I’ve just become the proud owner of my first MX5 a 2010 Mk3 Powershift Automatic.
So I’m very much at the stage of finding out about the car and getting together some basic spares such as bulbs. That should be easy enough but I’m struggling to work out whether my dipped beam lights are just basic H7s or gas discharge bulbs. My handbook and the Haynes manual say I could have either.
I decided to investigate and soon found out what people mean when they say changing them is a job for a two fingered Martian. With the wheel arch liner pulled back I was still struggling to get to the bulb.
I don’t actually need to change the bulbs yet, just work out which spares to buy so I wonder whether there’s a quicker way to work out which type I have? I’m rather hoping they’re basic H7s as I’ve got a set of them already.
If it’s a UK car with factory fitted HID lamps it will have automatic headlight levelling and headlamp washers to meet the relevant legislation. Two easy checks: Factory HIDs will do the ‘levelling dance’ when they are switched on. If it’s fitted with a manual headlight leveling control it came from the factory with ‘ordinary’ bulbs.
Actually I’m already signed up to Euro Car Parts, GSF too, generally get 60% on all parts at both, but even with those discounts the HID bulbs are still steep. Glad I’ve got H7s!
Genuine HID’s are indeed an arm and a leg.
£85 per bulb on my previous car.
Having said that, we stock Chinese imports of HID’s (4 types), and sell between £7 - £10.
Whilst they are still more expensive than oridinary Halogen bulbs, they are no longer eye watering.
