Headlight bulb recommendations

[Kinky]

One of my headlight bulbs went today.

And I'm buggered if I can find my spares (hidden deep in the depths of the garage somewhere).

Does anyone have any recommendations on what bulb might be best for the 5 (bearing in mind it will be Halfords that I pop into)?

I also assume it's an easy job to change (not looked at it yet). I'll dig the workshop manual out later - but I assume I remove the glass and access it that way.

K

[Kinky]

I should add that I also pray/hope/assume it's not a sealed headlight (as it's an import).

K

[anonymous-user]

The originals fitted to the car were sealed units and you need to replace the whole unit. Or, you replace with Raybrigs or similar (if not done already) and then you can fit the normal type bulbs through the rear of the reflector.

[MX-5 Lazza]

Assuming it's not sealed beam (I think it's only early imports that had sealed beam) then it will be H4 bulbs.
However, I wouldn't bother with any rubbish from Halfords - get some of these. I fitted some to the pants headlights on my 99 Focus and now I can actually see at night
Shame they don't do them in HB3/HB4 for Mk2.5

[Kinky]

Just been out to check and can confirm that they are Koito sealed units.

So therefore I guess it begs the question - do I replace with sealed units, or with standard ones, where I simply swap the bulbs over as and when they go.

My immediate thought is to go with standard lights, and simply replace the bulbs (cheaper in the long run) - but do new sealed units give me a [legally] better/brighter light.

Any thoughts?

K

[princeperch]

sorry to sound thick - but whats a sealed unit?

[DennisTheMenace]

The whole light is a bulb instead of just a bulb in the headlight , like the old minis which used a sealed lucas light ,
kinky get these , the beam pattern should be a lot better
http://www.mx5parts.co.uk/product_info.php/product...

And i have philips blue vision bulbs at the mo but you could get a bi xenon hid kit off ebay and really blind the badgers ...

Edited by DennisTheMenace on Thursday 3rd January 15:51

[princeperch]

so it'll cost 20 odd quid instead of 2 quid for a bulb, is that right?

[MX-5 Lazza]

The 2 quid bulbs are pants. The 20 quid bulbs are way brighter. It's like tyres; you can spend £10 per tyre if you are tight but they will put you in a ditch whereas spending the right money will keep you on the black-stuff.

Don't mini light units fit? Not sure on that one but I'm sure I've read that somewhere (just like Citroen Picasso fog-lights fit Mk2.5s).

[DennisTheMenace]

princeperch said:

so it'll cost 20 odd quid instead of 2 quid for a bulb, is that right?

Yep , because your replacing the whole light unit and not just the bulb.

[Kinky]

Are there any alignment issues to be had with 1 option over another? (sealed v's standard headlight).

K

[DennisTheMenace]

no mate , just undo the screws that hold the lamp inplace and not the adjustment screws and its a stright swap over.

[MrV]

DennisTheMenace said:

you could get a bi xenon hid kit off ebay and really blind the badgers ...

Edited by DennisTheMenace on Thursday 3rd January 15:51

Ive got a set sitting in the garage ready to fit ,if the weather every warms up

[franv8]

Please don't get a retrofit xenon kit - they give poor beam spread and while you may enjoy better lighting, the rest of us enjoy being blinded coming the other way (it's worse in a low car like a '5 too).

Sealed beams, from memory are dead cheap (have them on mine - also an import) - I did get the last one or two I had from Halfrauds, may have been £10 - certainly not £20. They seem to last forever too, I looked at changing, but it's a few quid once you've bought reflectors etc. Amusingly, when my mum had the car, she bought some fancy H4 bulbs, only to THEN find that it had sealed beams...

[Kinky]

Well, 2 of these ordered:
http://www.mx5parts.co.uk/product_info.php/product...

But won't get them until monday

I went for these ones as you can simply change the bulbs at any time, as opposed to a new sealed one, which, looking at the feedback, seem to rust quite quickly with some folk - which in Kinkyspeak means they would for me too, so I'd be forking out for 2 new ones again sometime soon!

K

[MrV]

franv8 said:

Please don't get a retrofit xenon kit - they give poor beam spread and while you may enjoy better lighting, the rest of us enjoy being blinded coming the other way (it's worse in a low car like a '5 too).

Am I having a blond moment ?? Surly the higher the car the more the light will blind other drivers ??

[Kinky]

Kinky said:

Well, 2 of these ordered:
http://www.mx5parts.co.uk/product_info.php/product...

Well, they arrived and I fitted them both in about 5 minutes An easy job.

So far, all I can say is that I can finally see! the most noticable thing so far is that on my journey into work this morning (down the M3) I could see the cats eyes which I've never really been able to see before. Just shows how bad the last set must have been

1 happy bunny here.

Just need to get some new tyres now (GY F1s).

K

[Munter]

Kinky said:

Kinky said:

Well, 2 of these ordered:
http://www.mx5parts.co.uk/product_info.php/product...

Well, they arrived and I fitted them both in about 5 minutes An easy job.

So far, all I can say is that I can finally see! the most noticable thing so far is that on my journey into work this morning (down the M3) I could see the cats eyes which I've never really been able to see before. Just shows how bad the last set must have been

1 happy bunny here.

Just need to get some new tyres now (GY F1s).

K

My lights get worse and worse. And then I clean them. Even when it hasn't been raining and horrible the lights seem to attract muck and rubbish somehow. Always worth a quick clean every few weeks for improved vision!

[Kinky]

I was continuously cleaning them, in the vain hope it helps a little.

It's unreal how mucky they got!

K

[Munter]

Kinky said:

It's unreal how mucky they got!

I know. I dont totally understand it. Something to do with them being flat against the direction of travel and then stored out of the rain I suppose. Had the same problem with the MR2.