Headlight Bulb Advice

Nodge68 said:

LED's aren't as focused as proper bulbs. This means that although that might have a higher luminous output, it is diffused so less light goes where you want.
This is how these so called high brightness bulbs work. The actual light output is strictly controlled in order to meet the necessary requirements. These high brightness bulbs aren't really that much brighter than a quality, new, standard bulb. However they do generally have a small filament. This smaller filament allows for a more tightly controlled beam. This is what gives the extra brightness. The gas used allows the small filament go burn whiter too. This adds to the overall brightening effect.
In the real world, only a higher wattage will give you more actual light. Sadly high wattage bulbs don't comply to the regulations, hence they can't be used on the public roads.

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thks buddy and agree as u say and others regarding the max wattage

if I did put 100 watt bulbs in each spot light which have a seperate switch that turns them off as they can come on and off with the main beam stalk would it fail an mot please

put in a Land Rover genuine wiring loom that has all the relays switches etc, also got to fit my fog lights which also has all the wiring and switches etc there ready to go

I understand the spots would officially be for off road use only and think i would be better not to get leds for spots due to there light pattern

thks also for the links guys and would defentely be handy to replace the reversing bulbs to a bit more light

reminds me I've got to do a search as I want to replace my dashboard, interior light , instrument,reversing,side lights etc and know all the info is on here and know I've got to get the can bus ones

once done will put a list and links in one place for others

cheers again

Spot lights are not a testable item for the mot if they are seperately switched. Although if they are the bumper mounted pod type lamps like mine I would be hesitant to fit 100w bulbs due to the extra heat they develop in a confined space.....

Year's ago when spot lights were fashionable, I had 100 Watt bulbs (lamps to be completely correct) fitted. 100 Watt lamps were lots brighter, unless I had 4 lamps running. Then the tiny alternator failed to make enough current to run them!!!

I have Osram Night Breakers in my Discovery 3. These do produce more light than standard lamps while keeping legal. The Discovery makes 55W lamps brighter than normal due to its 15+ volts alternator.
Car lamps are wattage tested at 13.2 Volts iirc.

didn't think about that with the extra heat, the bulbs fitted in the spots currently are

h3 12 volts, 55w , 453

think I will stick with 55 watt and get some night breakers for the main headlights and see if I can get a better quality h3 bulb for the spots

as its a diesel got a good alternator but don't want to over load it

I did upgrade my headlight bulbs a while ago with

halfords high performance bulb H4
12 volt 60/55 w

but now a lot wiser with regards to better ones

thks for the advice guys and most appreciated

also Ring + 120% are good, but only last 12-14 months, or less if you tend to hit sleeping policemen hard.

Not good for off-roaders then?

freelance said:

also Ring + 120% are good, but only last 12-14 months, or less if you tend to hit sleeping policemen hard.

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This is a common problem with these special lamps. The Osram Night Breakers last something like 250 to 500 hours. This is I believe due to the smaller, more fragile filament used. This smaller filament has to burn brighter than larger filament standard lamp counterparts. Xenon charged lamps burn whiter and hotter than standard gas charged lamps. This would make them less robust.

Just fitted the night breakers and some LED sidelights off eBay, very pleased with the result from both, whiter and brighter light where before the original bulbs were very yellow and dull

Just fitted night breakers I didn't think they would make that much of a difference but for £12.99 I thought give it ago but they are really impressive. Very clear and bright white light.

matt00911 said:

Just fitted night breakers I didn't think they would make that much of a difference but for £12.99 I thought give it ago but they are really impressive. Very clear and bright white light.

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Stick a couple of LED sidelights in from eBay to match the White light, paid £5.95 for mine and they are fine, transforms the car

chrisflak said:

Stick a couple of LED sidelights in from eBay to match the White light, paid £5.95 for mine and they are fine, transforms the car

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I think I have a couple of those are they the same as the interior reading lights?

cheers guys, been looking around for the LED bulbs for my interior including the hazard warning switch bulb, mines the pre facelift

see also by the looks of it will have to get the canbus ones , the centre console ones are very small and trying to match the LED ones up that go inside the holders,

as I want to replace the dashboard, instrument, rear and roof light, etc

see there was also a dimmer switch , but think that's just the Australian or nas model , such a shame as that would have been nice

see the instrument ones are green and the rest clear
oh what fun, lol

gstuart said:

cheers guys, been looking around for the LED bulbs for my interior including the hazard warning switch bulb, mines the pre facelift

see also by the looks of it will have to get the canbus ones , the centre console ones are very small and trying to match the LED ones up that go inside the holders,

as I want to replace the dashboard, instrument, rear and roof light, etc

see there was also a dimmer switch , but think that's just the Australian or nas model , such a shame as that would have been nice

see the instrument ones are green and the rest clear
oh what fun, lol

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You don't need to go to the extra experience of CAN bus LED's on the Freelander. I don't even need CAN Bus LED's on my Discovery 3.

matt00911 said:

I think I have a couple of those are they the same as the interior reading lights?

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These are the ones I use

http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item.view&alt=web&id=111513491510

Nodge68 said:

You don't need to go to the extra experience of CAN bus LED's on the Freelander. I don't even need CAN Bus LED's on my Discovery 3.

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thks buddy

I think after I've gone through each and every bulb whether it might be a good idea if I list all the bulbs into one post, so that it can therefore help others

might also be a good idea if I take pics of the original bulbs and the new led one next to it as a reference

thks again