Replacing Headlight Bulbs

[Mike K]

Living in the countryside I've found the standard headlight bulbs too weak for night driving.
I've just replaced the bulbs and installed PHILIPS XTREME VISION  H4 http://www.philips.co.uk/c-p/12342XVB1/x-tremevision-car-headlight-bulb

All fairly straightforward, except that I had to experiment in order to find out which screws make the lateral and vertical adjustments.

For ease of reference I've attached some pics of which screws do what on the Euro lights:

Best,

Mike

[Mike K]

On the left is the new Philips bulb and right is the standard bulb- prior to making vertical and horizontal adjustments.

[Naj ✝︎]

Hi, Mike,

Did you use these bulbs with the H4 base (as in the Phillips site picture) or were you able to get ones with the P45t base?

naj

[Mike K]

Hi Naj,
I could only find these bulbs in the H4 P43t base; checked the Osram as well, same story. I read somewhere that the new bulbs only come in the P43t base.
No problem fitting these, they have the 3 flat pins which overlap on the back of the reflector bowl, and then held in place with the spring clip.

Best,

Mike

[jameshoward]

Mike,

After leaving the lights on for a while, have you checked the temp of the lenses? I recall a discussion with a fellow member a few years ago about the possibility of the lenses cracking under the considerable heat. Grateful to hear what you found, (and check with the back of your hand!)

James

[Naj ✝︎]

Hi Naj,
I could only find these bulbs in the H4 P43t base; checked the Osram as well, same story. I read somewhere that the new bulbs only come in the P43t base.
No problem fitting these, they have the 3 flat pins which overlap on the back of the reflector bowl, and then held in place with the spring clip.

Best,

Mike

Hi, Mike,

To locate the H4 bulbs correctly, you need to use these adaptors.
Your local Renault club may be able to help?

http://www.volvosolutions.com/Misc_P45T.html

Hope this helps
naj

[Mike K]

Mike,

After leaving the lights on for a while, have you checked the temp of the lenses? I recall a discussion with a fellow member a few years ago about the possibility of the lenses cracking under the considerable heat. Grateful to hear what you found, (and check with the back of your hand!)

James

Hi James,
The heat was something that concerned me when I fitted the new bulbs, and I did the "back of the hand test" against the lenses- the heat was not abnormal.

I drove the car tonight and tried the lights out for the first time at night, there's a huge difference in night vision! When I got home I left the lights on and checked the lenses with my hand again- no excessive heat.

On another note and in all seriousness  - we have a lot of wild boar around here, they're often on the roads at night and very difficult to see, often with near misses- I'm far more comfortable with these lights.

Best,

Mike

[Mike K]

Hi, Mike,

To locate the H4 bulbs correctly, you need to use these adaptors.
Your local Renault club may be able to help?

http://www.volvosolutions.com/Misc_P45T.html

Hope this helps
naj

Hi Naj,
Thanks for the info, much appreciated! I'll check these adaptors out.

Best,

Mike

[Mike K]

Hi, Mike,

To locate the H4 bulbs correctly, you need to use these adaptors.
Your local Renault club may be able to help?

http://www.volvosolutions.com/Misc_P45T.html

Hope this helps
naj

What Naj pointed out above, re correctly locating/fixing the new H4 bulbs with the tabs, concerned me.
I made my own P43t to P45t adaptors by using a Dremel to remove the bases from the old H4 P45t lamps and making new incisions in the bases to accommodate the tabs.
Proper tight fit, the lamps won't move.

Thanks,
Mike

[Naj ✝︎]

Nice work 

naj