Car Headlamps Halogen Bulb Question

nahkk on 29/01/2019 - 06:22

Ozbargainers, car noob here. Have a confusion so I thought someone may be able to help.

My car's main headlamp stopped working last night on normal beam. Its the one on passenger side and still works on high beam. I took out the bulb following instructions from car manual. Found that it is a H4 12v halogen bulb.

I am a little bit confused now. For example I see these two listing:

12342llecob1: https://www.sparesbox.com.au/part/philips-eco-vision-h4-glob…

12342lleco: https://www.sparesbox.com.au/part/philips-eco-vision-h4-glob…

Looking at the part numbers, I am unsure if one if for the lamp on passenger seat side and other for driver seat side. The product details do not mention. Are the two bulbs similar? What would be difference between the two bulbs?

I am also looking for recommendations about where and what brand should I buy.

Automotive

Comments

  • Nugs on 29/01/2019 - 06:30
    +4

    same part, different packaging?

    H4 is the only requirement, but stay away from 'non-branded' bulbs i.e. SCA homebrand etc.
    there are no left and right bulbs. it the the reflector (housing) that makes it left and right.
    .

    • nahkk on 29/01/2019 - 06:59

      Thanks for your input. Yeah, I am staying away from generic ones.

      • JIMB0 on 29/01/2019 - 09:45
        -2

        They're all crap these days. Personally I'd be going to a wrecking yard and getting globes out of a late 1990s / early 2000s car.

  • SnoozeAndLose on 29/01/2019 - 07:39
    -5

    Juat buy a LED plug and play, they are much brighter

    • pegaxs on 29/01/2019 - 09:18
      +2

      And quite possibly illegal. Most of them are either too bright or the light heat range colour is wrong. Not to mention, they are also usually 10x the price.

      • SnoozeAndLose on 29/01/2019 - 09:54
        +1

        Done seem to be 10x the price: https://www.ebay.com.au/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=p205787…

        Also it is not illegal if you use the right color

        • pegaxs on 29/01/2019 - 10:24
          +4

          And that's the problem. Most of the ones you listed on that eBay link are not ADR compliant models. Most of them, the heat range is too white and their output is well above the power/brightness output.

          Added to this, most cars with LED lights must have a self-leveling headlight system installed. While some cars have this, some do not.

          Even most of the headlight sellers you can google even say the same thing… "most LED conversions on cars is against ADR" and the ones that are compliant are certainly not the $35 units you get off eBay.

  • JimmyF on 29/01/2019 - 09:00
    +3

    Same bulb, different packages.

    REMEMBER DON'T TOUCH the Halogen globe (glass part) when installing, otherwise say hello to early failure.

    • nahkk on 29/01/2019 - 18:44

      Thanks for the tip

  • pegaxs on 29/01/2019 - 09:25

    As others have said above, one is in a retail box, the other in a stock box. Don’t buy them from your local petrol station. They usually have a premium on them. Try somewhere like Supercheap, Autobahn or Repco.

    There are no left of right for globes, only the lenses come in right hand drive or left hand drive if you needed to replace a whole light assembly.

  • AdamFury on 29/01/2019 - 11:05
    +4

    Philips High Performance H4. I usually buy my bulbs from PowerBulbs.

    • Dean29 on 29/01/2019 - 13:28
      +2

      +1 for powerbulbs. They have 20% off every now and then

      • neo on 29/01/2019 - 13:52
        +1

        They've got 20% off right now. Code = JAN2019

        • oO0Dam0Oo on 29/01/2019 - 13:55

          Just in time had a headlight O/S grabbed Philips Racing Vision H7.

          Hopefully they make my Terry go faster.

    • nahkk on 29/01/2019 - 18:45

      Definately going to check PowerBulbs. Thanks

  • kmwa on 29/01/2019 - 13:37

    Go into Supercheap Auto, and confirm that particular store can fit headlight bulbs.
    Get the guy to help select suitable bulbs for you - they can usually show the different brands and types of bulbs working. You can get brighter whiter bulbs than the older yellowy bulbs for a higher price - I think the difference is worth it.
    Why Supercheap? Because you need the bulbs today, you really don't want to be driving at night on one headlamp, and because they will fit them for you. Watch how they do it, and next time you can do it yourself (using cheaper bulbs that you buy in advance online).
    And yes, change both bulbs now. If one has gone, the other isn't far behind it.

    • Euphemistic on 29/01/2019 - 16:34
      +3

      Disagree with changing both. I’ve done plenty over the years and only ever changed one at a time. I don’t recall the other going soon after in any occasion.

      • Arcticsoldier on 30/01/2019 - 04:41
        +2

        Its not so much about the other globe going soon after. Its like tyres, its recommended changing both to avoid difference colour/light output depending on brand. Sometimes you see on the road at night cars with slightly different colour headlights. Supercheap/repco/autobarn often have sales so replace both if cost is not to much of a concern.

        • Euphemistic on 30/01/2019 - 06:44

          While a fair poin,t that is a good reason to buy standard globes, not these fancy ultra bright whatever globes. Besides, the last time I had to change a globe it was a complete pain in the backside. Battery had to come out to get into it. A previous car had to take 13 screws out to remove trim to remove the headlight to get to an indicator globe. Changing a headlight globe isn’t as easy as it should be on some cars. All globes should be able to be changed by a novice with almost no tools.

    • JIMB0 on 30/01/2019 - 09:47

      The other globe could soldier on for years. I have a 16 year old original headlight globe that has out lived 2 Phillips globes in the other side.

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