Headlight bulbs

Alfredo- Several owners have upgraded to HID lamps like those fitted to the 575M. Not sure if any of them were 456 drivers, but hopefully they will chime in with an answer.

 

I have fitted HID / xenon on my 550 and it improved the light ALOT. Not accepted any the annual inspection of the Dept. Of Motor Vehicle, but makes me happy anyway. And the car looks much more modern too. I have done the same to some other cars too with bad result. Do you have a 456 or 550? I believe as long as you have a single lamp/reflector unit, it can be done.

 

A couple of years ago we fitted Valeo D1S projectors with HID bulbs to our 550's. It was a bit of a chore researching the correct projector that was a direct replacement for stock. I used Audi Hella ballasts, I believe John used a newer ballast from The Retrofit Source.

HID reflectors have a slightly different curve so the stock projectors are not suitable for HID bulbs.

The results have been very satisfactory.

At that time there were lots of choices on eBay, now not so many. As I recall I had to buy a set of projectors from Turkey just to get clear lens instead of Fresnel.

 

Like the OP I find 550 headlamps are not that good and have looked at upgrading. As you write it is not possible just to fit HID bulbs.

I've tried to find the info from a Valeo agent but without success. Do you recall what car your correct projectors came from?

 

Unfortunately no, These should fit, dimensions are given in the ad. You will notice the reflector is rounder than the stock 550 reflector.
Valeo D1S Xenon Projectors 2 5 inch Fresnal Lens HID Retrofits Item 3 | eBay

Research is necessary to insure the correct bulb/connector. Mine use the D2S bulb/connector.This site is a good resource.
https://www.hidplanet.com/forums/forum
and this one
https://www.theretrofitsource.com/

You will need a ballast kit of some kind.

On edit: The Valeo projectors came from an Audi A4, and A6 Allroad as I recall finally.

 

I put Osram Night Breaker main beam bulbs in my 575M last year and saw a worthwhile improvement.

Such bulbs offer more light output from new but I believe that the performance drops off over time.


http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/456-550-575-sponsored-bradan/494692-575m-main-beam-bulb-options.html

 

Isn't xenon standard on all 575s?

Dave: would you think the unit from a 575 will fit into the 550 headlamp unit?

 

Xenon is standard for dipped beam on the 575M but high beam is via good old halogens.

P.S. My 2002 986 Boxster has xenon(Litronic) on the dipped beam and although I'm sure that they were marketed as good for the life of the car, I have now done 180,000kms over 14 years (more often than not with the lights on) and the light output is certainly way down on what it once was so I will shortly be replacing those D1S lamps with Osram XENARC NIGHT BREAKER UNLIMITED or similar....

 

I don't know but it might be hard finding a 575 projector, I don't think they are sold separately.

 

I know about one complete 575 lamp with everything... would be cool to have OEM xenon in the 550 headlamps...

 

I once saw an Argento 550 for sale that had been retrofitted with a set of Nero 575M headlights!

Although it sounds tempting to modify the 550s headlights to accept HID projector units, you will appreciate that the two (550 and 575M) headlight units are internally different so it wouldn't just be a case of replacing the 550s dipped beam unit with the 575Ms HID (and ballast).

Quite a few used 550/575M headlight units on eBay with pictures showing the key differences.

 

Well I've spent hours looking and it seems there are no Valeo D2S projectors available now. When we did ours there were lots on eBay, it was easy. Maybe some will come up later.

I'm not sure but I think the D1S and D3S bulb connectors are too big to fit under the grey cover. The D2S connector just barely fits.

 

I put the same bulbs for the dipped headlights in my 550. At the same time I reduced the beam's inclination from the stock 1.4% to 1.2% (the legal minimum in Europe is 1%).
The bulbs do actually produce more light, but you won't really notice it until you increase the headlight's range.

Stefano

 

I put these in, and I'm happy with the result. Its as close as I could find to HID without any modifications. Way brighter and whiter than stock.

https://www.sylvania.com/en-us/products/automotive/Pages/silverstar-ultra.aspx

 

Which Part # did you install? Definitely need to upgrade these lights!

Available Part Numbers: 9003/H4, 9004, 9005, 9006, 9007, H7, H1, H11, H13/9008

thanks

 

I just put the zXE on to replace the ultras. They seem to be a little whiter than the ultras, way whiter than stock. Low beam is H7, high beam is H1. If you don't want to convert to HID this is a very good compromise in my opinion. Cheap ($40) and 5 minutes to swap bulbs

 

that's a great tip - thanks a lot!

 

I had HID kit fitted for about two years in my 550. Cheap China junk and the problem was that they need proper current to ignite the xenon gas. Sometimes both right and left would not ignite and I could be driving with only one headlight on. This due to the fact that Norwegians like me are used to just start the car and the lights come on even if it is daylight outside as running lights / low beam are by law required at any time even if it is a bright sunny day. So when starting a 550, the voltage is significantly lower before the altenator start to charge the battery. I later fitted a time relay so the low beam came on two-three seconds after the engine started. This solved that problem , but the light also went from very good to almost ok in a few years and those systems are bot very easy to find replacement bulbs and ballasts for. So Last year I fittet LED bulbs instead. This was a much better "low cost solution". It cost about 70 dollars for a pair of bulbs. And it draws a fraction of the current and looks like the white/blue xenon of a normal modern car. With the timer relay, it goes on perfectly just after the engine starts. Less wiring in the engine compartment too. They fit under the grey cover. The light is also very good and the car passed the annual inspection with no problems.

 

Could you please state the vendor and réf used ? From France, I can order from « Lasercar.fr » but they have different models for both H1 & H7, not to sure how to chose and make sure it fits within the rubber cover… Also, did you change both High beam and low beam ?

 

Hi BPM78! I put these in: https://www.thansen.no/bil/bildeler/paerer-og-lykter/led-dioder/led-paeresett-h7-6500k-15-20w-4560lm/n439/pn982083/ They are about 45 euro for two bulbs. So if they become less bright, I just buy new ones. And keep some as spares. But I was quite impressed about the light. There is a little fan that blows air to cool the bulb. I don't know if it is blowing in or out. The good thing with old halogen bulbs is the hear so snow is melting on the headlights. The LED draw much less current so will not generate the same heat. (But less current draw is good for to reduce the heat in the fuse box). Where in France are you located?

Erik

 

Thank you Erik !
Will do and test on my 550… I’m close to Versailles, so if you fancy a long drive south, you’ll be welcome for a glass of wine and I’ll show you around

 

https://www.ledperf.com/kit-led-haute-puissance-h7-=c=-966_967.html

 

Thanks for the invitation. I would love to. Right now we still have lots of snow so I wish I had my 550 in South of France. I lived in Villefranche-sur-Mer for about three years. Now I am planning on having a Maserati 228i there all year around. I would buy the most expencive LED bulb I can fine. Not The first one in your list. It is VERY important that the light is EXACTLY IN the same position of the old style glow bulb, otherwise, the the light woll be completely wrong, give bad light and disturb car in opposite direction.