It seems the low setting on one of my year old Osram nightbreakers has died, first is this normal for the +80-90 bulbs? and secondly any suggestions as to what to replace them with?

I think I have some philips 50% brighter type bulbs fitted in my Octavia. They have been in there for 2 1/2 years so far, and I do a day/night commute or 90 minutes each way for the darker part of the year.

However looking on powerbulbs.com I can't spot them - so they might be the Osram 50% ones (Osram Silverstar H4), but they are rated with a pretty poor lifespan. I note there is no lifespan shown for the nightbreakers though....

How about these from Philips?

Philips X-Treme Power H4 from Power Bulbs

Is what normal? It's not unknown for standard elements to burn out after that sort of time, but my 50% brighters are still fine after 2 years (thanks Powerbulbs).

My 50% brighter bulbs are lasting well - better so than the 30% brighter bulbs I had my 306 HDi and that had many less "hours" of nightime driving.

TBF the technology is improving rapidly; the 50% brighters are more of a relative improvement than 30% brighters were in my ZX.

I have Phillips Power X-tremes in my car, can highly recommend them. And they've been in about a year now.