What headlamp bulbs do you reccommend that are within legal limits. Also, does anyone knw the webpage that did a bulb comparison test?

Thanks

Evo

Have a look at

Here are the Finnish -Tekniikan Maailma- magazine test results for issue 20/00 (13.12.2000). TM is using one of the world's most sofisticated light measurement system that they have developed themselves with the Helsinki University of Technology.

H4 Bulbs

***** 9.5 Philips Vision Plus
***** 9.2 Philips Premium
***** 9.1 Bosch Plus 30
***** 8.8 Osram Bilux Super
**** 8.7 Osram Bilux
**** 8.4 Philips UV Block 12342 (!)
*** 8.2 Osram Bilux Allseason Super
*** 8.1 Osram Bilux Coolblue
*** 8.0 Würth
*** 7.8 Philips Bluevision
** 7.7 Bosch Xenon Blue
** 7.5 General Electric
* 6.7 Biltema/LFG
* 6.7 Jahn SuperBlue
- 6.5 Super White Xenon (Hong Kong)
- 6.3 Mega Blue
- 6.2 Super Green Xenon
- 6.2 Würth Cobalt
- 6.1 Biltema/World Light
- 6.1 Super Orange Xenon
- 6.0 Lux Lamp Xenon Blue
- 4.6 Lumex Diamond Blue
- 4.5 White Laser

(!) My Scooby MY00 had Philips UVs as standard, and the difference between them (ok, one year old) and (new) Philips VisionPlus was unexpectably well noticeable, since the cheapo Philips are not bad either. Their light area (road sides) just is quite bad, compared to the superior Vision Plus.

Bosch Plus 30 had the best high beam in the test - VisionPlus being very very close. Bosch is also very cheap compared to Philips (half price here in Finland). VisionPlus low beam range was however superior to Bosches.

Hope this helps you guys. http://bbs.scoobynet.co.uk/smile.gif

-Fernis

So which has the best low beam performance? I've got 120W PIAA's linked to my high beam so high beam performance counts for diddly. It's low beam perfomance that I'm after.

Rob C

Fernis,

Thanks for the info. What do the numbers next to each buld represent? Are the a specific mesurement of some kind?

I have the Halfords Xenon (+30%) fitted at the moment and they are an improvement to standard ones. Do you think it's worth changing to the Philips VisionPlus. Seams a good price.

Also, has anyone tried the BlueVision ones? I read somewhere that they do not give as much light output as the normal white lights, and the numbers here seam to agree.

<B>N</B><I>i</I><B>m</B><I>B</I><B>u<I>S</B></I>
On the quest to find decent light output (for a decent price http://bbs.scoobynet.co.uk/wink.gif )

Osram now do the Silverstar which is rated at +50% more light. Excellent reports from owners on the IWOC list.

Steve

Nimbus

I've got the Philips Blue Vision and I've found them really good. To be honest though at only a tenner each, I'm thinking about getting the 'white' Vision plus bulbs, just to try them (still a damn site cheaper than the PIAA alternative).

Chris

Nimbus, the number is the weighted score of different measurements, including:

low beam area
low beam range
high beam area
high beam range
glare (disturbance to other drivers)
structure, tolerances

All bulbs were 55/60W H4. And of course, these are the bulbs that are available in Finland - market may be different in the UK. Gives you a picture anyway...


Rjc, for best low beam performance in standard H4s, go for VisionPlus. Of course, no bulb can do wonders in a car that has bad headlights by default, but it's an improvement.


-Fernis

I've just switched to Philips Vision Plus bulbs from PIAA SuperWhites.

The PIAAs kept popping with expensive regularity - the Philips are REALLY good; dipped beam excellent, easily as good as the PIAAs. Main beam good but not quite as good as the PIAAs, but hey, they're only £18.95 per pair inc. delivery as opposed to £100 for PIAAs !!!!!

Well done FOSMO, one happy customer !