Recommend any light bulbs???

Started by timmay, December 07, 2005, 01:27:15 PM

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timmay

Hey all...I need to change the bulbs on my MKIV GTi. Has anybody got a recommended brand/type??? Prefer the white coloured bulbs.

Does anybody have any experience with some of TradeMe??? E.g...

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Motors/Car-parts-accessories/Other-accessories/auction-42074404.htm

They are about 1/3 the price of the Narva bulbs you get from Repco! And when you are going to change all 3 (low, high, fog) lamps, thats quite some saving!!!

Cheers!
2001 Porsche Boxster S: Meridian Silver| De-Ambered | De-Snorkled Intake
2003 VW Golf R32 | 2009 BMW Z4 sDrive35i | 2007 BMW 130i SE MSport | 1999 Honda S2000 | 2003 Mazda RX8 Type-S | 2000 VW Golf GTi | 1998 Mazda MX5 RS

dubstar

The bulbs that have the extremely blue tint on the glass are rubbish.  Because the tint is so thick and filters out so much light the manufacturer has to over power the filament so that they can get the bulb to emit the legal amount of light.  Over powering the filament means that it won't last as long and it also means there is more heat in the housing.

On another note, the bulbs you link to are 100W.  I'm not 100% sure, but 100W bulbs may warp the polycarbonate housing in your car.

"I am so clever that sometimes I don't understand a single word of what I am saying."

Simon MkII

The difference between the $15 Tardme ones and $40 repco (narva/hella?) is that the repco ones will actually be brighter than standard halogen bulbs. Like dubstar said, the cheap ones seem to be a bit dimmer because they are filtered or they will be really bright because they are 100w, but then you run the risk of damaging wiring or len's.

Don't skimp on something important like headlights, spend the extra money on something decent.
Mazda Mx5

timmay

Thanks guys. That answers that question! Thought the answer would've been something along those lines!

What about favourite "proper" brands? Hella, Narva, or Sylvania??? Any others?
2001 Porsche Boxster S: Meridian Silver| De-Ambered | De-Snorkled Intake
2003 VW Golf R32 | 2009 BMW Z4 sDrive35i | 2007 BMW 130i SE MSport | 1999 Honda S2000 | 2003 Mazda RX8 Type-S | 2000 VW Golf GTi | 1998 Mazda MX5 RS

Pristle

Any of those 3, probably in that order though.

Simon MkII

Mine are Narva H4's (arctic blue I think), a bit whiter and brighter than normal ones. Any of those three would be fine. I've heard that Phillips also make decent ones.
Mazda Mx5

old4130

Go for the Hella or Philips

Dubstars right on the putting Xenon bulbs in halogen designed lights, can melt the reflectors & polycarb housing.



2005 Audi A4 1.8tq S line
1997 VW Golf GTI 16v
2011 Keeway Matrix
1987 Honda Beat FC 50 ~ 50cc of Fury

2000 SEAT Cordoba SXE ~ Her Car - Sold
2004 Subaru Forester XT 2.5 Limited ~ Her Car

hitmanGTI

Go to partmaster,,

Hella or Philips

Cheap as chips..

or i could just something real bland as a recomendation

"buy bright ones"

Neil_Corrado

Quote from: X 130R on December 07, 2005, 04:07:00 PM
Go for the Hella or Philips

Dubstars right on the putting Xenon bulbs in halogen designed lights, can melt the reflectors & polycarb housing.


Xenon is just a gas inside a halogen globe, it gives better light, not extra heat. Providing you dont fit bulbs bigger the 60/55w. If you put HID or gas discharge bulbs in it, that would be different.

hitmanGTI

yer.. the i think it goes the lighter the colour out put of the Halogen bulb the colder it actually is

dubstar

Quote from: HitmanGTI on December 07, 2005, 08:46:03 PM
yer.. the i think it goes the lighter the colour out put of the Halogen bulb the colder it actually is

Thats partly true, but only when you are comparing the same wattage bulb.  The ones in the link are 100W which would produce too much heat in my opinion.

PS.  Philips are making some cool looking/good quality bulbs at the moment.  Not sure who would stock the full range, but ring around.
"I am so clever that sometimes I don't understand a single word of what I am saying."

hitmanGTI

Quote from: dubstar on December 08, 2005, 07:16:28 AM
Thats partly true, but only when you are comparing the same wattage bulb.? The ones in the link are 100W which would produce too much heat in my opinion.

PS.? Philips are making some cool looking/good quality bulbs at the moment.? Not sure who would stock the full range, but ring around.

Got all my Phillips ones at Partmaster Grey Lynn

timmay

Thanks for your help guys! I think i've got all the info I need now.

Oh and btw...I was just using that link as a example of a "cheap" brand not the actual bulb I was interested in.
2001 Porsche Boxster S: Meridian Silver| De-Ambered | De-Snorkled Intake
2003 VW Golf R32 | 2009 BMW Z4 sDrive35i | 2007 BMW 130i SE MSport | 1999 Honda S2000 | 2003 Mazda RX8 Type-S | 2000 VW Golf GTi | 1998 Mazda MX5 RS

Mike

Xenon gas is newer technology than Halogen gas, and it puts out a much whiter light (very close to daylight, while halogen gives much more yellow light and only about 2/3 as white). In the 1970s Halogen was the latest thing. The brightness measurement is made in a unit called 'Kelvins' and the Xenon is a similar number of Kevlins as daylight (about 5000k - 7000k from memory?). Apparently they burn cooler than halogen (less heat in the light housing) for added benefit.

Uprated 100w bulbs are OK if the lens is glass (older cars) and the wiring has been upgraded with relays as a 100w bulb draws about 10 amps per bulb which is usually marginal for stock wiring which could cause overloading and burning out of the switch or worse. I had 90/100 bulbs, up-rated wiring and relays in an older Audi I had years ago - worked very well. But with modern headlights and good quality bulbs the stock wattage should be sufficient to provide good light (and won't damage the polycarbonate lens). The heavily blue tinted cheap nasty bulbs are mainly cosmetic to look as though the car has HID headlights, but are much less bright than ordinary Halogen bulbs, and are often found on blinged-up 1991 Mazda Familias.

HID (High Intensity Discharge) Xenon headlights are different and are not a simple bulb change or upgrade. The bits are expensive and a degree of re-wiring is required, as well as different reflectors and lenses in many cases. Price up a set of RS2 headlights (which had HID dip beams) complete with all the wiring and bits required and you'll see what I mean. HID lights are activated when they are switched on by a high voltage zap from a 'black box' voltage accumulator, and then a much lower voltage is required to keep them going.

Period_Correct_

does the new philip range make H2 bulbs?
1971 Porsche 911T | 1990 Audi Quattro Turbo | 2003 Audi RS6 Avant | 2009 Renault Megane R26

dimistyle

Well all this talk about light bulbs must have triggered my Passat to blow a main beam >:(
After removing the bulb to see what brand was installed as mine car is an Jap import, what do you know it had PIAA Extreme White 55W ???.
Not wanting to spend time looking for a brand not usually sold in NZ, I went to RIPCO during their 25% off days and picked up the NARVA Arctic blue (which are actually OSRAM bulbs repackaged) these had the same tint as the PIAA's.

They work really well with a nice bright white light :D, when replacing both bulbs I found the orange indicator lights were both flaking away from the bulbs and a burnt out brake light, so off to Ripco again.

I'm happy with these bulbs and I didn't have to pay the full quid... ;D

Poonmobile

Dont make the mistake i made by putting 100watt bulbs in the MK3 foglights....melted plastic (yes, dumbass) but luckily found some replacements. Another brand you can look out for is PIAA (Jap) they have some good lights, with intense blue and very bright. (you may have seen a few jap cars driving round with a really blue style light, chances are they are PIAA, they are the Closest i have seen to HID. BUT they cost a crap load! When I had my Japper I got a set from japan for $200 a pair, and i have seen them in the small jap (do em up rice styles type shops) for @$300.

But I would say regular Narva bulbs are just as good, it's more the cosmetic side you prob want to think about, if you don't care- no worries!
Current:
06 NZ B7 RS4 Avus Silver, 01 NZ B5 RS4 Avus Silver, 93 NZ VR6 Tornado Red 3dr, Renault Clio 172 & Renault Clio 197
Past:
MK2 VR6, MK5 GTI, 2 x MK5 R32, 8L S3 Imola, MK4 Golf V6 4MO, Polo GTI, 2x MK3 VR6, D2 S8, B5 S4 Avant, 03 NZ R32 Deep Blue Pearl, Renault Megane R26 liquid yello

hitmanGTI

i have phillips 9500k ones in my main beams.. they are really nice..

havent got round to doing the rest yet...

veedubtom

I have the Narva Arctic blue in my C class for low and high beams, they seem much better than the prev yellow bulbs that tapered off at about 5m away

orggti

Youve probly heard me crap on about these new lights enough.......but.................they suck and blind other drivers, its all part of the whats good for me is good for everybody else attitude of today.......................mumble grumble im off for my afternoon nap  :angel: