H7 dipped light bulbs 200% brighter

[markjay]

While some countries have approved the best LED replacement bulbs such as Philips and Osram, they are not legal in the UK.

It's not an issue of how good the beam pattern is because these top quality LEDs have an excellent beam pattern. It's the way the law is written.

The Road Vehicles Lighting Regulations 1989, 14.—(1) states that no filament lamp other than the one referred to in the Designation of Approval Marks Regulations can be fitted to any lamp that is required to be marked with an approval mark on a motor vehicle first used on or after April 1, 1986,

What the regulation is saying is a light unit must use only the filament lamp that was used when it obtained that approval. Also even if they seem an innocuous use of LEDs ,the regulation also seems to apply to the tail light, stop light and indicators if they have an approval mark.

The MOT manual quotes the same regulation but I suspect in practice the MOT testers don't concern themselves with checking bulbs in tail lights and indicators. They would be more likely to fail a headlight if they can see it contains an LED even if the beam pattern passes muster.

The wording suggests that the approval is for the bulb in the headlamp, not for the bulb in the car.

You can, in principle, retrofit a LED light if you buy it complete with a headlamp for which it was approved.

But finding a complete headlamp which has approval is a challenge, and its certainly not cheap.

 

[Chrishazle]

Regarding MoT's and LED's in tail lights, most of the tail lights in my S204 (excepting the indicators, which would require an LED compatible indicator relay) are now LED and have been for quite a few years, never been a problem on MoT. Biggest benefit is reversing lights where I replaced the filament bulbs with projector LED's, so much better as long as the reversing camera lens is clear!

 

[MikeInWimbledon]

Useful timing. I lost a dipped headlight yesterday morning and was scratching my head as to which pair of bulbs to buy from Halfords to replace.

Does / should frost and ice compromise headlight bulbs and their connectors?

 

[OneForTheRoad]

Thanks a ton
Just bought it on Amazon
Bit perplexed, as it would arrive only on the 16th. Amazon is usually next day
Must be from the continent?

Chance it'll be smashed on arrival ?

 

[DSM10000]

Useful timing. I lost a dipped headlight yesterday morning and was scratching my head as to which pair of bulbs to buy from Halfords to replace.

Does / should frost and ice compromise headlight bulbs and their connectors?

It just makes them more of a pain to change

I would suggest changing both as the other bulb was probably fitted around the same time and you will then have a balanced output either side.

 

[MikeInWimbledon]

It just makes them more of a pain to change

I would suggest changing both as the other bulb was probably fitted around the same time and you will then have a balanced output either side.

Agreed. One’s Staff (Halfords) will do both.

“I know my place.”

 

[BTB 500]

The headlight bulbs on my W639 Vito are quite awkward to change (one in particular, as access to the watertight cover on the back of the cluster that side is particularly tight). I did once have a bulb replaced at a dealership while it was being serviced ... the following year they commented on damp inside that unit and suggested replacing the whole thing (several hundred pounds). I declined, had a look at it myself, and found the cover had been wrongly re-fitted after they'd changed the bulb

 

[drmacf]

Good morning,
Yes, it’s a Moanday and I gotta drive 4 hrs to South Wales
Did some research on light and bought a luxometer? I would test the various bulbs, or at least that's the plan. Tried yesterday night but don't know how far to hold it and the readings were all over the place! D’oh
Please find the pic of that luxometer enclosed within

Besides, my dashboard now shows up with some rear bulbs gone kaput. Any ideas, as to where I could buy these form?

 

[DSM10000]

Halfords will almost certainly have the rear bulbs or any Motor factor.

 

[drmacf]

Ok, now it does seem like Homer but I have a cunning plan
Buy one 200% bulb from Halford and insert it on the left
Right one would be the ostam 200% night breaker
So I could literally compare it?
I presume the osram would be brighter, in that case would Halfords take it back? Could turn up at the desk with the luxometer and claim that it’s not actually that bright! D’oh

 

[OneForTheRoad]

Ok, now it does seem like Homer but I have a cunning plan
Buy one 200% bulb from Halford and insert it on the left
Right one would be the ostam 200% night breaker
So I could literally compare it?
I presume the osram would be brighter, in that case would Halfords take it back? Could turn up at the desk with the luxometer and claim that it’s not actually that bright! D’oh

What readings do you get if you point it at yourself .


Sorry couldn't resist based on your previous posts.

 

[drmacf]

What readings do you get if you point it at yourself .


Sorry couldn't resist based on your previous posts.

As bright as the sun!!! D’oh
During an eclipse

 

[DSM10000]

Ok, now it does seem like Homer but I have a cunning plan
Buy one 200% bulb from Halford and insert it on the left
Right one would be the ostam 200% night breaker
So I could literally compare it?
I presume the osram would be brighter, in that case would Halfords take it back? Could turn up at the desk with the luxometer and claim that it’s not actually that bright! D’oh

Just buy the Nightbreakers

Light output measured at what distance accounting for ambient light??

To much thinking

 

[OneForTheRoad]

Phillips race , all day long , better than nighbreakers.

 

[Gazwould]

I agree

 

[drmacf]

Just buy the Nightbreakers

Light output measured at what distance accounting for ambient light??

To much thinking

Already bought the osram night breaker
Tracking says they are on the way from Germany!

 

[190]

Did some research on light and bought a luxometer? I would test the various bulbs, or at least that's the plan. Tried yesterday night but don't know how far to hold it and the readings were all over the place! D’oh

It's unlikely you will be able to do lux measurements of your beams better than the people that test them for the various bulb comparison reviews. Unless you measure lux at the correct part of the beam any comparison won't be valid.

First thing to be aware of is lumens vs Lux.

Lumens is a measure of the total output of a bulb in all directions.

Lux is a measure of light intensity over a specific area.

These aftermarket 200% bulbs don't put out substantially more lumens than a standard bulb certainly nothing like 200% more. What they do instead is control the beam such that some parts of the beam have a higher lux reading than the standard bulb. That's how they are able to claim the 200% but will only be some specific areas of the beam that are 200% brighter than standard and you would need to know exactly where to measure to make a comparison. Frankly a subjective assessment of just driving the car at night would be more valuable.

 

[DSM10000]

Already bought the osram night breaker
Tracking says they are on the way from Germany!

Amazon would have been somewhat quicker!
Do you have an ETA?