LED H7 headlight bulbs upgrade - impressed (so far)

[DrewE127]

Before I start, I know that most LED bulbs are not e-marked, and they work much better in general with projector headlamps rather than the old fashioned reflector headlamps that are fitted to Fiat Ducatos.

I have fitted these knowing that they aren’t authorised for road use, so please don’t remind me that they don’t conform thanks.

The reason that I’m so impressed is because over the years I have tried all sorts of bulbs in all my cars with differing results, but these have an identical beam pattern to the original halogen bulbs which suggests they won’t blind other road users. In the past I have removed bulbs that are too bright or have an awful beam pattern because I do not want to blind people. I just want to be able to see where I’m going.
(Frankly I think that halogen headlights should be banned as they are so dim, rubbish and dangerous.)

These LED bulbs were recommended by Bob Earnshaw on YouTube. His video is HERE and the link to Amazon is HERE.

If you decide to give them a try, remove the bulb base from the LED bulb and fit that into the bulb holder in the headlamp first. Then, fit the bulb and then twist until the bulb is VERTICAL** in the headlamp. Tuck the connectors in, leaving a bit of space for the headlamp adjustment mechanism to move freely.

**VERTICAL bulbs ensure that the beam of light is spread outwards, which reflects properly from the back of the headlight outwards, conforming to the original beam pattern. Any other angle and the light is cast all over the place. If you put them flat, the beam pattern is just awful and a telling off by pc plod would be imminent because the light that shines down from the bulb reflects upwards - into people’s faces.

I’ve attached some photos (LED passenger side, original candles driver side) and will update this thread once I’ve driven down a dark road somewhere to let you know how they actually perform in use.

EDIT: Don’t bother with the other LEDs that Bob tried in his video, the reviews look awful. I bought 2 pairs of the ones linked above, for dipped and main beam.

 

[Swifter]

Would you need tell the insurance company if these are used ?

 

[DrewE127]

Would you need tell the insurance company if these are used ?

I would argue that headlight bulbs are a consumable part that doesn’t have to be of a specific manufacturer or type.

 

[Swifter]

I would argue that headlight bulbs are a consumable part that doesn’t have to be of a specific manufacturer or type.

Thank you . I wasn’t aware of that .

 

[Derbyshire wanderer]

I would argue that headlight bulbs are a consumable part that doesn’t have to be of a specific manufacturer or type.

A big ’if’ but if they found that they were not e marked and you drove off the road in the dark for example, getting a pay could be very unlikely

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[DrewE127]

A big ’if’ but if they found that they were not e marked and you drove off the road in the dark for example, getting a pay could be very unlikely

I will try not to do that

 

[Pausim]

I have fitted these knowing that they aren’t authorised for road use, so please don’t remind me that they don’t conform thanks.

Sorry but if you knowingly do something illegal you can expect someone to complain. Saying please don’t because you already know you are doing something wrong just makes it worse. The position of the filaments and elements in lamps is very precisely matched to the reflectors and if you are using the wrong one it is not you that is put in danger, it is someone coming in the opposite direction.

 

[The Wino]

I must say I'm very tempted as the led lights on our newer car are fantastic compared to the halogens. I suspect they strictly speaking aren't legal not least because it sounds like they're pretty easy to put in so they dazzle everyone.

 

[Reallyretired]

My car has led dipped headlights as standard, but for some unknown reason halogen main beam lights which were dim. I replaced the main beam with led and a great improvement. It has passed an mot since then no probs. No can bus errors. However on the motorhome, which has halogen projector lights, replacement with led caused canbus error messages even with the sort that are supposed not to. A shame as the headlights are pathetic, however I rarely drive the mh at night.

 

[DrewE127]

Sorry but if you knowingly do something illegal you can expect someone to complain. Saying please don’t because you already know you are doing something wrong just makes it worse. The position of the filaments and elements in lamps is very precisely matched to the reflectors and if you are using the wrong one it is not you that is put in danger, it is someone coming in the opposite direction.

I’m not sure how it makes it worse, I mentioned it because I didn’t want my thread filling up with the legality debate....

I hope my post is useful to some at least.
For those who aren’t happy about using non e-marked bulbs, please don’t buy these and ignore this thread

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[DrewE127]

My car has led dipped headlights as standard, but for some unknown reason halogen main beam lights which were dim. I replaced the main beam with led and a great improvement. It has passed an mot since then no probs. No can bus errors. However on the motorhome, which has halogen projector lights, replacement with led caused canbus error messages even with the sort that are supposed not to. A shame as the headlights are pathetic, however I rarely drive the mh at night.

So far no errors but I will update this thread if any appear

 

[The Wino]

My car has led dipped headlights as standard, but for some unknown reason halogen main beam lights which were dim. I replaced the main beam with led and a great improvement. It has passed an mot since then no probs. No can bus errors. However on the motorhome, which has halogen projector lights, replacement with led caused canbus error messages even with the sort that are supposed not to. A shame as the headlights are pathetic, however I rarely drive the mh at night.

I think if I got the led lights it would be for our second car as our MH appears to use the h3 headlights as daytime running lights and like you were usually parked up when its dark

 

[Pausim]

I’m not sure how it makes it worse, I mentioned it because I didn’t want my thread filling up with the legality debate....

I hope my post is useful to some at least.
For those who aren’t happy about using non e-marked bulbs, please don’t buy these and ignore this thread

If you raise something I disagree with I believe I am entitled to express my opinion, whether you like it or not. A one sided thread that ignores the disadvantages and danger to other road users is not helpful.

 

[DrewE127]

I think if I got the led lights it would be for our second car as our MH appears to use the h3 headlights as daytime running lights and like you were usually parked up when its dark

They do a H3 version, and others that support hi/lo beam. Maybe ask the seller if they are compatible, if you really want to upgrade the Moho

 

[DrewE127]

If you raise something I disagree with I believe I am entitled to express my opinion, whether you like it or not. A one sided thread that ignores the disadvantages and danger to other road users is not helpful.

I can’t discuss the disadvantages and danger yet, I’ve only just put them in!
I wanted to share my findings in case they were useful along with some pointers for others wanting to upgrade. Clearly this has not been useful to you, so I apologise for wasting your time and thanks for reading

I simply wanted to be clear that I already know they are not e-marked and didn’t want the thread filling up with people saying “they’re illegal and you’re breaking the law” because it’s not helpful

Merry Christmas

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[Bobby-gg]

What are they like at night then?

I've just upgraded my older ducato to nightbreakers for both dipped and mainbeam and think they are brilliant

 

[DrewE127]

What are they like at night then?

I've just upgraded my older ducato to nightbreakers for both dipped and mainbeam and think they are brilliant

I will let you know later! Funnily enough I have replaced nightbreakers with these

 

[Bobby-gg]

I will let you know later! Funnily enough I have replaced nightbreakers with these

Nightbreakers have been my go to for years - tried led's on my Disco 3 and really wasn't impressed so went back to 'breakers

 

[Guffy60]

Would you need tell the insurance company if these are used ?

I would as you could find your insurance is invalid in an accident by fitting a part which isn’t type approved, especially if the cause.

modern cars have LED to reduce the draw on power and improve emissions, better lighting it a by product.

if you need better lights around town, you sre driving too fast or need your eyes tested.

LED lights in the wrong headlamps are DANGROUS to other road users.

car / vans fitted with them have lens and reflectors designed to reduce dazzling and also most have lights which adjust automatically to load, vehicle movement etc, to minimise dazzle.

i will now get off my soap box.

 

[DrewE127]

Didn’t want to go here LOL but this is on the Autobulbsdirect website mainly regarding MOT - if it passes an MOT, the insurance should be valid?! It can’t be different rules for different authorities.....

What do the MOT Guides say about LED bulbs​

“Check HID and LED headlamps for mandatory levelling and cleaning devices” and the assessor needs to check the lighting for “Operation“, “Security” and “Condition” which essentially means that they need to make sure that they work and are fitted correctly.

That’s it. Nothing else is mentioned regarding the use of LED headlight bulbs.

Now you would be forgiven for thinking that aftermarket LED bulbs would therefore fail an MOT as you would not have a self-levelling or headlight cleaning system installed. However Section 4.1.5 of the MOT inspection manual states that not all vehicles are fitted with a levelling device so if your vehicle doesn’t have one, it would not be tested.

With no other mention of after-market LEDs in the MOT guidelines, all that is left is for them to check is that the beam patternis correct and the colour of the light is predominantly white, white with a blue tint or yellow. Any good quality after-market LED bulbs will meet this criteria.

As long as the beam pattern and the colour of the light is correct – then there is no reason an LED upgrade bulb will fail an MOT.

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[DrewE127]

Here is the link if you want the whole article

Click here

 

[Lenny HB]

As long as the beam pattern and the colour of the light is correct – then there is no reason an LED upgrade bulb will fail an MOT.

Providing you have either self-leveling headlamps or suspension. If the tester spots they are LED and no self-leveling it will fail.

 

[DrewE127]

Providing you have either self-leveling headlamps or suspension. If the tester spots they are LED and no self-leveling it will fail.

Did you read my entire post?
You don’t need self levelling suspension, or headlamp washers but if you do, they must work.

Some older cars came from the factory with HID xenon headlights in reflector headlamps, with no self levelling or washer system hence the loophole.
(Honda Civic and Renault Megane to name a couple)

 

[kevenh]

DrewE127 How much of this light legality stuff is applicable to your LED upgrade?

Edit: link fixed. I had to manually write the BBcode & there was a typo

 

[DrewE127]

DrewE127 How much of this light legality stuff is applicable to your LED upgrade?

Sorry your link won’t open

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[Lenny HB]

Did you read my entire post?

Sorry missed that post been swapping between phone & PC.
MOT regs appear to contradict themselves then.

 

[DrewE127]

Here’s the results, I’ve compared with the LED multibeam headlights on the Merc.

Beam pattern is good, I will adjust them down slightly but the cutoffs are working correctly. Full beam is ridiculous, good job that person across the road bought a weird house with no front lounge...

I should point out that my driveway is curved slightly, so whilst the Merc was facing the house with a front lounge, the van was facing the house without a front lounge

 

[Lenny HB]

They look impressive.
I don't think they would work in my headlamps the are Hella projectors that use a single H7 bulb for both dip and main. A motor moves a shield over the top of the bulb to give the dip beam pattern.

 

[DrewE127]

DrewE127 How much of this light legality stuff is applicable to your LED upgrade?

Edit: link fixed. I had to manually write the BBcode & there was a typo

Cheers it works now that guidance is written for HID bulbs (xenon, not LED).

Interestingly I noticed tonight that our Merc has factory LED multibeam headlights that probably self level but there are NO headlight washers!

They do a funky dance too, see here

 

[DrewE127]

They look impressive.
I don't think they would work in my headlamps the are Hella projectors that use a single H7 bulb for both dip and main. A motor moves a shield over the top of the bulb to give the dip beam pattern.

That sounds ace! I reckon they would probably work better than mine as you have an “enforced” cutoff mechanism

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