VASK Forum (VW Audi SportKlub of NZ)

VOLKSWAGEN => Mk4 Golf - Bora - New Beetle => Topic started by: timmay on December 07, 2005, 01:27:15 PM

Title: Recommend any light bulbs???
Post by: timmay on December 07, 2005, 01:27:15 PM
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!
Title: Re: Recommend any light bulbs???
Post by: dubstar on December 07, 2005, 02:27:39 PM
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.

Title: Re: Recommend any light bulbs???
Post by: Simon MkII on December 07, 2005, 02:38:07 PM
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.
Title: Re: Recommend any light bulbs???
Post by: timmay on December 07, 2005, 03:00:36 PM
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?
Title: Re: Recommend any light bulbs???
Post by: Pristle on December 07, 2005, 03:03:05 PM
Any of those 3, probably in that order though.
Title: Re: Recommend any light bulbs???
Post by: Simon MkII on December 07, 2005, 03:46:15 PM
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.
Title: Re: Recommend any light bulbs???
Post by: old4130 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.



Title: Re: Recommend any light bulbs???
Post by: hitmanGTI on December 07, 2005, 04:51:06 PM
Go to partmaster,,

Hella or Philips

Cheap as chips..

or i could just something real bland as a recomendation

"buy bright ones"
Title: Re: Recommend any light bulbs???
Post by: Neil_Corrado on December 07, 2005, 08:42:03 PM
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.
Title: Re: Recommend any light bulbs???
Post by: 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
Title: Re: Recommend any light bulbs???
Post by: dubstar on December 08, 2005, 07:16:28 AM
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.
Title: Re: Recommend any light bulbs???
Post by: hitmanGTI on December 08, 2005, 08:40:40 AM
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
Title: Re: Recommend any light bulbs???
Post by: timmay on December 08, 2005, 08:52:47 AM
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.
Title: Re: Recommend any light bulbs???
Post by: Mike on December 08, 2005, 09:10:19 AM
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.
Title: Re: Recommend any light bulbs???
Post by: Period_Correct_ on December 08, 2005, 03:09:37 PM
does the new philip range make H2 bulbs?
Title: Re: Recommend any light bulbs???
Post by: dimistyle on January 10, 2006, 09:34:04 AM
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
Title: Re: Recommend any light bulbs???
Post by: Poonmobile on January 10, 2006, 10:11:23 AM
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!
Title: Re: Recommend any light bulbs???
Post by: hitmanGTI on January 10, 2006, 10:38:27 AM
i have phillips 9500k ones in my main beams.. they are really nice..

havent got round to doing the rest yet...
Title: Re: Recommend any light bulbs???
Post by: veedubtom on January 12, 2006, 10:46:55 AM
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
Title: Re: Recommend any light bulbs???
Post by: orggti on January 22, 2006, 09:21:35 AM
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:
Title: Re: Recommend any light bulbs???
Post by: the phantom on June 17, 2017, 03:08:42 PM
hate to bring (yet another) post back from the past, but I've got a blown left lowbeam and if I'm going to pull the bumper off might as well replace low, high and fog at the same time, any updated recommendations?

the Sylvania Silverstar Ultra seem to get good press, but are they avaiable here?