Which bulbs does your car need?
Halogen, LED or xenon? Find out which light source is right for your car – including tips on base plate types and quick help with bulb replacement.Before you can change the light source on your car, you need to know which bulb is suitable for which car. In the HELLA lamp and bulb guide, we therefore answer the most important questions including which bulb is suitable for the low beam or licence plate light.
What are the different types of car lamps?
Although there are fewer accidents at night than during the day, the proportion of fatalities at night is higher. To limit the risk of accidents in the dark or when visibility is poor, it is important that all car lights and headlamps are always in perfect working order. This means that as soon as you notice that the performance of the lamps is starting to deteriorate, you need to replace the bulbs without delay.
Although a wide range of lamps can be found on the car, they are always either halogen, LED or xenon light sources. We will explain the difference between these different types of lighting in the following sections.
When changing the light source, it is not only important to know the correct designation of the car lamps, but also which bulb types are needed. We are therefore presenting the most important lamp types here. Together with an overview of the available base plates. Equipped with our lamp guide, you will have all the information you need at your fingertips!
The various automotive lamps: an overview
If you want to know which bulb suits your car, you first need to find out whether your car has LED, halogen or xenon lights. In older models these are most likely to be halogen bulbs, while in newer vehicles, more and more of these bulbs are being replaced by LED lamps.
Halogen bulbs are currently still the most common. These produce the typical amber glow of the low beam and are also used for direction indicators, licence plate lights, stop lights and for interior lighting. Depending on the intended use, different kinds of halogen bulbs must be used.
Xenon bulbs, which produce a cold blue light, have now also been installed in many cars for the low and high beams. But LEDs, which are replacing not only the halogen or xenon low beam lights in modern cars, but also many other lights such as direction indicators, stop lights, etc. are clearly the future.
The various halogen bulbs always consist of an H (for halogen) and a precise designation number. For example H1, H3, H6, H4 or H7. In most cases you can find out which bulb you need for the car light in question in the owner's manual.
Which base plate types are available for car lamps?
As already mentioned, you should not only know which bulb is needed for the car, but also which base plate. Bulbs in car lamps are not always the conventional screw type.
Overview of the most important bulb base plates in motor vehicles:
- W: Bulb with glass base plate
- P: Flat base plate
- E: Threaded base plate
- SV: Lamp with two caps
- R: Lamp diameter 19 mm, base plate diameter 15 mm
- P: Lamp diameter 26.5 mm, base plate diameter 15 mm
Here’s how to find the right bulb for your car lights
You can always find the right light source for your car using our practical search screen. Simply enter the manufacturer, model and light type to quickly find out the answer – that makes bulb replacement easy!
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