2014 Kia Sorento

Hi all, long time.

Looking to help a friend upgrade her lights in her 2014 Kia Sorento with halogen bulbs. Last time I was in the market for bulbs I purchased Philips Xtreme Vision which for the H7 bulbs are available in +100 or +130.

Reviews on Amazon are all over the place for these bulbs in H7. Any other manufacturer to consider in an H7?

Thanks
Jon

The 65-watt H7 Daniel Stern sells is a whole lot better than any of the "plus" type bulbs, and it won't create safety problems (glare/heat/electric current) in a '14 Sorento.

That being said, the "reviews" on Amazon and other internet sites are not even a little bit trustworthy -- not an opinion here, it's a fact. There have been serious studies done about it. If you were buying 55w H7 bulbs, the Philips +100 or +130 would be on the short-short list of top picks.

The 65 watt you mentioned would have a longer lifespan (hypothetically) than the Phillips 100/130?

Do you have a link for the 65w?

Also do you think there's any benefit whatsoever to upgrade the fog lights from a 881 to 893? Or is that amount of lumens basically ineffective? Obviously would stick to halogen.

The 65-watt bulb has a somewhat longer rated life than the +100 (+110, +120, +130...) types of bulbs, but always keep in mind the performance/lifetime tradeoff with halogen bulbs. Stern's got the 65w bulbs on his website. There are probably high beam upgrades to be had, too; ask him. And before he has a chance to do it, I'll point you at his lamp aim info.

There is no upgrade possible for "fog lights" with the 800-family bulbs -- in quotes because they are worse than useless at every level. Counsel your friend to leave them switched off; they can't possibly help her no matter what.

Check the condition of the headlamp lenses, too. You'd hope a 2014 car would be new enough that the lenses were still clear, but the haze tests they have to pass only last three years, so if this car is in a sunny-hot location, they could already be on the way out.

-Virgil- said:

Check the condition of the headlamp lenses, too. You'd hope a 2014 car would be new enough that the lenses were still clear, but the haze tests they have to pass only last three years, so if this car is in a sunny-hot location, they could already be on the way out.

Click to expand...

Am I to assume nothing has changed and the best option is a swap with an OEM set?

Aside from the standard "sealed beam" form factor and the existence of JW Speaker LED lamps of that variety, essentially whenever OEM is available, get OEM. In the case where ONLY aftermarket composite lamps are available (or just extremely prohibitively expensive), then you must carefully pick them from select few aftermarket makers like TYC or Depo on a case-by-case, part-by-part basis.

A car worth driving, and driving at night, is a car worth being safe in (not to mention it's worth it to protect other road users).