Automotive Lighting

Are your headlights dim and yellowish, has a taillight gone out, or is your car missing clear daytime running lights? In this category we bring together car lighting: headlights, taillights, fog lights, turn signals, daytime running light kits and bulbs in LED, halogen and xenon. This category is for you if you want to replace faulty lights, improve visibility or give your car a new look.

Light to see and be seen

Your car's lighting has two jobs: you need to be able to see the road, and other road users need to be able to see you and understand what you are doing. That is why the category covers complete headlights for your car, taillights, fog lights, turn signals and daytime running light kits as well as individual bulbs. If the car will be used off-road, also take a look at off-road lighting.

How to choose lights and bulbs

Start with the car: model year, model and whether it has halogen, xenon or LED from the factory. This determines what fits electrically and mechanically. Then weigh up these factors:

• Base and fitment: A bulb must have the same base as the original, and a light unit must fit the body's mounting brackets and connectors.
• Housing and beam pattern: Light output alone does not determine the result. Projector and reflector headlights distribute light differently, and an LED bulb in a reflector housing designed for halogen can produce a blurred beam pattern or dazzle oncoming traffic.
• Colour temperature: Typically stated in kelvin. Very bluish light can look modern, but does not necessarily give better visibility in rain and fog.
• Power consumption and electronics: LED bulbs typically draw less power than incandescent bulbs. On some cars this can cause error messages or hyper-flashing, so a resistor or a CANbus-compatible solution may be needed.
• Approval: Whether a light or bulb is road legal depends on the product and the car. Check the E-mark for the specific part number before you buy.

Brands, fitting and maintenance

In this category you will find brands such as ORACLE Lighting, ANZO, Diode Dynamics, Raxiom and Hella. ORACLE Lighting offers bulbs and LED strips, among other things. If you just need to replace a burnt-out bulb, halogen and xenon bulbs are an obvious place to start. Bulbs should typically be replaced in pairs so that brightness and colour are the same on both sides. Do not touch the glass of halogen bulbs with your fingers, as grease can shorten their lifespan. After fitting new headlights or bulbs, the headlight alignment should be checked, and since xenon systems operate at high voltage, always follow the installation instructions.

Frequently asked questions

Can I put LED bulbs in my halogen headlights?

It depends on the housing and the bulb. Some LED bulbs fit mechanically but produce a different beam pattern than halogen. Whether the combination is approved for road use must be checked for the specific part number and your car.

What is the difference between daytime running lights and fog lights?

Daytime running lights make the car visible to others in daylight, while fog lights are mounted low and cast a wide, flat beam to reduce glare in fog and heavy rain. They are used in different situations and do not replace each other.

Why is there condensation inside my light?

A little misting can occur with temperature changes and typically disappears once the lights have been on for a while. If there is standing water in the light, it may be due to a leaking seal, a damaged housing or an incorrectly fitted cover on the back of the light.