smart51
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| posted on 4/10/07 at 04:51 PM |
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H4 headlamp bulbs
The headlights on my car are a bit dim. With darker nights approaching I sometimes find myself coming home in the dark and need more light. I
don't want anything fancy. What's the best plug in replacement H4 bulb to get?
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hobbsy
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| posted on 4/10/07 at 04:55 PM |
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I just bought some cheap uprated ones from eBay, same wattage (allegedly) but a bit of a blue coating to give a whiter light. Seems to work.
I briefly considered proper HID's but they really need projector style lights and its extra weight and cost for only really a few times a year
when I'm driving it in the proper dark.
They were under a tenner for a pair inc post IIRC.
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hobbsy
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| posted on 4/10/07 at 04:55 PM |
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Or you can spend about 25quid on some Phillips equivalents from Halfrauds etc.
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twybrow
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| posted on 4/10/07 at 04:56 PM |
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I had some naughty 'off road' ones from Halfrauds in my car when I got it. Very bright, very blue, lovely vision. Sadly one blew so I
replaced them with legal equivalents - not nearly as good despite claiming to be uprated!
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BenB
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| posted on 4/10/07 at 05:03 PM |
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Practical classics did a review recently of H4 bulbs and Ring Ultra Xenon came out on top. Good price, very bright and legal etc.
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stevec
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| posted on 4/10/07 at 05:03 PM |
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try SVC i just got some 5 3/4 Headlamps from them they do a Xenon gas filled H4 type bulb upgrade for them, Cost me an extra tenner.
Steve.
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RazMan
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| posted on 4/10/07 at 08:00 PM |
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Watch out for the uprated ones which can draw nearly 20 Amps 
There are quite a few HID conversions around but these are best suited to single filament bulbs like the H7. These give (allegedly) three times the
light for half the power...... I haven't plucked up the courage to order one yet 
Cheers,
Raz
When thinking outside the box doesn't work any more, it's time to build a new box
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Steve @ sVc
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| posted on 10/10/07 at 03:40 PM |
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We stock the Osram Xenon filled H4 that Osram advertise as 50% brighter light "On the Road". Fully "E" marked and drawing the
same current as your standard H4, I have these in my cars and even the sVc van!
In mag. tests the Phipips and Osram are genrally the best with Osram leading slightly.
You can get 80% brighter but I wouldn't as the bulb life is dramatically reduced AND, the clue is in the advertising phrase - X % brighter light
"on the road".
The way they do this is to consentrate the beam in a narrower pattern in front of the car and reduce the amount of light to each side.
Now you need this light when approaching corners, and for illuminating the sides of the road.
Hope this helps
Steve @ sVc
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VinceGledhill
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| posted on 10/10/07 at 04:14 PM |
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Or put lamps on the roll bar like Crocodile dundee...
Regards
Vince Gledhill
Time Served Auto Electrician
Lucas Leeds 1979-1983
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takumi
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| posted on 11/10/07 at 01:09 PM |
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Osram Silver Star H4's are very twinkly white.. much better than OE H4s,
I think I got a pair for about £12.
RobinHood 2B 2.0i pinto, Keihin 38mm Carbs, lightened flywheel, O'Mori remote filter kit, 10 row oil cooler. Modified head, 10.2cr, special
valves FR22 cam, 4- 1 header.
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02GF74
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| posted on 11/10/07 at 01:29 PM |
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if your headlamps are connected directly to 12 V via stalk swithes, then may be an idea to use relay to switch them.
With Land Rover stalks - dunno what you are using but may be similar - the contacts are very puny and will drop a volt or so (I know, coz I measured
it) hance the relay.
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MikeRJ
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| posted on 11/10/07 at 07:25 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by takumi
Osram Silver Star H4's are very twinkly white.. much better than OE H4s,
They are pretty good for Halogen bulbs, but they don't last long. I had two sets in two years, and light output drops noticeably as they age.
The same goes for all the "50% brighter" 55/60Watt bulbs though, the filaments have to be run hotter to get more light and that always
reduces bulb life quite severely.
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RichieW
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| posted on 11/10/07 at 08:22 PM |
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I noticed that too. Had a pair of Philips 50% brighter bulbs in an Escort. After about three or four years I replaced them with cheap bulbs from wilko
as they weren't very satisfactory by the end and the four quid wilko bulbs turned out to be a great improvement.
Comparing new with new though the Philips would have been brighter I guess.
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