Has anyone found good bulbs?

[LilPartyBox]

Just ordered philips xtreme vision (12362XVB2) Should arrive by the weekend. Will post b4 / after shots

 

[chimp1000]

Not halogens but check out LEDs....Been using them for low beam and fog lights on my car and love them. Using Sylvania Ultra for high beam. Do not buy the LEDs with fans on the backside, they will not fit.

There was a post that members have positive and negative reviews on the XeonDepot LED.
Is that what you're running?

 

[bassman0221]

There was a post that members have positive and negative reviews on the XeonDepot LED.
Is that what you're running?

No I purchased 2 boxes of these (one box for low beams, one box for fogs); http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00X5S0WKC?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00

Great light output, great color. Installation was a breeze though I did have to dremel (a very small spot) to get the light to clear one section. It may just be my headlights though since the bezel opening does not match up to the outer opening on one headlight. Doesn't affect anything and only took a few seconds, headlight is still 100% sealed from moisture.

 

[RyFiST]

Yes see my signature. Big difference in lighting and I can actually see the road much better. They are bright white

Sylvania Ultra ZXE H11 bulbs

I knew I should've bought some during black friday/cyber monday.

 

[hquakers]

Osram Nightbreaker Unlimited here. Very happy with them thus far.

 

[Joe Schmoe]

There was a post that members have positive and negative reviews on the XeonDepot LED.

I have the XD LEDs and I've also had mixed results on other applications. As a high beam bulb in a reflector highbeam on a '10 MX5 they aren't as good as halogen. The beam pattern is wider, but messy and noticeably dimmer.

In a test in a set of Hella 90mm bi-halogen units they fared much better (LED top, halogen bottom). Keep in mind the LED unit was closer to the wall and the beam pattern is blocked by the hood. The halogen beam pattern does have the advantage of concentrating right up under the cutoff, but the wider LED pattern will probably work for me since it's going to be a cornering light for twisties. The point being that your results seem to vary depending on the housing. I think they do better in a projector-based housing because of the difference in geometry involved between projectors and reflectors and the size of the light source. I had a set of H11 XD LEDS on order but cancelled it. I don't think they are superior to halogen just yet.

 

[daloonie]

I use Philips ColorVision blue for low beams. They work sufficiently well, but the pièce de résistance is the Philips Xtreme Vision 130% high beams. They really work wonders and really lights up the small dark unlit roads I cruise early in the morning on my way to work.

The stock are meant for a long lifespan, these are not. Even at their prize I would say it's easily justifiable to upgrade to a quality set of bulbs.

 

[DaveG99]

I initially installed a set of cheap HIDs that a buddy of mine gave me, they looked good but kept going out, again, they were cheap, and too much of a pain to keep messing with. I then installed the Sylvania ZXEs, which I removed after a few days, they did throw out more light but in my opinion they looked like brighter OE light bulbs. I now have NOKYAs Stage 2 light bulbs, I also have their high beams, they are definitely white with no tint of blue at all, they match my Diode Dynamics Luxeon LED fog lights. I bought the H11 NOKYAs on eBay with the heavy duty harnesses, $22 for the whole thing, they were $32 but I had a coupon for $10 off.

Why the heavy duty harness?

 

[SICKESSS-ST]

Why the heavy duty harness?

The light bulbs I got are 80W, regular ones are 55W I think. A buddy of mine recommended I go with heavy duty harnesses because of the higher heat generated by new bulbs.

 

[TyphoonFiST]

I have LEDs from Xenon depot....I think they work great. There was no dicking around like with HID kits and extra adapters and harnesses. I have had alot of people ask me if my headlights came stock like that and said they are bright. But everyone has there opinions also. To me it was worth it every penny. You may like them or you may not its always a gamble. I've used all the different levels of Sylvania bulbs...xtravision...silverstar...silverstar ultra and zxe's. I think the LEDS are a Very nice touch.


It's like I've always said...To go no where. ...follow the crowd.

 

[DaveG99]

I have LEDs from Xenon depot....I think they work great. There was no dicking around like with HID kits and extra adapters and harnesses. I have had alot of people ask me if my headlights came stock like that and said they are bright. But everyone has there opinions also. To me it was worth it every penny. You may like them or you may not its always a gamble. I've used all the different levels of Sylvania bulbs...xtravision...silverstar...silverstar ultra and zxe's. I think the LEDS are a Very nice touch.


It's like I've always said...To go no where. ...follow the crowd.

You got these?

 

[TyphoonFiST]

View attachment 8581

You got these?

That is correct.....I have those and they fit right in even with the cooling ribbons.

 

[CanadianGuy]

I run those LED headlights as well. Nice bright white, good distance. I like them.

 

[jfdana]

I've been using those (XD H11 LED) for about a year now and really like them a lot. They do fit right in, including the heat sink, and go well with the Diode Dynamics 6k switchbacks.

 

[Zissou]

My NOKYA Artic White didn't even last a year. Might be going with either Sylvania ZXE or Philips CrystalVision Ultra ... any recommendation ?

I'm in the research phase, so let me sum up my findings thusfar:

For starters I'm just talking about halogens. I'm price sensitive and halogens cheaper, with less things to replace. I was looking at ZXE's but for $60 a pair that's a little steep considering the competition.

In a more affordable range we have the Philips CrystalVision, Nokya Arctic Whites, and Osram Night Breakers. I'm seeing all of these around $30.

What I'm seeing with the Nokya Arctic Whites is that you will want to change harnesses as they are 80W (vs stock 55W I believe). Supposedly without this heavy duty harness they will create much more heat. Will this cause the lifespan of the bulb to decrease dramatically? I don't know for sure, but I could certainly believe it. Based on your post that your bulbs didn't last a year I'm shying away from them.
Both the Philips and Osrams are a 55W.

So I will be going for either the Osrams or Philips. As of this posting I'm seeing the Osram for about $30 and the Philips for $35. I'll probably give it a few more weeks to compare how these two look compared to each other, but if they appear to be the same I'll get the cheaper ones.

 

[TyphoonFiST]

I'm in the research phase, so let me sum up my findings thusfar:


For starters I'm just talking about halogens. I'm price sensitive and halogens cheaper, with less things to replace. I was looking at ZXE's but for $60 a pair that's a little steep considering the competition.

In a more affordable range we have the Philips CrystalVision, Nokya Arctic Whites, and Osram Night Breakers. I'm seeing all of these around $30.

What I'm seeing with the Nokya Arctic Whites is that you will want to change harnesses as they are 80W (vs stock 55W I believe). Supposedly without this heavy duty harness they will create much more heat. Will this cause the lifespan of the bulb to decrease dramatically? I don't know for sure, but I could certainly believe it. Based on your post that your bulbs didn't last a year I'm shying away from them.
Both the Philips and Osrams are a 55W.

So I will be going for either the Osrams or Philips. As of this posting I'm seeing the Osram for about $30 and the Philips for $35. I'll probably give it a few more weeks to compare how these two look compared to each other, but if they appear to be the same I'll get the cheaper ones.

With all the money you are spending on "trying" bulbs it's pretty much the same as buying and HID kit or LEDs.imo...

 

[Zissou]

With all the money you are spending on "trying" bulbs it's pretty much the same as buying and HID kit or LEDs.imo...

Well I haven't spent anything yet, my plan is to just buy one. Which is why I'm doing the research.

Ultimately I am trying to get the look of xenons for the price of halogens. The stock headlights are pretty good, but just a tad whiter and a bit more projection would be nice. I really miss my Mini Cooper's bixenon headlights. An HID kit would be the best option to get that look, but I don't neeeeed it

 

[KKaWing]

If you want to brave aliexpress.com, similar looking LED bulbs can be had for 60-80 dollars last I checked.

Edit: by brave I do mean it. Shipping will take 2 weeks to a month and payment is just as dicy... yeah. I have ordered a USB 3.0 floppy bay extension and was successful...

 

[DaveG99]

With the xenon led low beam light kit do you need to get the canbus option?

 

[TyphoonFiST]

With the xenon led low beam light kit do you need to get the canbus option?

It was plug and play as far as I remember ....no adapters needed.