Member Since: 18 Jan 2021
Location: Purton, Wiltshire
Posts: 132
Replacement headlight bulb question.
I am resorting to asking the following question because the search function is failing. WHo should I tell?
No, that's not the question
I've always had rubbish lights on the D3 - they are Xenon and give fantastic output in main beam, but deadly in dipped - they seem to just plunge the surounding area into darkness - I can't explain fully, but it's never been a pleasant driving experience at night with these.
So now I've got a failed bulb, I can think about replacing them both. What do people recommend please? Lucas (as sold by AF), Osram Night Breaker or Cool Blue Intense or somethign else? I'm looking for a good light, not a trendy blue thing, unless they really do make for better driving.
Hmmm ... never seen any report D3 xenons as poor on here, they seem to be regarded as the best lights on any D3/4.
Osram get the most votes, so I'd go with them. Amazon usually gets you the best deal.
But before you throw money at this, get the alignment of the headlights checked. Many have commented that main beam is seemingly designed to light up the sky rather than the road, so have yours been pointed downwards to address that resulting in the dipped beam being too low?.
Dean
====================================
2011 D4 XS - OBD port protection, RLD spare wheel protector, All LED interiors lights, Timed Climate enabled, iiD tool paired.
2011 D4 Landmark - Stolen from same dealer before I paid for it
2011 D4 GS - Stolen whilst at dealer ... All LED interiors lights, DRLs, Spare Wheel protector.
1996 300Tdi - Eaten by tin worms
28th Sep 2023 6:38 am
M3DPO
Member Since: 22 Sep 2010
Location: Notts.
Posts: 8243
D3 xenons are the best lights of all the Discovery range, D4 lamps are a major set back from D3 but they look pretty, xenon bulbs deteriorate with age, if you want maximum light go with LED they last far longer, give more light for less power, are cheaper and a superb flood light on dipped beam.
I fitted them in my D4 4 years ago.It can when others can't,
It will when others won't,
It goes where others don't.
28th Sep 2023 7:10 am
FidoNick
Member Since: 18 Jan 2021
Location: Purton, Wiltshire
Posts: 132
Thanks, I've only heard others singing the praises for D3 lights, so it could be the setup. I tweaked it a bit last year, may need to do a proper alignment now.
I'll get a pair of Osrams - if one bulb has gone there's a good the chance the other will go soon, so at least I'll have a spare!
And I thought LEDs were not certified for use in UE/UK yet?
But mot testers aren't allowed to open the headlamps to check, so provided nothing external gives it away ... .
Dean
====================================
2011 D4 XS - OBD port protection, RLD spare wheel protector, All LED interiors lights, Timed Climate enabled, iiD tool paired.
2011 D4 Landmark - Stolen from same dealer before I paid for it
2011 D4 GS - Stolen whilst at dealer ... All LED interiors lights, DRLs, Spare Wheel protector.
1996 300Tdi - Eaten by tin worms
28th Sep 2023 10:32 am
rrhool
Member Since: 28 Aug 2014
Location: Norfolk
Posts: 4540
I changed my OE xenon bulbs to Osram Night Breaker versions, and to be honest there wasn't much difference. D3 Xenons are fantastic lights. As suggested, have you got the neam pattern set correctly?Richard
D3 SE 2007. Triumph 2.5Pi 1973. Ferguson TEA20 1948.
Discovery 2 4.0 ES 2001- Gone
Discovery 1 300Tdi ES '95 - Gone
Range Rover Classic '79 - Gone
28th Sep 2023 11:56 am
HairyFool
Member Since: 04 Jan 2023
Location: North Essex
Posts: 704
FidoNick wrote:
Thanks, I've only heard others singing the praises for D3 lights, so it could be the setup. I tweaked it a bit last year, may need to do a proper alignment now.
I'll get a pair of Osrams - if one bulb has gone there's a good the chance the other will go soon, so at least I'll have a spare!
And I thought LEDs were not certified for use in UE/UK yet?
I am not sure "yet" is the issue. Current halogen headlamps unit will almost certainly never be allowed to fit LED bulbs, they have to be specifically designed to take them.
All certified headlamps have a number of markings on them indicating their specific approvals including bulb types used in that approval. At best if the same lamp assembly is produced but with approvals for LED bulbs it might be possible to replace the complete assembly.
Where the marking is H(C, R, CR, C/R) then it is for Halogen bulbs, D indicates for Xenon. All easy enough but....
Headlamps designed for LED could also have the H codes but will also have LED clearly marked on them. So can a LED marked H lamp unit have halogen lamps? NO! If it has the LED marking on it then it is not compatible with the high heat output of halogen lamps.
Clear as mud
The long life of LED elements would indicate that headlamps could be produced with non replaceble light sources, that is already the case with some rear lamps.A visitor from the dark side, my other vehicle is an is still an EV. Strictly speaking its SWMBO.
28th Sep 2023 6:08 pm
M3DPO
Member Since: 22 Sep 2010
Location: Notts.
Posts: 8243
I fitted LEDs to all my D4 front lights 4 years ago without any problems including xenon, fog and cornering lamps. It can when others can't,
It will when others won't,
It goes where others don't.
29th Sep 2023 3:05 am
Brian Considine
Member Since: 05 Dec 2022
Location: Nr Margate
Posts: 280
HairyFool wrote:
The long life of LED elements would indicate that headlamps could be produced with non replaceble light sources, that is already the case with some rear lamps.
Be under no illusion that it's for the benefit of the final user - it will be to save the manufactures £4.50 on every vehicle.
They will probably be coded to the vehicle too (& not recodable either) so no getting a used unit from a vehicle dismantlers when the vehicle gets on a bit.
29th Sep 2023 12:11 pm
kajtzu
Member Since: 10 Aug 2017
Location: Helsinki
Posts: 6769
I have Osram xenarc cool blue intense D2S HIDs on my D3. TBH, not much more output but perhaps slightly colder shade. I had night breakers previously.
If you need more long beam, get a light bar. I’m partial to Lazer as I have a Linear 18 Elite up front and its output is amazing in the dark. Fully road legal, too, and can be lit simultaneously with the car’s own long beams. There are some pictures in my gallery, I think.
As for the LEDs, none will be road legal. The light pattern will be different from halogen and that’s that. It would be noticed here during annual inspection and if the cops stop you they’d probably give you a ticket on the spot.
29th Sep 2023 5:58 pm
Flapper
Member Since: 04 Feb 2015
Location: Gloucester
Posts: 355
Hi
I have china's best D2S £24 for the pair they are amazing off the flee-bay
Also it is possible to not seat them correctly which causes the light pattern to be wrong and give rubbish light.
check they are seated correctly also they tend to pink fore they blow and you can change the colour for a whiter light.
hope this helps
f
4th Oct 2023 11:59 am
FidoNick
Member Since: 18 Jan 2021
Location: Purton, Wiltshire
Posts: 132
Finally.... I got around to changing out the headlight bulbs and these are the two I took out:
Click image to enlarge
Apologies for the poor quality image, but you can see the grey in the centre bulb of each unit. The replacements don't have that, it appears to be some sort of deposit. I don't know much about how HID bulbs age and deteriorate, but the fact that the light throw is now sooo much better, I'm sure this is because the old ones are worn out!
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... All LED interiors lights, DRLs, Spare Wheel protector.
