H4 To H7 Upgrade

[Bigsidavies]

Don’t forget you can always put the caravelle H7 headlights in. They are significantly better than the H4 even with normal bulbs, and are usually found for less than £200 per pair.
I’m really pleased since I fitted a pair of these. I like the oem look.

 

[Cuffy]

Cheers all for the info. When it comes to coding, I am completely clueless I'm afraid, you might as well be talking Swahili.

 

[Bigsidavies]

Cheers all for the info. When it comes to coding, I am completely clueless I'm afraid, you might as well be talking Swahili.

Find someone local with vcds and 5 minutes to spare-it’s a tick box job.

 

[Cuffy]

Find someone local with vcds and 5 minutes to spare-it’s a tick box job.

Once the lights have been purchased, that will be my next begging post

 

[Lubrown]

I’m intrigued. I’ve pretty much always upgraded headlight bulbs to the best halogens at the time. Over the years these have gone from +60% to +200% although I’m convinced they changed the baseline (latest say x% increase vs minimum allowed under some EU standard rather than x% brighter than a modern ‘standard’ bulb).
I’ve done this because some cars and vans I have driven have had dangerously dim headlights (Citroen Xantia was the very worst).
So upgrading my OE H4 bulbs was the first thing I did after getting the van and I don’t feel a burning need to upgrade my headlight units. For me I feel they are adequate and this surprises me given all the comments on how poor they are. I literally gave up on one night journey in the Xantia - that’s how strongly I feel about poor headlights.

 

[boxelder]

@Lubrown - could you post a link to the upgrade bulbs please?
These?

 

[Lubrown]

@Lubrown - could you post a link to the upgrade bulbs please?
These?

Yes, that’s the one. I have used both Auto Bulbs Direct and Powerbulbs previously as they are both official trading partners with Philips and Osram.
There are apparently fakes on the market. Both Philips and Osram acknowledge this and use holographic stickers and I seem to recall a way of checking online with Philips via a code in the box.
Personally I never use Amazon as I don’t like their social or environmental policies.
The two shops I mention are better prices that local auto parts stores and Powerbulbs regularly have discounts up to 20%.
ABD are also reasonable for Bosch wiper blades.

 

[Mistral1]

Don’t forget you can always put the caravelle H7 headlights in. They are significantly better than the H4 even with normal bulbs, and are usually found for less than £200 per pair.
I’m really pleased since I fitted a pair of these. I like the oem look.

Hi I was thinking of doing this too how easy are they to fit? I thought it was pretty much a straight swap but I saw something earlier in this thread about coming without motors, and am now wondering if this is an issue?

 

[Murdoch]

Hi I was thinking of doing this too how easy are they to fit? I thought it was pretty much a straight swap but I saw something earlier in this thread about coming without motors, and am now wondering if this is an issue?

grill off, front bumper off - neither too difficult, easier with a 2nd pair of hands.

 

[CAB]

Hi I was thinking of doing this too how easy are they to fit? I thought it was pretty much a straight swap but I saw something earlier in this thread about coming without motors, and am now wondering if this is an issue?

Go back to the start of this thread, and then watch the THQ video.

Even I managed it!

 

[Mistral1]

Ok that sounds alright then was just a bit put off by the comments about the motors but it doesn’t seem to be an issue

 

[Long tall John]

I think I’ve read that some aftermarket h7 don’t have a leveling motor. I would check before you buy.

 

[Bigsidavies]

Ok that sounds alright then was just a bit put off by the comments about the motors but it doesn’t seem to be an issue

Get the genuine Valeo from a caravelle. They have the levelling motors and it’s a straight swap. 3 bolts if I remember correctly.
Bumper is really easy. A bit if a faff undoing the fixings in the wheel arch because there’s a big wheel in the way so a bit of back and forth with the steering.
The scary bit is that it takes a good hard pull straight out from the front of the van to release the central clips.

 

[Ajjm]

Have been following this thread for some time, thanks for all the info.

I have got hold of some OEM H7 headlight units from a Caravelle at a good price from Ebay. They are Valeo/VW units with a manufacturing date on the sticker is May 2018. They look in great condition but wanted to check the DRL terminals for melting etc so wiggled the DRL bulb holder out from the housing (not the easiest to get out and back in) but anti clockwise twist to unlock and a bit of confidence and they unlock, the terminals on the DRL bulb holder look fine, no heat damage.

Planning to fit LED DRL`s either the Osram w21w. w3x16d. or Twenty20 582 , any one see any issues using these bulbs for DRLs?
Planning to fit Nightbreaker 200 or 150% H7 into both main and dipped.
Planning to fit LED side lights, Osram w5w. w2 1x9 5d
All seem ok any words of wisdom?

Watched the videos for bumper removal but none show situation if you have Fog lights, I did read that you disconnect the loom via a terminal clip on driver side as you remove that corner of bumper and that fog lights units are attached to bumper so move as one away from van with bumper.
Is that right? any words of wisdom?

Oh and finally i have Carista Beta so will be selecting the "Dipped stay on with Main beam" option on that.

Anything else i should be aware of?

 

[t0mb0]

Have been following this thread for some time, thanks for all the info.

I have got hold of some OEM H7 headlight units from a Caravelle at a good price from Ebay. They are Valeo/VW units with a manufacturing date on the sticker is May 2018. They look in great condition but wanted to check the DRL terminals for melting etc so wiggled the DRL bulb holder out from the housing (not the easiest to get out and back in) but anti clockwise twist to unlock and a bit of confidence and they unlock, the terminals on the DRL bulb holder look fine, no heat damage.

Planning to fit LED DRL`s either the Osram w21w. w3x16d. or Twenty20 582 , any one see any issues using these bulbs for DRLs?
Planning to fit Nightbreaker 200 or 150% H7 into both main and dipped.
Planning to fit LED side lights, Osram w5w. w2 1x9 5d
All seem ok any words of wisdom?

Watched the videos for bumper removal but none show situation if you have Fog lights, I did read that you disconnect the loom via a terminal clip on driver side as you remove that corner of bumper and that fog lights units are attached to bumper so move as one away from van with bumper.
Is that right? any words of wisdom?

Oh and finally i have Carista Beta so will be selecting the "Dipped stay on with Main beam" option on that.

Anything else i should be aware of?

It’s likely the LEDs will trigger a dash bulb warning light. You can code this out with VCDS/OBD11, not so sure about Carista.

 

[mlh677]

I fitted these and had no problems with the bulb warning light:-

582 (7440) Twenty20 CanPlus LED Canbus Bulbs W21W (Red)

Twenty20 have released the next level of 582 CanBus compatible LED bulbs, the CanPlus range. These are packed with the latest market leading technology to eliminate those pesky error messages in even sensitive vehicles.

www.autobulbsdirect.co.uk

There is also a cheaper alternative which may also be ok, so could be worth a call to ABD before ordering:-

7440 Twenty20 Impact Cree LED Canbus Bulb 582 12V W21W

7440 Can-bus Super Bright 360 Degree 6 LED bulbs The new 582 super bright LED bulb requires only 2W of power increasing bulb life up to 4,000 hours, 360 LED design for maximum light output and brightness.

www.autobulbsdirect.co.uk

Edit: bulb warning disable for this circuit is not possible with Carista.

Edit 2: yes, the fog light connection is on driver side, easy enough to disconnect. The real trick is remembering to reconnect it when putting the van back together.

 

[Ajjm]

I fitted these and had no problems with the bulb warning light:-

582 (7440) Twenty20 CanPlus LED Canbus Bulbs W21W (Red)

Twenty20 have released the next level of 582 CanBus compatible LED bulbs, the CanPlus range. These are packed with the latest market leading technology to eliminate those pesky error messages in even sensitive vehicles.

www.autobulbsdirect.co.uk

There is also a cheaper alternative which may also be ok, so could be worth a call to ABD before ordering:-

7440 Twenty20 Impact Cree LED Canbus Bulb 582 12V W21W

7440 Can-bus Super Bright 360 Degree 6 LED bulbs The new 582 super bright LED bulb requires only 2W of power increasing bulb life up to 4,000 hours, 360 LED design for maximum light output and brightness.

www.autobulbsdirect.co.uk

Edit: bulb warning disable for this circuit is not possible with Carista.

Edit 2: yes, the fog light connection is on driver side, easy enough to disconnect. The real trick is remembering to reconnect it when putting the van back together.

Thanks very much, think this answers the question that I need to get the correct bulb to ensure correct resistance so bulb out dosent come up, and can’t just rely on fixing everything with Carista or VCDS. Much appreciated.

Also if it makes a difference it’s a 68plate Highline Kombi.

 

[mlh677]

Highline will be fine - just to reassure, I used Carista to enable dipped & main together without issue when I fitted H7 headlights to my Highline.

 

[Ajjm]

Highline will be fine - just to reassure, I used Carista to enable dipped & main together without issue when I fitted H7 headlights to my Highline.

Great thanks, have seen it as an option on the App but knowing in reality it works as expected is good to know.

Will give Auto Bulbs a call and see what they say, don’t really want to put it all back together and get bulb out errors then have to experiment and wallet-dent trying different options.

And you have no issues with indicator flash being less visible with a brighter DRL next to it?

 

[Long tall John]

These just popped up again on FB. Price has been dropped to £70View attachment 178163

Just tried to buy them but they were sold already.. probably to someone on here!