Martian999
Member Since: 09 Aug 2023
Location: Lincolnshire
Posts: 10
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Hi Everybody Once Again!
As my lights were really poor, (dangerously poor in my opinion), as I could barely make out the toad ahead, (last Tuesday evening), and, no, my eyesight is still pretty good so I have bitten the bullet and gone for a pair of, reasonably priced, LED bulbs for my 2014 SDV8 4.4 RRS Autobiography.
I have undertaken quite a bit of research with regards to the different options for our headlamps, (continue with HID or take a walk on the wild side and try out the LED equivalents), and each type has their own pros and cons.
It looks as though the Osram Nightbreaker Laser's are one, (if not the best), HID lamps out there but there are some very good LED equivalents too.
The biggest problem with the LED equivalents is the fact that there are so many different makes to choose from, (the majority coming from China), and many of them are being sold with highly questionable specifications, (twice the brightness, xx thousand lumens, etc), and there is also the need to consider the potential increase in condensation, (within the headlamps glass), due to the LED lamps having cooling fans mounted at their base which may create a pressure differential which will then draw in ambient air.
Under normal circumstances this is not an issue but, at this time of the year, (when there is an abundance of moisture in the air - fog, rain, snow, mist, etc), you may find moisture being drawn into the headlamp enclosure making the lenses looking a little unsightly and unloved!
Anyway, not wishing to bore anybody any further, I purchased a pair of the
D-Lumina D3S D3R LED Headlight Bulb for Cars & Trucks, Super Bright D3S LED Bulbs 26000LM High Low Beam Headlight Bulbs 6500K LED Bulb Conversion Kit - 2 Pcs
For the princely sum of £59 from Amazon and they arrived the next day and I fitted them last night.
I very nearly purchased a set of the Osram Nightbreaker Lasers but thought it would be worth a punt at the cheaper option, (approximately one third of the cost), and I have been pleasantly surprised as I can now see the road ahead!!
My initial tests, on my drive, were not overly convincing as the perceptible difference, (between the original HID's and the new LED's), was not very obvious - but there was a positive difference.
Obviously I cannot offer any further comments with regards to reliability and lifespan - I will update you all at some point in the future - hopefully not too soon!
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