Headlight bulbs

Nevakonaza · 31 Mar 2019 at 05:26

Hey chaps,looking to replace the H4 headlight bulbs in the MG3
Current ones are yellowish and are not very bright.

Im looking for the brightest ones from this list that are road legal,but confused by the (K)

3400k
3900k
4200k
5000k

What should i be looking at for brightest white light? (Im assuming 5000K)?

cheers guys much appreciated.

NVP · 31 Mar 2019 at 06:43

You've got the concept, although avoid anything cheap so you know you're getting what you want.

Maybe this will help, it's from one of those LED bulb sites:

Finglonga · 31 Mar 2019 at 09:05

Worth noting the blue type Halogens do not last as long as the regular ones as they are coloured with a coating and that effects the life of them.

red eye · 31 Mar 2019 at 09:55

Nevakonaza said:
Hey chaps,looking to replace the H4 headlight bulbs in the MG3
Current ones are yellowish and are not very bright.

Im looking for the brightest ones from this list that are road legal,but confused by the (K)

3400k

3900k

4200k

5000k

What should i be looking at for brightest white light? (Im assuming 5000K)?

cheers guys much appreciated.

if yours is anything like the near side headlamp on a mg6 I hope you haven’t got chubby arms.

The k is not the brightness it’s the warm ness whiteness of the light. 3400 is warm has a hologen tinge 5000 is daylight white, anything more than 5000 and your going blue.

brought some 5000k led gu down lights for the dining room it’s like eating in a hospital operating room makes your eyes feel funny until you get used to it

Nevakonaza · 9 Apr 2019 at 00:41

Sorry for late reply chaps i forgot id made this post,very much appreciate your answers and help,So ideally look at getting 5000k to 7000k

Dis86 · 9 Apr 2019 at 07:58

Nevakonaza said:
Sorry for late reply chaps i forgot id made this post,very much appreciate your answers and help,So ideally look at getting 5000k to 7000k

Why? Do you want blue lights?

stoofa · 9 Apr 2019 at 12:48

On my previous car with HID's I'm sure they were 4200k from the factory which just gave that wonderful, white light. I don't know where the LED headlights on my current car sit.
Cannot think why you'd possibly want anything in the 5k+ area unless you're aiming for "chav blue"?

Armageus · 9 Apr 2019 at 13:23

Nevakonaza said:
What should i be looking at for brightest white light? (Im assuming 5000K)?

Colour Temperature "K" has very little to do with actual brightness.

Lumens is generally what is used to measure brightness, but again actual output is rarely stated and even where it is, it can be manipulated (e.g. including invisible wavelengths of light).

Best bet is to reviews of bulbs, or recommendations from other owners of your car.

Personally I've always gone with mid range bulbs e.g. Halfords Advance +50% or Philips VisionPlus 60%,
https://www.halfords.com/motoring/b...vanced-up-to--50-percent-brighter-single-pack
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Philips-0730529-12342VPS2-VisionPlus-Headlight/dp/B005L9EZ92
which are normally around the 3200k range, offer better brightness than "stock" bulbs, but without compromising the longevity (e.g. with some of the 130/150% bulbs they can last a matter of weeks)

tom_e · 9 Apr 2019 at 13:34

Normally the bluer the light the less lumens are actually output even though to the human eye it looks very bright due to the colour temp IIRC. This is talking normal bulbs rather than the retina burning led/xeons.