Phillips Extreme Power H7 bulbs fitted

[Wrinkly57]

Been considering some of these too, but have a question:- When switching on the main beam in my 99 2.0 HDi, the dip beams stay on as well causing the light to be scattered everwhere with distant objects difficult to pick out. Is this supposed to work like this or has something else broken?
Wrinkly57 (one day I'll find something to post that will help you all instead of me asking for help!)

[Doggy]

Nowt broken, it's meant to do that. They only switch off the dips if you have 2 twin filament bulbs, (which no 406's have as far as know).

[Wrinkly57]

Thanks dogslife, I'm pleased that nuffink else is broken! (for the time being anyway)

[tonyp2020]

Hi. Hope you dont mind if I hijack this thread a bit. Read the forum, but not posted much.
I have got a question about headlights. Searched forum but this subject not found.
I recently replaced the H7 dipped bulbs as one blew. Got them delivered overnight from Fleabay as not able to make shops easily due to working.

I think I have fitted them correctly, but I not 100% sure as I had to do it at night with a torch.
They are much better than the standard bulbs, but the beam pattern is strange.
The LHS dipped headlight lights up the kerb, but not road signs.
The RHS dipped beam appears to have 2 beams, one shines almost directly ahead, and one lights up the otherside of the road or road signs in the central reservation.
Driving in fog the other night really showed the beam pattern up.
The car is 406S Saloon 2003 HDI90 UK Model. The electric headlight adjusters both work.
I could swear that the headlamps are for a left hand drive car.
So where can I go from here? Are the the headlamps marked for left/right driving?
Or are they adjustable?
Haynes manual no use, no suprise there.
Thanks
Tony

[DaiRees]

The bulbs aren't handed, just the unit itself, so that's not your problem. The bulbs have to be fitted the right way up, but they should only be able to go in the one way (theres a lug on the bulb that corresponds with a keyway in the housing IIRC). I'd suggest getting the covers off tomorrow in the daylight and having a look, undo the little springy clip thingy and just try turning the bulb in the hole, if it's in right it won't turn.

HTH

[Doggy]

I've got the same led sidelights - I do a fair bit of driving in the dark for 6/7 months of the year and got sick of changing the filament variety every month or two on my last car. Got Ring H7's too, brilliant - mine cost me £10 each.
(but they might be a bit more than 55W)

[tonyp2020]

Hi all. Just to update the bulb question i posed a month ago.
I replaced the bulbs again with proper ones made by ring and bought in a shop.
I compaired the faulty ones and the new ones.
The glass of the faulty ones is about 2 to 3mm longer (that the good, new ones) and the element was also 2 to 3mm nearer the tip of the bulb.
The part of the beam that was shining onto the RHS of the road was actually an image of the element of the bulb seen vertically.
I saw this when I shone the lights onto a white wall and stared at the pattern for a while.
Anyway the car has now passed its MOT with the new bulbs fitted, so headlamps should be OK.
I wont be buying cheap imported bulbs from ebay again.
Cheers
Tony

[406Break]

Nice, but don't you think that every camera uses different shutter settings and pictures don't show the real effect ?

I my self use Bluevision - but taste is taste

[DaiRees]

So almost exactly 2 years on both of my philips bulbs have blown so, on the recommendation of a friend, I've gone for these this time.

Ring XenonMax, supposed to be a tad brighter than the philips and they're a bit cheaper. I'll keep you posted

[Bailes1992]

Please do Dai.
The Focus headlights are like candles in jars compared to the 406.
The 406 I had Phillips Extreme Power in and they were superb!
Need new lights for the Focus and headlight alignment redone because oen headlihgt is on the floor

[Welly]

So almost exactly 2 years on both of my philips bulbs have blown

2 years aint too bad Dai These brighter bulbs have a shorter life than usual so I'd say you've done quite well.

The Osram Nightbreakers were rubbish and many folk complained at there 3-6 month life span BUT........there's a new, better, loner lasting, Nightbreaker out there and Welly is using them right now

[DaiRees]

2 years aint too bad Dai These brighter bulbs have a shorter life than usual so I'd say you've done quite well.

Oh yes I'm not complaining, was looking on the Philips website yesterday and they were saying that the life span is shorter with the brighter bulbs. Just thought it was a strange coincidence that when I checked this thread it was January 2009 that I fitted them. One blew a few weeks ago so I put an old standard one in that I had in the garage and now the other one's gone. Can't wait to get my new ones though, I've been driving around for a week with one headlight, and at this time of year I hardly ever drive in daylight

[FarmerPug]

i just read this thread there now, i do think my dipped beams at times are a bit sh*t. So philips extreme is the ones to get, theres these with the sidelights
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/PHILIPS-H7-BLUE-V ... 3520wt_907
and these
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/PHILIPS-X-TREME-P ... 185wt_1141
is there a difference in these and the 100% bulbs? and what is the conclusion with the sidelight bulbs do they need changed?

[DaiRees]

There's no need to ask a question here AND start another thread to ask the same question FP....

[teamster1975]

There's no need to ask a question here AND start another thread to ask the same question FP....

Don't say you're surprised Dai