LED Headlight upgrade advice

[Bashy]

Hi folks

What are your thoughts on these please? my dipped are pants and on a road with no white lines are dangerous really.

Anyone using any in their V70 56 plate or the like or what have you done to improve the lights?

Seen these?

[Baxlin]

The link seems to be for brake lights, not headlights?

[Bashy]

Originally Posted by Baxlin

The link seems to be for brake lights, not headlights?

oops, my bad, sorted...

[Laird Scooby]

Originally Posted by Bashy

Hi folks

What are your thoughts on these please? my dipped are pants and on a road with no white lines are dangerous really.

Anyone using any in their V70 56 plate or the like or what have you done to improve the lights?

Seen these?

No good for headlights, the light output area is too large and the wrong shape, meaning you won't get a correct beam pattern - result, instant MoT failure and almost certainly dazzling other road users!

https://www.classiccarleds.co.uk/col...ction/h7zes1ww

Those are much better, the arrangement of the LEDs mimics the size/shape of the original filament so gives the correct beam pattern and very bright lighting!

Yes, they're more expensive but it's one of those things where you really get what you pay for. This gives you a rough idea of how the LED bulbs perform :

https://youtu.be/OnXQm5jOmRU

That's in a 32 year old 760 so the reflectors aren't the best but for a more "real life" situation, these photos taken a few minutes later.

Dipped beam :



Full beam :



Those speed limit signs are about 1/4 mile away to give you an idea of the perspective. The LED lights also show up animals eyes so it's easier to be alerted to their presence before they run out in front of you!

Colour temperature is near daylight so is more relaxing to drive at night too.

[Bashy]

Thanks, and those would fit ok in the V70? they look quite bulky..
Is there anything you can do fo full beam too, would prefer that to be white then the colour of a candle lol
Oh, wait, would i need 2 sets then for full beam, i didnt realise sorry..

Just noticed that on my ebay link, they show the pattern, can i ask how you know its incorrect?

[Laird Scooby]

Originally Posted by Bashy

Thanks, and those would fit ok in the V70? they look quite bulky..
Is there anything you can do fo full beam too, would prefer that to be white then the colour of a candle lol
Oh, wait, would i need 2 sets then for full beam, i didnt realise sorry..

Just noticed that on my ebay link, they show the pattern, can i ask how you know its incorrect?

It's a long time since i saw a V70 headlamp so i can't say for sure but they should fit, if not, send them back for a refund - call Duncan on the Freephone number before you order if you like. He will explain it all to you.

Looking at the bulbs that are listed, even copying the pic link and then enlarging it, there are no separate LEDs in it, it is just one "COB" LED which doesn't give a defined light output, it's just a blob of light. THey do mention the 2.1mm square LEDs but unfortunately not a brand i've heard of so can't comment further except to say it does not look like they are used on these particular bulbs. Look at some of the other bulbs they show in the listing, you'll see what i mean.

Next, they show a beam pattern, not a particularly good one i may aadd! Also it's for left hand drive cars with what is known as "Right Hand Dip" - it's quite "wooly" round the edges and almost certainly wouldn't be accepted as a pass for MoT on beam pattern.



That shows the difference between SAE (American) dipped beam, EU dipped beam and UK dipped beam patterns. That is what is looked for on the optical beam alignment kit during MoT and it needs to be sharp, not "wooly".

I've spent a lot of time and effort, not to mention money, researching LED headlamp bulbs to find the ones that work and work properly. As with many things, the Chinese have taken the idea and produced copies, 99% of which just won't work correctly. The only ones that do are the ones with ZES "LumiLEDs" (made originally by Philips, i believe others make them under licence now as well) as they are able to mimic the original filament shape and output.
I have several sets of H$ LED headlight bulbs around that are no good, they give a light output yes but no beam pattern! :nah" The worst just had a blob on dipped beam that was lower (but only just) than the blob on full beam and dazzled oncoming traffic on dipped beam. The reasonbeing is they produced "light scatter" in the "anti-dazzle area" - the area above the dark blue lin on the diagram of beam patterns above.
This is a strict no-no for MoT purposes and given it dazzles oncoming motorists it's easy to see why!

For the record, i have no connection/affiliation with Classic Car LEDs, they're a supplier who i've used, found them to be both reliable and knowledgeable and only sell good kit that has been tested by them before going on sale.

[Bashy]

Hi, thanks for the info, much appreciated

I notice you have an 827, i too had one, but the Vittesse fastback, great car, i think its in my profile photos somewhere, i do miss it, was a good car...

Not seen an 827 for a while until one turned up on my cul-de-sac, same as yours too i think and not too far from you, i am in Weeting

Originally Posted by Laird Scooby

It's a long time since i saw a V70 headlamp so i can't say for sure but they should fit, if not, send them back for a refund - call Duncan on the Freephone number before you order if you like. He will explain it all to you.

Looking at the bulbs that are listed, even copying the pic link and then enlarging it, there are no separate LEDs in it, it is just one "COB" LED which doesn't give a defined light output, it's just a blob of light. THey do mention the 2.1mm square LEDs but unfortunately not a brand i've heard of so can't comment further except to say it does not look like they are used on these particular bulbs. Look at some of the other bulbs they show in the listing, you'll see what i mean.

Next, they show a beam pattern, not a particularly good one i may aadd! Also it's for left hand drive cars with what is known as "Right Hand Dip" - it's quite "wooly" round the edges and almost certainly wouldn't be accepted as a pass for MoT on beam pattern.



That shows the difference between SAE (American) dipped beam, EU dipped beam and UK dipped beam patterns. That is what is looked for on the optical beam alignment kit during MoT and it needs to be sharp, not "wooly".

I've spent a lot of time and effort, not to mention money, researching LED headlamp bulbs to find the ones that work and work properly. As with many things, the Chinese have taken the idea and produced copies, 99% of which just won't work correctly. The only ones that do are the ones with ZES "LumiLEDs" (made originally by Philips, i believe others make them under licence now as well) as they are able to mimic the original filament shape and output.
I have several sets of H$ LED headlight bulbs around that are no good, they give a light output yes but no beam pattern! :nah" The worst just had a blob on dipped beam that was lower (but only just) than the blob on full beam and dazzled oncoming traffic on dipped beam. The reasonbeing is they produced "light scatter" in the "anti-dazzle area" - the area above the dark blue lin on the diagram of beam patterns above.
This is a strict no-no for MoT purposes and given it dazzles oncoming motorists it's easy to see why!

For the record, i have no connection/affiliation with Classic Car LEDs, they're a supplier who i've used, found them to be both reliable and knowledgeable and only sell good kit that has been tested by them before going on sale.

[Laird Scooby]

You're welcome, could have been my 827, i've been to Weeting once or twice - a few years back though! There was also an 827 Coupe that i believed lived there, the owner sprayed the front and rear bumpers olive drab though - on a gold car!

As far as i know, there are only 2 827s round this neck of the woods now, mine and an 827 SLi round the corner from me that i also owned for a while. That's been SORN for a few years now though.

Just looked at your profile pics of the white 827 Vitesse and the blue Vitesse 2.0 turbo. When you sold the white one, did it go to somewhere near Ipswich by any chance?