Various Light Bulb Comparison
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GLB 250 4matic
Various Light Bulb Comparison
on my c230k coupe - H7 (purchased from http://www.autolamps-online.com, ebay and bagwell 
)
nokya arctic whites
phillips vision plus
phillips blue vision
oem
bmw xenon hids oem (for comparison)
)nokya arctic whites
phillips vision plus
phillips blue vision
oem
bmw xenon hids oem (for comparison)
Last edited by young; Feb 24, 2002 at 12:29 AM.
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GLB 250 4matic
nokya arctic white on right
the color of the nokya are very white with hints of purple. but the light output is very poor. aesthetically, i found these to be the most attractive.
the color of the nokya are very white with hints of purple. but the light output is very poor. aesthetically, i found these to be the most attractive.
Last edited by young; Feb 23, 2002 at 09:42 PM.
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GLB 250 4matic
phillips blue vision on right
light output was very similar to the oems. the color is a shade less yellow than oems, but i'd still consider them yellowish. definitely not blue/white at all.
light output was very similar to the oems. the color is a shade less yellow than oems, but i'd still consider them yellowish. definitely not blue/white at all.
Last edited by young; Feb 23, 2002 at 09:44 PM.
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GLB 250 4matic
phillips vision plus on right
the light output from the vision pluses are noticeable. i would say about 31.33% more than the oems.
also, it was also a shade whiter than the oems - very similar to the blue visions.
the light output from the vision pluses are noticeable. i would say about 31.33% more than the oems.
also, it was also a shade whiter than the oems - very similar to the blue visions.
Last edited by young; Feb 23, 2002 at 09:45 PM.
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GLB 250 4matic
phillips vision plus vs bmw hids oem
none of the bulbs were as white/blue as the bmw's real xenons. note that the bmw's xenon's gradually get whiter as they warm up. of course, i have seen many audis w/ blue/almost purple hids so i think that is an aesthetic choice. also, the light output of all the bulbs i tried do not match the level of the real hids.
none of the bulbs were as white/blue as the bmw's real xenons. note that the bmw's xenon's gradually get whiter as they warm up. of course, i have seen many audis w/ blue/almost purple hids so i think that is an aesthetic choice. also, the light output of all the bulbs i tried do not match the level of the real hids.
Last edited by young; Feb 23, 2002 at 09:48 PM.
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From: Earth
GLB 250 4matic
final impressions and conclusion: i must get hids none of the bulbs matched the aesthetic quality and the light output of the hids.
the nokya's look very good (and i assume many of the blue-coated bulbs will be similar) but as the light output is so poor, i found them to be unacceptable for night time use. but i think i have poor night vision.
the blue visions offered neither the looks nor the light output. so i don't think they're worth $20/bulb at all.
the vision pluses are definitely brighter. they look whiter in the pic b/c they're brighter but they're only a shade whiter than the oems. so if you need more light, but don't want to get the hids, this may be a good option.
i must get hids
randy, as for the high beams, to be honest, since you have stage 2 hids, i'd get some hyperwhites for the highbeams to match and the little city lights. (not the nokya arctic whites b/c they have a purple/pink tint). hmm, maybe bagwell will get more hyperwhites that i can try out?
as for fogs, i'm intrigued about the weathervisions - multicoated quartz glass, but i'm less interested in messing around w/ fog lights in general. i have my lights on auto so i don't normally use the fog lights.
oh, yeah, i left the vision pluses in for now...
none of the bulbs matched the aesthetic quality and the light output of the hids.the nokya's look very good (and i assume many of the blue-coated bulbs will be similar) but as the light output is so poor, i found them to be unacceptable for night time use. but i think i have poor night vision.
the blue visions offered neither the looks nor the light output. so i don't think they're worth $20/bulb at all.
the vision pluses are definitely brighter. they look whiter in the pic b/c they're brighter but they're only a shade whiter than the oems. so if you need more light, but don't want to get the hids, this may be a good option.
i must get hids
randy, as for the high beams, to be honest, since you have stage 2 hids, i'd get some hyperwhites for the highbeams to match and the little city lights. (not the nokya arctic whites b/c they have a purple/pink tint). hmm, maybe bagwell will get more hyperwhites that i can try out?
as for fogs, i'm intrigued about the weathervisions - multicoated quartz glass, but i'm less interested in messing around w/ fog lights in general. i have my lights on auto so i don't normally use the fog lights.
oh, yeah, i left the vision pluses in for now...
Last edited by young; Feb 23, 2002 at 10:48 PM.
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From: Laguna Niguel, CA
Have you considered higher wattage white bulbs like 110W for the low beams? I bet that would be comperable to the xenons. They're illegal but the cop won't know on an MB if they are xenons or not.
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GLB 250 4matic
ah, you raise a couple of good points i forgot to address.
legality:
the vision pluses are probably illegal
aftermarket hids are illegal (well, offroad use only
)
but, yes, in reality, i know that there is no real chance anyone is going to get a ticket for such a thing. so i'm willing to take the risk.
wattage:
the nokya's, i think, are actually 75 watts. it's ambiguous to me b/c on the label, it says 55 watts ---> 75 watts. i would not have gotten them if it was clear that they are 75 watts. similar reasoning for the 110 watt bulbs you're recommending. technically, i don't know why, but i assume that pulling more watts than designed is not good. maybe someone can clarify and tell me i'm worrying about nothing?
legality:
the vision pluses are probably illegal
aftermarket hids are illegal (well, offroad use only
)but, yes, in reality, i know that there is no real chance anyone is going to get a ticket for such a thing. so i'm willing to take the risk.
wattage:
the nokya's, i think, are actually 75 watts. it's ambiguous to me b/c on the label, it says 55 watts ---> 75 watts. i would not have gotten them if it was clear that they are 75 watts. similar reasoning for the 110 watt bulbs you're recommending. technically, i don't know why, but i assume that pulling more watts than designed is not good. maybe someone can clarify and tell me i'm worrying about nothing?
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From: SF Bay Area
2001 C240
Young,
Thanks for taking the time out for a comparison test. I'm sure a lot of us can learn from it.
Question to all: I've got some 100watt blue coated Korean made H7's. I put them on for about 10 minutes and were really impressed. Is there any danger running a 100watt bulb, even though stock is 55watt? Obviously it's almost twice the amount of light (drain) but, will it damage the car's electrical system in any way?
Thanks,
Thanks for taking the time out for a comparison test. I'm sure a lot of us can learn from it.
Question to all: I've got some 100watt blue coated Korean made H7's. I put them on for about 10 minutes and were really impressed. Is there any danger running a 100watt bulb, even though stock is 55watt? Obviously it's almost twice the amount of light (drain) but, will it damage the car's electrical system in any way?
Thanks,
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From: Laguna Niguel, CA
On PowerBulbs.com they had one step better than the Phillips Vision Plus, the Phillips Rallye that are 80W instead of 55W. The are for "off road use only" which can only be a good thing. Has anyone tried these?
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From: Ashburn, VA
'19 GLC 300, '19 TM3SR+
I wouldn't do it. All that was said above about overwatted bulbs fully applies here. I would also add fried reflectors to the list of warnings - overwatted bulbs easily and quickly burn that thin reflective layer of silver (or whatever they use nowadays). Know this by experience...
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From: Corona, CA
2001 C320
Over wattage is the reason why those bulbs only last a couple months. My Nokya's only lasted about 5-6 months. Also....if you check the housing, you will probably see alot of RESEDUE (crusting) in the bottom.
Those Nokya's YOUNG are indeed 75 watts. Its tricky cuz they make it seem "like its 75 watts" but in actuality "it is 75 watts".
....But then again...They sure do look good.
Those Nokya's YOUNG are indeed 75 watts. Its tricky cuz they make it seem "like its 75 watts" but in actuality "it is 75 watts".
....But then again...They sure do look good.
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GLB 250 4matic
i finally got some webspace... so here's a link to the bmw hids lighting up... sorry about the radio in the background. haven't figured out how to lower the audio...
bmw hids start up
temporarily disabled b/c comcast sucks big rotten eggs...
http://mywebpages.comcast.net/youngshin/bmwhids.mpg
bmw hids start up
temporarily disabled b/c comcast sucks big rotten eggs...
http://mywebpages.comcast.net/youngshin/bmwhids.mpg
Last edited by young; Mar 6, 2002 at 09:32 PM.
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From: Ashburn, VA
'19 GLC 300, '19 TM3SR+
Re: so i guess 55watt HID-type bulbs aren't worth it?
Originally posted by spindrome
i really want to get some whiter bulbs because my vision at night really sucks.
i really want to get some whiter bulbs because my vision at night really sucks.
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From: SF Bay Area
2001 C240
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From: Ashburn, VA
'19 GLC 300, '19 TM3SR+
Re: here's some....
Originally posted by spindrome
http://store.yahoo.com/speedlights/hidwhitxenh4.html
http://store.yahoo.com/speedlights/hidwhitxenh4.html
:o)HID stands for "High Intensity Discharge", where light is produced by an electric arc occuring between two electrodes surrounded by gas (Xenon). Halogen bulbs use glowing filament instead, so in no way can they be called "HID-type".
Look up "Xenon" or "HID" in the W203 forum, you should be able to find some info on this subject including some useful links.
Last edited by vadim; Feb 26, 2002 at 12:09 PM.
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vadim is correct, spindrome. Those lights will produce less light than regular halogens. They added a trace amount of xenon in order to call then xenon bulbs. The xenon in these fake hid's does nothing.
For more light without the expense of a hid conversion or the risk of high wattage halogens, try the Philips VisionPlus blubs.
For more light without the expense of a hid conversion or the risk of high wattage halogens, try the Philips VisionPlus blubs.
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From: Corona, CA
2001 C320
AFTER READING MILLIONS OF POST REGARDING BULBS, I CAME UP WITH THESE COCNLUSIONS.
IF YOU WANT IT "ONLY FOR LOOKS" BUY:
-NOKYA'S
-FALCONS
-ANY JAPENESE BULB WITH A BLUE TINT (30 BUCKS)
IF YOU WANT IT "ONLY FOR VISION PURPOSES" BUY:
-PHILLIP BRAND BULBS
-PIAA PLATINUM
NOW IF YOU WANT IT FOR "BOTH LOOKS AND VISION":
-GO FOR THE HID CONVERSION!
YOU CANT GET BOTH UNLESS YOU PAY MORE!
IF YOU WANT IT "ONLY FOR LOOKS" BUY:
-NOKYA'S
-FALCONS
-ANY JAPENESE BULB WITH A BLUE TINT (30 BUCKS)
IF YOU WANT IT "ONLY FOR VISION PURPOSES" BUY:
-PHILLIP BRAND BULBS
-PIAA PLATINUM
NOW IF YOU WANT IT FOR "BOTH LOOKS AND VISION":
-GO FOR THE HID CONVERSION!
YOU CANT GET BOTH UNLESS YOU PAY MORE!
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From: San Francisco, CA
1995 Acura
Aiming?
Wow Young! That really does look like a lot of work. Did you have to aim the new bulbs once installed? I've been hesitant to think about aftermarket bulbs because of the (what I perceived as) complexity in aiming them. I HATE it when people blind me with badly-aimed bulbs, and I'd hate to do it to them.
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From: Sitting behind thing freakin desk of mine. Dreaming I was playing my Taylors, and driving my Benz. Long Live The VRAA!!!!!!
C230 Sports Coupe
OK CLASS, WHATS THE MORAL BEHIND TO DAYS LESSON? :: a young Vadim frantically raising his hand so the teacher can see him::YES VADIM DO YOU KNOW THE ANSWER?
YOU BET YOUR BUTT I DO!
WE ALL NEED TO GET REAL FREAKING XENONS, AND STOP CLOWNING AROUND!
VERY GOOD SAID THE TEACHER
YOU BET YOUR BUTT I DO!
WE ALL NEED TO GET REAL FREAKING XENONS, AND STOP CLOWNING AROUND!
VERY GOOD SAID THE TEACHER
