[Q] 2009 Corolla headlight upgrade

P

PKruger

Well-Known Member
Joined
Apr 9, 2006
Messages
243
Reaction score
6
Location
Bloemfontein
I want to upgrade (if it can be called that) the headlights of my 2009 Corolla. I do not want to spend the money on HID, so I am looking at Xenon bulbs. What alternatives to OSRAM Night Breakers exist?

Thanks
 
HID and Xenon are the same thing, and you cannot just go the Xenon route without the "pack" that goes with it.

Rather upgrade the wattage on your standard lights, if you don't want to pay for the Xenon kit.
 
HID = Xenon
What type of globe do you currently have?
Sometimes just replacing the globe helps, as they do "age" and grow weaker with time.
Upgrading the wattage might melt your existing fitting, so be carefull.

Please, if it is H4 globes, do not go with these R1k HID upgrades :(
It might look cool, but you will be chucking them out after a year!!!
 
Curious - so I'm following this thread. Been thinking about Xenons in my car. So if something like this is a no-go, what do you recommend?
 
Just be careful, you don't want people to keep flashing you their brights if they are poorly fitted Xenons. And even if it gives 300% more light its still only going to throw light where it is currently due to reflector design (again, if fitted properly). I do know that the Osram Silverstar in my Ikon does good work for my brights at night.
 
wetkit said:
HID = Xenon
What type of globe do you currently have?
Sometimes just replacing the globe helps, as they do "age" and grow weaker with time.
Upgrading the wattage might melt your existing fitting, so be carefull.

Please, if it is H4 globes, do not go with these R1k HID upgrades :(
It might look cool, but you will be chucking them out after a year!!!
Click to expand...

Sorry, my mistake about HID and Xenon. Currently the factory fitted globes are installed. So they are about 5 years old. I like the look of the more "whiter" globes as opposed to the current "yellow" ones.

I do not want to go for a full HID kit. I am looking more at a "plug and play" solution. I read that the OSRAM Night Breakers are quite good but apparently have a short lifespan. I am a noob in this area so I do not know what is available.

As I understand it, my Corolla has two bulbs, one for the low beam (the one I am interested in replacing) and one for the high beam (brights?). Since I rarely use brights, the low beam upgrade is enough for now.

I already replaced the front parking light globes with "cool white" smd globes, and I like the look of it. :-)
 
If you didn't have an Afrikaans sounding surname, and didn't come from Bloemfontein, I would have sworn that you were a local from Durbsnall! ;) :D
 
Fazda said:
If you didn't have an Afrikaans sounding surname, and didn't come from Bloemfontein, I would have sworn that you were a local from Durbsnall! ;) :D
Click to expand...

Just a Afrikaanse booitjie from Bloem trying to upgrade his headlights without looking like a "tappit" :whistle:
 
Last edited:
I have Nightbreakers in my car, but only on low beam as the vast majority of my night-time driving is urban and the car's brights - when needed - are more than sufficient with standard globes. The Nightbreakers are noticeably brighter and whiter than Hella's standard fare, but their packaging even makes mention of the fact that they have a shorter-than-average lifespan. That said, at R200-odd per pair, I'm happy to regard the globes as consumables for the much improved lighting they offer.
 
I was hoping to do a quick upgrade, but it seems to be impossible to get HB4 bulbs in Bloem :confused: I tried 3 Midas stores and AutoZone with no luck. Hella responded to my email query "Unfortunately at this stage we do not offer the HB3 / HB4 in the Hi Performance Globe Sets. However, this is a planned range extension in the near future."

Anyone know where I can buy SilverStar or NightBreaker HB4 bulbs online?

Thanks
 
PKruger said:
I was hoping to do a quick upgrade, but it seems to be impossible to get HB4 bulbs in Bloem :confused: I tried 3 Midas stores and AutoZone with no luck. Hella responded to my email query "Unfortunately at this stage we do not offer the HB3 / HB4 in the Hi Performance Globe Sets. However, this is a planned range extension in the near future."

Anyone know where I can buy SilverStar or NightBreaker HB4 bulbs online?

Thanks
Click to expand...

I know this is an old thread...
I was in the same position, looking for decent HB4 bulbs and eventually ordered cheap Chinese clones online, and so far they have been great, for me anyway.
 
Wow so Xenons are not as simple as just screwing in a light bulb? Was wondering why so few people have them.
 
InternetSwag said:
Wow so Xenons are not as simple as just screwing in a light bulb? Was wondering why so few people have them.
Click to expand...

No! A very expensive option!

Plus you have to get boosters for them - not the sort of thing you just do in the garage on a Saturday afternoon! :D
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top
Sign up to the MyBroadband newsletter
X