New Headlight Bulbs Suggestions Please

dmb0312 on 03/07/2022 - 22:45
Last edited 04/07/2022 - 10:29 by 1 other user

Hi,

I have a Mitsubishi Lancer Auto 2015 and I'm thinking about getting new headlights. I haven't needed to change them since I got the car. I'm finding on drives home at night, especially in the rain they don't seem bright enough so not sure if they have just gotten weaker over the years or I need an upgrade. High beams seem ok even though I rarely use them.

Any suggestions on some bulbs I can swap in? Not the biggest car person but confident I can at least swap the bulbs (based on looking at a few YT videos)

Not sure if either of these is what i need
https://www.supercheapauto.com.au/p/calibre-calibre-headligh…

https://www.supercheapauto.com.au/p/calibre-calibre-headligh…

Any better suggestions?

Cheers

Automotive Car Mitsubishi

Comments

  • Muzeeb on 03/07/2022 - 22:48
    +5

    Have the plastic headlights themselves dulled over time?

    home at night, especially in the rain they don't seem bright enough

    Wet roads tend to reflect the light and not appear as effective compared to dry conditions.

    gotten weaker over the years

    Technically they do so replacing with new bulbs better than factory quality will improve your night vision.

    I have a MITSUBISHI LANCER LS Auto

    Condolences

  • Hybroid on 03/07/2022 - 23:00
    +2

    These would be my pick, prefer whiter light and comes with W5Ws (but check your car manual states HB3 bulbs): https://www.amazon.com.au/Philips-9005WVUSM-WhiteVision-Ultr…

    Alternatively: https://www.amazon.com.au/Philips-9005-X-tremeVision-Upgrade…

    • dmb0312 on 03/07/2022 - 23:20

      Manual says High beam 60W (HB3) and Low beam 51 W (HB4)

  • Jimothy Wongingtons on 03/07/2022 - 23:02
    +2

    Might be worth getting it done at super cheap (suss the best price then price match) - then pay the $5 for bulb swap. Idk about you but $5 definitely does not cover the time it takes to consult manual, get tools (if required), then put it back together. Obviously some cars easier than others. My old Navara was an absolute POS to access the headlights.

    • dmb0312 on 03/07/2022 - 23:12

      I was thinking this might be easier too when i saw the price.

    • activ8newbs on 05/07/2022 - 00:24

      Is it really $5?

      • Jimothy Wongingtons on 05/07/2022 - 00:49

        Yes but not available at all stores

        • dmb0312 on 05/07/2022 - 21:53

          Looks like $15 at my local SCA for 2 globes

          • Jimothy Wongingtons on 05/07/2022 - 22:09

            @dmb0312: Sorry I must have read wrong , but it says $10 on the website

            https://www.supercheapauto.com.au/services/in-store-services…

            Even at $15 though… for the effort it took to change the Navara lamps I’d say 50000% worth. It took 3 blokes from SCA 40 min no joke and they couldn’t even get into the headlight. Manager had to stand them down and refund saying they couldn’t afford any more time on it for the fee

            In the end I gave up and just broke one of the clips each side so I could get the lamp out.

            • dmb0312 on 05/07/2022 - 22:13

              @Jimothy Wongingtons: I wonder what training these staff have completed to allow them to do this work.

              • Jimothy Wongingtons on 05/07/2022 - 22:16

                @dmb0312: I imagine it’s something like in the army where they force you to strip down, clean and reassemble a pistol in record time… but do it with like.. a 1996 Ford falcon.

  • donnot on 03/07/2022 - 23:46
    +1

    Always recommend the Osram Night Breaker 150's - great performance, not too yellow and last a reasonable amount of time. Can get them for ~$50 (set of 2) from Powerbulbs Aus after the 20% discount. https://www.powerbulbs.com/au/product/osram-night-breaker-la…

    Had Philips X-tremeVision 150's on my GTI previously and can also recommend these - maybe slightly yellower, but I couldn't confidently say there's a difference in brightness. They're a bit pricey in HB4 though.

    Should be pretty easy to replace with guides/YouTube - main thing is to not touch the bulb as grease can create hotspots and decrease the life.

  • jv on 04/07/2022 - 00:44
    +1

    I'm finding on drives home at night, especially in the rain they don't seem bright enough so not sure if they have just gotten weaker over the years or I need an upgrade.

    Go see a good optometrist.

    You may be developing cataracts….

    • Muzeeb on 04/07/2022 - 06:38

      If it's only while driving they are probably cartaracts

    • apsilon on 04/07/2022 - 07:21

      This is a possibility though it is normal for night vision to get worse as we age, to the extent that we need several times more light to see the same details as our younger selves. Can't hurt to get checked out though.

    • Big-Smoke23 on 05/07/2022 - 20:49

      who needs web md when you can just get diagnosed in ozbargain

      • jv on 05/07/2022 - 21:13

        Not diagnosed.

        Suggesting he takes that into consideration… Symptoms are similar.

        • dmb0312 on 05/07/2022 - 21:52

          I have glasses with a recent script, its not a vision issue just there isnt enough light ahead especially when i compare to cars driving passing me or close by

          • jv on 05/07/2022 - 22:39

            @dmb0312:

            there isnt enough light ahead

            The photoreceptors in your eyes decrease in density as you get older making it harder to see in the dark.
            It could also be due to cataracts which gradually cloud the lens of your eye.

            If you had a good optometrist, they should be able to check.

  • apsilon on 04/07/2022 - 07:24

    I've always used Philips bulbs but keep in mind that the brighter bulbs (eg +x% vision) do have a shorter life so there is a trade off.

    • dmb0312 on 05/07/2022 - 21:51

      How long do you get out of them?

  • Drakesy on 04/07/2022 - 10:20

    I bought some high intensity LED's off aliexpress for $10 each and they improved the headlight brightness immensely over stock incandescents - just read the reviews before buying them though as some are poor quality.

    Replaced my entire front end for around $40 and now lit up brighter than a christmas tree, pair it with the interior light LED pack and you're sorted.

    • apsilon on 04/07/2022 - 12:35
      +1

      Just keep in mind those kind of conversions are illegal. Tiny chance of being fined but also chance of having insurance claim denied as the car isn't roadworthy.

      • Drakesy on 04/07/2022 - 12:40

        How so?
        It's literally replacing a bulb with another bulb?

        • John Kimble on 04/07/2022 - 15:14
          +2

          It just depends on what you had and what you've changed.

          https://www.carsguide.com.au/car-advice/car-headlights-led-v…

          • Drakesy on 04/07/2022 - 15:19

            @John Kimble: From the exert

            LED headlights are legal in Australia,

            • apsilon on 04/07/2022 - 15:21
              +1

              @Drakesy: Yes they're legal for cars fitted with them OEM but if you put a LED bulb into a non LED housing that's when it becomes illegal. You need to retrofit the entire headlight assembly and any leveling electronics for it to even be remotely legal and even then they need to have the correct approval markings.

              • Drakesy on 04/07/2022 - 15:26

                @apsilon:

                but you need to research if you need to upgrade the housing as well as the bulbs as this is a requirement for some ADR-approved LED headlights.

                So you can buy an LED headlight and slot it straight in, that would only apply where the housing doesn't fit.

                Of course if your car is slightly more complex than say a pre-2015 model and has in built levellig etc then you'll be looking at getting a whole new housing, even then if they manufacturer has invested to get self levelling headlights you'd hope they'd be LED as well.
                But for 60% of the cars that don't have this the bulb will fit straight in.

                • apsilon on 04/07/2022 - 20:33

                  @Drakesy: So the ones you bought for $40 came with ADR approval? You're all sorted then. Who was the seller? Might get some myself for my old MX5 as I've never seen aftermarket LED bulbs with ADR approval.

            • John Kimble on 04/07/2022 - 15:23

              @Drakesy: Some fantastic quoting there mate. You're all good then. 👍😂

        • Flibbs on 04/07/2022 - 15:30
          +2

          ADR approval includes both the headlight housing and the bulb type. When you change the bulb type the headlight is no longer ADR complaint and the car can been deemed unroadworthy.

          • whatwasherproblem on 04/07/2022 - 17:11

            @Flibbs: Yep. If your car is designed for stock Halogens (which it sounds like OP's is), then the housing will not be suitable for a HID or LED. If anyone notices (Pro-tip: people likely will notice, because your HID/LED headlights won't be angled properly in the halogen bulb housing and they'll blind/piss off everyone in front of you or in oncoming traffic) and the cops find out, it's an automatic defect sticker.

    • forged on 04/07/2022 - 15:21
      +4

      If your halogen headlights are reflector type (most of them are), please don’t put in LEDs… the reflectors are designed to work for a very small point light source from a halogen bulb. Putting LEDs in these sprays the light in all sorts of unintended directions, blinding oncoming drivers.

      LEDs should only ever be used in projector type headlights.

      If you want to make your reflector type halogens brighter, get the cloudy lenses restored/sealed, and put in some new halogen bulbs.

      Beyond that, you could retrofit projector xenon/LED housings if they were a factory option, or put in some aftermarket LED projectors.

  • Euphemistic on 05/07/2022 - 21:19
    +1

    Before you go chucking in brighter headlights
    1. Get your eyes checked. Night vision, especially in the wet is often first to deteriorate with age.
    2. Use high beam where ever possible.

    • dmb0312 on 05/07/2022 - 21:50

      Thanks saw those comments about eye tests. I have glasses with a new script so it's not that I cant see clearly, there just isnt as much light on the road ahead, wet is worse but as someone said that's to be somewhat expected given the way it reflect

      • Euphemistic on 05/07/2022 - 22:03

        Dis you get anti reflective stuff on your glasses? That helps too.

        Unless your headlight lenses are visibly dulled/yellowed I’d be surprised if their light output is much less than when new.

        And don’t forget, brighter lights for you makes it harder for everyone else to see.

  • dmb0312 on 18/07/2022 - 18:19

    Dropped into my local Battery World today and their test suggests the battery is in good condition and the charging system is fine too. Guy there suggested just changing the bulbs

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