Recently changed my ford cmax light bulbs H7 for LED. What a difference they make, super bright.
I searched ebay for replacement LED H7 bulbs for my ducato x250. 2.3. 2007 model. Every item came back as not suitable for this vehicle.

Any ideas if this change can be done, as the dipped lights on the ducato are rubbish

There is a physical restriction with certain LED bulbs that are equipped with a large external heatsink. There is insufficient space behind the socket so you can only use these if you modify the covers.
LEDs without protruding heatsinks can be used without problems but are less bright.

The chassis controller in 2007 vehicles ignores the headlamps so it has no issues with LED lamps.

Thanks CDK
most helpful, cheers

philgb said:

the dipped lights on the ducato are rubbish

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CDK said:

There is a physical restriction with certain LED bulbs that are equipped with a large external heatsink.

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I hadn't thought about needing space inside the housing. I'm also looking at LEDs all around, but also for asthetics and their colour. You probably saved me a wasted purchase at some point. Thanks.

LEDs are amazingly efficient light sources, but they quickly deteriorate at high temperatures, so getting rid of the heat is essential. I use four LED bulbs in rooftop lamps of a dune buggy. They draw less than 0.5 Amps each and are almost as bright as the original halogen bulbs, so I consider this an improvement.

One way to increase the performance of an LED would be to use the reflector as a heatsink, but the plastic Ducato headlamps are not suitable for that purpose.

Can I suggest using the thank button (the smiley face below the post) instead of posting a new reply just to thank a post. It saves people opening the thread again thinking there is new information.
Incidentally I fitted some cob leds for internal lights which give brilliant performance. But without a voltage regulatoer and heatsink they only lasted about a week - wheras LED strips are still going after 8 years. http://forums.outandaboutlive.co.uk...rescent-modified-to-2w-LED-1-50-How-to/45945/

philgb said:

Recently changed my ford cmax light bulbs H7 for LED. What a difference they make, super bright.
I searched ebay for replacement LED H7 bulbs for my ducato x250. 2.3. 2007 model. Every item came back as not suitable for this vehicle.

Any ideas if this change can be done, as the dipped lights on the ducato are rubbish

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Just so others who read this are aware:


Fitting LED replacement lamps into headlights (or any other mandatory exterior light) on a car is technically illegal, renders the car illegal to use on the road and probably invalidates your insurance.
Only approved "E" marked lamps are legal and there are no approved LED replacement lamps for car exterior lights. There can't be, because there is no standard to approve them against.


Robert G8RPI.

philgb said:

the dipped lights on the ducato are rubbish

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Ducato has very widely used H7 bulbs so will give the same light as all the other many vehicles that use them.
I have heard people complain about poor headlights and the cause was mucky headlight glass, or only one light working
Assuming its not that you could have duff bulbs - and could try replacing them - Normal H7 bulbs cheap as chips on ebay. Good idea to have a couple of spare ones anyway.

Peter James said:

Ducato has very widely used H7 bulbs so will give the same light as all the other many vehicles that use them.
I have heard people complain about poor headlights and the cause was mucky headlight glass, or only one light working
Assuming its not that you could have duff bulbs - and could try replacing them - Normal H7 bulbs cheap as chips on ebay. Good idea to have a couple of spare ones anyway.

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The lamps may be the same, but the reflector and lens design is different on every vehicle and has a huge effect on the amount and quality of ligh on the road. I can't speak for the Ducato design as I don't know it, but poor designs I've seen waste a lot of light. It's easier to mask light to get the required shape than shape it with the reflector.

Robert G8RPI.

Why do you think you need such powerful lights on a motorhome? Firstly they cause dazzle and annoy other road users who may just run into you head-on if they can't see because of you. Also there are laws limiting headlamp colour and power in most EC countries and those intense blue ones we used to see have vanished, I guess because they were not really legal. Just get some nice new lamps and bulbs as fitted when new, they will be clean inside, and keep them clean outside, you will then have all the light necessary for your modest speed capability, and you will be courteous to others and be a safe road user.

g8rpi said:

The lamps may be the same, but the reflector and lens design is different on every vehicle and has a huge effect on the amount and quality of ligh on the road. I can't speak for the Ducato design as I don't know it, but poor designs I've seen waste a lot of light. It's easier to mask light to get the required shape than shape it with the reflector.

Robert G8RPI.

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Good point. I can't see anything that is masking the light, so I guess it must be coming out. But I see your point about how the reflector might be shaping it

On the old x250's I've had, the beam didn't reach out far anough for me, compared to other vans I've driven, vw crafters had best in comparison,
(Common issue with ducato vans that have headlamps on all the time, going through plenty of replacements) I've found is when they blow they can scorch/burn the reflector inside the unit, causing less reflection = less light throw


X290 light beam and throw is far better than x250, I have to adjust beam level down to stop oncoming drivers thinking I'm on main not dip beam

The replies to my original post are certainly thought provoking. With the light housing being quite high on the ducato compared to cars I think replacing the H7 bulbs with LED is a no goer as they will obviously dazzle on coming traffic.
Thanks all

Aldi currently selling 2 x H7 bulbs £5.99 claimed to be
'Premium Halogen Technology with Noble Gas giving up to 90% more light'
Choice of White or Sky Blue (I thought only Emergency Service Vehicles could show a blue light)
Bought a pair of white H7 bulbs but not fitted them yet.

Thanks Peter, will try them out

philgb said:

Thanks Peter, will try them out

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The pack I have is similar to that but orange colour, and instead of 'Sky Blue' it says 'Premium +90%'

If you want H7 bulbs
Pop into your local TPS VW Audi parts centre, I pick up packs of 10, quantum’s
Good quality, long lasting approx £12 a pack of 10
I’ve used 6 in 12 months,
(110,000 miles)

g8rpi said:

The lamps may be the same, but the reflector and lens design is different on every vehicle and has a huge effect on the amount and quality of ligh on the road. I can't speak for the Ducato design as I don't know it, but poor designs I've seen waste a lot of light. It's easier to mask light to get the required shape than shape it with the reflector.

Robert G8RPI.

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Now I have got round to changing the bulbs I see what you mean. There is a great black shroud over the dipped beam bulb - which is presumably why it had got so hot the glass had distorted. I can see why drivers are buying these bulbs in packs of 10.

Peter James said:

Now I have got round to changing the bulbs I see what you mean. There is a great black shroud over the dipped beam bulb - which is presumably why it had got so hot the glass had distorted. I can see why drivers are buying these bulbs in packs of 10.

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There's a bulb shield in all modern reflector dip lamps. Without that you'd have loads of undirected light blinding other drivers. It would usually be metal or metallised though if its black its probably lost its coating you see this all the time with aftermarket hids that burn off the metallic coating.

corcai said:

There's a bulb shield in all modern reflector dip lamps. Without that you'd have loads of undirected light blinding other drivers. It would usually be metal or metallised though if its black its probably lost its coating you see this all the time with aftermarket hids that burn off the metallic coating.

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My headlamps are original (not aftermarket) but the bulb shields are still black.