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Headlight technology has come a long way in the last few years. From the halogen bulbs of old there are now LEDs, HIDs and even lasers are being used on posh Audis. All of these lights are more powerful than conventional headlights, use less power to run and look cooler. In short, they sound like a no-brainer upgrade for almost any car.
Problem is, cars that were not fitted with such headlights from the factory are not legally allowed to be retrofitted with LED bulbs. For more information on why we’ve got an article on general headlights for your car here.
And as cars that come with LED lights as standard will require a dealer to replace the bulbs, it means these bulbs can only be used in special circumstances.
LED headlight bulbs therefore can only be used on racetracks and off-road. So, if you own a track car you won’t be using on the road or a mud-plugging 4x4 and are wanting to upgrade your bulbs, we have the perfect options for you.
Why aren’t they road legal?
The reason you can’t retrofit LED headlights to a car is that there is no legislation to regulate or test these bulbs. Current legislation tests the filament which an LED light lacks meaning it isn’t covered. And as all bulbs require a British Standard mark to be legal, they are illegal to fit to your car. And because they're brighter, it's easier for them to dazzle other drivers if they aren't adjusted correctly.
What you need to know about H7 LED headlights:
The best H7 LED headlights
1. Philips Automotive Lighting X-tremeUltinon LED Car Headlight Bulb
Price: £114.43 | VIEW OFFER
Philips Automotive produce some really powerful headlights and these H7 LED bulbs are amazing if you're wanting to upgrade what you can see. They're incredibly powerful and have a life-span of up to 12 years.
Pros:
Fantastic lighting quality
Cons:
Expensive
2. EASY EAGLE H7 LED Headlight Bulbs
Price: £29.99 | VIEW OFFER
Easy Eagle produce some good headlights bulbs if you're shopping on a budget. These H7 LED bulbs are good even if they won't be as powerful as more premium options. They do feature a mini-fan to keep them cool in use.
Pros:
Good value for money
Cons:
Not as powerful as others
3. Lacyie 60W 6000K LED Car Headlight Conversion Kit
Price: £19.98 | VIEW OFFER
Save money and get brighter fog lights with these H7 bulbs from Lacyie. Easy to install, these fog light bulbs are incredibly efficient once installed and will help deliver better lighting when visibility is reduced.
Pros:
Upgrade your fog lights
Cons:
They won't be used much
4. ELCM H7 LED Headlight Bulbs
Price: £23.99 | VIEW OFFER
A simple and durable option from ELCM, these bulbs will be effective for off-roading. Made to be resistant to both frost and water these bulbs will be effective in even the bitterest of British winters. These LED bulbs produce a bright white light.
Pros:
Durable
Cons:
Not the most powerful
5. LEDriving Gen2 H7 LED Bulbs Twin Pack
Price: £71.99| VIEW OFFER
A pricy but top-quality choice, this set of H7 LED lightbulbs will give you up to 5000 hours of light before needing replacing. They also produce a bright white colour making them ideal for night-time racing.
Pros:
Excellent visibility
Cons:
Expensive
What does H7 mean?
Headlight bulbs come in different styles dependant on what they do. H7 simply means these bulbs are single filament units with two prongs on the back.
How do I fit a H7 bulb to my car?
Obviously every car is different and there will be some variation in how to add the lightbulb but here is a general guide to how to replace your bulbs. Always check your car’s handbook first, however.
- Make sure your car is turned off before you lift the bonnet.
- Locate where the headlights are (it should be fairly obvious) and find where the bulbs are.
- Disconnect the three wires in the back of the bulb. These may be held on with clips, screw caps or a small catch. It is then a case of undoing the locking mechanism to retrieve the old bulb.
- Insert the new bulb and reattach the wires. Halfords recommend wearing gloves to avoid the oil on your skin from damaging the bulb. Make sure the bulb is properly aligned and you should be good to go.
- Some cars are more complex than others to work on (accessing the headlights on the second-generation Renault Megane required you to remove the entire front bumper for example).