H4 head light bulb upgrade

[Billywizz]

Evening all,
I purchased a set of GE Megalight ultra 150% bulbs, these do make quite a bit of difference, I installed the same on my H4 caddy headlights and was quite impressed with the night vision.
I haven’t tested the California at night yet but I do have a drivers and passenger side comparison if of interest. These were about £30 for the pair.
Hope this helps as pictures are not ideal.

 

[Pips Dad]

My Ocean would benefit from a bulb upgrade as the headlights, whilst adequate are not brilliant by any means. My previous vehicle had Xenon headlamps which were very good although other oncoming drivers were not so keen due to the multi coloured brightness. I would like the led headlamps fo Rotherham Cali but at £1500 I think I’ll put up with what I have fitted.

 

[Billywizz]

I tested the lights last night and were lots better than standard..you can actually see the road, well worth the money

 

[vananarama]

I tested the lights last night and were lots better than standard..you can actually see the road, well worth the money

I remember when I used to be able to do this. Why the discernible backward step from T5 to T6 in terms of headlights?

 

[Billywizz]

I remember when I used to be able to do this. Why the discernible backward step from T5 to T6 in terms of headlights?

I doesn’t make sense?

 

[B J G]

I put the Philips +150% H7's in the Cali which was an improvement.
Later put GE +150% in our Citroen which seemed better than the Philips.
Next I put the Osram +150% in the Citroen main beam and now rate the Osram as the best of the three.

The Citroen was just like the Cali with standard H7's so not a headlight issue as such just a bulb one.

Incidentally Osram do a +150% bulb for the fog lights which is also a big improvement, notice them come on when turning now. H11

 

[Pips Dad]

My Ocean would benefit from a bulb upgrade as the headlights, whilst adequate are not brilliant by any means. My previous vehicle had Xenon headlamps which were very good although other oncoming drivers were not so keen due to the multi coloured brightness. I would like the led headlamps fo Rotherham Cali but at £1500 I think I’ll put up with what I have fitted.

I fitted some Ring 150% bulbs in my Cali (18 plate) and there is a marked improvement. Seems inexplicable why VW fit such poorly designed headlights on a vehicle costing £60k!
I wonder how many people by a Range Rover and then spend time fitting £25 quid bulbs to improve the headlamps. It probably intended for people to spend another £1500 pounds on an l.e.d. upgrade which is an option too far for most people.

 

[Borris]

Why the discernible backward step from T5 to T6 in terms of headlights?

Simple. Money?
I can see no other reason why they would offer a choice of three different headlights options on an already expensive vehicle when most other manufacturers just offer good headlights as standard. If they are to pursued people to buy their mega expensive LEDs or even the H7s as part of an expensive option package then it stands to reason that the base offerings have to be poor.

The same thing goes for brakes. You could order the more effective 17" brakes on a Beach as a no cost option. The cost of this option to VW over the standard 16" brakes is probably next to nothing. So why didn't all Beaches have 17" brakes? Because the free 17" brakes meant you then had to order the 17" wheels which apparently cost £1200 more than the standard 16" alloy wheels!!!

 

[B J G]

Simple. Money?
I can see no other reason why they would offer a choice of three different headlights options on an already expensive vehicle when most other manufacturers just offer good headlights as standard. If they are to pursued people to buy their mega expensive LEDs or even the H7s as part of an expensive option package then it stands to reason that the base offerings have to be poor.

The same thing goes for brakes. You could order the more effective 17" brakes on a Beach as a no cost option. The cost of this option to VW over the standard 16" brakes is probably next to nothing. So why didn't all Beaches have 17" brakes? Because the free 17" brakes meant you then had to order the 17" wheels which apparently cost £1200 more than the standard 16" alloy wheels!!!

I would think that the basic reason for seemingly illogical permutations of lights and brakes stems back to the California range being based on the Transporter van

Commercial sales are very cost sensitive and there will be many sales to Customers who are urban based with no need for high performance lights or carry enough weight to justify the bigger brakes.

So saying it does appear that VW have got their marketing wrong by not bundling in lights and brakes that are to the top spec but then again the T6.1 Ocean has LED headlights the lower cost Coast has halogen with the option of LED's for less than was the case for a T6.
VW do appear to charge for the option in full rather than the cost difference between a standard halogen H7 set and the LED set which does include washers and auto levelling.
Wheel changes highlight this pricing leap.
Incidentally our Citroen cost to go up 1" in wheel diameter and have a wider tyre included was £350. VW about 5 times that for the same 1" change.

 

[calibeach76]

Anyone any experience of the PIA Bulbs. They're not cheap but supposed to be the best in terms of light output. FYI about £70 for a set

 

[B J G]

Anyone any experience of the PIA Bulbs. They're not cheap but supposed to be the best in terms of light output. FYI about £70 for a set

Some time ago I did some investigation into these bulbs and found a bulb trial/test on an American site.
A very thorough and detailed trial over a period of time.
The PIA bulbs didn't perform any better than some other Premium Brands nor were they providing any longer life. The result was that the extra cost was not justified in terms of both performance and value over time.

Osram +150% are good.

Osram also do a LED H4 (not technically road legal). Very accurate Headlight alignment would be needed to reduce blinding oncoming drivers. Not sure if Canbus compliant.
Osram also do a 100/90watt bulb but I'd worry about the heat produced damaging the Headlight bowl/reflector. Again not road legal.

ww.ebay.co.uk/itm/Osram-6000K-Cool-White-H4-LED-Headlight-Bulb-Kit-to-replace-H4-Halogen-9726CW/352693933316?epid=5033933957&hash=item521e325504:g:wtoAAOSwBXldB3u

 

[campandfly]

I put the Philips +150% H7's in the Cali which was an improvement.
Later put GE +150% in our Citroen which seemed better than the Philips.
Next I put the Osram +150% in the Citroen main beam and now rate the Osram as the best of the three.

The Citroen was just like the Cali with standard H7's so not a headlight issue as such just a bulb one.

Incidentally Osram do a +150% bulb for the fog lights which is also a big improvement, notice them come on when turning now. H11

Are these the ones ? https://www.hids4u.co.uk/h7-osram-night-breaker-laser-next-generation.html
and are they easy to fit please?

 

[Azteccamper]

Quick question. My lights are pretty dim - probably linked to ageing eyes as well. But how do I know if I have H4 or H7 - is there a simple way of finding out?
2012 SE.

 

[WelshGas]

Quick question. My lights are pretty dim - probably linked to ageing eyes as well. But how do I know if I have H4 or H7 - is there a simple way of finding out?
2012 SE.

This might help.

 

[Azteccamper]

This might help.

View attachment 56511

Thank you.

 

[B J G]

Are these the ones ? https://www.hids4u.co.uk/h7-osram-night-breaker-laser-next-generation.html
and are they easy to fit please?

That's the ones.

I did the DRL bulbs at the same time, put LED ones in. Easiest to take the Air Filter box out and the battery if going to do all bulbs.
The H7's are a pull out, side sprung clamps, no hold in clips as in tradition lamp units.
Just note all part positions as you remove them especially bulb locating peg. Not easy as bulb tends to pop out quickly.
When fitting new ones I found it easiest to look into the headlight from the front and watch the bulb positioning. DRL bulbs are really awkward to access as down low, not a rush job.

like every job you are learning first time and probably never do it again.

 

[TripleBee]

Quick question. My lights are pretty dim - probably linked to ageing eyes as well. But how do I know if I have H4 or H7 - is there a simple way of finding out?
2012 SE.

If you post a picture of your headlight, I might give you the answer, but I suppose you have the H7 headlights, just like me.
Quick answer:
Ignite your dipped headlights and the high beams. Look at your headlights (don't look directly into the light!!!). Do you see your dipped headlights on the outside and the high beams on the inside? You have H7.
If your dipped and high beams are the same bulb, you have H4.

 

[campandfly]

That's the ones.

I did the DRL bulbs at the same time, put LED ones in. Easiest to take the Air Filter box out and the battery if going to do all bulbs.
The H7's are a pull out, side sprung clamps, no hold in clips as in tradition lamp units.
Just note all part positions as you remove them especially bulb locating peg. Not easy as bulb tends to pop out quickly.
When fitting new ones I found it easiest to look into the headlight from the front and watch the bulb positioning. DRL bulbs are really awkward to access as down low, not a rush job.

like every job you are learning first time and probably never do it again.

Thanks.
Hope you get good life and longevity out of them. Bloody reviews on Amazon holding me back a bit. Whinging about not lasting long(probably due to poor fitment or touching the globe) and not much difference in increase in light.

 

[TripleBee]

Some time ago I did some investigation into these bulbs and found a bulb trial/test on an American site.
A very thorough and detailed trial over a period of time.
The PIA bulbs didn't perform any better than some other Premium Brands nor were they providing any longer life. The result was that the extra cost was not justified in terms of both performance and value over time.

Osram +150% are good.

Osram also do a LED H4 (not technically road legal). Very accurate Headlight alignment would be needed to reduce blinding oncoming drivers. Not sure if Canbus compliant.
Osram also do a 100/90watt bulb but I'd worry about the heat produced damaging the Headlight bowl/reflector. Again not road legal.

ww.ebay.co.uk/itm/Osram-6000K-Cool-White-H4-LED-Headlight-Bulb-Kit-to-replace-H4-Halogen-9726CW/352693933316?epid=5033933957&hash=item521e325504:g:wtoAAOSwBXldB3u

If you look at the stats, the lifespan is less than half of the cheaper bulbs. I will stick to my good old first bulbs for now. I have never felt that I didn't see enough in really dark roads.
Some state that those 150% bulbs only live for 200 hours. My bulbs already live for 10 years, but I don't use my lights very often. Only in winter when it's dark, heavy rain or tunnels.

Oh, I have to switch my lights on manually!

 

[calibeach76]

Some time ago I did some investigation into these bulbs and found a bulb trial/test on an American site.
A very thorough and detailed trial over a period of time.
The PIA bulbs didn't perform any better than some other Premium Brands nor were they providing any longer life. The result was that the extra cost was not justified in terms of both performance and value over time.

Osram +150% are good.

Osram also do a LED H4 (not technically road legal). Very accurate Headlight alignment would be needed to reduce blinding oncoming drivers. Not sure if Canbus compliant.
Osram also do a 100/90watt bulb but I'd worry about the heat produced damaging the Headlight bowl/reflector. Again not road legal.

ww.ebay.co.uk/itm/Osram-6000K-Cool-White-H4-LED-Headlight-Bulb-Kit-to-replace-H4-Halogen-9726CW/352693933316?epid=5033933957&hash=item521e325504:g:wtoAAOSwBXldB3u

Thanks, exactly the info I needed! osram +150% it is then!

 

[Resfeber]

Are these the ones ? https://www.hids4u.co.uk/h7-osram-night-breaker-laser-next-generation.html
and are they easy to fit please?

I can personally recommend these to replace the standard H7's Great improvement on dipped and main. My last car had LED's Audi Q3 sportline plus, so found the standard H7's a problem due to range, poorer definition and the change in colour temperature from the blue white of LED to Yellower light of Halogen.

The night breakers have a blue band that changes the main to a slightly whiter bluer light than the dipped.
As to fitting it is tight between the back of the light units and other components.
You have to work blind but without touching the bulb glass Plastic gloves good plenty about, to stop oil from your skin contaminating the glass which causes early failure.
Best to use a hand mirror to get the lie of the land so to speak.
I found Extracting the old bulb worked better with leaving the connector block on and giving it a firm tug but try not to shatter the bulb on the edge of the opening if you overdo the tug
Good news is that when you get the new bulb aligned correctly, they snap in perfectly.
As I said it is tight behind the lamp units. Expect the odd skinned knuckle.

Good luck

 

[calibeach76]

I've matrix LED in the A7 but in the Cali it is an H4. I think it is looking like an osrsm +150%

 

[Azteccamper]

If you post a picture of your headlight, I might give you the answer, but I suppose you have the H7 headlights, just like me.
Quick answer:
Ignite your dipped headlights and the high beams. Look at your headlights (don't look directly into the light!!!). Do you see your dipped headlights on the outside and the high beams on the inside? You have H7.
If your dipped and high beams are the same bulb, you have H4.

Thank you. I will try that tomorrow.

 

[B J G]

Thanks.
Hope you get good life and longevity out of them. Bloody reviews on Amazon holding me back a bit. Whinging about not lasting long(probably due to poor fitment or touching the globe) and not much difference in increase in light.

Philips 150% been in for nearly 3 years, no idea how many hours switched on. GE +150% bulbs for 2 years. Osram +150% since last August. No failures.

Did you know according to a bulb survey that I read that all Halogen bulbs deteriorate over time and recommend replacing every 2 years. Personally never considered bulbs having a life but makes sense based on past experience.

 

[TripleBee]

Did you know according to a bulb survey that I read that all Halogen bulbs deteriorate over time and recommend replacing every 2 years. Personally never considered bulbs having a life but makes sense based on past experience.

Then why are all my bulbs, except for number plate lights (from closing the lid with lights on), still the originals after 145000 km (90000mi) from 2010.
DRL's are always on when driving... And halogen...
Even the made to die soon H7 ones?