Hi guys, my 2012 Superb is suffering from a kinda purple N/S/F headlight bulb, they are Xenon, from reading online it's best to replace both at same time and I probably will.

I like the OEM look, they light up the road well, but my question is, are the likes of OSRAM or Philips any better? Do they still look the same and are they worth the price?

G

http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/accessories-tyres/93348/best-hid-headlight-bulbs-2015

If you go for the Osrams buy from a reputable source, there are lots of fakes about. If they are less than £65-£80 each they are probably fakes.

Osram and Philips are original equipment manufacturers, or OEMs. Osram Xenarc nightbreaker unlimited are a good bet. The colour isn't too blue which is just a waste of useable light. 

 

Just be careful where you buy them as there are loads of crap fakes all over the place. 

Being a 2012 pre FL, your car will use D1S type xenon burners which aren't too bad to DIY. The facelift switched to D3S mercury free burners and are VERY difficult to replace. 

Just called my local TPS, they are offered my me quantum bulbs, not OE he said, genuine OEM bulbs are £130, these quantum are £33+Vat, got me thinking am i aswell to pay the extra couple quid and get the OSRAM mentioned above or just got with the Quantum ones. I had a quick google of the OSRAM's and apparently they are more yellow than standard bulbs which I don't want so I don't know what to do!

G

4300K is the general colour 'temperature' of a standard xenon lamp, as fitted to the vast majority of factory fitted systems. 

 

Anything more than 5500-6000K and there is an excess of blue coloured light, this basically means there is less useable light coming from your headlights for your eyes to effectively use. 

 

I am running a pair of Osram Xenarc Cool Blue Intense lamps that run at around 5000-5500K. I wouldn't want to go any higher in terms of light colour. 

 

I am happy with the Xenarc CBIs in terms of colour and general performance. Here's a link to the exact model: http://www.hids-direct.co.uk/osram-d1s-35w-xenarc-cool-blue-intense-hid-xenon-bulb-66144cbi-brand-new/?gclid=CPTOoobI-coCFSEFwwodh6MFSQ

 

In all honesty, I think cheap xenon lamps are a false economy as they rarely -if ever- have the same level of quality as Osram or Philips. 

TPS are lifting your leg, £130 each!?

 

As mentioned there are lots of fakes out there but at the same time there are deals to be had.

 

Superskoda are at €49.99 each, (£39) for the genuine VAG D1S bulbs...

 

http://www.superskoda.com/Skoda/OCTAVIA-II/Octavia-II-genuine-Skoda-Autoas-HID-xenon-bulb-D1S-N10566103

Edited 15 February, 201610 yr by silver1011

Genuine Osram Xenarc Ultimates are under £100 for a pair from Powerbulbs or auto bulbs direct. 

I have a set fitted in my Superb and they are excellent.

 

Here is a (mobile) picture of the lights in action:

 

 

Excellent VFM imo and a nice spread of light

TPS are lifting your leg, £130 each!?

As mentioned there are lots of fakes out there but at the same time there are deals to be had.

Superskoda are at €49.99 each, (£39) for the genuine VAG D1S bulbs...

http://www.superskoda.com/Skoda/OCTAVIA-II/Octavia-II-genuine-Skoda-Autoas-HID-xenon-bulb-D1S-N10566103

That's what they told me, nearly fell out the car when he said £130 each

G

Genuine Osram Xenarc Ultimates are under £100 for a pair from Powerbulbs or auto bulbs direct.

I have a set fitted in my Superb and they are excellent.

Here is a (mobile) picture of the lights in action:

Excellent VFM imo and a nice spread of light

They look good, I just don't wanna loose the OEM look. These look the exact same if not brighter?

G

Hid direct do graded oem osram bulbs for £40 each, they have been mounted but not used and can't fault them, if you are after cheap genuine bulbs. Just be careful on eBay as lots fakes.

They look good, I just don't wanna loose the OEM look. These look the exact same if not brighter?

G

I'm using right now Philips Xtreme vision +50% ....they are 4800k originals are 4150-4300k...to my eyes the 4800 is too bluish...gonna change them to Osram Xenarcs Night Breaker Unlimited +70% and THESE ARE THE BRIGHTEST OEM BULBS BELIEVE ME...you won't regret!

I'm tempted to change to the Xenarc Nightbreakers when I collect my new car. Until now I've not been convinced they can be *that* much brighter as the luminous flux, wattage and such like is the same as standard burners. 

 

I've noticed a few people giving them the thumbs up so I may well go for a pair. 

 

I've also noticed of late, manufacturers moving to bluer and bluer headlights over time. It seems to be a case of image and appearance over useable, quality light. The newer Merc E-Class LED headlights are VERY blue in appearance.

I have bloody good and sensitive eyes...will tell you the BLUE is not good...I drove 2015 Nissan Pulsar with full led...must say very bluish LEDs 6000k and illumination to road veeery bad don't know about mercedes and audi's and new vw passat with full led...even worse on the wet road...but its a matter of taste...personally I dont like these 6000k light on the road or have to say my eyes don't get used to it...I'm huge xenon fan and I need as much light as I can get!

manufactures said that the led performs best on 6000k...

Edited 15 February, 201610 yr by fuzzz

I'll stick with xenons below 5500K for now. The bluer the light, the less it penetrates most and fog due to shorter wavelengths. Xenons are almost useless in thick fog, the light just bounces back. It's the only time where halogens are better.

A good idea would be adaptive LEDs that can slightly change their colour for the conditions. Drop to 2-3000K for foggy conditions and 5-6000K for clear roads. One day maybe.....

I'll stick with xenons below 5500K for now. The bluer the light, the less it penetrates most and fog due to shorter wavelengths. Xenons are almost useless in thick fog, the light just bounces back. It's the only time where halogens are better.

A good idea would be adaptive LEDs that can slightly change their colour for the conditions. Drop to 2-3000K for foggy conditions and 5-6000K for clear roads. One day maybe.....

It's more "Back to the Future" thing...☺

Just called my local TPS, they are offered my me quantum bulbs, not OE he said, genuine OEM bulbs are £130, these quantum are £33+Vat, got me thinking am i aswell to pay the extra couple quid and get the OSRAM mentioned above or just got with the Quantum ones. I had a quick google of the OSRAM's and apparently they are more yellow than standard bulbs which I don't want so I don't know what to do!

G

 

The tps quantium are made by bosch 

I'm using right now Philips Xtreme vision +50% ....they are 4800k originals are 4150-4300k...to my eyes the 4800 is too bluish...gonna change them to Osram Xenarcs Night Breaker Unlimited +70% and THESE ARE THE BRIGHTEST OEM BULBS BELIEVE ME...you won't regret!

 

£150 for the pair  http://www.autobulbsdirect.co.uk/replacement-d1s-xenon-hid-bulbs/?bulb_search=car&end=front

So my NSF headlight is turning more purple every day and it's annoying me now,

Quick search on Amazon I found OSRAM Xenarc Dispached and sold direct from Amazon, assuming these would be 100% genuine ???

Here's a link to actual page

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Osram-66140CLC-Xenarc-Original-Xenon/dp/B00M0FL3QI/ref=sr_1_16?rps=1&ie=UTF8&qid=1456348371&sr=8-16&keywords=osram+xenarc+d1s

I feel I have a slight addiction to Amazon and tend to buy everything from them providing it's Dispached and sold by them and not some third party.

Should I order these? £40 each

G

So my NSF headlight is turning more purple every day and it's annoying me now,

Quick search on Amazon I found OSRAM Xenarc Dispached and sold direct from Amazon, assuming these would be 100% genuine ???

Here's a link to actual page

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Osram-66140CLC-Xenarc-Original-Xenon/dp/B00M0FL3QI/ref=sr_1_16?rps=1&ie=UTF8&qid=1456348371&sr=8-16&keywords=osram+xenarc+d1s

I feel I have a slight addiction to Amazon and tend to buy everything from them providing it's Dispached and sold by them and not some third party.

Should I order these? £40 each

G

As you say, if they are directly sold and dispatched by Amazon themselves, there's no reason to suspect they are hookey copies of the real thing.

I couldn't make my mind up, so I've just went with SuperSkoda OEM ones plus a few other parts

G

Ordered new bulbs Night Breaker Unlimited +70%....report about them in couple of weeks...installation is totally PITA ...3 hrs work in tiny conditions...

Just put new bulbs in that arrived from SuperSkoda and I'm absolutely raging that I didn't just go for the OSRAM Xenarc as mentioned, they where the bulbs that came out the car and in went the Philips that where supplied from SuperSkoda and it isn't the lights I wanted, colour totally different, granted they produce a whiter light and actually light the road up better but it's took the look I was after away from the car, I guess these new bulbs are probably 5000k and the Xenarc are 5500-6000k?

Anyways I'm now gonna order a new set of OSRAM Xenarc and stick these up for sale at a bargain price, will have less than 50 hours usage on them as I'm off on holiday. These aren't bad lights, just not the light colour I wanted! My wife may divorce me hahaha

G

Edited 9 March, 201610 yr by Taxi_G

Today night breakers arrived tomorrow throw them in...can't wait to see the result....its dry out there and want to try asap...hate those philips...philips just not suit to Hella Intemo projector...beam pattern is like two white stripes on the ground and rest of the road is dark...