Crap headlight bulbs?
Turbo Mini Forums

The Corsa has just blown another dipped beam bulb at the weekend, and I've not long replaced the driver side dipped beam bulb as well (about 6 weeks ago). Now that the passenger side bulb has gone, I'm beginning to wonder if the bulbs are at fault, or whether I should start trying to diagnose a wiring fault?

Is there anyone that would rate any particular type of headlamp bulb, or are there any that I should avoid? I replaced the driver side bulb with a standard one for the car (05' Corsa) from Halfords, which was unbranded as far as I can remember.

It's also blown a couple of dipped beam bulbs in the past, one each side I believe.

Thanks guys.

Halfords bulbs ARE shit, last five seconds and are dull as hell, i will be replacing mine when i get paid for either 'rally' bulbs or some of the high intensity bulbs so i can see at night again. My pug used to use 90w130w bulbs said not for road use but they arent as bright as some oem zenon lights bloody good buy at £20 never had to change them in well over a year as well. The clio is on its 4th set of bulbs (got cheap ones, two sets from gaufords) and the current ones are dimmer than a unlit candel

Drives
-Ford S-max Mk2 Ecoboost
-Rover 100 VVC #2 - track project

Searching is all you need on TurboMinis

Just get main dealer bulbs. they are cheaper than halfrauds and will be much better quality

Once one goes, expect the others to go soon after. After all they will have all been on about the same length of time.

Fastest 998 mini in the world? 13.05 1/4 mile 106mph

Wiring is unlikely but it could be the alternator itself is putting out too high a voltage - a simple check.

Usual problem with Q/I bulbs is accidentally touching them when fitting them. It's not a myth, getting any oil/sweat etc. on the outside causes the vapour inside the bulb to migrate to one area and not re-condense on the filament.

Schrödinger's cat - so which one am I ???

Dont forget that when one headlight bulb goes the other burns brighter reducing its life

I picked up a pack of two Bosch bulbs in the end which I believe are the standard fitment for a Corsa, and so that they match each other for brightness.

I must admit Paul, the Halfords dipped lights do seem rather dim but I'm used to the mini's lights before this Corsa, so comapred to that it's bloody Blackpool Illuminations!

That's an interesting point about touching the glass of the bulb Rod, I hadn't thought about it to be honest as I usually try not to touch the glass out of habbit, but I shall wipe them both clean just in case I did touch it by mistake.

I shall shread my fingers some more later tonight when hopefully the rain has stopped, so that I can get them swapped over properly.

Does it? how's that work then? I guess you might get a slight increase in voltage as the load reduces, but this should be covered by the regulator.

Fastest 998 mini in the world? 13.05 1/4 mile 106mph

I had similar issues, trying to find bulbs that were worth a crap (they are also a bit of a PITA to change). In the end, I went to a main dealer. He reached for the sylvania stuff on the counter, so I declined and asked for stuff in a box with the blue oval on it. They have to go rooting, but they did have them. I paid a little more, but 2 years later, I haven't changed them since.

My Clio used to blow them every 2-3 months so bought 10 off ebay for the price of 1 from halfords

Just buy a decent brand and they will last fine.

My Corsa van does about 80k a year, and bulbs last me a good few months. Cheap ones might only last a few weeks.
Cant even remember what make mine are...just the green boxes from a motor factors.

9.85 @ 145mph
202mph standing mile
speed didn't kill me, but taxation probably will

Buy quality bulbs! The cheaper ones don't seem to be manufactured for the environment they are used in. For example, take the old 100watt filament bulb in lamp in the back bedroom, switch it on and then shake it vigorously. It won't last 5 minutes. Thats because it was designed to be in a stationary installation. Those cheep headlight bulbs obviously don't like being jiggled about.

Halfords standard bulbs are shit, You wanna get the 90% or 120% brighter they are buy one get one free

also halfords do sell Bosch bulbs

i bought some ring xeon max one for the mini. Meant to be 100% brighter, only 55/60w ones. Seem to do the job.

I am going to do a HID retrofit with Morimoto mini D2S projectors and DDM Tunings HIDs. As I can't see the with lights on my clubman. I used Hella 500FF driving lights with the stock headlights on my cooper. It worked ok, but I don't have any other lights on my clubman. Will post pics any stuff when I get everything.

1991 mini cooper
1971 mini clubman