headlight bulbs

[whaters2312]

Hi all im looking for some advise I have a 2013 auris with standard headlight bulbs in at the moment and im looking for a upgrade (hir2) 55w has anyone done a upgrade for them I don't mind HID but which ones please if anyone has done a upgrade what did you fit and where did you get them from cheers lee 

[FROSTYBALLS]

Aftermarket HID kits will be an MOT fail.

As regards upgrade HIR2 bulbs,  there are PIAA hyper arros available or Toyota Optiwhite. 

See 

 

[5percocets]

On 1/25/2020 at 10:37 AM, FROSTYBALLS said:

Aftermarket HID kits will be an MOT fail.

As regards upgrade HIR2 bulbs,  there are PIAA hyper arros available or Toyota Optiwhite.

PIAA bulbs are never upgrades. 

 

https://web.archive.org/web/20190307190813/https://www.autoexpress.co.uk/accessories-tyres/76760/best-car-headlight-bulbs-2018

 

From AutoExpress:

 

[FROSTYBALLS]

7 minutes ago, 5percocets said:

PIAA bulbs are never upgrades. 

However the performance of H7bulbs, as per the Auto Express report, may not be comparable to HIR2's.

[5percocets]

3 hours ago, FROSTYBALLS said:

However the performance of H7bulbs, as per the Auto Express report, may not be comparable to HIR2's.

Correct, except PIAA has consistently been getting bottom of the barrel grades from Auto Express, Auto Bild, and every other magazine that tests bulbs, since the early 2000s. 

The general issue is that PIAA's Hyper bulbs are completely, 100% slathered in a blue coating. That has the same effect as wearing blue sunglasses at night, or driving with a blue-wrapped windscreen. 

The issue with PIAA bulbs is that they're conceptually flawed. You don't get more light through adding a tint. You don't get more through subtraction. 

They're fine bulbs if all you want is a whiter light, don't get me wrong, I don't have anything against PIAA. 

But if you want to maximize the performance of your headlamps, there are better options from Philips, Osram, Vosla, GE, etc. All of which have clear glass, because they all realize you don't get more light through subtraction. I believe the gentleman I replied to wished to maximize the performance of his projectors, as he was complaining about poor performance. 

 

 

[FROSTYBALLS]

The issue is lack of choice of E-marked upgrade non-LED HIR2 bulbs. The only Osram upgrade bulb in HIR2 fitting is the Cool Blue Intense which offers +20% greater light intensity. Philips don't sell their upgrade HIR2 bulb in the UK (which is the version Toyota sell as the Optiwhite). MTEC Maruta bulbs are't E-marked, and therefore not legal in the UK. GE (now selling as Tungsram) and Ring don't sell an upgrade bulb in this fitting. Etc.

[5percocets]

Vosla sells plenty of E-marked HIR2 bulbs in the UK. 

This is a HIR2+30 type bulb:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2er-Set-Halogen-Lamp-Light-Vosla-HIR2-30-More-55W-9012-PX22d-Made-in-Germany/184153439183?hash=item2ae0667bcf:g:BgAAAOSwYvFZFcwn

Here is the latest and greatest HIR2+120 type bulb, which will blow any other HIR2 out the water:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2x-HIR2-120-mehr-Licht-vosla-made-in-Germany-12V-PX22d-55W-2-Stuck/192658509014?hash=item2cdb578cd6:g:ZFwAAOSwMudbnL9f

All are made in Germany by Vosla and E-marked. 

[FROSTYBALLS]

So one other make to add to Toyota (Philips), PIAA and Osram - still not a wide choice.

[5percocets]

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/9012HIR2-GE-54430-HIR2-Headlamp-Bulb-E1-German-ECE-approved/153257771432?hash=item23aee001a8:g:zz8AAOSwgPBb6YcV

[FROSTYBALLS]

7 minutes ago, 5percocets said:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/9012HIR2-GE-54430-HIR2-Headlamp-Bulb-E1-German-ECE-approved/153257771432?hash=item23aee001a8:g:zz8AAOSwgPBb6YcV

Standard HIR2 rather than an upgrade

[5percocets]

Sometime in the future this product will become available:

It is already ECE homologated; it just needs to make its way to the UK distribution channels now. 

https://www.download.p4c.philips.com/files/9/9012xvgs2/9012xvgs2_pss_engsg.pdf

Although the options are few, I'd argue that there is already an adequate selection of HIR2 bulbs. You have the standard Toyota/Philips long-life option. You have the high-performance options that run the gamut, from +30 to +50 to +120. Yes, there is actually a Vosla 9012+50 that I did not mention, but it is also ECE-homologated and readily available. And you have a competing Philips +120 HIR2 bulb coming in the future. 

[FROSTYBALLS]

But not yet, and the OP is looking for bulbs now.

[5percocets]

Well, then the answer should be crystal clear! Anything but PIAA! 

[stevecrvn]

I have optiwhites in both the Auris and the yYris . They are a improvement on the std bulb but quite expensive at around £50 . The auris has recently blown 1 bulb so I have replaced with a optiwhite.

I have orderd   these  as spares as one bulb has blown on the Auris after 13 months using up the last spare optiwhite i had    https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/153662443309    

Hopefully they will be fine but a lot cheaper than optiwhites

 

[Gerg]

8 hours ago, 5percocets said:

Here is the latest and greatest HIR2+120 type bulb, which will blow any other HIR2 out the water:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2x-HIR2-120-mehr-Licht-vosla-made-in-Germany-12V-PX22d-55W-2-Stuck/192658509014?hash=item2cdb578cd6:g:ZFwAAOSwMudbnL9f

All are made in Germany by Vosla and E-marked. 

These bulbs are packaged in a plastic container that is identical (colour aside) to the headlamp bulbs that are occasionally sold in Lidl, although theirs were own-brand badged 'Ultimate Speed', or previously to that 'Tesla' (!).

Perhaps the Lidl bulbs are made by Vosla?  I should add that Lidl do not sell HIR2 PX22d headlamp bulbs, just H1, H4, H7 etc.

[5percocets]

Vosla bulbs and rebranded Vosla have QR codes on the base. 

[5percocets]

In case you're still looking for bulbs, I found this American test of some HIR2 bulbs (aka 9012). Longer bars are better for all categories except the one labeled "glare".

The Vosla HIR2s, as mentioned earlier, are German, and they're on eBay.de.