Car headlights / headlights - ws-autoteile.com

What functions do car headlights perform?

Nowadays, car headlights are more than just a mere source of light. They give the vehicle a unique look and additionally set stylistic accents. The main task of car headlights in the front of the vehicle, however, is to protect and fix the bulbs. Since the light from the bulbs shines in every direction, it requires a headlight. In this way, the light is focused on the road. Halogen headlights contain a reflector that collects the light produced by the bulb and throws it onto the road. In old vehicles, the structure of the glass of the car headlights also contributes to optimum light dispersion. Xenon headlights use a movable projection module, instead of the reflector.

The most important function of car headlights is the low beam.It is used for any drive at dusk and in the dark and illuminates the roads, as well as the surrounding area. In doing so, it must not dazzle oncoming traffic. Another function incorporated in the car headlight is the high beam. It is significantly brighter and more far-reaching than the conventional low beam and must not be switched on when there is oncoming traffic. In addition, each car headlight consists of a turn signal. Modern headlights have other functions, such as an integrated daytime running light and a parking light. All functions are intended to make other road users aware of your vehicle.

Halogen headlights, xenon headlights, LED headlights - What are the differences?

The standard equipment in almost every vehicle is the halogen headlight. This is cheap and the repair, as well as the replacement of the bulbs, is usually done quickly. As the name suggests, halogen bulbs are used here. Depending on the vehicle model, one or two halogen lamps are installed for the low and high beam per headlight.

To get the best performance out of your halogen headlights, we recommend the use of quality halogen bulbs from Osram or Philips. If high-quality bulbs are installed, halogen headlights have a significantly improved luminosity than the factory-fitted lamps and a pleasant light color from light yellow to white. You will find the appropriate illuminants in our store.

Another variant of headlights is the xenon headlight. Here xenon bulbs are used. They usually shine white, with a slightly bluish cast, and have a longer life. However, the headlight, as well as the matching bulbs, are more expensive and more complicated to install. In some cases, halogen bulbs are also used for the high beam, while bi-xenon headlights only use one xenon bulb. In addition, modern car headlights have additional features, such as a cornering light and light assistants. In vehicles of the upper class, laser or LED headlights are now installed. They are characterized by high efficiency and an even longer service life.

In our store you will find a wide selection of high quality halogen headlights, xenon headlights and LED headlights. The matching parts you can buy from us as individual items or product packages for both headlight sides. We rely on the quality of well-known manufacturers such as:

How do I know if my car headlights are adjusted correctly?

Unfortunately, many motorists do not know whether their headlights are set correctly. If the light is set incorrectly, your view of the road traffic may be restricted or you may even dazzle other road users.If your headlights dazzle, you will probably notice it by oncoming traffic honking their lights. So your car headlights are set too high. The reason for this could be a high load on your car or it could be due to an adjusted basic setting of the headlights. The latter is often caused by a bulb change you did yourself.

If your headlights shine only a very few meters and the light cone is very small, it indicates that the headlights are set too low. Not only can you see the roads less clearly, but you may be less noticed by other road users. Here, too, it's time for a readjustment.

Most cars have a manual headlight leveling system. You will find it as a small wheel to the left of the steering wheel. If you have your vehicle heavily loaded, you can adjust the light here. If you have an automatic headlight range control or still have a faulty light pattern despite correct adjustment, you should have your headlights checked in a workshop with the help of a light check. This involves adjusting the angle of inclination directly on the headlamp. This work must be carried out very precisely and requires the right tools. If you still want to try it yourself, it is best to have a white wall and the correct data on the tilt angle and light height of the headlight. According to the manufacturer's specifications, the light setting can thus be made independently. If the headlight is not set correctly, you quickly get into a traffic control and can expect a warning fine of 15 to 35 euros, depending on the circumstances.

How do I recognize defective car headlights and what to look for when buying headlights?

If only one bulb has failed, it is not necessary to replace the entire headlight. For proper handling, read our blog post "What to consider when changing bulbs?".

Defective headlights can often be recognized by the following:

A weak light output, despite high-quality bulbs: In this case, the headlight is probably very scratched or yellowed. UV radiation or stone chips cause the car headlights to "go blind". Likewise, moisture can get into the headlight through brittle rubber seals or cracks, thus causing mold from the inside.
It occurs an error message in the board computer.
A failure of the light, despite functioning bulbs.
An automatic or manual adjustment of the headlight is no longer possible, despite intact actuator and level sensor.

In these cases, we advise replacing the defective parts and buying new headlights. Often, replacing the affected side is sufficient, depending on the optical condition of the second headlight. Pairwise replacement is not mandatory.

The replacement of halogen headlights is relatively simple. Often it is sufficient to loosen the mounting screws of the car headlights and disconnect the cable. However, in some vehicles, the bumper must be removed. In the case of xenon headlights, the battery should be disconnected beforehand so that all components can be dismantled safely. If an LED headlight no longer works, it must always be completely replaced, because the individual LEDs can not be changed.

A conversion from halogen headlights to xenon headlights or LED headlights is possible in principle, but very complex and associated with many difficulties. In addition, the operating license may expire if non-approved bulbs or other parts for the lighting system are installed. Who wants to have a bright LED light in the halogen headlight, without having to change the headlight completely, should resort to the "Philips Ultinon Pro6000 LED retrofit kit" with road approval.

Whoever wants to buy headlights should first start by entering the vehicle at the top of our vehicle search. The vehicle manufacturers redesign every now and then the vehicles of a series over time and give them a facelift. Therefore, among other things, the year of manufacture is important. With the selected vehicle, the results are then already reduced. Now you only have to pay attention to the specified restrictions. Already you will find the right car headlight. If you are unsure which headlight to buy, please feel free to contact our support with your vehicle data.

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Car headlights - the essential component of the car

What functions do car headlights perform?

Halogen headlights, xenon headlights, LED headlights - What are the differences?

How do I know if my car headlights are adjusted correctly?

How do I recognize defective car headlights and what to look for when buying headlights?