Dipped beam headlights, sidelamps, main beam headlights, fog lights, headlights… a car is today equipped with a whole set of lights. Each of these
car lights
has a specific mission (high beam lights allow you to see very far, for example). All of them, however, operate from a bulb, the type, light intensity or even color of which may vary depending on the type of car lights. For motorists unaccustomed to changing car light bulbs, choosing the right bulbs to replace a broken car light can cause a few cold sweats. With our selection of bulbs for car lights and our various tips, everything actually becomes much easier.
With our top 5 best bulbs for car headlights and lights, it's just a few clicks to replace a bulb that no longer works.
To choose your car lights, remember to check that the type of bulb is suitable for the type of light, and prefer models that offer the best performance in terms of quality / price ratio.
Let yourself be guided by the presentation of the strengths and weaknesses of each bulb for car lights to validate your choice.
Finally, take advantage of some advice to learn all about replacing car lights with, for the uninitiated, the steps to follow to carry out this operation in a relaxed manner.
Our selection :
Osram Nigh Breaker Laser H7 halogen headlight bulb
LED Headlight Bulbs NightEye 6500K Cool White
H11 Gread halogen headlight bulb xenon appearance
Philips H7 Racing Vision headlight bulb
Bosch H7 Gigalight Plus 120 headlight lamp
How do I choose my car lights?
The basic criteria
Several criteria can be taken into account when choosing car lights:
The type of bulb: this is the number 1 criterion to take into account when buying new bulbs for your car headlights.
This is to check that the type of bulb (H7, H4, T5, T20, P21, etc.) corresponds to the type of lights you want to replace.
The brand: as with other products, several brands now offer their own models of bulbs and lamps for car lights.
Not all have the same reputation for reliability.
The price: Although a car light bulb is not a very expensive product to buy, there can be noticeable price differences between different models.
The choice of bulbs
Beyond these first selection criteria for car lights, the type of bulb can also be a determining factor.
Today you will find car lights on the market:
Halogen bulbs: these are the bulbs for headlights and car lights the most common in the current vehicle fleet.
With their very long lifespan and low price, halogen bulbs still appeal to many motorists.
However, the significant consumption of energy or a certain fragility can constitute a brake on its purchase.
LED bulbs: as for interior or exterior lighting of the house, LED bulbs have invaded the automotive world.
Consuming very little energy compared to the halogen bulb, the LED bulb for car lights combines power and lighting comfort.
Smaller, it allows more fantasies in terms of automotive design and is therefore particularly popular with car manufacturers.
Xenon bulbs: easily identifiable by the bluish light they diffuse, xenon bulbs are still reserved for car lights on rather high-end models.
At issue: a fairly high purchase price.
There are still other types of car headlights with, for example, laser headlights, extremely powerful and offering multiple possibilities to customize the design of the vehicle.
However, their price is rather dissuasive and only a few manufacturers such as Audi or BMW offer them on some of their most upscale vehicle models.
What are the right bulbs for my car?
The right bulbs for your car are bulbs of the same type that are already fitted to your vehicle.
Before changing your car headlight bulbs, take the time to identify the type of bulb already in place (H7, H1, etc.) in order to replace them with an equivalent model.
If in doubt, do not hesitate to refer to your vehicle's user manual.
To avoid having to search for too long, it is advisable to have a small stock of car light bulbs in advance, and to immediately replace the bulbs used with bulbs of the same reference.
How do I change my car's headlights?
Changing the headlights of a car is in theory a fairly simple operation (just change the bulb as you could change the bulb on your bedside lamp or the wall lamp in your living room). Depending on the type of car light and the vehicle model, the operation can in practice be more or less complex. Not all car manufacturers offer the same access to the bulbs of different car lights. Changing a headlight on a Citroën C1, for example, will not require the same efforts as changing a headlight on an Audi Q5. As with choosing the right bulbs, your vehicle's user manual remains your best ally in identifying the different steps required to replace a bulb in your car lights. Note thatIt is also strongly recommended to change both bulbs of your car lights simultaneously to avoid an imbalance between a new bulb on one side of the car, and an already used bulb on the other side of the car.
Should I call a mechanic to change my car lights?
You have no DIY skills and do not have any knowledge in your entourage accustomed to some auto mechanic operations?
In this case, your mechanic can replace your lights and car headlights with suitable bulbs.
By calling on a professional, you can also be sure that you have the correct adjustment of your car lights once the new bulbs are in place.
On the other hand, you risk paying a fairly high labor cost for an operation that only requires a few minutes of intervention.
What color should I choose for my car lights?
The color of car lights (low beam, position lights, high beam, etc.) is today governed by precise regulations. Clearly, it is not possible to choose just any color for your car lights. The color white is now the standard in terms of automotive lighting, with a tolerance for older vehicles still equipped with bulbs diffusing a yellow color. If you are looking to differentiate yourself from other motorists, you can equip yourself with bulbs diffusing a more or less intense white light, or even with a few touches of blue for the xenon bulbs of high-end vehicles. As often when it comes to differentiating yourself from other motorists with various options and equipment,however, you will have to pay the price.
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