Some readers have emailed with a number of similar questions. For that reason we decided to compile a general ‘Questions and Answers’ about xenon headlight bulbs.

What are Xenon bulbs?
Xenon bulbs are car bulbs filled with Xenon gas, instead of halogen, and this gives a brighter, whiter light without increasing the wattage of the product.

Can I buy them in my local motor store?
These award winning products are difficult to locate in shops, but Power Bulbs specialise in supplying them to customers directly and we dispatch to countries all over the world every day.

How easy are they to install?
Do I need to do any modifications? Our bulbs are easy to install - simply replace your existing bulb. No modification is required.

I have plastic lenses on my car. Are your bulbs safe to use?
Yes - all products have a UV filter to prevent melting or discolouration of plastic lenses (unless stated).

Will installing these bulbs invalidate my warranty?
Not at all – no modification is required as it is simply a change of the bulb.

How long will they last?
The lifespan is comparable to that of a standard bulb.

Are these bulbs legal?
Yes. All our products are ‘E’ marked and meet ECE Regulation 37 (unless stated)

Are these bulbs the same as the blue coloured, powerful lights that I see on prestige cars?
No, but they’re the next best thing for a lot less money! The headlights on some prestige cars use a completely different lighting system called H.I.D. (High Intensity Discharge). This system is extremely complex and usually costs in excess of £800 on a new vehicle. Our bulbs deliver extra, whiter light output for a fraction of the cost!

We hope this will assist with some questions you may have had, but if you do have any others then please get in touch.

Power Bulbs offers a wide selection of headlight and car bulbs with free worldwide shipping on all orders.

Philips Xtreme Power (available in H4 and H7) is our best selling car/motorcycle headlight bulb at the moment, largely thanks to the excellent reviews and feedback that the product has received in the press and from automotive enthusiasts across the world.

Through the use of xenon gas, Philips X-Treme Power can offer up to 80% more light than standard - all through the same wattage (55w for H7, 60/55w for H4). This is a bold claim, but one that has been confirmed by numerous tests as well as customer feedback.

Car enthusiasts have also produced a number of videos which highlight the performance of Philips X-Treme Power. Whilst it is important to note that bulbs tend to work differently on different vehicles, they are at least indicative of the excellent results you can expect to see. Take a look…

Power Bulbs offers Philips X-Treme Power with free shipping worldwide. As a result we have customers from all over the world benefiting from this excellent product. If you know which bulb fitting you need simply select either H4 or H7. If you do not know which bulb fitting you need, simply take a look at our bulb finder to locate the correct headlight bulbs for your vehicle.

Running a car these days isn’t a cheap exercise, with fuel prices at an all-time high and other expenses, such as road tax, also increasing in cost. It’s therefore even more important to find ways to cut down the cost of motoring wherever possible.

There has been an increase in articles in the press, such as this example in The Times, detailing how motorists may be able to save money. One major cost drivers of modern cars face is servicing, particularly if through a main dealer.

As more and more vehicles are fitted with the latest technology, there is a tendency for prices to go up. One such technological advance is the xenon HID gas discharge system, fitted to more and more prestige vehicles these days. They use a different technology to standard halogen headlights which means, surprise surprise, the costs are much higher. The system itself, on a brand new vehicle, can cost anything between £800 and £1800 as an extra. Similarly, if the HID capsule (the equivalent of the bulb) fails, a main dealer can charge anywhere between £100 and £200 (+VAT and labour!).

You can save a small fortune by buying the exact same original equipment quality part direct from Power Bulbs. As a premier distributor for Philips, we cut out the middle man and pass the savings on to you. If you have the HID system and need a replacement HID capsule, then simply look in your vehicle handbook and establish whether you have a D2S or a D2R (they look similar but are different). Once you’ve done this, take a look at the links below and save!

Philips Xenon HID D2S
Philips Xenon HID D2R

Did you know that in most European countries it is mandatory to carry a spare bulb kit? Even if you’re not driving abroad, it makes good sense to carry a spare kit as bulbs always tend to fail at the most inconvenient times!

There are a whole host of cheap kits around, but when changing any part on your vehicle you always use a quality product. Choosing Philips means you are assured of original equipment quality; put simply this mean it’s the same high quality that your car manufacturer recommends.

The VisionCare range from Philips offers a high quality spare bulb and fuse kit in a compact, practical case. It includes:

1 x Headlight bulb
1 x 382 (P21W) bulb
1 x 380 (P21/5W) bulb
1 x 581 (PY21W) bulb
1 x 501 (W5W) bulb
1 x 10A fuse
1 x 15A fuse
1 x 20A fuse

Take a look at the Philips Vision Care European spare bulb kit range. Not sure which bulbs you need for your vehicle? Take a look at our bulb finder. You can purchase direct from Power Bulbs, the leading automotive lighting specialist, with free worldwide delivery.

Upgrading your car bulbs is a simple and cost effective way to improve the safety and styling of your vehicle. Changing bulbs varies slightly from vehicle to vehicle, but below you can view our video guide on the general process.

With all our upgrade headlight bulbs it’s just a case of taking the old bulb out and replacing it with the new one. No extra work required! You can then benefit from up to 90% more light on the road and a whiter, crisper beam.

One question we get asked every few days on the ‘phone is:

“Where can I buy these award winning Philips X-Treme Power bulbs in my area?”

The simple but unfortunate answer is that more often than not you can’t. The big-chain motor stores don’t carry Philips - because they have their own, very profitable brands. Similarly most smaller stores don’t tend to sell Philips either, but often sell cheaper or unknown brands.

Luckily Power Bulbs has been selling automotive lighting since 1977 and we specialise in selling direct to the consumer. You can buy Philips X-Treme Power, along with other leading brands such as Osram, direct from our web site at www.powerbulbs.com or by calling us on 0845 123 2855. We also don’t believe in charging for delivery, so we offer free postage worldwide!

We’ve all been there. Just when you’re least expecting it your headlight bulb decides to die. So what do you do? Most people, desperate to seek a replacement, head down to their local large motor store. At the time it seems the easiest option. But do you get the best product?

The products
Unfortunately you’re likely not to. The big name motor stores don’t make their own products, they tend to import and then repackage in their own branding. What does this mean for you? Basically you don’t know who has made the bulb. Similarly, the next time you need to change a bulb - and you choose what you believe to be the same brand - there’s no guarantee it might not just be a completely different bulb in the same box.

The price
Often these big outlets won’t be cheap either. A standard bulb may only be a fiver, but choose one of their upgrade range and you could be looking at over £20 per bulb. For that kind of money you want to be assured of getting the best possible quality. So, why take the risk?

Choose Original Equipment
Use an Original Equipment (OE) Quality product. What is OE? It simply means the manufacturer in question works with and supplies vehicle manufacturers. This means they have satisfied the very high quality standards that car manufacturers demand. It also means that the product will be made by that manufacturer in their own factories, meaning you can be assured you are getting a quality, like-for-like product every time - not just the same box!

The solution
Like the scouts always say, “be prepared!”. Carry a quality Philips spare bulb kit - they’re really affordable and because it’s Philips you know it’s a quality product every time. Plus when you’re looking for upgrades, don’t be tempted by the convenient option - get the best quality product for your money (and save a few pounds too!). Products like Philips X-Treme Power and Osram Nightbreaker will give you up to 90% more light, and because Philips and Osram are OE manufacturers you know you’re getting quality. Plus both products have been widely reviewed by leading magazines such as Auto Express.

Free delivery!
Power Bulbs also offers free worldwide delivery, plus if you’re in the UK or US and need your bulbs urgently we also offer a convenient express delivery service for a fee to cover our costs.

This is the first post on our new automotive lighting blog, which replaces our previous news section. Over the coming weeks and months (and years!) we will be sharing our thoughts about the latest products and issues in the automotive lighting world. Similarly, we’d also like to hear what you think