Best halogen bulb upgrades (legal only!)

The Cardinal

The Cardinal

For the love of cars
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My new 2014 A3 has the standard halogen headlights. I couldn't find a car with xenons, which I've had on many cars in the past.

Can anyone share some recommendations for the best upgraded bulbs please? I'm only after 100% legal options to improve visibility at night on country roads, not the "ice blue" look or anything like that.

Thanks to its compact 1.4 engine, at least it looks like I can access all the blubs easily (apart from the front fogs)!
 
From what I know, the brightest Halogens you can get are PIAA bulbs but they are not cheap, and from reviews the brightness is not worth the price.
I have been looking at getting LED canbus error free bulbs in my halogens, but I think I will just give up and stick with Phillips extreme bulbs.
 
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Philips 150%plus are pretty good in mine, good white light and good distance light, find them better than the nightbreaker that has better distance but not so good vision IMO
 
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Thanks.

There seem to be lots of H7 dipped beam options, but I'm struggling a bit more with the H15 DRL / main beam. I don't want the xenon look necessarily, just something brighter.
 
I have always found Osram Night breakers to be somewhere at the top of any test. There are loads of fake bulbs around especially on Ebay and Amazon. Best to buy from a genuine supplier. These do exist on Ebay but they won't be the cheapest price.

https://www.powerbulbs.com/
 
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I've always opted for the Osram Night Breaker with the latest development being the Night Break Laser which come in the following fittings H1, H3, H4, H7, H8, H11, HB3, HB4. The official page with specs and data sheet link can be found here. As others have said be careful where you buy and only purchase from reputable companies. I can recommend www.hids-direct.co.uk and www.powerbulbs.com as I have used both myself.
 
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I agree with the Osram recommendations above - always widely available and not ridiculously expensive.
 
BenH,
As usual with the halogen debate,lots of differing views. I had a quick look at the 2020 auto express recs and the nightbreaker laser was top this year.
Interestingly, the Philips 150% I referred to was not tested by them as they said 'One area is light output, which we check to ensure bulbs remain in compliance. Both our RacingVision samples exceeded the maximum by some margin and are therefore not rated'.
I always rejected the hids due to the brightness and alignment problems so really annoying that the philips are also perhaps not legal!
 
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And here we have it !!!!



A road legal H7 LED by a big Auto bulb specialist ???


2020 06 27 102208


2020 06 27 102318
 
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Ben H said:
My new 2014 A3 has the standard halogen headlights. I couldn't find a car with xenons, which I've had on many cars in the past.

Can anyone share some recommendations for the best upgraded bulbs please? I'm only after 100% legal options to improve visibility at night on country roads, not the "ice blue" look or anything like that.

Thanks to its compact 1.4 engine, at least it looks like I can access all the blubs easily (apart from the front fogs)!
Click to expand...
Jeus ppl can you please STOP using your pathetic and naive term ''LEGAL'' ?? you soo been brainwashed with this word i just faceplaming every time when someone uses it .. All bulbs are legal there is no any difference c'moon.. As long as u use it and install it properly everything is fine .. If you so scared about some legality you shouldn't change it at all and use ONLY halogen..
And please don't think that most expensive LEDs must be ''legal'' .. like overpriced osram or philips which I would NEVER buy
 
^^ A charming and persuasive post.

It would be all the stronger if it explained why and what the recommended products might be.
 
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One of the reasons a H7 bulb is so expensive is because it's actually a precision piece of kit. That filament has to be placed within 0.2mm to ensure the light operates as the manufacturers intended. The headlight is designed to operate correctly with a H7 bulb in there. Very few LED H7 bulbs can hope to recreate a correct beam pattern. And there is then the issue of fitment as some have such large heatsinks , fans etc on the back they just won't fit.

https://www.philips.co.uk/p-m-au/au...ticles/article/what-makes-a-good-halogen-bulb

The Phillips Ultinon bulb.. Nearly £100 a pair and for off road use only .
Amazon product
 
desertstorm said:


One of the reasons a H7 bulb is so expensive is because it's actually a precision piece of kit. That filament has to be placed within 0.2mm to ensure the light operates as the manufacturers intended. The headlight is designed to operate correctly with a H7 bulb in there. Very few LED H7 bulbs can hope to recreate a correct beam pattern. And there is then the issue of fitment as some have such large heatsinks , fans etc on the back they just won't fit.

https://www.philips.co.uk/p-m-au/au...ticles/article/what-makes-a-good-halogen-bulb

The Phillips Ultinon bulb.. Nearly £100 a pair and for off road use only .
Amazon product
Click to expand...

I have cheapest ones as possible (not low quality ones) and never had any problem it's been a year now ... and they are perfect on the road .. https://www.aliexpress.com/item/4000041701434.html?spm=a2g0s.9042311.0.0.87ad4c4dp7RezP
 

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Peter82 said:
Jeus ppl can you please STOP using your pathetic and naive term ''LEGAL'' ?? you soo been brainwashed with this word i just faceplaming every time when someone uses it .. All bulbs are legal there is no any difference c'moon.. As long as u use it and install it properly everything is fine .. If you so scared about some legality you shouldn't change it at all and use ONLY halogen..
And please don't think that most expensive LEDs must be ''legal'' .. like overpriced osram or philips which I would NEVER buy
Click to expand...


@Peter82,
You are have a strong opinion but not one I share!
I consider the legality of the product as something that has been tested and is therefore fit for purpose. In the case of H7 in my opinion the most important issue is that it does not have the potential to blind other users and that it gives the best light for the car.
Off road lamps , whether halogen,or any other sort are sold for off road use and therefore do not comply for safe use on the roads. People can use them of course but please don't come on her telling those off us that choose not to, that we are naive and brainwashed, we just don't share your view of the world.
 
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traindweller said:
@Peter82,
You are have a strong opinion but not one I share!
I consider the legality of the product as something that has been tested and is therefore fit for purpose. In the case of H7 in my opinion the most important issue is that it does not have the potential to blind other users and that it gives the best light for the car.
Off road lamps , whether halogen,or any other sort are sold for off road use and therefore do not comply for safe use on the roads. People can use them of course but please don't come on her telling those off us that choose not to, that we are naive and brainwashed, we just don't share your view of the world.
Click to expand...
I don't have strong what u mean strong ? I have normal ..
Look u making too much drama from simple things ''in the world''... New cars has LEDs from factories so strong headlights amd I had/have so many cars passing me saying my self ; jesus they are WAY too strong especially those SUV cars and nobody say A THING about them.. or complain!
But someone upgrading LEDs and suddenly talking about legality or blinding and they are absolutely not blinding opposite cars.. That what ****** me off ! And end of the day it is YOU - YOURSELF who needs to test it and not polmeize for ages which are good and which not .. You can quickly see where has been sold the most, they looks like will be good ..
 
I dont think its the LED thats the issue.
There seems to be some question on if you can install LED in reflector Halogen light environments.
We all know you can install LED lights into vehicles, its whether they are meant to be installed into Reflector housings as the light pattern can and do dazzle more than Projector units.
 
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