Headlamp Replacement Tips |
Changing your headlamp bulbs, whether for repair or upgrade purposes, requires some special care. Changing headlamp bulbs yourself is reasonably straightforward, but no matter what type of headlamp bulb you choose, the components are sensitive and require careful handling. Here Ultimatemods have compiled some simple tips to help you buy, replace or upgrade your car’s headlamp bulbs more easily.
Which bulbs?
If you’re looking to replace the bulbs you already have in place, the best way to find out which bulbs to buy is to remove the faulty bulb and examine its base. Here it should detail the bulb specifications. It’s best not to rely on the information in your owner’s manual, as the bulb specified in your manual can vary from the exact type installed in your vehicle.
Avoid touching bulbs with your bare hands
Whenever you touch a bulb with your bare hands, you will be leaving behind traces of dirt and hand oil residue. Any oil and dirt on the bulb will heat up when the bulb is illuminated, creating hot spots on the bulb which can lead to a shortened life span for your headlamps.
Any good bulb manufacturer will now use toughened quartz glass in their bulb production which significantly reduces this hot spot problem, but touching the bulbs with your hands should still be avoided, no matter how clean you think your hands are. Wearing gloves is still the best practice, with most professional mechanics opting for disposable latex gloves every time.
Single bulbs vs. bulb pairs
When it comes to buying and replacing bulbs, it makes sense to buy them in pairs. If you’re buying a bulb to replace an old one that has blown, it stands to reason that your second bulb may also be nearing the end of its lifespan shortly. Replacing both bulbs at once means that you won’t have to worry about bulb replacement for some considerable time.
Replacing one bulb with a new component, while leaving an old bulb in place in the other headlamp, can also lead to a lighting imbalance which can be distracting to other drivers approaching your vehicle on the road. The older a bulb gets, the duller the level of light that it produces, so it’s best to replace both bulbs at the same time to make sure that you have an even lighting level.
Insurance concerns
If you’re making an upgrade to your car’s lighting system rather than a straightforward repair or replacement job, then remember to inform the DVLA and your insurer. The DVLA need to have an exact description of your vehicle for vehicle identification purposes, while your insurer needs to know exactly what you have fitted to your car in case this affects the price of your policy. Withholding this information from your insurer could mean that your insurance is deemed null and void should you need to make a claim.
If you’re worried about the cost of your insurance being affected by your upgraded bulbs, a money saving tip is to wait until your current insurance policy is coming to an end before making any modifications. This way you can switch insurers and take advantage of new policyholder deals like the Kwik Fit Insurance 20% online car insurance discount offer. Discounts like these can help to balance out any increases in your overall insurance costs caused by expensive car headlamp modifications.
