55W Bulbs Vs 35W Bulbs

[Sam29]

Hi,

I have no problems with my Avensis headlamps. I always loved HID but due to new regulations becoming effective in Jan 2012, I am staying away from HIDs.

I also looked at 55w Osram night breaker Plus bulbs. The company says that they are 90% brighther than ordinary lights.

Osram night breaker

Has anybody tried these yet?

My concern is, as they are 55W whereas OEM bubls are 35W, so I will be increasing 20W which means more heat.

Can that extrat heat be detrimental on the health of reflectors?

Has anybody experienced melted projectors/ reflectors after installing 55w lights?

Cheers.

[Daveyonthemove]

I was under the impression that all halogen headlights were 55w and HID are 35w, but i could be wrong.

[Thermal]

Have a look at this Wiki:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Headlamp

It contains a lot of details about the different type of bulbs, lighting systems, projectors, reflectors, and some legal aspects.

Also, the difference between U.S. and European regulations is... entertaining.

[Sam29]

I was under the impression that all halogen headlights were 55w and HID are 35w, but i could be wrong.

Davey, you are correct as the car manual says the same that halogen headlights are 55W and HID are 35w.

But most of the cars come with 35W halogen bulbs. I am not sure about my car as I have to take the bumper off.

Can somebody confirm what halogen bulbs are there in Avensis MK2?

[Sam29]

Has anybody tried Mtec Cosmic Blue?

They are 100W and they are known as best HID replica.

Mtec Cosmic Blue

If anybody here tried it, kindly share your views on it, and is there any risk of melting the reflector due to 100W or Headlight fuse blowing due to 100w?

Cheers.

[Thermal]

...any risk of melting the reflector due to 100W ...

Also, your wallet is at risk.

These bulbs are illegal.

[Thermal]

Manufacturers of that type of bulb label their product "100w bulbs are sold for 'off road' & 'Show Purposes' only" or similar in the small print.

Take care.

[Sam29]

Manufacturers of that type of bulb label their product "100w bulbs are sold for 'off road' & 'Show Purposes' only" or similar in the small print.

Take care.

How do people put these bulbs on their cars, and drive everyday. Also they pass their MOT without any problems.

Well I guess I should stay away from it then.

Cheers mate.

[Druid Boy]

I have been using Pure Brilliance White bulbs in my bike headlight for years now. They are obnoxiously bright and depending on which one you get they claim either 50% or 90% brighter. The downside is they are not cheap (but Halfords do a 2 for one offer regularly) and they do seem to blow a lot more than standard bulbs - especially the 90% ones. Thats the price you pay for the extra performance I guess.

[Sam29]

I have been using Pure Brilliance White bulbs in my bike headlight for years now. They are obnoxiously bright and depending on which one you get they claim either 50% or 90% brighter. The downside is they are not cheap (but Halfords do a 2 for one offer regularly) and they do seem to blow a lot more than standard bulbs - especially the 90% ones. Thats the price you pay for the extra performance I guess.

Cheers Druid,,,are these Halford branded?

[Thermal]

Also they pass their MOT without any problems.

Those who use the 100W bulbs and have read the above mentioned disclaimer on the box know that their car will fail the MOT, and will probably replace them for "normal" bulbs for the test.

After the MOT they reverse them back and continue to blind you.

Not nice. :(

Headlight and car manufacturers should recognize this aparant need for brighter lights and offer HID headlights as standard.

Or perfect their 55W halogen projectors.

That said, I find the T27 halogen projectors... satisfactory.

[Daveyonthemove]

I have tried uprated bulbs on my Auris, and found them to be poor, and have put it down to the projector lens, so have now fitted HID bulbs. I'm fully aware of the legality of them, but they do not dazzle anyone and light up the road 10 times better, so i have improved the safety of my own night driving without dazzling anyone.

When its time for the MOT, i will take 20 mins to fit halogen bulbs, and put it through the test. Once its passed i will put the HID kit back in.

For me, the greater light on the road at night time is well worth the effort.

[ministeve]

2 months ago my old 2001 reg vectra passed the mot with my 6000k hid light kit still fitted without a murmer from the mot station and as davey says they do light up the road much better therefor safer i had them in the vec for over a year and only cost £39.00 from eBay well worth it in my opinion

[Sam29]

Also they pass their MOT without any problems.

Those who use the 100W bulbs and have read the above mentioned disclaimer on the box know that their car will fail the MOT, and will probably replace them for "normal" bulbs for the test.

After the MOT they reverse them back and continue to blind you.

Not nice. :(

Headlight and car manufacturers should recognize this aparant need for brighter lights and offer HID headlights as standard.

Or perfect their 55W halogen projectors.

That said, I find the T27 halogen projectors... satisfactory.

I was seriously considering these 100w bulbs but after spending 3 hours I concluded following from others postings;

1- These can damage the reflectors starting from the wires clip going to H7.

2- It can put extra stress on the wires and can lead to fire.

3- Due to lack of UV protection, they can destroy the normal colour of the reflector lenses.

But they are best HID replica in the market, and somebody even claimed to pass MOT with these on his car.

[Sam29]

I have tried uprated bulbs on my Auris, and found them to be poor, and have put it down to the projector lens, so have now fitted HID bulbs. I'm fully aware of the legality of them, but they do not dazzle anyone and light up the road 10 times better, so i have improved the safety of my own night driving without dazzling anyone.

When its time for the MOT, i will take 20 mins to fit halogen bulbs, and put it through the test. Once its passed i will put the HID kit back in.

For me, the greater light on the road at night time is well worth the effort.

I would love to have them, but in order to change it back to halogen, I would need to take the whole bumper off.

Dont you take the bumper off to take it out from your Auris?

I considered 55W HID lamps and ballaster but due to new regulations I stayed away.

As I said early, most of my driving is during the day, and during the night it is only in the cities, so no problems with the light at all, but I dont like orange / yellowish light coming out of my car.

My previous car was black, with black tinted glasses and with 10000K HID lights, and it look brilliant and sort of cool mafia car ;) .

But as this car is brown/golden, so 6000K would do the job. Also this colour will match with the pair of DRL's which I fitted below the fog lights.

Keeping myself away from the future problems of taking the whole bumper off. HIDS....Vs ....New Regulations...Hate it.

[Sam29]

2 months ago my old 2001 reg vectra passed the mot with my 6000k hid light kit still fitted without a murmer from the mot station and as davey says they do light up the road much better therefor safer i had them in the vec for over a year and only cost £39.00 from ebay well worth it in my opinion

Good to hear that you have passed you MOT, but new regulations will be effected from Jan2010.

Enjoy the ride till then and after that you have to follow Davey's method.

[Daveyonthemove]

Luckily my bulbs can be changed without removing any parts, but i usually lose a bit of skin.

Mine are 35w and more than good enough, but if i had to remove the bumper to change a bulb, i would leave it untill one had blown and then find the best on the market and do it only once.

[ormi]

100watt bulbs will NOT fail the MOT!!!!! the test doesnt look at the bulb power!!dont get people saying how does it pass a mot????its not part of it thats why!!test consists of alighnment and if it switches on

hids do NOT fail the mot.......as long as they are alighned properly..

as for the being a fail come 2012 thats pee they do not know how they are going to inforce this(i have already spoke to vosa on this as i seen it in my mot mag they are just tossing ideas about but due to the expense they doubt any thing will ever happen)...and if they can ever find a way their is already a way round it........if you cant see the balists you cant fail it.......... hide the balists behind the front bumper or the slot under the headlights job done.....

also standard bulbs are 55 watt

HID kit 35 watt but you can now get a 55 watt HID kit...

also the avensis responds very well to hids as it has projectors fitted...

i am a mot tester just incase anyones wondering and hids were one of the best mods i bought for my car

[Sam29]

100watt bulbs will NOT fail the MOT!!!!! the test doesnt look at the bulb power!!dont get people saying how does it pass a mot????its not part of it thats why!!test consists of alighnment and if it switches on

hids do NOT fail the mot.......as long as they are alighned properly..

as for the being a fail come 2012 thats pee they do not know how they are going to inforce this(i have already spoke to vosa on this as i seen it in my mot mag they are just tossing ideas about but due to the expense they doubt any thing will ever happen)...and if they can ever find a way their is already a way round it........if you cant see the balists you cant fail it.......... hide the balists behind the front bumper or the slot under the headlights job done.....

also standard bulbs are 55 watt

hid kit 35 watt but you can now get a 55 watt hid kit...

also the avensis responds very well to hids as it has projectors fitted...

i am a mot tester just incase anyones wondering and hids were one of the best mods i bought for my car

Brilliant mate. Nice to see MOT tester on our board. You have given me confidence to put my money on the right project, rather wasting it on any other bubls.

Well I think I should be able to hide the ballasts somewhere under the lamp (as designed for avensis or at the side of bumpers.

Now question comes, should I go for 35w HIDS or 55W HIDS. My previous kit was 35W and I had them for about 3 years without problem. They were producing enough light.

Now looking in the manual of Avensis, I saw that Avensis come with 35w HID or 55W Halogen bulb.

With 35W I can have slim fit ballast (althought the cables with that is bulky) and fit it, but with 55W they all come with bulky ballasts.

My further questions would be

Should I be using 55W HID bulbs? Can it harm the reflectors?

Also 6000K or 8000K considering I like more bluish light and I had 10000K on my previous car,

Cheers.

[Daveyonthemove]

Ive done a bit of research into the 35w and 55w HID's, and most people can't really tell the difference.

I went for 35w because i have used them in the past and know they are more than good enough, and if they are drawing less power from the Battery, i should be using less fuel to charge the alternator. Thats the theory anyway.

I have 6000k bulbs fitted as they look more like a factory fit, and have the blue tint appearance, with a good white light on the road. Best of both worlds in my opinion.

In the past i have fitted the bluer bulbs to another car, and they looked great head on, but the light on the road was poor (still better than halogen) at the sacrifice of a 'cool' image.

[Sam29]

Ive done a bit of research into the 35w and 55w HID's, and most people can't really tell the difference.

I went for 35w because i have used them in the past and know they are more than good enough, and if they are drawing less power from the battery, i should be using less fuel to charge the alternator. Thats the theory anyway.

I have 6000k bulbs fitted as they look more like a factory fit, and have the blue tint appearance, with a good white light on the road. Best of both worlds in my opinion.

In the past i have fitted the bluer bulbs to another car, and they looked great head on, but the light on the road was poor (still better than halogen) at the sacrifice of a 'cool' image.

Thanks Davey, I have watched plenty of videos on youtube, and one showed that there was not much difference b/w both except that 50-55W will draw 40% more electricity (ultimately more fuel/ Battery consumption) and on the expense of extra heat (which can damage reflectors).

So it is wise option to go for 35W HIDS (enough). About colour, yes 6000K is ideal and brighter than 8000K but less 'cool'.

I think I will go for

6000K

35W

Slim Ballast

Canbuss error free (should I change the car in future)

and UV protected (to avoid discolouration of reflectors lenses).

Considering all these factors, the cheapeast I can get is about 45 pounds.

Whereas HIDS4U (reliable seller) is selling the same for 69 pounds including 2 years warranty.

Will search bit more....if you have the link from where you bought, please feel free to paste it here.

Cheers.

[Sam29]

Ok After bit of search I have shortlisted to final two.

Both of them are 35W, with 12 month warranty, and slim ballast.

The only difference is one of without canbus error and other is with canbus error solution.

Cheapeast Slim without Canbus

Smallest Ballast with Canbus error fixation

Now need to final one of these....

I am more inclined toward the second one, as the difference is only 5 pounds.

Anybody used any of these.....any thoughts.

[ormi]

you will not get discolouration of the reflector with any HID kit.....the hid's burn much cooler than a normal bulb..and thats what causes discolouration...

i would go with the second ones a lot smaller and no bulky booster on the main cables like the first ones..

when/if you remove your lights to fit these you could even mount the hid balasts to the back of the crash bar..but their is plenty of places they can be mounted out of sight..

[Sam29]

you will not get discolouration of the reflector with any hid kit.....the hid's burn much cooler than a normal bulb..and thats what causes discolouration...

i would go with the second ones a lot smaller and no bulky booster on the main cables like the first ones..

when/if you remove your lights to fit these you could even mount the hid balasts to the back of the crash bar..but their is plenty of places they can be mounted out of sight..

Cheers mate. Yes 2nd one seems better.

[Daveyonthemove]

I don't think you need to worry about the heat as HID bulbs don't give off as much heat as a halogen, so a 55w HID bulb probably gives off less heat than a 55w halogen, but more light.

Both of them kits look fine, so i would pick the one with best feedback and go from there.

I bought mine from a seller called 'Londoncolour' who was very good to be fair.