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The Great Quest for Headlights
- Thread starter Connor
- Start date
Ok, experiment concluded. I will say, if you're using the stock bulbs and want just better halogen bulbs, consider the Philips Xtremevisions. They cast light actually very well, nice distance. About a 3500k color temp, still a very warm white.
Still, I prefer the LEDs I have. The light pattern is extremely similar to the Xtremevisions, casting a bit further than the halogen. Also, the LED color temp is easier for my eyes to pick out, so I can see better with them.
It was worth the experiment, though. Also, I noticed the halogen bulbs hot spot and side cast just like the LEDs.
Still, I prefer the LEDs I have. The light pattern is extremely similar to the Xtremevisions, casting a bit further than the halogen. Also, the LED color temp is easier for my eyes to pick out, so I can see better with them.
It was worth the experiment, though. Also, I noticed the halogen bulbs hot spot and side cast just like the LEDs.
Well... I got the itch again and started messing with LEDs again. I found some that actually fit for the most part. Doesn't hit anything, but it does push the dust cap out a bit.
The beam pattern is kinda still meh though. Even with the "flip chip / csp" lining up 3 abreast to mimic a tungsten filament position. There's this weird "squirrel finder" spot to the upper left of the hot spot. The hotspot itself is also a bit lower than the cutoff. The cutoff isn't "bad" but it's only good to the point that it kinda exists.
Here's a comparison with the almost 2 years old Osram Nightbreaker Unlimiteds.
Notes: I think I have a funky right headlight. The "right side" of the beam pattern kinda isn't there. I'm missing the second "squirrel finder". I get one "checkmark" and a shadow of a second one to the right but as you can see in the pictures, there's a chunk missing on the right side of the hot spot.
Impressions... Not sure how I feel about them yet. The hotspot as stated is kinda pointing low, but the reflective surfaces still pop. The new squirrel finder on the top left of the hotspot makes the lights kinda hard to aim. The upside is, as far as I can tell, there's no obvious glare. I did adjust the headlights down a bit after I took the pictures to match where the cutoff was for the halogens.
The beam pattern is kinda still meh though. Even with the "flip chip / csp" lining up 3 abreast to mimic a tungsten filament position. There's this weird "squirrel finder" spot to the upper left of the hot spot. The hotspot itself is also a bit lower than the cutoff. The cutoff isn't "bad" but it's only good to the point that it kinda exists.
Here's a comparison with the almost 2 years old Osram Nightbreaker Unlimiteds.
Notes: I think I have a funky right headlight. The "right side" of the beam pattern kinda isn't there. I'm missing the second "squirrel finder". I get one "checkmark" and a shadow of a second one to the right but as you can see in the pictures, there's a chunk missing on the right side of the hot spot.
Impressions... Not sure how I feel about them yet. The hotspot as stated is kinda pointing low, but the reflective surfaces still pop. The new squirrel finder on the top left of the hotspot makes the lights kinda hard to aim. The upside is, as far as I can tell, there's no obvious glare. I did adjust the headlights down a bit after I took the pictures to match where the cutoff was for the halogens.
I wouldn't do it. I mean the standard Philips H9 is awesome, hands down the best upgrade... until it hazes the reflectors. If it hazes Focus reflectors and F150s, I don't think the Fiesta's reflectors stand much of a chance. Hella does their something or another 2.0 in H9. Tirerack amongst others carry it.
I did not read the whole thread, so I don't know if the hazing issue was stated in here somewhere, but I will not even think about doing even a base/standard H9 if it will kill the reflectors.
Right now I have the PIAA H11 Night Techs, and Phillips H1 Extreme Vision +130s in the factory housings, and for as much as I drive at night, they are fine.
My son even noticed the difference from the factory bulbs (asked if I changed anything, and it was half a year between the times he was in the car at night, so they are at least a little bit brighter, and further 'throw', than the factory bulbs.
).
Right now I have the PIAA H11 Night Techs, and Phillips H1 Extreme Vision +130s in the factory housings, and for as much as I drive at night, they are fine.
My son even noticed the difference from the factory bulbs (asked if I changed anything, and it was half a year between the times he was in the car at night, so they are at least a little bit brighter, and further 'throw', than the factory bulbs.
).
Last edited:
Yeah, H9s are a great replacement for H11s in projectors but sadly H11s in reflectors don't have many off-the-shelf upgrades. I emailed Daniel Stern when I bought the car and got his recommendations, sounds like y'all have already picked those up, though. Folks who've purchased the Euro headlights, have you found them to be worth the price of the upgrade?
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