improvement over standard, good beam pattern from a standard reflector lens and they're either on or off.

[Duncan VXR]

Cant work out if you have too much money, time, sense...

Or all of the above!!!

Before after pics of these would be good

edit: just ordered the sides...

Paul, thinks it is all of the above :D:D - will def get pictures and give feedback

Have you ordered the front indicators Paul and got the sides free

[oblomov]

Just bought some of these on offer on fleabay:

Edited by oblomov, 08 January 2009 - 08:49 PM.

[snoopstah]

P21W (Reversing lamp & fog light bulbs) = Philips vision plus - http://www.carbulbsd...ail.asp?prod=83

Is that for the front fogs - for some reason I thought they were an H-style fitment.

[Code Monkey]

I have also changed my rear sidelights/taillights for LED they go brighter faster and are brighter at all times, the only problem is that the high level brake light is always running at a very low level, less than braking brightness but something i can see will need to be sorted for mot time.

[Duncan VXR]

P21W (Reversing lamp & fog light bulbs) = Philips vision plus - http://www.carbulbsd...ail.asp?prod=83

Is that for the front fogs - for some reason I thought they were an H-style fitment.

Sorry should have made that clearer, that is the rear fog light. I dont have front fogs (brake cooling) so did not look them up