Replacement bulbs still provide opportunities, especially during the winter

Particularly during the long winter months, when daylight hours are at their shortest, the demand on headlight bulbs is dramatically increased, a fact endorsed at this time of year by the rising number of vehicles that can be seen with only one working.

Original equipment (OE) manufacturer and system supplier, HELLA, is synonymous with lighting, which makes its range of replacement bulbs an obvious choice for professionals. However, to fully exploit the opportunities these high quality products afford, it is worth highlighting the multiple options they offer and remembering that replacing bulbs in pairs is not only the safest choice, but in the long run, it’s also the most cost-effective for their motoring customers.

In addition to the inherent quality of the products, HELLA’s range is designed to stand out in the retail environment. The attractive packaging ensures that its product options such as Standard, Performance, Design, Long Life and Xenon, are instantly recognisable. Usefully, icons and QR codes are also incorporated to provide additional information on service life or light colour, as well as showing the correct applications and vehicle types, meaning workshops are well placed to advise their customers as to which is the most suitable replacement.

Standard bulbs – the safe driver

The HELLA Standard bulb is a popular classic and is primarily aimed at the driver who values safety, but needs it to be affordable and trustworthy. Workshops should, therefore, focus on selling these when speaking with customers with family cars, for instance, as they provide good value for money and are tested for premium quality and reliability.

These halogen bulbs are available for nearly all types, including H1, H4, H7, H11, H15, as well as the up-and-coming H18 and H19 versions.

Performance bulbs – the passionate driver

Performance bulbs are aimed at the driver who is enthusiastic about their vehicle, its appearance and maintenance. These bulbs are available as Performance +60% or +120%, providing more brightness where needed.

Workshops should therefore emphasise the fact that with these bulbs drivers will be able to react faster, as depending on the variant, the Performance range provides 25 or 50 metres more visibility. So, one of the main selling points to communicate to drivers is the improved safety they provide for a wide range of vehicles, with references H1, H4 and H7.

Long Life bulbs – the professional driver

For a professional driver such as a van driver or cabbie, workshops should generally suggest HELLA’s Long Life range, as it has an extended lifespan, while continuing to provide effective and lasting performance. These durable and reliable bulbs last up to three times longer than is required by ECE regulations, which reduces the need for maintenance. These bulbs are available in H1, H4, H7 and H11.

White Light bulbs – the stylish driver

White Light is HELLA’s offering for the more stylish driver, as it provides the perfect combination of style and comfort. With up to 30% more light, when compared to a standard halogen lamp, it delivers greater safety due to its higher light contrast and lasts up to 300 hours. The White Light range is available in H1, H4 and H7.

Xenon Bulbs – the like-for-like replacement

Finally, now that high intensity discharge or xenon bulbs are comparatively common in today’s vehicles, the need for aftermarket replacements is on the rise. Reflecting the company’s OE quality standards, HELLA’s Xenon range therefore provides the ideal like-for-like substitution, which will maintain the lighting performance the vehicle’s owner has come to rely on.

Beware of LED replacement bulbs

Although, as has been demonstrated, it is beneficial for motorists to fit upgrade bulbs, such as HELLA’s Performance, Long Life or White Light versions, any replacement must comply to ECE R37 regulation. Only bulbs with an ‘E’ mark – which stipulates that they comply to the global standard, followed by a number that identifies the country where the authorisation was granted – are legal.

The problem with using LED replacements for traditional halogen bulb applications is that, unlike the HELLA upgrade examples mentioned, LED bulbs do not currently qualify for R37 approval and therefore carry no ‘E’ mark, making them illegal for road use.

When it comes to actual LED headlights, as it presently stands, the only viable option should they need to be replaced, is to change the entire unit, rather than an individual light source. For this type of repair, HELLA is also the go-to manufacturer for workshops, to ensure they can provide their customers with the best possible solution.

Headlight Adjustment

Correctly set headlights are vital for motorists to drive safely in poor light conditions.  Misalignment will directly impact on the headlights’ effectiveness by reducing the amount of light actually on the road in front of the vehicle. Incorrect alignment is also an MoT test failure and, particularly as many projector lights are now extremely bright, can cause excessive dazzling to the eyes of other road users.

Allied to the fact that the compact under the bonnet design of modern vehicles makes headlight bulb replacement both time consuming and incredibly difficult, bulb replacement now provides a greater profit opportunity for workshops. Therefore, with a problematic application in particular, the best course of action is to advise the customer to have the bulb replaced, and their alignment checked, which, in addition to the bulbs, they may be able to supply other parts that on inspection, might need replacing.

For more information about the OE quality products available from HELLA, please call customer services on: 01295 662400 or email hella.sales@hella.com