Headlight Bulbs

[Kev12344]

Hi,

New user to the forum. Been looking around and I have a couple of questions please.

I own a FL candy white 2009/59 Seat Leon 2.0 Tsi FR and had noticed that the standard headlights weren't the best so I ordered upgrade bulbs for my car.

I ordered a new set of Philips X-treme Vision H7 and H1 for the dipped and main beam headlights. Upon testing them out this evening they appear no better than the standard headlights.

The dipped beam headlights seems too low and they only really light up about 2 - 3ft in front of the car. I followed the manual when installing the bulbs where it says fit the replacements so that the rim of the attatchment plate is on the reflector cut out.

My reflector cut out seemed to be at the bottom around about the 6pm position on a clock. Where the retainer spring comes up to clip onto and secure the bulb at about the 12pm position on a clock.

So I fitted the bulb so that the bit that sticks out, like the part that would fit into the refelctor cut out was at the 6pm position.

Would this be the correct way for the H7 bulbs to be fitted? Or have I inadvertently fitted the bulbs the wrong way round, causing the lack of light out the front of my car?

Anyone replaced the dipped beam headlights on a FL FR able to advise if what I have done is correct? Its either that or since the upgrade my headlights need realigning.

Any help/advise on the matter would be appreciated.

Thanks

Kev

 

[Gazza_24]

I installed these about 6 months ago, at the time they seemed a little bit brighter but I think they have now lost alot of their brightness and seem no brighter than the standard bulbs.

I also parked my car in front of a wall (approx a car lenth away) and adjusted the height levels of the lights just so they covered further distances, then I with a friend in tow just to make sure they didn't blind anyone infront or oncoming cars

I'm looking at changing them again but don't know which ones to go for now, I keep toying with the HID idea but there is speculations of them being illegal and would fail an MOT, I know some members on here are running them with no troubles though.

I just don't know what or where to go next.

Oh mines an 07 pre FL FR

 

[dannychapman10]

IF you had installed them incorrectly, the little cut out tab wouldn't sit right and would push the bulb up, which would dazzle other road users.
When I installed my HIDS I had to adjust my headlamps ALOT as they were just pointing at the floor, It just seems to be on the FL Leons, my old Pre-FL Leon was perfectly fine.

 

[Daza]

I would have thought there was only 1 way for these to go in as there is 2 tabs and 1 square cut out.
Fitted a set of bulbs a few weeks back with no issues.

 

[Xav]

I seem to have the same problem, I changed my bulbs a while ago, with the tab at the 6 position.

I re-adjusted the height of the beam and yet I still feel like it's not pointing high enough even though it's adjusted to it's maximum, maybe it's a headlight thing i'm not sure.

 

[andydajo]

I have only changed my Dipped Bulbs so far, I bought some Osram Nightbreaker Plus from Direct Car Parts, they seem a lot brighter and whiter when driving round. Not sure if there would be much benefit in upgrading the Main Beam as it's pretty bright when used anyway..

 

[Kev12344]

Thanks to all for the replies. Its appreciated.

dannychapman10 - Yeah thats what it said in the manual. The bulbs only fit the one way. They can't/won't sit any other way, the bulbs are sitting straight with the tab cut out of the bulb covering the open tab position of 6pm of a clock. With that I presume then that the bulbs are fitted correctly?

I mean I would expect these new Philips X-treme Vision +100% bulbs to be better than the standard leon bulbs. I did have the old Philips X-treme Power +80% bulbs in my last car and they were a vast improvement on the standard bulbs.

Failing that I'll go along to my M.O.T tester and ask him to check the headlight beam alignment. If I do that I hope it is the alignment thats out, don't want him telling me the bulbs have been fitted incorrectly lol.

Thanks to all who replied, hopefully its just an alignment issue.

 

[Kev12344]

Well car has been to the garage.

Good news was I wasn't made to look stupid as the bulbs were indeed fitted correctly lol.

The alignment of the headlights was far too low so has been checked and adjusted to meet with any future M.O.T standards.

Got the alignment done for free too which was a bonus.

Thanks for all the replies on this guys. Its appreciated.

 

[Gazza_24]

Glad it was a simple fix mate and that was a result getting it done for free

 

[Rlrseat]

Iv fitted the Phillips x-treme which are good but what the night breakers like?? Pluss I do think you should change the main beam mine don't make any difference when I put them on now x

 

[Daza]

Iv fitted the Phillips x-treme which are good but what the night breakers like?? Pluss I do think you should change the main beam mine don't make any difference when I put them on now x

I think the Osram nightbreakers are a worth while mod

 

[/dev/null]

I also had Philips X-treme Vision H7 fitted but one went the other week so I went to the nearest garage to get one because I had a long drive that night. They wanted about £35 for a set so I just bought a cheap one for 7 quid and thought it'll have to do for now. Anyway, I put it in and you honestly can't see the difference, either looking at the car or from inside the car looking at the light cast.

 

[Mr Cellotape]

I think the Osram nightbreakers are a worth while mod

+1

I had issues with seeing anything at night with the OEM dipped beam lamps.

I replaced them with the nightbreakers then manually adjusted the headlights using the adjusters on top of the headlights so that they point high. Finally I sat in the car and adjusted the headlights back down using the headlight adjuster to the left of the steering wheel.

The difference this has made to night time driving is night and day from the old poorly adjusted headlights and OEM lamps.

This mod allows you to set them higher where conditions allow and also set them lower if oncoming traffic is being blinded by your headlights. Best 10 minute modification I have carried out on my Leon.

I also did not replace the high beams as I find the high beam to be great.

 

[AGTDI]

Sorry to dig up an old thread but seems easier than starting a new one

My Leon apparently has an upgraded light package form the factory according to the paperwork but it still has the non xeon headlights so not sure what the upgrade was ?

Anyway . . . I am looking to upgrade the bulbs as i travel all at night very long journeys dont want to go down the HID route as had this on another older car and it was just blinding people, not good !

Ive had a look about and about the two best seem to be Nightbreakers or philips x-treme +130%

Anyone got any real feedback on which ones are better.

Thanks !!!