Thread Starter
#1
Hello, fellow automobile enthusiasts. There is nothing more annoying than driving or riding at night with poor headlights. Not being able to see what's on the road is one thing, but there is something else as well.
It is 2025, and civic sense is still considered a crime in India. People drive permanently on high beams unless and until you have something powerful enough to force them to shift to low beam!
I have added auxiliary lights to my bikes to increase the nighttime visibility. But, for years, I have contemplated upgrading my car's (Ignis) headlight due to a lack of reliable options.
My Ignis has a reflector setup with 55/60W halogens, like most other cars sold in India. My Chevrolet Sail has the same bulb, and yet I have never felt the need for a headlight upgrade. Light output has a lot to do with the reflector design in the car.
My options were plenty, but each one had its pros and cons
I have thought this to be true as well since 90% of cars with LEDs blinded oncoming traffic even while they are on lower beam.
After some research, I realised that it's the cheap, poorly designed Chinese knock-off LEDs without any cut-off curtain that cause a blinding light pattern.
In all the above LEDs, the light beam of the low beam is uncontrolled and is purely dependent on the reflector.
When it comes to upgrading, more than half of the uninformed population chose the cheapest ones, and those are badly engineered like the ones above.
After considering all these, I zeroed in on the Osram H4 replacement Warm White LED. I was able to get a good deal from a reputable seller. 'Autodrome' on Amazon for under 4K during a sale.
Osram LEDriving KL XLZ 3.0
Although the Amazon listing was showing the older LEDriving HL Premium, I received the updated model.
There is a copper heat sink running through the center for cooling the LEDs
There are 4 LED chips in each unit, with 2 on each side. Notice how there is a shade given for both LED chips at the front. This is what enables a perfect cut-off at low beam to avoid blinding oncoming traffic. This shade has to be precisely at a particular measurement to get an ideal beam. This is what most Chinese LEDs lack.
LH side
RH side
The installation was straightforward, plug-and-play.
Result
Low Beam (LH-Osram LED and RH Stocl H4)
High Beam (LH-Osram LED and RH Stocl H4)
The intensity of the light has at least doubled!
Low Beam with Osram LEDs
High Beam with Osram LEDs. Notice how the end of the road is perfectly visible on high beam.
A screenshot from the dashcam to show how much better the low beam cut-off is compared to typical cheap LEDs. This one looks almost like a projector setup.
Conclusion
This is the most effective mod I have ever done on any vehicle. For years, I contemplated upgrading to an LED since I always thought them to have a poor light throw. But, finally, I was wrong about generalising, and Osram proved to me that it can be done in a reflector setup as well.
I do not know how long these LEDs will last, but I am sure they will last a long time, given there are no manufacturing defects!
I will suggest this upgrade wholeheartedly to anyone looking to upgrade their headlights. You can go for warm white or cool white, depending on your usage. I suggest warm white 4200K for better visibility in rain and fog.
Link to the product :
Osram H4 Warm White
Osram H4 Cool White
You can also check out the Philips H4 LED 3500 K Warm White
It is 2025, and civic sense is still considered a crime in India. People drive permanently on high beams unless and until you have something powerful enough to force them to shift to low beam!
I have added auxiliary lights to my bikes to increase the nighttime visibility. But, for years, I have contemplated upgrading my car's (Ignis) headlight due to a lack of reliable options.
My Ignis has a reflector setup with 55/60W halogens, like most other cars sold in India. My Chevrolet Sail has the same bulb, and yet I have never felt the need for a headlight upgrade. Light output has a lot to do with the reflector design in the car.
My options were plenty, but each one had its pros and cons
- 90/100W halogen bulb upgrade (Causes more load on the alternator and damages the reflector)
- LED projector fog lights (It takes a lot of work, and there is a lack of reliable lights)
- LED H4 Chinese lights (No long-term reports)
- Osram/ Philips H4 replacement LEDs (Costs 5k a pair)
- Stock projector from Ignis Alpha (Costs 40k a pair)
I have thought this to be true as well since 90% of cars with LEDs blinded oncoming traffic even while they are on lower beam.
After some research, I realised that it's the cheap, poorly designed Chinese knock-off LEDs without any cut-off curtain that cause a blinding light pattern.
In all the above LEDs, the light beam of the low beam is uncontrolled and is purely dependent on the reflector.
When it comes to upgrading, more than half of the uninformed population chose the cheapest ones, and those are badly engineered like the ones above.
After considering all these, I zeroed in on the Osram H4 replacement Warm White LED. I was able to get a good deal from a reputable seller. 'Autodrome' on Amazon for under 4K during a sale.
Osram LEDriving KL XLZ 3.0
Although the Amazon listing was showing the older LEDriving HL Premium, I received the updated model.
There is a copper heat sink running through the center for cooling the LEDs
There are 4 LED chips in each unit, with 2 on each side. Notice how there is a shade given for both LED chips at the front. This is what enables a perfect cut-off at low beam to avoid blinding oncoming traffic. This shade has to be precisely at a particular measurement to get an ideal beam. This is what most Chinese LEDs lack.
LH side
RH side
The installation was straightforward, plug-and-play.
- Remove the dust cap
- Install the LED frame on the headlight using stock clips
- Install the LED in the frame along with the dust cap
- Secure the power control box somewhere with a zip tie (provided with the kit)
- Twist the LED to get the right beam pattern
Result
Low Beam (LH-Osram LED and RH Stocl H4)
High Beam (LH-Osram LED and RH Stocl H4)
The intensity of the light has at least doubled!
Low Beam with Osram LEDs
High Beam with Osram LEDs. Notice how the end of the road is perfectly visible on high beam.
A screenshot from the dashcam to show how much better the low beam cut-off is compared to typical cheap LEDs. This one looks almost like a projector setup.
Conclusion
This is the most effective mod I have ever done on any vehicle. For years, I contemplated upgrading to an LED since I always thought them to have a poor light throw. But, finally, I was wrong about generalising, and Osram proved to me that it can be done in a reflector setup as well.
I do not know how long these LEDs will last, but I am sure they will last a long time, given there are no manufacturing defects!
I will suggest this upgrade wholeheartedly to anyone looking to upgrade their headlights. You can go for warm white or cool white, depending on your usage. I suggest warm white 4200K for better visibility in rain and fog.
Link to the product :
Osram H4 Warm White
Osram H4 Cool White
You can also check out the Philips H4 LED 3500 K Warm White