Just went through this with Hi Fi one of our new members,he had trouble finding the correct bulb at his local auto parts store.Some members are under the impression that they need to get most bulbs from the dealer--not so---
halogen head light bulbs,turn signals,license plate bulbs,dome lights,brake lights and more can be purchased at your local chain store if you have the proper numbers.I.E. the manual lists a brake light as 21/4w off you go to the dealer,nope,pick up a 7506LL from schucks/kraggens/autozone and you are up a few bucks and the outrageous charge to install that the dealer charges(in some cases I have heard $100)
For the numbers you can go to OSRAM SYLVANIA - Replacement Guide - Start
punch in the model and year and type of head light set up and it will give you most of the common bulbs.Dash cluster might be a dealer item but I bet if you have the number someone will know where to find it.
If you want brighter head lights and have halogens
go to Daniel Stern Lighting Consultancy and Supply
he also has all the other bulbs including tail directional bulbs that look clear until the signal goes on,then they blink yellow.This is to avoid that yellow look that is present in the tail lights.DS lighting also has a list of the bulbs for all the lights,plus great teck papers on how to improve you lighting,and what to avoid.
Hi Fi got the correct bulb after two days of trying at his auto store.
ohlord
65 watt H7 halogens are H9 burners on H7 bases and they throw more light while not harming the socket or the plastic lens.It is not the ricey looking blue light that is so hard on the eyes,just a brighter oe looking light in the same wave length.
follow this link post#2 if you need to polish you plastic lens. http://www.benzworld.org/forums/w210...ish+headlights
meguiers plastx or menzerna intensive polish works great. ohlord
As ohlord notes, you don't have to go to the dealer to get the bulbs...but you may have to visit a specialty shop or order them on line. I have the three big chains all around me (Pep Boys, Autozone and Schuck/Kragen/Checker) and NONE of them carry the 150-degree-pin bulbs (such as the brake light and the City light). Even an import parts store did not have the H6Ws (those clowns actually suggested I buy a 180-degree-pin bulb and file off one of the pins!!)
As I've noted before, since I found this both frustrating and infuriating, I placed an order with autohausaz.com for at least one of every bulb on the exterior of the car, doubling or tripling up on the more common and critical bulbs (H7 in particular). Much cheaper than the dealer or the big three and that way I always have one ready. Came in really handy when I lost a low beam after a fueling stop at 3 AM in the middle of nowhere, CA. Much safer than driving around with a headlight out, too. Buy a set of bulbs, grab a filter or two and you're over the $50 mark so you get them shipped for free as well.
Take care and enjoy the well-lit ride,
Greg
__________________ When you learn from your own mistakes, that's experience.
When you learn from the mistakes of others, that's wisdom.
When you fail to learn from any mistakes, that's government.
ohlord, are the 65w ones ok to use without causing any damage? or just stick to the 55w ones?
I followed ohlords advice...H9's (65w) and cleaned the lenses...huge NOTICABLE difference!! I also changed out the back up lights. Daniel Stern has a great article on how to rewire the side marker lights for better visability..Ohlord knows his stuff or he stayed at a holiday inn express!!!!
those h7 bulbs with the h9 burners really make a difference with the newly cleared and polished lenses.
No pimpy blue light,just more usable range which is what every safe driver should be seeking. ohlord
I don't remember how long i have been a customer of danielsternlighting but I am always still amazed at the depth of knowledge he has about something that seems so simple on the surface and is really a technological wonder when you dig into the theory of lighting design
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