Some idiot from Phillips lightinig was harping on about how it is illegal to adjust your headlamps / change to different bulbs - do modern lights have bulbs ?

Yes, some modern cars do still have incandescent lamps - my Hyundai i30 Tourer at the trim level I bought has standard halogen headlamps, but the higher trim level came with Led units.

There are legal limts to how powerful incadescant lamps can be, and there are "extra reach" lamps available with increased output over standard ( +150% and +200% typically). Reputable manufacturers (Philips, Osram, Ring etc) increased output lamps meeet the legal requirements (easily determined by if they have an "E number" rating), but there are uncertified products that do not do so. There are 2 downsides to these - price (3 or 4 times the cost of a "standard" replacement lamp) and life (half or less the life of a "standard" lamp - you don't get something for nothing ! ). I tried a pair of Osram NightBreaker +200% in my last i30, as the standad lamps lacked reach - they did work in that regard, but only lasted 18 months and I just put the OEM lamps back in when they died. Cost around £24 for the pair some 5 years ago.

There are also Led replacements for halogen lamps that are not legal here for vehicles registered before (IIRC) 1984. In Europe the likes of Osram and Philips make E marked (legal over there) Led replacements, but they are pricey (€100+ each).

Motorad magazine have just done their annual headlamp comparison and it is apparent (as always) that not all replacement lamps are made equal ! And the performance gains from enhanced performance items are, at best, a bit marginal - maybe an extra 10 metres reach for the best reputable makers products. The Led replacements from Osram and Philips were the best of the bunch, but an "Amazon special" with no official certification was diamal - worse than the worst performing halogen replacement.

I have noticed that since the changes to the MoT to outlaw Led conversions to pre-'84 vehicles that there are fewer of the very bright, diffused blue dazzlers about than there once were, but OEM Led headlamps on new (mainly oversize SUV type) vehicles that are placed higher above the ground continue to be a problem - my dipping rear view mirror gets a lot of use !

Nigel B.