As per title really :/

My cars a 08reg oct and seems one is now slightly more yellow then the other which is still pretty blue white colour.

What's the life span on these bulbs?

For ever if you do not use them.

Looks like maybe 8 years in your case if they are the original fitment.

 

Or do you mean how many hours in total, or how many hours if switched on and off only once a day?

Edited 21 October, 20169 yr by Offski

Mine lasted 11 years and about 130000km

I think they 'last' a lot longer than a halogen bulb but just lose power more gradually so you don't appreciate that they're not as effective as a brand new one.

Just seems one of mine have started to go a bit yellow :/

Not bad I guess for 2008 car

Yeah it can vary. Some will last the life of the car but others can fail after just a few years.

 

And like you say 8 years isn't too bad. How many sets of £20+ halogen bulbs would have been needed in that time?

 

Get some decent Osram bulbs (make sure you buy from a reputable source as counterfeits are rife on ebay etc).

 

Think they are D1S.

 

If you find some good decent priced ones let me know as I was thinking of replacing mine (also D1S) as they seem like they could be brighter.

From what I've read it's often the cycles that kill them, which is a worry on bi-xenon systems like in the mk3 octavia as simply flashing your lights during the day will cause a cycle as will auto lights turning on and off as you go through tunnels etc.

From what I've read it's often the cycles that kill them, which is a worry on bi-xenon systems like in the mk3 octavia as simply flashing your lights during the day will cause a cycle as will auto lights turning on and off as you go through tunnels etc.

Absolutly true.

I had them in the high beam of my fab and due to flashing and cycling between on/off as the nature of a high beam, it lasted a few months before burners kept blowing.

Had them in dip beam for years and never had an issue.

Once theyre on, theyre best staying on.

I think the MK2 Octavia uses a separate H7 for high beam/flash as does my Saab.

 

Although my Saab is bi-xenon and uses a shutter for high beam the flash (with the headlights off) is dealt with by the H7.

 

Most systems use this but some do use the xenon to flash too which probably wears them out very quickly if flashing a lot

Yea it's only the dip beam is xenon on Octavia:)

I think the MK2 Octavia uses a separate H7 for high beam/flash as does my Saab.

 

Although my Saab is bi-xenon and uses a shutter for high beam the flash (with the headlights off) is dealt with by the H7.

 

Most systems use this but some do use the xenon to flash too which probably wears them out very quickly if flashing a lot

 

Mk3 Octy is bi-Xenon - step in the wrong direction?

 

I need to watch, spend my time flashing all the time ..

Edited 21 October, 20169 yr by gullyg

The Xenon bulbs in my 2004 Audi are 12 years old and 155K miles on the car are still working, but they have lost some of their efficiency and take slightly longer to reach the correct colour temperature. Replacement on mine is difficult as the whole front of the car needs to come off to get access to the lower screws.

 

As Xenons age they tend to edge towards the blue purple colour temperature, so in the case of the OP its possible the bluey coloured one is the one ageing the fastest. OEM are 4300K on the Audi at least.

 

My previous Audi was still using its original bulbs at 15 years old and 190K miles on the clock.

Edited 21 October, 20169 yr by mannyo

I have OEM Honda Xenon on the civic and it's a 2006 so 10 years old.  I do wonder if they are dimming a bit but they are still a clear bright white...

Coming / leaving home lights are bad for xenon's.

 

Disabled that feature on my previous Octavia and they lasted 8 years and were still really bright when I sold it.

I love the coming home/leaving home feature :(

Which type of bulbs are fitted to Octavia then?

D1S fitmemt are the ones you want.

One quick thing to try to make sure it's definitely the bulb is swap them over and if the problems follows the bulb then at least you know it's not the ballast at fault.

I wasn't aware of the impact each 'cycle' had :( Looks like I'll be turning off the leaving home feature then.

I read somewhere 5 years and should be changed,as they lose there brightness. One good thing headlight is easy to take out. One plastic wing nut and a slider under bonnet near headlight.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1-x-OSRAM-D1S-XENARC-ORIGINAL-12V-35W-REPLACEMENT-BULB-WHOLESALE-/171898055726?fits=Car+Make%3ASkoda%7CModel%3AOctavia&hash=item2805ec2c2e:g:uacAAOSwd0BV0vC6

I wasn't aware of the impact each 'cycle' had :( Looks like I'll be turning off the leaving home feature then.

Yes unfortunately that is a downside to them.

That's why when they first turn on they take a few seconds to get to full brightness.

Yes unfortunately that is a downside to them.

That's why when they first turn on they take a few seconds to get to full brightness.

Makes sense!

Leaving home feature turned off today!

Can the MK3 be coded to use the fog light for coming/leaving home?

I know this was possible on the MK2 FL.

Can the MK3 be coded to use the fog light for coming/leaving home?

I know this was possible on the MK2 FL.

I'm not honestly sure, I'll do some homework - that would be quite a good substitute- especially if upgraded to LED

Yeah I know it's standard on a lot of Audis and the like of the Touareg with xenons and was possible to code on factory xenon mk2 FL Octavias so would be surprised if the functionality was removed on the MK3 but who knows.

I'm not honestly sure, I'll do some homework - that would be quite a good substitute- especially if upgraded to LED

According to my garage (dealer) its possible to use the foglights as ch/lh lights.