C30 Headlamp Bulb Upgrade

[Jerry1975]

Hi there,

The standard halogen headlamps on the C30 are absolutely terrible and I've read much about them on here.

Whilst I'm sure the best option is to go for some sort of Xenon HID type upgrade kit, if I just stuck with the standard set up, are any of the various bulb upgrades on the likes of eBay worth bothering with? (see attached links for examples)

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Volvo-55w...a7ua:rk:2:pf:0

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/H7-100w-8...SKrw:rk:3:pf:0

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/H7-Cob-Cr...NDC1UQCA%3D%3D

Also, would anything more than the standard 55w cause my wiring to melt?

Any feedback would be great!

J

[T5R92011]

Don't bother with LED bulbs...

At this present moment in time you have to buy REALLY expensive LED bulbs (£150+ for a pair) to match the output of a good set of Halogen bulbs.

In most LED bulbs, the position of the LEDs is in a difference location compared to the filament in a regular halogen bulb, meaning the headlamp housing cannot reflect the LED light in the same way that it can for a halogen bulb.

The cheapest way to marginally improve the headlamps is to unscrew the internal projector units (3x torx screws) and clean the projector lens, then fit new bulbs. This will help a little bit, but you can adjust the height of the headlamps as they are set too low in most cases, meaning you can barely see anything over a certain distance.

The best solution is to buy new aftermarket "E46" projectors and install those. They are around £115 for a pair from here:

https://www.retrofitlab.com/en/aharo...-design-1.html

Buy them in "H7" format if you want to use regular halogen bulbs.

The difference in light output between these and the light output you're currently getting is immense.

Worth every penny.

[Bonefishblues]

I haven't bought a really expensive set of LEDs and my judgement is that the illumination is better.

[LizardOfBodom]

Originally Posted by Jerry1975

...

Also, would anything more than the standard 55w cause my wiring to melt?

Any feedback would be great!

J

Well, maybe not the wiring but reflector coating. I strongly advise you against 100W bulbs or any of those "inventions" from your ebay links.
You are 100% guaranteed those will work WORSE than any decent bulb as those are suppose to pretend xenon look and not actually shine the road.
Any "zenon look super colour magic blue" miracle contraptions or
"super hyper mega LED bulbs costing pennies are worth nothing, seriously.
Also, stay away from HID unless you know what you are doing, do your research and spend some decent money to bulletproof the installation.

My advice to you - get one of those : Osram NB Laser or something similar in NightBreaker range.
Then take out your projectors, clean lenses, inspect the chrome coatong and you should be sorted.

[LizardOfBodom]

Originally Posted by Bonefishblues

I haven't bought a really expensive set of LEDs and my judgement is that the illumination is better.

Not trying to stirr anything here, but I doubt your LED bulbs were 15GBP per set, as per OP's link?

I am far from original statement "LED wont work" as a lot have changed thorough recent years, but I agree fully with T5R90210 - unless you spend decent money on LED set, you are asking for trouble or in best case scenario- will have a nice looking light colour output and...thats all.
:}

[Bonefishblues]

Forty quid.

[Tannaton]

[post deleted as I'd not read the thread fully and it's all been said... LED's are mostly sh*t, if Nightbreaker unlimited's aren't good enough then you need to change your projectors...]

[marc]

I saw a vast improvement by cleaning the projector and fitting Osram Nightbreaker bulbs. As others have said, clean the projectors, it really helps.

[Jerry1975]

Originally Posted by LizardOfBodom

My advice to you - get one of those : Osram NB Laser or something similar in NightBreaker range.
Then take out your projectors, clean lenses, inspect the chrome coatong and you should be sorted.

Think I'll try some of these

Bizarrely though, eBay seems to think that these won't fit a 2007 C30??

I'll get them anyway!

J

[LizardOfBodom]

Originally Posted by Jerry1975

Think I'll try some of these

Bizarrely though, eBay seems to think that these won't fit a 2007 C30??

I'll get them anyway!

J

Just make sure you get them in H7 type, there are a lot of variations of those! Maybe double-check if your car have H7 bulbs to be 100% sure, I would think it does but better safe then sorry.