porlkertus

Have been looking at getting a set of xenon lamps as replacements for MY03 wrx headlamp bulbs.

My question (as title) are the cheap xenon i.e. non HID bulbs any good?

and - What are the real world differences between these and the HID types you can spend a few hundred notes on?

Thanks,
P.

JonesyWRX

Good Thread.

I have an 05 WRX - the light from the stock headlamps is absolutely ****. I was thinking about buying some xenon bulbs - apparently upto 50% brighter - got to be worth a go at c£20.

mart360

I have replaced them on my old scoob, and on my new hack,

on the scoob they were combined H4 units, i bought the bulbs in germany for 9euros the pair. they were/are amazing the increase in light output is apporx 60%

i bought uk bulbs for the seat and had to buy 4 as they have a seperate dip main, this was £26, the differance was again amazing.

one thing to be aware of, if your reflectors a re going, new bulbs, will not show much improvement.

alternitivly you could go for a HID kit

Mart

porlkertus

Sounds like its worth it then

The blobeye lights have separate dipped/main beam bulbs so i guess im looking at about £20-30. Less than a tank of fuel

Any ideas about what to do with the side lights?

Great replies, thanks.

TonyBurns

iTrader: (3)

Not sure which ones are on my MY03 Spec C but they are damn good (non-HID) would have to look to see what they are.

Tony

scoobyvsm3

hi... i was wondering about changing my bulbs as the lights on my 03 sti are cr*p but dont really know wot the best ones to go 4 are. as dont understand all the terms exactly, i know wot xenons are as had them on previous cars.

so basically chaps wots the best bulb to buy and how much roughly do they cost??
thanx...Lee

Chelspeed

Halfrauds +50% are alleged to be good and they're on buy one get one free.

But don't confuse these xenon blubs with genuine HID's, the difference is night and day (but so's the price.....).

davedipster

Powerbulbs.com is a good place to get lamps.
Phillips vision plus are a good lamp.

dipster

T_H_E__c_R_O_W

def worth getting new bulbs, iv done it on all my cars and the diff is just scarry! How they are alowed out the factory with inferior rubbish on them like stock healights is beyond me!

Get them replaced now, go for a drive along a dark road, then go home swap them, n try that road agin. ul be amazed!

Personaly i go for 8500k as the blue ting in the light giving out helps my vision more than white light.

Virtual Light

For those that have changed the lights on an 04/05 STi, did you swap both dipped and main beam bulbs for the brighter xenon bulbs ?

paulg1979

iTrader: (1)

I bought some of these bulbs off ebay from Canada and they are the best ones I've had but I woud recommend changing the side light bulbs to white LED bulbs as the standard sidelights look extremely yellow compared to the xenon bulbs.

cazneck

I have fitted plasma blue bulbs to my 02 bugeye and they are 50% brighter than standard bulbs, cost me 17 Singapore dollars (about £5.50 for the pair),

matchmaker

Genuine HID's are fantastic. I wouldn't buy a car without them now.

JonesyWRX

Just bought the xenon bulbs from Halfords, paid £20 for the pair + £7 for fitting (well worth it, as the clip on the nearside lamp is v difficult to get at). Just waiting for it to get dark now, will report back on results.

fisherpl

iTrader: (1)

I used Halfrauds BOGOF on +50% Xenons and tried them last night. I have an MY04 WRX and upgraded both dip (H1) and main (HB3) The difference is brilliant. Not much more range, just more light on the road in front of you. It'll cost you about £33 for all 4 bulbs. Don't let you give them any old guff about it only being one of the cheapest bulbs that is free. The assistsant who served me in Sheffield (thanks Charmaine!) put the dips and mains through as two seperate transactions to make sure I only paid for one of each of the bulbs in each pair.

MY93WRX

Thats a bit steep my local motor factors did me a pair of xenon H4's for something like £7.50, fitting them was a 3 minute job. They do make a differance over the standard scooby bulbs.

MY93WRX

Very true, white bulbs you say, might have to look into that.

JonesyWRX

well it's now dark, got to say I'm very impressed wih the new bulbs - I can actualy see where I'm going now - which helps! Dont think I'll bother with the main beam, but may change the sides to clear, as they do look v yellow!

ex-webby

Mmmmmm.... I thought that on mine as well. They are so much better than the beam on my Golf.

Regards,
Shaun.

RobHardy

ive never used replacement bulbs (xenon kind), but have had experience of a Xenon light, and if they are anything like that, then they have to be a fair improvement!

mart360

you'l regret not doing the main beam, as when you switch there wont be a vast differance, its only the same again,


Mart

GREGGYG

iTrader: (2)

PIAA Xtreme White bulbs. You won't be disappointed.