Hi

Three months ago I upgraded my bulbs to Osram Nightbreaker H1/H7.

Here in Denmark it is required that you have the low beam(?) on as driving lights.

So 3 months and about 10.000 km later (don't know how many hours that is) the first Osram H7 blew?!

I contacted the dealer where I bought the bulbs and they basically just said bad luck, buy some new ones.

I then contacted Osram in Denmark and they said that the Nightbreaker is giving about 80% more light than a standard bulb and therefore the expected lifetime of a Nightbreaker bulb is about 220 hours

And if the headlights are "overpowered" by as "little" as 1 volt the lifetime might only be 50% (thats about 110 hours )

I know my old Citroen Picasso blew the bulbs every 4-6 months because of "overpowering" but are the 500 as bad as that?

The Osram guy did send me 2 new H7 as well as 2 new H1 bulbs free of charge so that was very nice

Meanwhile I've ordered and installed Philips Nightguide H7 and we'll have to see if they will last longer.

/ Thomas

220 hours, is that all, thats shocking

I'll be steering clear of them then

Well, if thats the attitude they have, buy a different product!

I`ve had Ring "sportz blue" H7`s (80w) in my Jaguar for about 10 months & I`m very happy indeed.

£16 a pair inc delivery.

In fact, I must pick some up for the Uno when I put the relays in..

Had the same thing with the Osrams on our Qashqai, got sent some free replacements. I also went for the Philips and haven't had one fail yet in over a year.

Are there any links to the philips ones please

Dare I comment on this - wheres some wood to touch ?

I've had mine in through and still have both bulbs working


Trev

(saying 15 hail marys, praying to all talismen he can remember, worshiping at the altar of the lawmaker sod, crossing all limbs and digits, avoiding walking under ladders, and making sure black cats cross my path).

About 5 people on Detailing World have had the same problem - I'd steer well clear of them.

I think we've got nightbreakers in the Subaru and they've been in since last spring and the Subaru drives around with its lights on all the time so they're not all bad. Just remember people only complain when something goes wrong, for every one that breaks there could be hundreds that work just fine

Most Easterly Pandas said:

Are there any links to the philips ones please

Click to expand...

Couldn't find them on the UK site but here is a link to the US site http://www.lighting.philips.com/us_...arent=79912999330&id=us_en_automotive&lang=en

The Nightbreakers did give a very good light but I would have liked to know that they would last no more than 220 hours before I bought them.

The Osram guy said that you have to choose between more light (Osram Nightbreakers) or a long life (Osram Light@day).

I had the Philips Nightguide in my prevoius car (Opel Zafira) for a long time and also had them in my wifes Jeep for nearly a year without any problems.

I put Nightbreakers on to my Mazda 5 lasted a couple of months before expiring. Osram replaced them FOC, but have not got round to fitting them.

I have a pair of brand new Osram Nightbreakers anyone interested????


Thought not....

N

npmaylesby said:

I put Nightbreakers on to my Mazda 5 lasted a couple of months before expiring. Osram replaced them FOC, but have not got round to fitting them.

I have a pair of brand new Osram Nightbreakers anyone interested????


Thought not....

N

Click to expand...

Nightbreakers on the wifes scooby work just fine and have been in for about a year now

npmaylesby said:

I put Nightbreakers on to my Mazda 5 lasted a couple of months before expiring. Osram replaced them FOC, but have not got round to fitting them.

I have a pair of brand new Osram Nightbreakers anyone interested????


Thought not....

N

Click to expand...

What bulb type are they?

What you want for them

Had nightbreakers a while...I keep the original bulbs I took out for when they go...

StevenRB45 said:

Had nightbreakers a while...I keep the original bulbs I took out for when they go...

Click to expand...

I kept my originals both as a travel kit for the continent and also to put the car back to original for when I sell it, I didn't anticipate them packing up beforehand.

I was going to use the Nightbreakers in the new car but in the event of HIDs being an affordable option in the future then that won't be necessary.

However, I will be replacing the chrome indicator and PIAA DRLs with the originals and re-using them on the new car.