H4 headlights are not that bad?

[Andy73]

Hi, I have recently sold my 56' plate shuttle and bought a T6. I have been concerned about all the concern about poor T6 headlights. I have found that when compared to a T5 with 17 year old UV damaged headlights they are much better. We do a lot of rural night driving in winter. The T5 lights, we could have driven into a sink hole 20 ft away and not seen it.
There is much written about t6 headlight options on here already so I will read it all. But aftermarket lights with poor beam patterns are a bug bear of mine. The THQ look good as DRL but I shall wait for you people's cast offs when the t6 LEDs come out.

 

[Robert]

T6 incandescent headlamps are rubbish, both H4 and H7.
If you like OEM go for OEM LED retrofit(expensive).
If you want amazing results, superb beam pattern and low cost then retrofit aftermarket LED projectors in your existing headlamps.

 

[Sasquatch]

I find the H7s moderately decent. Not ace, but decent enough. Was thinking of slaving a pair of Lazers into the high beam but having driven it a few miles I'm finding them perfectly adequate.

I'd expected woeful nastiness after the active matrix LEDs of my outgoing MINI but they're actually one of the better incandescent headlamps I've used. Certainly way ahead of my olde Volvo.

I can't say first hand what the H4s are like as I've never had the pleasure.

 

[ginkster]

H7s are perfectly fine and that’s in direct comparison to the all singing, all dancing swivelly bi-LED on my other car. Sure there are brighter options but they are a simple, legal, good value, OEM upgrade that gives a good improvement over the H4s.

 

[HoopDub]

Upgrade bulbs, job done. I find H4's perfectly fine, i can still see where im going. If you can't see in the dark with them on it's probably a medical issue tbh

 

[CJW]

I have found that when compared to a T5 with 17 year old UV damaged headlights they are much better.

Be dammed with faint praise, foul headlights.

 

[DaveD]

Upgrade bulbs, job done. I find H4's perfectly fine, i can still see where im going. If you can't see in the dark with them on it's probably a medical issue tbh

Your opinion isn't widely shared on here, but well done on being happy with H4 headlights, it's the cheapest way.

 

[whodat]

H7 lights are fine.
This is coming from someone who was 'used to' T4 lights where you weren't completely sure whether they were on or not.

 

[JDC]

H4 are shocking. I got rid of mine and very glad I did. The downside was I now have a 21 plate Citroën Belingo from work and that also has the terrible H4(candles) as well. It's not just VW who use them.!!!!

 

[Stay Frosty]

Don't make me wheel out my H4 headlights with led bulbs video again... what's that... somebody hasn't seen it?
Give me a few minutes it's in here somewhere...

 

[ginkster]

H4 are shocking. I got rid of mine and very glad I did. The downside was I now have a 21 plate Citroën Belingo from work and that also has the terrible H4(candles) as well. It's not just VW who use them.!!!!

It’s not purely the H4 bulbs but the design and relatively small size of the reflector on the T6 that makes them poor. Our Up! has H4s but the reflector is about twice the size and the performance is much, much better than the T6 and no need to consider Up!grades.

 

[NickyBrown08]

Upgrade bulbs, job done. I find H4's perfectly fine, i can still see where im going. If you can't see in the dark with them on it's probably a medical issue tbh

What bulbs did you fit in yours? I am looking to either upgrade to THQ V3s or wait until the full LEDs come out. Cheers.

 

[Stay Frosty]

Novsight, can't remember the exact model as this was nearly 5 years ago but the newer versions by Novsight are even higher output, well the loud shouty numbers are bigger but pricewise the current versions are mid to high £50s still depending on the eBay or Amazon seller.
They've got a cooling fan on the back so you either mod the access dust cap and reseal to allow for the extra 20mm of lamp sticking out or go online to buy some 3d printed deeper versions, the headlight shell needs to remain sealed but will accommodate the lamp driver but not the anti flicker box which can sit outside. Obviously make sure the lamp driver box doesn't obstruct the reflector movement.
My lamps have been in since September 2019 but a pair of H7s I fitted to my Astra have lost one lamp so a bit gutting although I'm now looking at some more as the Astra has projector lenses on the dip side so a slightly sharper pattern but does that rainbow effect at the edges which nobody ever comments on but makes you think there are blue lights coming ups behind you... well if you're paranoid too!

Pardon our interruption...

Hopefully that's a link to the current version ISH of what I'm running although mine were supposed to be 100watts per side, basically they're mostly bull5hit figures but a combination of YouTube searches and then searches for that lamp in the UK market starts to give results.

 

[NickyBrown08]

Novsight, can't remember the exact model as this was nearly 5 years ago but the newer versions by Novsight are even higher output, well the loud shouty numbers are bigger but pricewise the current versions are mid to high £50s still depending on the eBay or Amazon seller.
They've got a cooling fan on the back so you either mod the access dust cap and reseal to allow for the extra 20mm of lamp sticking out or go online to buy some 3d printed deeper versions, the headlight shell needs to remain sealed but will accommodate the lamp driver but not the anti flicker box which can sit outside. Obviously make sure the lamp driver box doesn't obstruct the reflector movement.
My lamps have been in since September 2019 but a pair of H7s I fitted to my Astra have lost one lamp so a bit gutting although I'm now looking at some more as the Astra has projector lenses on the dip side so a slightly sharper pattern but does that rainbow effect at the edges which nobody ever comments on but makes you think there are blue lights coming ups behind you... well if you're paranoid too!

Pardon our interruption...

Hopefully that's a link to the current version ISH of what I'm running although mine were supposed to be 100watts per side, basically they're mostly bull5hit figures but a combination of YouTube searches and then searches for that lamp in the UK market starts to give results.

Spot on Thank you.

 

[Lubrown]

H7s are perfectly fine and that’s in direct comparison to the all singing, all dancing swivelly bi-LED on my other car. Sure there are brighter options but they are a simple, legal, good value, OEM upgrade that gives a good improvement over the H4s.

There might be better options but hopefully not much brighter. I’m sure there is a maximum figure/pattern for true brightness. Cheap LED bulbs can no doubt exceed this and their poor build quality is what makes them dangerous for everyone - other road users and the driver that installed them hoping they’d be able to see better.

Personally I’m still on my H4 units in the T5.1 and find them adequate with Philips Rally 200 bulbs which are road legal. The 200 refers to 200% brighter than the minimum allowed so it’s not 200% brighter than most bulbs, probably nowhere near, and like I mentioned above it’d probably be a bad thing (and likely illegal) if they were 200% brighter than the next best.

 

[HoopDub]

What bulbs did you fit in yours? I am looking to either upgrade to THQ V3s or wait until the full LEDs come out. Cheers.

Osram nightbreaker bulbs. Much brighter and don't mess with the beam pattern.

 

[Lubrown]

Osram nightbreaker bulbs. Much brighter and don't mess with the beam pattern.

Philips beat Osram in the AutoExpress test and from experience I’d say Philips last longer while being at least as good to the human eye. Either are good for output but just make sure you get genuine ones - there are a lot of fakes from Amazon and eBay.
Autobulbs Direct or Powerbulbs are both authorised sellers with good prices and service.

 

[CAB]

Philips beat Osram in the AutoExpress test and from experience I’d say Philips last longer while being at least as good to the human eye. Either are good for output but just make sure you get genuine ones - there are a lot of fakes from Amazon and eBay.
Autobulbs Direct or Powerbulbs are both authorised sellers with good prices and service.

Phillips quoted twice the lifespan of the Osram when I got mine.

 

[prog99]

Hi, I have recently sold my 56' plate shuttle and bought a T6. I have been concerned about all the concern about poor T6 headlights. I have found that when compared to a T5 with 17 year old UV damaged headlights they are much better. We do a lot of rural night driving in winter. The T5 lights, we could have driven into a sink hole 20 ft away and not seen it.
There is much written about t6 headlight options on here already so I will read it all. But aftermarket lights with poor beam patterns are a bug bear of mine. The THQ look good as DRL but I shall wait for you people's cast offs when the t6 LEDs come out.

I’m happy you are happy.
I flashed someone today so they could come up a single track road and no response.

 

[HoopDub]

Philips beat Osram in the AutoExpress test and from experience I’d say Philips last longer while being at least as good to the human eye. Either are good for output but just make sure you get genuine ones - there are a lot of fakes from Amazon and eBay.
Autobulbs Direct or Powerbulbs are both authorised sellers with good prices and service.

Crazy what gets faked these days, even tyres, lots of Michelin PS5 fakes about. Mate of mine bought some from a legitimate tyre shop recently, went on an easy track day at coombe, 4 laps and they delaminated!

Theres a reason they are only £99 each SMH.