MB lights

[fritz]

Just some questions about globes for the h4 headlight upgrade.
I am planning to do the swap sometime & was wondering what the best globes were? I know most people tend to go for the blue-ish 55/60W types, but do they actually give more/better light than the 100W normal lights? The reason I ask is because I have read that the blue bulbs are manufactured to give a brighter light for the same power??? Is this just a selling pitch?

Also when you read the wattage of a globe, I presume the higher one is for the high beam. Basically I want the brightest I can get without being too unsocialable (dont mind being a little bit...)
Would running a set of 110/130W lights be like driving with high beams on when your actually only running low beams?

[Josh]

The "best" globes for any individual are always going to depend on that individual's needs or requirements.

60/55W Xenon bulb is ever going to produce more light than a 100W Halogen, but a 60/55W Xenons have been tested and proven to produce more lumens than a 60/55W Halogen.

No, it's not just a selling pitch, Xenon-filled bulbs do produce more lumens per watt than Halogen-filled bulbs, however, like anything, these figures are subject to the quality of the product you're purchasing. So while I'm confident Trifa 60/55W Xenon bulbs will produce more light than their 60/55W Halogen counterparts, I wouldn't place such confidence in products such as the Autotechnica Imports Opti-Blues.

Yes, you are correct in your presumption that the higher figure is the high-beam filament rating.

No, running 130/110W lights would not be "like driving with high beams on when your actually only running low beams" as you put it. In the case of H4s, the low-beam filament features a reflector built into the bulb to ensure light is not directed straight ahead as is the case with the high-beam filament. Running 130/110W bulbs simply affords you more light on both beams, and providing your lights are set at the correct angle, should maintain the correct low angle for low-beam.

Be aware that if you wish to run lights of a greater rating than 60W you will need to re-wire your headlight setup with the inclusion of a relay to switch the higher current load.

[microwrx]

The ony Xenon lamps that actually make any difference are the proper gas discharge ones. The ones that are being sold as Xenon gas filled do Jack S**t! I have uploaded an evaluation that a WRX club member has done on the proper gas discharge lamps (it's nearly 500K). It has some info on the others as well so have a read as it is full of good info. My suggestions, stick to regular halogen 55/60's. I had a set of Opti-Blue's in my car and although they looked good they weren't as efficient nor did they give as good a beam as the regular halogens, although the light was white/blue. I'm back to regular 55/60's now. I did have 90/100 halogen's in my old Commodore several years back but you need to ensure the wiring is up to scratch as without the proper relays installed I ended up melting the fusebox, was all good once fixed and proper relays put in but really they didn't provide that much more than the original lamps, some but not alot.

http://www.saberknights.com/members/jj/eval_xenon.zip

[Josh]

Mmmmmmmm... Interesting reading...

[microwrx]

Yeah, I'd heard a bit about them before but wan't exactly sure what the difference was myself.

On the way home from work I remembered I have had 2 sets of blue H4's in my Subaru. One was a set of 55/65 Super Whites (can't remember the brand but they were a brand name) that were slightly blue (to look at they had that very slight bluish rainbow tinge like when you make bubbles with detergent) and didn't give any better light at all although they were nice and white. The oither set were a no name brand given to me and were 90/100's that had a dark blue tint on the bulbs. Because of the tint they were very blue but only as bright as the regular 55/65 (or are they 55/60, I can't remember). They did look good though. I am now back to regular halogen 55/65's.

I haven't had direct experience with the Xenon gas filament globes so my previous comment about them doing jack is probably not justified. I have heard third hand though that they are not much different to halogens anyway.

Real Xenon HID's would be nice but I won't be forking out that sort of money for them.

[Josh]

I haven't had direct experience with the Xenon gas filament globes so my previous comment about them doing jack is probably not justified. I have heard third hand though that they are not much different to halogens anyway.

Well, with your passionate respone duly noted, I should make it clear that I never raved about them to anyone.

Re-read my post if necessary.

[microwrx]

Never said you did. Although re-reading you post as suggested you did mention them.

Xenon-filled bulbs do produce more lumens per watt than Halogen-filled bulbs

[Josh]

I maintain that I never advocated them as the best choice.

[Whitty]

I am now on my second sealed beam conversion (don't ask), and have found that for the driving I do (highway, to and from work, in the dark, both ways) that the 80/100's I have at the moment are perfect. The 80's give a much better light on the open road than the 55's, no different around town but a heap better out on the highway. They are ordinary "SCA brand" Trifas - dont know if these are the real deal - were only around $15 ea from memory - but they work a charm. Where are you doing all your driving Fritz?

[Brayden]

Okay, this is simply a matter of personal preferrence here, but I find that the Opti-Blue "Xenon" globes (and I use the term loosely) actually offer much clearer vision.

But as I said, that is merely my opinion.

However owing to glowing (pardon the pun) reviews from many friends, I am going to trial a swap over to Narva 50+ globes. Apparently they are the ants pants for better illumination at the same wattage.

FYI: I hope if any of you are running excessive globes in your headlights that you have run a relay setup - some will argue that the stock wiring can cope with higher wattage globes, but after having a look at the state of a loom that came out of an MB running 80/100 I would run a relay just to be safe. Once again that is just advice, not gospel,

[fritz]

Hmmm?... Thanks guys.
My driving will be predominantly around the burbs.
I feel like I have enough info to make an educated guess now.

[microwrx]

Thanks Brayden, you reminded me what brand my last set of 'useful' replacement globes were. They were the Narva +30's and they did offer marginally more light than both the Opti-Blue or regular halogens. I expect the +50's would be a bit better than that again.

[fritz]

Check out http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayI ... 2476032826 for a cheap and easy relay conversion.
Must get one....

[Josh]

Interesting if you don't want to think-out your wiring... but for US$30? Piss off... The relays and wiring needed could cost you less than half of that...

[fritz]

Au$50 - Not toooo bad for something which will look profesional.
Although I must say that I saw headlight relays at SCA today. The are normally about $25 but have been reduced to $12. Didn't have enough time to work out if the one box (that's all it was) will do both headlights though. Also didn't notice a wattage rating on it.
Any help Josh?