First, I've used search and could not find lots of previous threads on this topic in Briskoda.

Anyway, wife drove home and said (Polo 9N) had no dipped beams working. She had previously driven to a meeting in the dark and both lights seemed to be okay - then went back out and no dipped beams. Using "common sense", I immediately dismissed there being a bulb problem and went straight on to replacing the lighting switch (had a spare for use in Passat after fitting foglights) > still no dipped beam, every other lights were okay! Removed fuse box cover and pressed in all the fuses > still no dipped beams!! Took one bulb out - U/S, took other bulb out - U/S > fitted a new set of Extreme Visions > dipped beams now okay!!!

Now, I have been using Philips Extremes are about 6>8 years and when the first bulb failed, I fitted an original bulb and ordered a new set, then when the new set arrived replaced both bulbs. After that I just replaced the first failed bulb with the previous set's "used" one - and so on. About a month or so I had to fit a "used" bulb as one of the current set had failed - that was okay as the set had been in for 2 years or so, but then both bulbs went together last night - strange.

I just wonder if an electrical "event" caused these bulbs to fail as they were both near the end of their lives - this seems to be happening to quite a few people on the Fabia/Polo/Ibiza platform, but until it happened to my wife, I just assummed that this was a simple case of first bulb failed and went unoticed followed by second bulb failing a few days/weeks/months later which of course results in "dipped beams not working". In fact, I "smuggly" replyed to one of these postings (on another site) pointing out what had probably happened - ie first bulb failed followed days/weeks/months later by second bulb - and then it happened to me and I made some very rash and wrong assumptions!!!

I had this a year ago on the SDI

You posted in the thread actually.

http://briskoda.net/forums/topic/185029-fabia-headlight-failure/page__p__2216296__fromsearch__1#entry2216296

Just ended up being duff bulbs.

Most likely coincidence, the Xtreme power bulbs

give more light but at the expense of longevity.

The amount of cars I've seen lately with 1 headlight out

suggests that as the weather is worsening it's making bulbs fail.

I fitted Osram silver stars in it after the failure,

they are +50% so are a bit better than normal bulbs and so far they

have been and still are fine. I was happy enough with them to buy a set

for my van a few days ago after a headlight failed on that.

First, I've used search and could not find lots of previous threads on this topic in Briskoda.

Anyway, wife drove home and said (Polo 9N) had no dipped beams working. She had previously driven to a meeting in the dark and both lights seemed to be okay - then went back out and no dipped beams. Using "common sense", I immediately dismissed there being a bulb problem and went straight on to replacing the lighting switch (had a spare for use in Passat after fitting foglights) > still no dipped beam, every other lights were okay! Removed fuse box cover and pressed in all the fuses > still no dipped beams!! Took one bulb out - U/S, took other bulb out - U/S > fitted a new set of Extreme Visions > dipped beams now okay!!!

Now, I have been using Philips Extremes are about 6>8 years and when the first bulb failed, I fitted an original bulb and ordered a new set, then when the new set arrived replaced both bulbs. After that I just replaced the first failed bulb with the previous set's "used" one - and so on. About a month or so I had to fit a "used" bulb as one of the current set had failed - that was okay as the set had been in for 2 years or so, but then both bulbs went together last night - strange.

I just wonder if an electrical "event" caused these bulbs to fail as they were both near the end of their lives - this seems to be happening to quite a few people on the Fabia/Polo/Ibiza platform, but until it happened to my wife, I just assummed that this was a simple case of first bulb failed and went unoticed followed by second bulb failing a few days/weeks/months later which of course results in "dipped beams not working". In fact, I "smuggly" replyed to one of these postings (on another site) pointing out what had probably happened - ie first bulb failed followed days/weeks/months later by second bulb - and then it happened to me and I made some very rash and wrong assumptions!!!

With one bulb out, doesn't the other see more power? Or run at a higher output/temperature? With older bulbs it's possible the little bit of extra oommph pushed the other one over the edge.

J.

How do people not notice having 1 bulb out, that's what gets me?

I see several reflections of my car in windows, and other cars daily which easily lets me check what my lights are doing.

When the one in my van went last week I spotted it

had gone in the back of a shiny fiesta sitting at the lights.

I don't think it had been gone for long,

I checked my headlights only the day before as one of my sidelights

went a few days before the headlight

Winter is coming

With one bulb out, doesn't the other see more power? Or run at a higher output/temperature? With older bulbs it's possible the little bit of extra oommph pushed the other one over the edge.

J.

Eh?? I don't think so, its back to "basic electrics" for you!

How do people not notice having 1 bulb out, that's what gets me?

I see several reflections of my car in windows, and other cars daily which easily lets me check what my lights are doing.

Well that is the difference between you in busy Bucks and my wife in the back roads of Mid Lothian. I've always tended to notice the N/S bulb going as in total darkness you "lose" the edge of the road. Though I still think that both bulbs "went" at or very nearly the same time.

Eh?? I don't think so, its back to "basic electrics" for you!

It's not a steady state condition so I'll pass on the refresher course thanks...

Think about it really, two bulbs made to the same highly controlled standards have been turned on for identical periods. Had the same happen with energy saving bulbs in my lounge with a 3 way light fitting, all 3 bulbs went within a few weeks of each other