Halogen Bulbs

[Kaliber]

Hi,

I was wondering if any of you know much about this topic, halogen bulbs. Are they legal?

They seem to be a good alternative because 1) They produce much more light and 2) they look cool ^^

How much and where can you purchase them? Are they hard to fit?

Thanks, any info would be great

[Zensoku]

I assume you mean the newer style Xenon globes. Not the older Halogen which throw a yellowish light. The Xenon's throw a white light usually with a blue tinge. These are 100% legal in QLD if: They are the standard wattage. (Same as highest factory fitted globes) And they bear the "CE" logo or similar International standards logo. Cops like to pull people over with the bluish tinge globes for defects. These are usually the $%#@ers which put the coloured silicon bulb sleeves over their parker lights.

[Kinks]

All headlight globes use a halogen filler. The premium range (eg Plus 50) use a xenon filler (as opposed to Krypton or Argon). Any of these are legal as long as they're the standard wattage (and they all are, you can't get Xenons in higher wattages as far as I know).

Now, Xenons throw a brighter whiter light. They do NOT intrinsically cast a blue light. If you've got blue Xenons, the glass has a blue tint on it which reduces your light output - and blue tinted globes ARE illegal. Plus 50's have a clear coating which means you get white light.

I put Plus 50's in and aligned my headlights properly - not so it looks cool but so I can actually see where I'm going at night. Function over fashion mmkay.

[Timmy G]

.. and there was a thread about the best bulbs and it was agreed the phillips are amongst the best and decent value. you get get them at autobahn in NSW

[Zensoku]

and blue tinted globes ARE illegal

I hate to disagree with anyone on these forums, but that isn't entirely true. We sell both the Autotechnica and Trifa brands of Xenon Bulbs where i work which both feature a blue tint glass. Even the Platinum series has a blue/redish tinge for glare reduction. We have come across the legality issues of these time and time again, and in the end, approached the authorities for answers. I was faxed back an ADR report, days later, which is hard to digest, but basically says that any replacement globe must be no higher than the highest factory fitted wattage. (ie: H4: 60W/55W) and must bear: Brand/manufacturer and either the "CE" international logo and/or any other international standards number. (ie: ISO-XXXX, etc) to be legal. Cops will still like to defect whatever they like, but, this will be cannon fodder for when and if i ever get defected for having these "blue" lights. You have got to remember that some cars come out factory with the Xenon globes. I realise that not all have the bluish tinge, but have you ever noticed the latest BMW's and Audi's getting around with bright bluish Xenons?

[Hiroshima Screamer]

but have you ever noticed the latest BMW's and Audi's getting around with bright bluish Xenons?

and dont they look awesome ? i have to replace a globe on my car now might as well put Xenons if possible

[CerealKiller]

the thing with Xenon lights is that I'm told the Audi's and BMW's have "auto-leveling" lights, because they're so bright they need to be auto leveling. This means that when your car goes over a hill it doesn't blind the driver in the oncoming direction. I'm not so sure how true this is but it certainly makes sense.

[Timmy G]

cereal killer: bmw 5 series since 1996 have had vertical tilt head lights which you can control from the cabin. i don't know if they have auto tilt for going over hills though...

[hippy]

what about HID .. i assume they are illegal? HID come standard on many cars dont' they? mazda 6? bmw, audi?

[Timmy G]

hid pretty much come on all cars which have xenons in more expensive models