Expensive Headlights?

[Godfather]

My front headlight burned out on my new (to me at least; it's a 2006 Mazda 3) car for the first time.

I've usually just owned cheap old cars and bought cheap headlights

But this time I looked a little harder and realized there were half a dozen lights I could buy (H7 sized; not HID apparently)

Does anyone have an opinion how much it matters? I bought a cheap 10$ one and it's fine, just as bright as the other. But would the 60$ ones be anything special? And is it more than brightness, because if it needs to be bright I'll just turn on the high-beams

[JoeyB]

Damn, I thought this thread was going to be full of quality boobjobs.

[redred]

if you run into the back of someone they all break

[JoeyB]

if you run into the back of someone they all break

That's why girls with big fake boobs should never run in crowds.

[Richard Cranium]

Generally, the cheap $10 one will be the most durable. The more expensive higher output ones typically don't last as long, Hella brand sometimes being the exception.

[Noilly Pratt]

I buy something in the middle...around $20 - $25 each and they're called GE Nighthawks (package says they're 30% brighter). They definitely give off more light than the standard bulbs - really apparent on high beam. Sometimes you can get lucky and Canadian Tire has the pair of them for $30. I do a lot of night driving.

They seem to last me about 2 years...same as the $10 cheapies. I bought those expensive ones and they seemed to last only a year.

They have a premium one called Nighthawk Platinum, but my friend bought those, and I can't see much difference in output in comparison to my plain ol' nighthawks.

Remember in Canada, we're mandated to how large a wattage the bulbs can be. All that the Platinum ones do is produce a "whiter" light I think.

It's less wattage than in Europe, because I went over to England and got European bulbs for my old Fiesta and it was WAY brighter. One cop said I was illegal because they were noticeably brighter. Luckily no one else noticed so I just kept 'em in and dealt the car in with them installed.

[Noilly Pratt]

That's why girls with big fake boobs should never run in crowds.

Whiplash, you see...

[JoeyB]

Whiplash, you see...

You can get whiplash trying to check out big boobs.

[Godfather]

I buy something in the middle...around $20 - $25 each and they're called GE Nighthawks (package says they're 30% brighter). They definitely give off more light than the standard bulbs - really apparent on high beam. Sometimes you can get lucky and Canadian Tire has the pair of them for $30. I do a lot of night driving.

They seem to last me about 2 years...same as the $10 cheapies. I bought those expensive ones and they seemed to last only a year.

They have a premium one called Nighthawk Platinum, but my friend bought those, and I can't see much difference in output in comparison to my plain ol' nighthawks.

Remember in Canada, we're mandated to how large a wattage the bulbs can be. All that the Platinum ones do is produce a "whiter" light I think.

It's less wattage than in Europe, because I went over to England and got European bulbs for my old Fiesta and it was WAY brighter. One cop said I was illegal because they were noticeably brighter. Luckily no one else noticed so I just kept 'em in and dealt the car in with them installed.

Sweet, thanks Noilly! Those are the brands I was looking at too Good to have a fellow Canadian Tire shopper giving reviews.

[Noilly Pratt]

Sweet, thanks Noilly! Those are the brands I was looking at too Good to have a fellow Canadian Tire shopper giving reviews.

Glad to help.

The real trick setup was what I had on my old VW Fox. They came with just old sealed beams but I put Lucas Halogen lamps in. And when I visited England, I brought back a pair of driving lights that were MUCH brighter than what we have here. They're what we call "Off Road" lights.

I used to do a lot driving on unlit country roads (Chilliwack, Langley etc) so I needed the lighting power. It turned day into night!

[Hugh_Janus]

can't remember the last time I paid for a bulb

[redred]

nor me

[JoeyB]

can't remember the last time I paid for a bulb

nor me

Nor me. We all have neighbours with cars and perfectly usable headlights. Why go shopping?

[Tank]

nor me

you dont drive so your opinion in this thread is invalid!

[JoeyB]

you dont drive so your opinion in this thread is invalid!

Is that true? I thought I was the only carless person hereabouts.