Quick question about HIDs / Xenon bulbs

[hutch85]

Evening all,

I'm looking at upgrading the dipped beam bulbs on my pre-facelift as I'm fed up of driving with my lights effectively switched off at night... Problem is I'm not sure what to get as I see there are different types / ratings ie H7, H4 etc. Basically I want to strike a balance between being able to see well on dipped beam, but without making other road users permanently blind...

I've gathered that the Philips X-treme and Osram Nightbreaker ranges are the weapon of choice at the moment, but I'm just not sure which type of bulb to get. Not looking at spending any more than £25 seeing as I've had the DMF and clutch done this month haha.

Cheers,

Hutch

[Big Dave]

You'll need H7's for the dip and main beams. (H7's and H1's for the facelift headlights)

If it's any help my nightbreakers failed after only 8 months. I shan't be using them again.

Also, have you done Duncan's headlight mod?

http://www.vectra-c.com/forum/showthread.php?t=33655

[Dan_BlackSRi]

Don't bother with those Halogens mate - they are useless in comparison to a HiD kit.

I know you don't want to spend £25 but wait a month (or two) and get yourself a HiD kit for about £70 and you won't look back (obviously)

[mucklestone]

Yeah I agree, I have spent loads on better halagon bulbs and they keep failing and are only slightly better. My brother just spent the money on an HID kit and they are ten times better. They make it look like mine arn't on!

[glenboy]

I use Phillips Xtreme 90%,a great bulb and for £20 the pair does the job,hth.........

[hutch85]

Cheers for the feedback everyone - and thanks for the link Dave I hadn't come across that before, will be giving it a go this weekend I think!

I went for a set of Philips X-treme H7s in the end, ordered off ebay for £20 posted. I'll probably upgrade to a HID kit eventually but I'm off to Bordeaux at the end of the month so needed something quickly that would do the job without costing me too much holiday money! Last time I went to France we had torrential downpour on the night drive back up to Calais, and with street lighting not being as widespread as in the UK I found the veccy lights gave me a VERY tough time trying to see where the white lines were. Not a pleasant experience...

Hopefully this time I won't start praying my car's got a lane departure warning system as a secret option...

Hutch