One of the things I really love about my mini are the headlamps. I don´t know what kind of bulbs it has but I have noticed they are a lot brighter and very white compared to stock units in other cars.

Anybody knows what kind of bulbs our cars have (I´m not talking about Xenons, just the regular ones) and if they would be compatible with other cars? Last night when I got home after driving the Mini back from the office, I started my other car to trade parking places with Mini and I noticed how dimmed and yellow my headlamps were (on the civic). You think the bulbs are compatible? How can I find out (without taking the bulb off the Mini and installing it on the civic)

 

no, the MINI & Civic bulbs are not interchangeable.

MINI uses "H7" bulbs. (and has two in each headlamp - one for low beams, one for high beams)

 

helpful bulb link:

http://www.powerbulbs.com/products/b...ps&type=H7

 

The Civic may use H4 or similar bulbs. They are exactly the same as MINI's H7 but just use a different socket. Bulbs will dim significantly as they age (and of course the plastic housing becomes less transparent also). You should be able to substantiallly brighten the Civic bulbs just by buying quality replacements. Please don't fall for any of the foolish blue lights though -- just get a regular Philips/Sylvania/etc bulb.

 

Thanks John. I´ll check it out.

:???: I actually had the blue bulbs on the civic for a while but then started having electrical problems, so I went back to the original set up. I´ve seen ads about these new sylvania silverstar bulbs, that are supposed to be very bright and white. Has anybody tried these?

 

I use Sylvania Silverstar's in my 3-series, they are very nice. They emit a clean, white light that is also a bit brighter than "regular" halogens.


Cheers

 

Ryephile, do you think its worth getting the sylvania bulbs? I don´t think I will be able to find them in Mexico but I have to go to the US in a couple of months. They cost about $50 a pair right?

If I can get something close to the Mini´s in terms of illumination that would be great.