Hi guys, Im after some feedback as I seem to be the only one amongst friends that has this issue and its doing my head in at the moment.

I used to drive a Focus which had Philips 50% brighter bulbs - I dont think any of them lasted for more than 15 months, more like 10-12 months in fact.

In early 2008 I bought a Fiesta and around six months into its ownership I put in some Osram nightbreakers in (mainly due to good reviews on here and independantly). Well one went around two weeks ago and the passengers side one went this morning!!

I give up!

I really like the light spread they provide over standard. Im installing them correctly (holding them right etc) but I just find them totally unreliable; thinking about it, I always seem to be swapping them when its really cold so maybe its a temperature thing?

Does anyone else have similar issues with these aftermarket +50% bulbs?

Lee

Yup common problem, they don't last. To quote from Blade Runner. "The light that burns twice as bright, burns half as long."

The light that burns twice as bright burns for half as long - and you have burned so very, very brightly

These are what I've been buying since having the same trouble with life span on the Osrams.

http://www.powerbulbs.co.uk/product_detail.asp?prod=96

These give a nice clean white light and are brighter than the oem bulbs that were fitted to my old octavia and SWMBO's Rav, not to mention goood value for money and they are buy 1 get one free (spare bulbs that match what are fitted). If your order comes to more than £15 you also get 1pair of these sidelight bulbs free http://www.powerbulbs.co.uk/product_list.asp?cat1=37&cat2=77 and these too give a much whiter/brighter light.

Have also just fitted a set of H7's to the fabia

Edited 22 December, 200916 yr by matt@theforce

http://www.powerbulbs.co.uk/product_detail.asp?prod=53

I still rate these

Osram Silverstars are ok for me, in that they last over a year.

If you look on all of the x% brighter bulbs they say they have a shorter life.

-30% seem to last 2-3 years

-50% seem to last 1-2 years

-80/90% all seem to last under a year for me.

You can get 20% brighter, long life bulbs and there are many options.

I'd say that if you check the car regularly the +50% are ok, and if not then the +30% are a good choice.

Osram Silverstars are ok for me, in that they last over a year.

I've had a pair for over 2 years... One day they'll make their way from the glovebox to the headlights. Can't say I'm entirely won over by the brighter bulbs brigade - I think HID is the way to go for genuine improvement but its a grey area.

I've had a pair for over 2 years... One day they'll make their way from the glovebox to the headlights. Can't say I'm entirely won over by the brighter bulbs brigade - I think HID is the way to go for genuine improvement but its a grey area.

I would agree, but had issues blinding other people so had a try of the other bulbs.

I've said this before but my all time favourites are Osram Super all weather plus. - 30% brighter and a yellow light output means they are great for fog/heavy rain and still bright. That plus they last ages.

I've given up on anything more than 50% brighter and have to say I didn't even rate the +50% Phillips vision plus as they didn't last long.

As said though, what you gain on one hand, you have to lose elsewhere.

My +50% bulbs lasted about 18 months, I changed them a few weeks ago after one went. I changed both at the same time, because as you found out once on goes the other is not usually that far behind it in failing. They will fail sooner, as the filament is under more stress than standard bulbs and thats why they are brighter.

I use the Phillips Xtreme Vision +80% bulbs. They have lasted around 13 months in the Fabia, the same in the Mini (H7 and H4 respectively) doing around 50,000 miles a year with headlights on whenever it rains as well as in the dark. I tried Osram Nightbreakers in the Fabia and they lasted around 3 months. The MR2 has had the same set of H7 Xtremes in for the last 3 years, but it does not do big miles.

Chris

Edited 26 December, 200916 yr by Chris GB

Roughly the same story - about three years ago ,I had one dip lamp go -couldn't get a replacement ( think it was bank holiday or so ) , and needed car to be in top condition as I was expecting a call to make a last trip up north .Only managed to get a pair of Blue amps from Motorworld -but thought that the extra light might be worth it for the price -especially north of Glasgow .

The call never came ,but we managed to get a trip up north ( got to be a monthly thing) -and those lights on the way up looked a good investment , till I got home ,to find out that somewhere on the lit section of the M6 ,they'd died .Called into my local petrol station ,picked up a pair of Lucas ,fitted them and there still working .

I don't think it is ideal to generalise. I used to use the Osram Siverstars, a +50% bulb, which gave a boost to light output. When the Osram Nightbreakers, a +90% bulb came out, I moved over to them and they boosted light output and pattern still further, well worth doing, but the pair of bulbs lasted around 3 months and went on consecutive days. This would indicate that they are made to very close tolerances. The Phillips Xtreme bulbs, a +80% item, last about the same amount of time as the Silverstars, around 13 months, but when one goes, you know the other will go within the same few days. Again, close tolerance manufacturing. The Xtremes are as good as the Nightbreakers IMO, but last 4+ times longer. Given the amount of miles I do, I would say they are lasting pretty well. Sure, there are plenty of bulbs out there that will go for years, but I prefer the better output and shorter life. In the MR2, the Xtremes are on their 3rd year, but the car only does a few thousand miles a year. Against this though, the ride is race car firm, so the bulbs seem pretty robust.

Chris

Hope you are not touching the bulbs with bare hands when you fit them as this will reduce longevity.

Hope you are not touching the bulbs with bare hands when you fit them as this will reduce longevity.

I always clean them with meths - just in case - and let it dry -

You don't get oat for note, if you want more light, you get less life. They are brighter because they "burn" more/hotter, to "burn" more you need a thinner element, a thiner element is more fragile, and so on. The result is a shorter life span. If you are concerned about the life span of the bulb, buy standard. If you are more concerned about the ammount of light you get, buy anything your see fit but expect a shorter life span in relation to the extra illumination.

I always clean them with meths - just in case - and let it dry -

Even better idea mate. Hope Lee the original poster is reading this.

I fitted a set of 50% brighter "Tesla" bulbs over 3 years ago and have not had one fail yet; but every other make I have tried has blown after 3-9 months.

Since then I have fitted these bulbs in several other family vehicles, and not one has failed to date.

Another BIG plus, is that the "Tesla" bulbs cost £3.99 a set.

(From Lidl).

I have had Phiips Vission Plus (+50%) for about 2 years and they are still going strong. I am tempted to buy the X-treams to see if I can tell a difference.

The light output and life of several H1 bulbs has been tested by David Stern and these are the results

H1 Bulb Variant Output Lumens Life Hours

Standard (plain) 1550 lm 650 hr

Long Life 1460 lm 1200 hr

High Efficacy Plus (+30%) 1680 lm 400 hr

Ultra High Efficacy Plus (+50%) 1750 lm 350 hr

Blue glass "Extra white" 1380 lm 250 hr

These are taken from Here

You can see that the higher percentage bulbs don't last that long. You can also see that Blues covered bulbs don't even produce more output than standard bulbs, even though you may think (or they claim) they do.

Powerbulbs +50% fitted over 3 years ago, and not needed touched since.

Pfft........

I had a set of PIAA super duper all singing all dancing H7s in my Primera, I was driving down the M23 late at night and one popped, about three miles down the road the other one popped, I had to drive like a total berk with sides and foggies on until I reached Pease Pottage services to sort them out

They weren't that cheap either

You lives and you learns.

Pfft........

I had a set of PIAA super duper all singing all dancing H7s in my Primera, I was driving down the M23 late at night and one popped, about three miles down the road the other one popped, I had to drive like a total berk with sides and foggies on until I reached Pease Pottage services to sort them out

They weren't that cheap either

You lives and you learns.

Which proves that Piaa manufacturing quality is highly consistent. It says nothing about bulb life, which is what the OP was talking about.

Which proves that Piaa manufacturing quality is highly consistent. It says nothing about bulb life, which is what the OP was talking about.

Oh, excuse me for a small omission

They lasted three weeks from new.

So yes, they are highly consistent as in consistently crap.

Edited 24 February, 201016 yr by dstev2000

One of the 50% brighter bulbs I put in about 5-6 years ago went pop on Monday afternoon. I replaced both with some 90% brighter bulbs from Halfrauds because they were BOGOF and they do seem brighter. Just have to see how long they last.

Oh, excuse me for a small omission

They lasted three weeks from new.

So yes, they are highly consistent as in consistently crap.

Fair enough then, but if I'd still had the receipt I'd have returned them as "not of merchantable quality".