dubweiser 0 Posted December 20, 2008 Hi,just wanted to ask about upgrading my headlamp bulbs.When ive read throught the posts on here it seems that people are saying about upgrading the wiring loom etc.Is it possible just to get brighter bulbs and simply replace them and if so,what are the best ones to buy(sorry if this is such a simple problem :( Thanks for the help guys.The winter nights are coming in and i cant drive around with my 1 candle power lights much longer. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
vwdeviant 0 Posted December 20, 2008 The loom is the weak link... send current 1/2 way round the car into the switch, which also means the switches fail. Upgrade looms means the current go from Battery straight to bulbs, less Voltage drop. Halfords 50% Brighter bulbs are pretty good... still pull stock Wattage (so no smoking looms) and ae a bit brighter. Used for 2winters.. need to be replaced though... Phillips ?Extreme? are also supposed to be 70% brighter Just remember all bulbs lose brightness over their lifespan... So if they've been in a while replace... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Supercharged 2 Posted December 20, 2008 As above, the standard loom is flawed but I got so fed up with the unrelaibility of the trimsport one I had that I've pulled it out and gone back to stock... Headlight switch does get a bit hot though! With new clean lenses, good reflectors and '50%' bulbs I have as good a lighting as any newish car apart from ones with HID / Xenons. I think the bulb technology has got to a point now where you can stick with normal 55/60W H4's and get good light output, the other thing to do with the weather as it is currently is clean your lights, makes a hell of a difference and I am using Rain-X on the lenses to keep the dirt from sticking. Just check your battery and alt are in good shape and you get 12V to the lights. Less than this causes the bulbs to output a more yellow light. Never use higher wattage bulbs on Corrado's as you will damage the reflectors, Also use standard bulbs for the fogs as the glass is known to crack and these modern bulbs put out a bit more heat. Bulbs to go for are.... Halfords Super Brilliance (Standard or Blue - stay away from the Extreme Brilliance tho as not as good) Osram Nightbreaker Philips Extreme And as Jon says, really you need to change bulbs every 2 years as they age... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
vwdeviant 0 Posted December 20, 2008 And as Jon says, really you need to change bulbs every 2 years as they age... I thank you Sire Seems I am right once in a millenium! :lol: Will hopefully get some before/after pics up of lights. Waiting for my "Kurby" loom and will get some Phillips Extreme's ordered up as they seem to have the best "Upgrade" (A claimed 70%). so will do: 2yr old Halfords 50% Phillips Extreme Halfords/Loom Phillips/loom Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
corradog60stage4 0 Posted December 21, 2008 i put in hid capsules and called it a day Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MonkeyVR6 0 Posted December 21, 2008 Dude, I was the same, I couldn't be bothered with the hassle of looms and HID kits etc... The Phillips Xtreme bulbs are the tits and really work well. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
corradog60stage4 0 Posted December 21, 2008 Dude, I was the same, I couldn't be bothered with the hassle of looms and HID kits etc... The Phillips Xtreme bulbs are the tits and really work well. Well I installed 3 hid kits and they make night into day. one bi-xenon and two regular single beam. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dubweiser 0 Posted December 22, 2008 Bit confused :? So let me get this right...The ideal solution would be to replace the loom but would it be ok to just use the brighter halfords/phillips bulbs without any alterations using the standard loom i.e a straight bulb swap? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
davidwort 0 Posted December 22, 2008 yeah, the key thing is that the VW wiring and switches drops a lot of voltage, especially when old, so standard bulbs are generally brighter when run from a relay/loom instead. If you try to put say 80/100W or bigger bulbs in with the standard wiring they will draw more current and run the risk of burning out part of the VW loom. If you fit the Halfords/Phillips etc bulbs, they have more light output but only draw the same current as a standard 55/60W bulb (if you look on them they are actually rated as 55/60W - same as a standard bulb) , so they won't damage the VW loom, but they would also benefit from a relay setup. Wattage is a strange way to rate a lightbulb as it refers to the power consumed and not the amount of light output, which varies hugely from one technology of bulb to another. Bit confused :? So let me get this right...The ideal solution would be to replace the loom but would it be ok to just use the brighter halfords/phillips bulbs without any alterations using the standard loom i.e a straight bulb swap? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dubweiser 0 Posted December 22, 2008 Cheers guys think il be off to halfords.Just looked at the bulbs in question.....now i dont know which fit i need lol.There are different fits i.e h4 h7 h1 etc etc.Which ones do i need. :nuts: Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
davidwort 0 Posted December 22, 2008 Cheers guys think il be off to halfords.Just looked at the bulbs in question.....now i dont know which fit i need lol.There are different fits i.e h4 h7 h1 etc etc.Which ones do i need. :nuts: H4 for the main dip/main beam bulb (three 'legs' on the bulb base), the spot lamp bulb is a single element H3 I believe, same as the fog bulbs. Oh, and if you have a Euro Car Parts near you, I picked up a pair of Phillps Extremes H4 for 20 quid from them. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
vwdeviant 0 Posted December 22, 2008 The H4's will make the biggest difference as you really only use the H3 on hi beam... Dave good call... one only 6 miles away! Do you know if it's an offer running? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
davidwort 0 Posted December 22, 2008 The H4's will make the biggest difference as you really only use the H3 on hi beam... Dave good call... one only 6 miles away! Do you know if it's an offer running? mmm, says 21.44 plus VAT on the website, mine were bought by the garage my dad works for (and I did pay the price incl. VAT!) so he probably got about 10-15% off which you should be able to blag from them? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dubweiser 0 Posted December 22, 2008 Cheers for all the help guys.Hopefully il be able to see now on a night ha ha.I have a euro carparts not far away so il give it a try.All the best and a happy xmas :clap: Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dubweiser 0 Posted December 23, 2008 Hi incase anyone is interested....saw this deal on the web http://www.powerbulbs.com/product_detail.asp?prod=43 Looks like a good deal with free side lights aswell.What do ya trhink? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
davidwort 0 Posted December 23, 2008 that's a fair deal, especially delivered, I checked my receipt from ECP, £17 plus VAT (that was blagged on a trade discount of a few quid). Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
coullstar 0 Posted December 23, 2008 Have you been to Halfords yet? I picked up there uprated ones 2 for the price of 1 @ ~£18 just a few weeks ago. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Leonard 0 Posted December 23, 2008 Have you been to Halfords yet? I picked up there uprated ones 2 for the price of 1 @ ~£18 just a few weeks ago. Anyone know if the Halfords ones are much different to the Philips ones? ie do you actually notice the difference! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
vwdeviant 0 Posted December 23, 2008 Tell you when I order some (Have 2-yr old H-Fords in at the moment), but the difference between old and new Halford was "night and day" ('scuse the pun!) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jamin 0 Posted December 23, 2008 Phillips Extreme's here for £22.50... http://www.phoenixautobulbs.co.uk/phili ... p-195.html Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
davidwort 0 Posted December 23, 2008 the only ones we know that don't 'go off' are the Phillips ones, several people have been running these for a year or two, I've not seen any reports of how well the Halfords ones last but I'd imagine 'as new' the light output is very similar. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Leonard 0 Posted December 23, 2008 Cheers think I will just order the Philips and be done then Matt Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jimmyvwjunkie 0 Posted December 23, 2008 hi all was gettin fed up of the dull beams so i went and bought philips xtreme power H4 12v 60/55w and they are so much better. no upgraded wire loom needed for me. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jamin 0 Posted December 24, 2008 Phillips Extreme's here for £22.50... http://www.phoenixautobulbs.co.uk/phili ... p-195.html Very impressed with these people. Ordered them yesterday at 14:00, there were despatched at 14:30 and arrived at my door this morning at 7:30!! £22.50 delivered, nice! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
colinstubbs 0 Posted December 24, 2008 These H4 and These H3 work a treat! I had 50% bulbs in and had a loom problem so went back to standard wiring, it is utter pants, shockingly bad in comparison, even frightening! Fixed the loom and swapped in the brighter bulbs and they are awesome. It helps that the loom on main beam has the H4Main and the H3Spot on together! I would fit the loom as my first upgrade if i ever had to get another Corrado, then the wipers! 8) 8) 8) Bright bulbs with a standard loom is money wasted in my opinion, why spend £20 ish on a pair of bulbs and then not power them correctly???? :nono: Madness! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
