| When your current bulbs fail, you will likely just | | | | reflector. Styling bulbs are now available that are |
| pick up the 'standard' replacement of the correct | | | | silver coated, but still give a yellow light, to |
| fitting from your local automotive shop or petrol | | | | prevent this look. The silver bulb coating into the |
| station. You may not realise that there is a wide | | | | reflector to give a better finish. |
| range of choices available for your car or | | | | LED Bulbs |
| motorcycle, depending on your needs and | | | | First seen on new cars a few years ago, there |
| preferences. | | | | are now LED replacement bulbs available as |
| This article outlines the main types currently | | | | replacements for most rear lights, brake light and |
| available to allow you to make an informed choice. | | | | side lights, as well as some internal lighting. LED |
| There is a wide variation in cost and capabilities, | | | | lights, at the moment, are not available for |
| and a huge range of suppliers. | | | | headlight bulbs as they are not bright enough, but |
| Standard Halogen Filament Bulbs | | | | they are being frequently seen in factory fitted |
| Standard replacement bulbs are cheap, simple and | | | | and aftermarket front white daytime running |
| readily available in even the most unusual fitting | | | | lights, such as the distinctive BMW 'Angel Eyes'. |
| types. There is a wide variation of quality, with | | | | Replacement LED bulbs have one or more |
| branded replacements often providing better light | | | | individual SMD LED lamps on them, but are |
| output and longer life. Note that some newer | | | | designed to fit into standard fittings. Their main |
| vehicles are moving away from standard halogen | | | | advantages are very low power consumption |
| lighting to provide distinctive looks or longer life for | | | | (useful if you have a 'show car' with a lot of |
| where they are hard to access. | | | | additional lighting) and extremely long life of up to |
| Enhanced Halogen Bulbs | | | | 50,000 hours, meaning it should outlast the vehicle! |
| Mostly available for headlights, enhanced bulbs | | | | They provide a whiter light than most standard |
| offer increased light output over standard | | | | halogen filament bulbs, so are often paired with |
| replacement. They often use different or modified | | | | modified headlights. |
| materials for both the filament and the gas it is | | | | One drawback to using LEDs on some cars with |
| contained in. These bulbs are often called 'Xenon', | | | | CAN-BUS bulb failure warning systems is that the |
| as Xenon gas is one of the main constituents. | | | | LED draws so little power the dashboard bulb |
| Various brands are available, the most well-known | | | | failure warning light is shown. This can be resolved |
| being Ring Xenon Max (offering 100% more light | | | | by adding a resistor to the wiring, or buying one |
| than 'standard'), Osram Night Breaker (with 90% | | | | of the new range of bulbs with a resistor built into |
| more light) and Philips X-Treme Power (with 80% | | | | the assembly itself. LEDs cost more than |
| more light). | | | | standard replacement, but the huge life span (and |
| Upgrading to an enhanced Halogen bulb is exactly | | | | not having to go to the effort of replacing them) |
| the same as replacing a standard headlight bulb, | | | | more than makes up for this in the long term. |
| and can generally be done at home in a few | | | | Xenon HID Bulbs |
| minutes. Due to the difference in brightness, you | | | | Originally only available as factory fitted options on |
| will need to replace both side for cars or | | | | some top-end cars, xenon HID bulbs work totally |
| motorcycles with twin headlights. Xenon upgrade | | | | differently from traditional halogen filaments. The |
| bulbs are available in sizes to fit almost all vehicles. | | | | light is created by an arc (spark) of electricity |
| Extra Long Life Bulbs | | | | inside a special mixture of gases (including Xenon) |
| Extra long life bulbs use thicker elements and | | | | and metal salts. The light created by Xenon HID is |
| quality components to give a life of up to three | | | | about 300% brighter than standard halogens, and |
| times longer than a standard bulb. They are | | | | is also whiter. Some HID bulbs produce blue tinted |
| available as headlights, brake/tail light and sidelights. | | | | light, with the colour being designated by a Kelvin |
| The most common uses for these are vehicles | | | | 'Colour Temperature' scale. |
| (notably Volvo cars as well as many motorcycles | | | | Aftermarket HID conversion kits are now |
| and trucks) where the lights are always on. Long | | | | available for most fittings. The conversion kits |
| life bulbs reduce the frequency with which you | | | | consist of a ballast unit (that provides the high |
| have to replace them, and are only slightly more | | | | voltages required to create the arc), plus an HID |
| expensive than standard. Various brands are | | | | bulb. HIDs generally last longer than standard |
| available, including Osram Ultra Life and Ring | | | | halogen filament bulbs, as they do not have a |
| Vision24. | | | | filament to break, but they do tend to give more |
| Styling Bulbs | | | | blue light with age, and will eventually stop |
| Allied to the growth of the modified car scene | | | | working. |
| has been an increasing supply of 'styling' bulbs that | | | | HID conversion kits are not strictly road legal as |
| modify the light output of a standard halogen | | | | they are not factory fitted options, and there are |
| using altered filament or gas materials, or by | | | | issues with some cheaper conversion kits creating |
| adding filter coatings. Different coloured light can | | | | a beam pattern that will fail the MOT test. Higher |
| match a cars colour scheme, and provide a | | | | quality HID kits are carefully designed to give the |
| distinctive look. Some of these bulbs also offer | | | | correct beam alignment, and not blind oncoming |
| enhanced light output, but the more extreme | | | | drivers. HID bulbs cost considerably more than |
| ones have poor total light output due to filters, | | | | standard replacements, but will last around three |
| and are a long way from the white light required | | | | times as long. If converting a standard headlight |
| in the Highway Code. These extreme styling bulbs | | | | to Xenon HID, it is worth purchasing a quality kit, |
| are recommended for off-road or show use only, | | | | as cheaper kits may give poor beam pattern and |
| and may attract unwanted attention from law | | | | the high voltage components are likely to fail |
| enforcement or testing stations. | | | | sooner. |
| Another class of styling bulbs has been seen since | | | | Conclusion |
| the appearance on 'crystal' type light fittings, | | | | This article outlines some of the choices available, |
| where the lens is almost totally transparent. | | | | so the next time you are need to replace any of |
| Indicators have to give a yellow light, and | | | | the exterior or interior lights on your car, van, |
| standard yellow coated bulbs give an odd 'fried | | | | truck or motorcycle you can be aware of the |
| egg' look, as they are visible at the centre of the | | | | wide range now available. |