experience with LED headlights?

[perelaar]

Does anyone here have experience with LED headlights?
We are looking into buying a new car (don't worry, the T2 will stay!), and are doubting if the optional LED headlights are worth the money - about 1000€ / £730 in this case...

I know they change the appearance of the car a bit, as they don't look the same as normal headlights. But are LED headlights actually (a lot, for that money) better than normal ones?

[Eloco]

I have them on my other car and vision is clearer and I find less eye strain on longer journeys. Would you not be able to get a test drive with them?

[perelaar]

No test drive - test cars are only available during office hours, so in daylight.

[Lazy-Ferret]

Not had LED head lights, but several sets of LED spots, and in my opinion, I would not bother with a Halogen, or Xenon bulb ever again if I had the option.. LED just seems so much crisper, and it picks up the slightest bit of reflective material, no mater how small.

[perelaar]

The lights were on offer this week, 250€ instead of 1000€. So we'll include them when we order the car :)

[AlexD333]

wait for winter when its dark early :naughty

[rustic]

The lights were on offer this week, 250€ instead of 1000€. So we'll include them when we order the car :)
Sounds a great deal :thumb2

wait for winter when its dark early :naughty
Good idea, but I get the impression, he has his cheque book out as we speak lol...:lol

[perelaar]

Well, half of the year our commute to and from work happens in the dark. On top of that, those lights make the front of the car look a lot nicer :)
Hope to place the order this week, should have the car by end November then.
Don't worry for the cheque book, got a very very nice deal through work.

[macabethiel]

FWIW yes new LED or Bi-Zenon headlamps are great provided you never have to pay for a new Bulb.

Headlight bulb in my Jeep £4.99 a pair from Aldi probably cheaper on the internet.

New Headlight bulb on my 300C Estate Bi-Zenons around £120 plus in all probability it will also need the electronic bit that goes with them thats about an extra £80. No nipping into a Petrol Station for a new bulb on a Sunday night.

New LED headlamp units for most vehicles cost more than the additional cost as an extra when new so you might be looking at £900 plus for a bulb !

I know which cost option I prefer.

Year there nice and bright but in my 50 years of driving I have not hit anything at night due to poor lights ! You just drive within the limits of your vision.

[rustic]

Goodness me.... looking at the cost of an LED replacement, I can see more cars being stripped for bulbs soon, rather than engines, gearboxes, or alloys.

One night, you'll get in the car, put the lights on... and nothing..:nenau
" Bulbs gone " in the true sense of the word...:doh

[perelaar]

They have a guaranteed lifespan - so if broken, will be replaced under warranty. That said, on our current car with halogen lights I never had to replace a bulb in >100000km; I expect the same from the new one
Never heard of LED clusters being stolen, but theft of built-in GPS units is blooming now here in Belgium. Luckily I have a garage to put it in, and we do live in a quit neighbourhood with lots of very attentive and nosy old ladies :)

[don simon]

New Headlight bulb on my 300C Estate Bi-Zenons around £120 plus in all probability it will also need the electronic bit that goes with them thats about an extra £80. No nipping into a Petrol Station for a new bulb on a Sunday night.
How's that going to be affected by the laws that say you must carry spare bulbs? And what would happen if one and /or both blow while in the middle of a nighttime journey?

[macabethiel]

Goodness me.... looking at the cost of an LED replacement, I can see more cars being stripped for bulbs soon, rather than engines, gearboxes, or alloys.

One night, you'll get in the car, put the lights on... and nothing..:nenau
" Bulbs gone " in the true sense of the word...:doh

Yes a bit like the prolific theft of catalytic converters from Light Vans & Good Vehicles.

[macabethiel]

They have a guaranteed lifespan - so if broken, will be replaced under warranty. That said, on our current car with halogen lights I never had to replace a bulb in >100000km; I expect the same from the new one
Never heard of LED clusters being stolen, but theft of built-in GPS units is blooming now here in Belgium. Luckily I have a garage to put it in, and we do live in a quit neighbourhood with lots of very attentive and nosy old ladies :)

Never had the luxury of a manufacturers warranty for the last 20 years. On Mercs the Bi-Zenon bulbs seem to blow when out of warranty after 3 years. Lots of LED rear clusters replaced under warranty due to partial failure due to water ingress I think.

[macabethiel]

How's that going to be affected by the laws that say you must carry spare bulbs? And what would happen if one and /or both blow while in the middle of a nighttime journey?

Interesting point when we go to France we carry a bulb kit in our Jeep not sure how legislation will treat LED units !

[jonela]

Interesting point when we go to France we carry a bulb kit in our Jeep not sure how legislation will treat LED units !
They aren't that bothered about headlamp bulbs now as there are so many new types (LED'S etc) that you can't get a kit with them in and you can always run on side or fog lams in an emergency. The main ones they want to see are tail lamp and indicator bulbs as if these fail there is imminent danger . They would never check to make sure they were the right bulb anyway.:augie

[don simon]

They aren't that bothered about headlamp bulbs now as there are so many new types (LED'S etc) that you can't get a kit with them in and you can always run on side or fog lams in an emergency. The main ones they want to see are tail lamp and indicator bulbs as if these fail there is imminent danger . They would never check to make sure they were the right bulb anyway.:augie

And if the French are anything like the Spanish, the Guardia Civil didn't have the highest levels of maintenance on their vehicles.

[perelaar]

I never got asked if I was carrying spare bulbs, visited all over Europe.
Anyways, about 25% of cars currently running in Belgium are company cars, and these for sure do not carry spare bulbs for whatever lights they have.

Now, it has daylight running lights, headlights and fog lights - I don't think they'll all blow at the same time.

[jonela]

I never got asked if I was carrying spare bulbs, visited all over Europe.
Anyways, about 25% of cars currently running in Belgium are company cars, and these for sure do not carry spare bulbs for whatever lights they have.

Now, it has daylight running lights, headlights and fog lights - I don't think they'll all blow at the same time.
I think the days of carrying a spare bulb pack are numbered, due to the introduction of multiple led lights on most new models. These are more reliable but the sealed units are much more expensive,Can you imagine the price of a full set of spare led light for say an Audi :eek: it would cost hundreds of pounds.