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Got everything people claim to be is "new halogen technology" on the MX5, it's just guff compared to the retina searing lights on modern cars that light up half the Earth on low beam.
The BMW has the fancy pants factory HELLA projector units on it, but it had H7 halogen bulbs, which were dismal, so I upgraded using a cheapo HID kit. The only difference between what I've got and the official BMW xenon £2k optional upgrade is the headlamp washers.
The difference is like night and day, pun fully intended.
So I can, and have, faffed around with flat and clear lens H4 bowls with modern reflector pattern and £40 top of the line halogen bulbs, but all they netted me was about 20% more light. When you start with "fuck all light", 120% of that is still, "fuck all light".
Given that if you read back through this thread to when I bought that car, it seems to have spent more time waiting to be repaired, or being repaired, than I have spent driving it, you'd be forgiven to think it's a waste of time, but I do actually like driving at all times of the day and in all conditions. Being able to see the next corner before you arrive at the entry of it is a real boon, so I think £120 is well worth splurging.
NurseHolliday-
Have found most cars with projector bug eye style dipped beams are dizmisle and need the hid kits on them to show anything up. Mates vectra Sri had the worst lights I've ever seen on something that wasn't built in Soviet union, weren't great when new and when ten years old the silver lining goes off inside but because sealed you can't see that it's hanging off. Apparently they only last 2-4 years of normal use before peeling.
Would be interesting to know if newer cars have any better materials in the construction of the lamp
BrickMan
The tech has moved on, I recomend Hella H4 flat lens lights or the newer clear front lens lights. The increase of light from sealed beams is really good.
No idea about LED.