LED headlight bulb

Mutton_Geoff · 28 November 2022 at 10:13AM

sevenhills said:

With the energy crisis and austerity MK2, is it possible and worthwhile to change headlight bulbs to LED?
I have done the same with my side lights, so instead of a 5w bulb, it's a 1w LED. Although I changed because the LED is brighter.
So changing the 55w headlights to LED will save a lot of electricity and allow better MPG.

Talk about jumping on the (wrong) bandwagon! LEDs are approx 10% of the power of an incandescent lamp for the same lumens. So the OP will save 2x 50watts, ie 100 watts and only for some of the time they are driving (ie the dark bits). 100 watts is about a 7th of a horsepower.

Judicious use of two pedals under your feet will have much more impact on your energy consumption than spending ££££ on Ebay on some chinese LEDs.

SergeantBaker · 28 November 2022 at 11:13AM

Is changing to LED bulbs legal?

sevenhills · 28 November 2022 at 11:17AM

Mutton_Geoff said:
Talk about jumping on the (wrong) bandwagon! LEDs are approx 10% of the power of an incandescent lamp for the same lumens. So the OP will save 2x 50watts, ie 100 watts and only for some of the time they are driving (ie the dark bits). 100 watts is about a 7th of a horsepower.

That is good to get some facts. The next time I am going on a long journey I will study my onboard mpg display, to see if it changes.

Many feel it's worth it to change their home lighting to LED, but they only cost £1-£2 each, LED headlights are £50+
Not sure why they are so expensive. I see people with LED number plate bulbs and the brightness hinders seeing the plate.

sevenhills · 28 November 2022 at 11:26AM

SergeantBaker said:

Is changing to LED bulbs legal?

I don't think it strictly complies with the rules, but my LED side lights passed an MOT. Each tester may treat it differently. They would look to see if they work satisfactory, but they would be unlikely to check the bulb.
Just like they check that the brakes work, but they don't remove the wheels.

Mutton_Geoff · 28 November 2022 at 11:42AM

sevenhills said:

That is good to get some facts. The next time I am going on a long journey I will study my onboard mpg display, to see if it changes.

If only people understood that applying the brake pedal wastes fuel. In that you are converting the fuel/energy you used to accelerate to x mph by converting it to heat instead. It's why regen braking is important in electric/hybrid cars, it's a source of energy not to be wasted. Try telling that to the yoof with the Astra who lives round the corner from me.

cymruchris · 28 November 2022 at 11:43AM

SergeantBaker said:

Is changing to LED bulbs legal?

Not for headlamps, no. It's been mentioned already in the thread with appropriate links to MOT standards.

cymruchris · 28 November 2022 at 11:46AM

Grey_Critic said:

So you changed your sidelights to LED - they are not OE so did you inform your insurance company? They are a modification.

Another good point - should a vehicle with the wrong spec bulbs in it be involved in a crash where the car is towed away and inspected, insurance companies are renowned for not paying out if you've changed anything on a car from standard spec without telling them first. So to save 2p a week, you could lose the total value of your car.

D924 · 28 November 2022 at 11:54AM

You'll probably end up replacing them several times before finding any that aren't mis-sold crap.

clive0510 · 28 November 2022 at 12:20PM

led headlamps or xenon as we call them are about £1200.00 for the average car. they take their power from something called a ballast resistor. the headlamp doesn't come with the ballast, its extra. also what you need to consider is that the wiring plug on the car, may not fit the new headlamp. you may get round the wiring plug issue, but then theirs a chance that once you got the headlamps in, (provided they fit your car) nothing works. leave well alone.