HID or LED

[Rikki Kitto]

Need brighter headlights as mine are shocking what's best HID or LED and do people change both beams?

[PRY4SNO]

I live in a cold climate so this is likely more of a concern for myself, but LED won't melt snow or ice off the headlight lenses.

More importantly, while LEDs may have very high lumen ratings they don't offer much in the way of lux. Best way to think of the two (and they both matter in terms of lighting) is that lumens are a measure of how bright and lux is a measure of dispersion. For instance, the amount of light available on a clear night with a full moon is 1 lux.

For this reason, I'd steer clear of LEDs (unless we're talking OEM units in a modern S8 or such) and get a quality HID kit from a reputable vendor like DDM, VVME, theretrofitsource, Morimoto, etc. I think you'll find a quality set of 55w ballasts and bulbs will be more than sufficient for your needs.

There are a couple examples of people using Acura TSX or Audi TT projectors to fabricate a true bixenon housing, but that can be delicate and difficult work. I'd suggest to start with a good HID kit and if you need more light on high beams, then to further investigate the DIY bixenon upgrade.

[Henkjan]

I have disaagree on the LED, Philips has excellent H4 and H7 replacement "bulbs" that will give double the light than normal halogen, while maintaining the light patern They were tested in the Geman mag auto motor und sport, way better than whatver other p&p options

see also https://www.s2forum.com/forum/techni...64#post2041964

[SteveH]

I tested some of the early LED's and they were rubbish for pattern and light output. They have got way better over the past year or two, so may be a good option now. The heatsink on the back of an LED bulb can be an issue if you want to fit the rear cover on the bulb housing. I'm happy with HIDs for now due to their low price point and decent light output.

[newsh]

I quite like the Nightbreakers I have in the coupe, certainly way better than standard halogens.


If you’re going HID go medium whiteness, the very white ones are horrible. I had to chuck the ones that came with my Avant.


https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?m...2F163216912013

[steve briance]

Anyone taken the plunge yet on a set of Philips Ultinon led h4 bulbs? They do it for me in terms of the reviews they get, I'm just not sure on how big the heatsinks on the back are and whether the cover fits back on over the opening in the headlamp. (or whether you would want to and seal off the heat sink which needs to lose heat to the surrounding air. .)

[piotr]

HID 55w 6000k

[Tractor Dave]

Need brighter headlights as mine are shocking what's best HID or LED and do people change both beams?

I will probably be going back to OE lights if you want to have my HID kit. You might have to wait a week or two though.

[Colesy]

I have these HID's on high and low beam:

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/Fast...6714390fCvzSTh

They come on immediately and take a second or two to reach full brightness. The immediate brightness is fine for flashing etc. There's probably a lot of people who would say that this is a bad way to use HID's and they will fail quickly, I thought I'd find out for myself though and they are working at the moment and have done for 6 months or so. So they'll probably fail tomorrow...

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/Fast...6714390fCvzSTh

The light output is amazing.

[Henkjan]

Anyone taken the plunge yet on a set of Philips Ultinon led h4 bulbs? They do it for me in terms of the reviews they get, I'm just not sure on how big the heatsinks on the back are and whether the cover fits back on over the opening in the headlamp. (or whether you would want to and seal off the heat sink which needs to lose heat to the surrounding air. .)

I installed them in my mother's Octavia (H7's) and the improvement was staggering. true white, not blue, excellent beam pattern, at least double brightness compared to halogens
My ABY has H1s so these LEDs are not available unfortunately, so have not been able to test the size of the heatsinks
normal halogens have to lose their heat (and that's probably more than the LEDs) too, so no difference there. but if airflow around the heatsink can be improved it will lower temp and improve lifetime of the lamp

[steve briance]

That's a good point - I bet halogens have more heat to lose, they must do as they are consuming more power than the LED. I think halogens lose their heat from the front more as the heat is off the filament, led drivers generate the heat in those set ups so more heat at the rear but it is prob overall less still. One day maybe I will go for it... Beam pattern and sharpness is unchanged with the Philips led, that's a big step forward as traditionally early led bulbs scattered more light than they projected.

[Rikki Kitto]

I will probably be going back to OE lights if you want to have my HID kit. You might have to wait a week or two though.

Sounds like a nice offer Dave what you want for them

[Tractor Dave]

Sounds like a nice offer Dave what you want for them

Let me check they work first.

[Tractor Dave]

One isn’t working. Looks like corrosion on the connectors. Let me see if I can get them both working before I waste your time (and money)




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[Rikki Kitto]

No worries bud can get them for around £25 on Amazon anyhoo