and then there was light! (Osram "Nightbreaker" bulbs)

peasant

fitted a set today ..well ...WOW ...they DO work !

Can't tell if it's 90% more light, but there really is a marked difference to standard bulbs. Much better visibility at the edge of the road and brighter (less of the yellow tinge) light as well. Can defintely recommend (although they're not supposed to last as long as normal bulbs).

None of the local places had them, couldn't be bothered with ebay, so I bought them here http://www.svetila.com/en/osram-light-bulbs-66/automotive-tuning-77/?gclid=CO2j5pfYz5YCFQ6R1QodSQ-L3A

34 euro something for 4 including postage, arrived within a week

Berty

You were robbed blind, right. Good Deal

I have two pairs of H7 and H3 in my car. You should see when all the lights are going. Insane amount of light yet not blinding to others.

A pair of H7 in Autozone Limerick cost me €20.00 and the H3 could only be got on t'internet. Got them off http://www.autobulbsdirect.co.uk Good People.

They have 10% whiter but its not very noticable unless you have in standard sidelights. You can then defo notice the difference.

These may seem a lot but if you spend over €17 online you can pick them as a free gift. If you are going to upgrade your main beam or fogs then pick these up.

http://www.autobulbsdirect.co.uk/501-w5w-xenon-extreme-white-pair-c-597-p-1-pr-16339.html

.Longshanks.

peasant wrote: »

fitted a set today ..well ...WOW ...they DO work !

Can't tell if it's 90% more light, but there really is a marked difference to standard bulbs. Much better visibility at the edge of the road and brighter (less of the yellow tinge) light as well. Can defintely recommend (although they're not supposed to last as long as normal bulbs).

None of the local places had them, couldn't be bothered with ebay, so I bought them here http://www.svetila.com/en/osram-light-bulbs-66/automotive-tuning-77/?gclid=CO2j5pfYz5YCFQ6R1QodSQ-L3A

34 euro something for 4 including postage, arrived within a week

How are these working out since? Have you noticed anybody being blinded by you? Thinking about changing mine now that winters here

Berty

I have been using them in 3 different cars over the past year and they are fine.

Two have been standard headlights and one was a projector headlamp. They work much better outside of projector.

You will notice an immediate difference.

Other drivers will not flash you and you wont feel that you are. It has a much better arc in the light much more than anything. A little whiter but a considerbale difference from that yellow halogen bulb.

http://www.osram.com/osram_com/Consumer/Automotive_Lighting/Products/Headlights/NIGHT_BREAKER/index.html

.Longshanks.

Thanks for that. I'm going to have a look in the local car shop tomorrow and if they don't have them i look into the site you linked above.

Hal1

Once there adjusted properly and not in my eyes, then I don't mind.

omb0wyn5ehpij9

Do the stronger bulbs not do damage to the connections though? I was always under the impression that they didnt, but a mechanic told me otherwise yesterday!

peasant

They're not "stronger" ...55/60 W just like standard bulbs and so far I haven't had any complaints about blinding either. (I didn't change the adjustment, just the bulbs and the car passed the NCT only 3 weeks ago)

Berty

When you see the bulb you will see why it works well.

Unlike a lot of other Ice white / Xenon bulbs which are covered in a blue film the osram are 80% blue film and 20% clear which gives you 10% white(because of the blue film) and 90% more light due to a better filament.

Hal1, you are correct. There is nothing I hate more than people missing headlights but its another thing when they have them fitted but they are off angle blinding anybody and everybody except for the driver.

jayok

Yeah these are great bulbs. I can buy these in my local motor factor for €20 a pair. Have them in all our cars (H4s and H7s). Make a massive difference (IMO) to the output. As a previous poster said when you seen them next to the sidelights you realise how white the output is.

Regarding the gains before I bought these bulbs I done a bit of research about them and the benefits. You can get a lot of this from here:

http://www.danielsternlighting.com/tech/bulbs/bulbs.html

But the main points are:

1. The blue filter actually does nothing for light output
2. The 90% gains are all to do with focal point positioning within the lens and isn't true for all / most cars
3. The bulb burns whiter due to the mix of gases within the bulb
4. The different burn results in a shorter life-span for the bulb

I could back each of the points above up but Mr. Stern has done an excellent job that I couldn't top.

BUT overall I am happy with them. Whenever we drive we use our headlights and we get about 6 months use out of the H4 and about 12 months out of the H7s. So its important to keep a spare pack with you as when the first blows the second seems to be only hours behind it.

FWIW Before I tried this upgrade, I'd a HID aftermarket (aka crap) upgrade within the H7 lenses. Aside from the legal and technical reasons why the HID wasn't suitable I can tell you that the Osram put more effective light and was a cheaper and better upgrade. (Reason for which I know already). Also, if your headlights are correctly aligned with normal bulbs in then they will be correct with the Osram installed - these don't modify the light pattern just extended it.

Recommended.

Anan1

jayok wrote: »

But the main points are:

1. The blue filter actually does nothing for light output

Surely the blue filter reduces light output? This is why I ordered Philips Xtreme Power instead, I felt that anyone who would put a blue filter on their bulbs didn't have maximum light output as a top priority.

jayok

Anan1 wrote: »

Surely the blue filter reduces light output? This is why I ordered Philips Xtreme Power instead, I felt that anyone who would put a blue filter on their bulbs didn't have maximum light output as a top priority.

Agreed. My original comment was to the post that the 20% blue filter somehow contributed - I meant it didn't enhance the light in anyway. I would have been better to say that the blue filter doesn't contribute to light output.

C.D.

peasant wrote: »

They're not "stronger" ...55/60 W just like standard bulbs and so far I haven't had any complaints about blinding either. (I didn't change the adjustment, just the bulbs and the car passed the NCT only 3 weeks ago)

I have been using them for the last year or so, the difference really is noticeable. Good to hear I won't need to get the lights adjusted before the NCT, has anyone else passed without having to get adjustment?

.Longshanks.

Because i've no patients to wait on shipping a week or so from an online shop, i bought Halfords Extreme Brilliance bulbs over the weekend.

The halfords Extreme Brilliance bulbs are also supposed to be +90% brighter than the originals. They were doing a buy one get on free offer also, so cost €29 in total.
I dunno about being 90% brighter but I can say i'm happy enough with them. They definitely give off a whiter / brighter light than the originals.

Some pics;
Original


Halfords Extreme Brilliance


I had the camera set on totally automatic to try and give a good comparison but neither are great
The two pictures of the actual headlights (with before and after) appear the same cos the camera couldn't handle the brightness....

nogoodnamesleft

Dunno about Halfords own brand bulbs I bough a replacement H7 55w bulb a while ago, I had to replace it within 4days. when I took it out, the bulb had actually burst inside the headlamp im assuming due to the heat generated and questionable quality. I replaced it with a bosch one after that and had no problems. I just place a order for the Osram night breakers so will see if they live up to their reputation.

Bobo78

I bought Osram Nightbraker H7 in March this year and just now on Saturday one of them burst so it barely last 8 months, so i have to say that i m a bit disapointed, but anyway i bought today Osram Silverstar so i ll see how long will they last.

P.S. Does anyone knows where can i buy Phillips Xtrem Power?

Anan1

Bobo78 wrote: »

P.S. Does anyone knows where can i buy Phillips Xtrem Power?

I got them from www.powerbulbs.com

Berty

Ah bobo bring them back to the shop. Osram allow you 18 months warranty so the shop needs to replace them for you.

These are the bulbs you are looking for.

http://www.autobulbsdirect.co.uk/h7-philips-x-treme-power-80-bulbs-pair-c-256-p-1-pr-16782.html

DannyBuoy

There are H7's in my car for dipped beam but as I drive with them on all day and cover highish milage I generally get about 6 - 9 months from a set.

colsers22

Seeing as it's dark practically all the time now, I am noticing a lot more of these d**kheads with really stong lights that are adjusted incorrectly. It's SO ignorant. I'm bloody sick of being blinded by tossers with bright lights. They should be banned.

Dero

colsers22 wrote: »

Seeing as it's dark practically all the time now, I am noticing a lot more of these d**kheads with really stong lights that are adjusted incorrectly. It's SO ignorant. I'm bloody sick of being blinded by tossers with bright lights. They should be banned.

Bright lights are not much of a problem if they are adjusted correctly. It's the incorrect adjustment that's the issue. I remember naively thinking years ago that the NCT would sort all that out but I still see it on an almost daily basis.

Berty

Some people will never change their lighting, some people will never get around to fixing their lighting when its break and some people dont know how to correctly use their lighting.

Some things will never change.

I was always wondering why there are 100watt bulbs available and sold without second thought to people in the likes of Halfords. Personally Im not too concerned about them because an SUV's HID's are worse because they are eye level.

Bobo78

Thanks for the help and the advice lads, i ll definately check them out when one of these Silverstar blows.:)

rebel.ranter

just bought 4 H1 Night Breakers for the non-xenon headlighted car.

Is it worth putting them on the full beam or is it just the dips that people put them in?

ninty9er

I got clear light bulbs for full dip and side. However I've had to get my battery replaced due to higher amp rating even though they are still 55w bulbs.

Berty

rebel.ranter wrote: »

just bought 4 H1 Night Breakers for the non-xenon headlighted car.

Is it worth putting them on the full beam or is it just the dips that people put them in?

I have a full set in my dips, fogs and full beams.

When you need your full beam and use them the light off them is amazing. In the darkening days of the winter you would definately be using them a lot. It would be a good investment.

slimjimmc

ninty9er wrote: »

I got clear light bulbs for full dip and side. However I've had to get my battery replaced due to higher amp rating even though they are still 55w bulbs.

That doesn't make sense to me, how would you have a higher amperage if you're always using 12v 55w bulbs ?

Current = Power / Voltage

rebel.ranter

quirke_folder wrote: »

I have a full set in my dips, fogs and full beams.

Thanks. It's just that my everyday car has Xenons on dips only, thought it might be same story.
Also can you get "whiter" bayonet type side light bulbs? BMW e36 side lights will look "yellow" next to the Night Breakers.

Also to battery upgrader, no harm to have a slightly higher Amp/Hr battery, but I wouldn't have done it for the headlight bulb reason. Maybe do it if starter got a little "lazy" or something.

vibe666

rebel.ranter wrote: »

Also can you get "whiter" bayonet type side light bulbs? BMW e36 side lights will look "yellow" next to the Night Breakers.

i was thinking the same thing.

I'm planning on getting a set of them, but worried that my sidelights won't match the colour output of the nightbreakers.

i know my sidelight bulbs are 501's but I don't know what sort to get to match the NB's. does anyone have any idea what sidelight bulbs would look right?

thx in advance.

Berty

I have a pair of xenon 501 sidelight I do not want

I also a pair of LED sidelights, possibly two pairs in the boot.

I have nothing to do with these other than the bin.

Send me a PM boys and you can have them as a Christmas present.(if a little late due to post).

First come first served on the LED sidelights of course.

NewApproach

Which of the following would ye reccommend?

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=380091303047&ssPageName=_RCRX_Pr4_PcY_BIN_IT&_trksid=p2718.m184&_trkparms=algo%3DCRX%26its%3DS%252BI%26itu%3DUCI%252BSI%26otn%3D4

http://cgi.ebay.ie/PHILIPS-X-TREME-POWER-H7-EXTREME-XTREME-XENON-BULBS_W0QQitemZ260334223946QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM?hash=item260334223946&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1301|66%3A2|65%3A12|39%3A1|240%3A1318

Also am I missing anything? Is it simply a case of changing the old bulb for this new one?

vibe666

PM'd Berty.

changing headlights depends from car to car, but it's generally considered a consumer replaceable part.

I had a 2002 Nissan Primera and just couldn't get my hands in to change one of the bulbs so I always just used to go into Halfords if one went and get the lads in there (with smaller hands and no sausage fingers) to do it for me for €4.50 or something like that, to save some bother.

by contrast I can change both lights in my 96 Pajero in 10 minutes with no problems.

cashmni1

NewApproach wrote: »

Which of the following would ye reccommend?

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=380091303047&ssPageName=_RCRX_Pr4_PcY_BIN_IT&_trksid=p2718.m184&_trkparms=algo%3DCRX%26its%3DS%252BI%26itu%3DUCI%252BSI%26otn%3D4

http://cgi.ebay.ie/PHILIPS-X-TREME-POWER-H7-EXTREME-XTREME-XENON-BULBS_W0QQitemZ260334223946QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM?hash=item260334223946&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1301|66%3A2|65%3A12|39%3A1|240%3A1318

Also am I missing anything? Is it simply a case of changing the old bulb for this new one?

Good question, I also need to know the same.

As far as I can make out, yes, just replace the bulb using the same voltage and wattage ones (12v 55w), but I think it is the HID (High Intensity Discharge) lights that need the extra work.
We need this clarified though....

peasant

NewApproach wrote: »

Which of the following would ye reccommend?

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=380091303047&ssPageName=_RCRX_Pr4_PcY_BIN_IT&_trksid=p2718.m184&_trkparms=algo%3DCRX%26its%3DS%252BI%26itu%3DUCI%252BSI%26otn%3D4

http://cgi.ebay.ie/PHILIPS-X-TREME-POWER-H7-EXTREME-XTREME-XENON-BULBS_W0QQitemZ260334223946QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM?hash=item260334223946&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1301|66%3A2|65%3A12|39%3A1|240%3A1318

Also am I missing anything? Is it simply a case of changing the old bulb for this new one?

Either should be fine and yes, simply change the bulbs.

Oh, and make sure you've got the right one (H4, H7, H whatever)

Berty

Two people asked for my LED sidelights. I have promised away two of my LED sidelights and will post tomorrow.

I was searching my bag of spare and weird lights and came across one more pair of 501 sidelights which are xenon white. White with a slight tint of blue. There are there for anybody who wants them.

Only one pair left.


Bear in mind anybody who is thinking on installing any LEDs to certain cars. Cars such as Audi and VW have a constant charge running to the lights when the battery is engaged and for around 30 seconds after walking away from the car. This is not a problem and uses next to no power. Not all cars are like this but also with more modern cars it may show a light out warning if you have such a system installed in your car to alert you.

vibe666

just ordered a set of nightbreakers off ebay for less than 15€ delivered.

gotta love the ailing £.

anyone know if there's an easy way to check your beam pattern (without going to a garage and paying for it) to make sure your lights are positioned correctly and not blinding oncoming traffic?

i suppose fitting them and seeing if i get flashed is an effective way, but I don' want to be burning anyone's retina's off just to find out.

i was thinking maybe finding a wall to use and maybe taking a pic of the bea,m pattern to see what people think?

will prob. do a before and after pic anyway just to see the difference anyway.

NewApproach

vibe666 wrote: »

just ordered a set of nightbreakers off ebay for less than 15€ delivered.

gotta love the ailing £.

anyone know if there's an easy way to check your beam pattern (without going to a garage and paying for it) to make sure your lights are positioned correctly and not blinding oncoming traffic?

i suppose fitting them and seeing if i get flashed is an effective way, but I don' want to be burning anyone's retina's off just to find out.

i was thinking maybe finding a wall to use and maybe taking a pic of the bea,m pattern to see what people think?

will prob. do a before and after pic anyway just to see the difference anyway.

Maybe change one first, check it against the other one and if it is ok then change the other one.

Sorry but thats about as much technical advice that I can offer!

cyborg

vibe666 wrote: »

just ordered a set of nightbreakers off ebay for less than 15€ delivered.

post link please

Lord Nikon

One of my H7 Nightbreakers blew last night in Drogheda, while I was leaving to go home at 10pm last night. Stuck on one bulb for the entire journey, so had to use my fogs too. Fogs use H7 Nightbreakers too, but had no tools to swap them out.

At least my fogs don't irritate other drivers, there pointing at the ground to show me potholes instead

vibe666

cyborg wrote: »

post link please

take your pick.
http://shop.ebay.ie/?_from=R40&_trksid=m38.l1313&_nkw=h4+nightbreaker

mine are H4's, the H7 are a little more expensive, but still very reasonable.
http://shop.ebay.ie/?_from=R40&_trksid=m38.l1313&_nkw=h7+nightbreaker

if you're not sure what lights your motor takes, just do an ebay search for your car make/model in the headlights section of ebay and you'll get plenty of results to tell you what type of lights you need.

some use the same bulb for main beam and dipped, others use separate bulbs for each so make sure you know that you're getting the right thing before you bid. if you have headlights that use 2 bulbs then you'll want 2 pairs to get the most out of them.

once you know what you want, just do a search for your type of bulb and the word nightbreaker and compare combined costs of the auction and shipping to get the best deal and you're sorted.

it doesn't hurt that we're only a smidgen off €1 = £1 now either!

parsi

I'll just add that the manual will be the best place to check.

We had a 04 307SW and it took H4 for main and H7 for Dips (IIRC). Our 08 Model had this reversed - as I discovered after receiving a pair of NightBreakers.

Alun

parsi wrote: »

I'll just add that the manual will be the best place to check.

We had a 04 307SW and it took H4 for main and H7 for Dips (IIRC). Our 08 Model had this reversed - as I discovered after receiving a pair of NightBreakers.

Highly unlikely.

H4 is a combined dip/main beam bulb, so you'd only ever get this in isolation. The most common other combo is H7 for dipped and H1 for main beams.

parsi

Thanks for the correction - that's the pair H1 & H7 - one way round for the 04 307SW and the other way around for the 08 307SW.

It did my head in so much that I can't remember the model numbers of the bulbs.

Edit: This prompted me to go look at the manuals and here are screenshots.

vibe666

the missus tells me I got a small package in the post this morning which I'm guessing will be my new LED 501 sidelights from Berty (not bad at all for xmas postage).

to tell you the truth I'm still slightly amazed that there are still people out there like that who are nice enough to do that sort of thing for free so a double thumbs up for Berty and his charitable nature and I'll be making sure to spread the love out on the roads and elsewhere and be especially charitable to others as a 'pay it forward' type thing, so thanks a million for the donation Berty, very much appreciated.

i have to say, I'm really feeling the christmas spirit today!

fingers crossed my nightbreakers turn up soon anyway so I can get back to some proper lighting. there's a tyre and exhaust place round the corner from work, so I might pop in there once I have them in just to make sure the headlight alignment is correct but I used to have the 30% brighter lights from halfords in and i've never been flashed so they can't be too far out. just fingers crossed i don't blind anyone with the nightbreakers, but general consensus is that they should be okay.

after bot bulbs blue i had to stop at a roadside garage and get standard bulbs fitted as a stopgap masure, but they're really not up to much, so looking forward to adding a bit more light to the proceedings asap.

I also have some nice 8" spots for the front of the pajero but they'll look silly till i can find a decent bull bar for her that's not going to cost the earth, so they'll have to wait too for now. I dare say another pair of nightbreakers in them will give me my own little patch of daylight, no matter how dark it is.

luckily for me i have the winterpack on the paj so 2 batteries and an alternator the size of a kenwood food processor should keep me nicely juiced up.

Esel

vibe666 wrote: »

I also have some nice 8" spots for the front of the pajero but they'll look silly till i can find a decent bull bar

-99 on the bullbar. They wreck pedestrians. Do you really need those spots?

regedit

vibe666 wrote: »

PM'd Berty.

changing headlights depends from car to car, but it's generally considered a consumer replaceable part.

I had a 2002 Nissan Primera and just couldn't get my hands in to change one of the bulbs so I always just used to go into Halfords if one went and get the lads in there (with smaller hands and no sausage fingers) to do it for me for €4.50 or something like that, to save some bother.

by contrast I can change both lights in my 96 Pajero in 10 minutes with no problems.

Agree,
Could not change dipped light for a 2003 Corolla so brought it to Halffords. Three guys could not change it so had to bring it to dealer.

vibe666

esel wrote: »

-99 on the bullbar. They wreck pedestrians. Do you really need those spots?

yep, and the bullbar, will be doing a lot more off-roading pretty soon.

anyway, if you're daft enough to walk in front of a pajero at any sort of speed a bullbar isn't going to make a huge amount of difference to how dead you are, in fact it might just be the difference between being stuck on the front of it and getting dragged underneath it and under the wheels.

BUT on a serious note, the whole bullbar thing has been blown out of all proportion by the PC brigade, same as everything else. i live in the country, i don't drive fast, or stupidly and I tend not to hit things (in the interests of full disclosure, aside from a 0.5mph ding once, in reverse, in my blind spot) due to (for the most part) being properly instructed in the art of driving from a young age in a country not prone to letting learners out unaccompanied AND having a great deal of experience behind the wheel on and off-road for over 20 years (yes, since I was 11, another advantage to growing up in the countryside).

there's a lot more needs sorting out on the roads before we get on to bull bars.

.Longshanks.

Peasant, how are the nightbreakers holding up since? My Halford bulbs (bought at roughly same time as yours) both blew this week.
Apart from the cost, the access to the bulbs in my car is really really tight and it took bloody ages to fit them in first place & I think i'll be sticking to the OEM bulbs from now on. While they were definitely brighter they are just not worth the expense or hassle

EPM

Longshanks100 wrote: »

Peasant, how are the nightbreakers holding up since? My Halford bulbs (bought at roughly same time as yours) both blew this week.
Apart from the cost, the access to the bulbs in my car is really really tight and it took bloody ages to fit them in first place & I think i'll be sticking to the OEM bulbs from now on. While they were definitely brighter they are just not worth the expense or hassle

One of my phillips extreme power +80's blew this week. Replaced them with nightbrakers which i'd had before. Seem for some strange reason to be getting 6 months before one blows. Said it to the dude in the motor factors and he said rough roads wreck them. The two year warranty thing on osram usually does the job but for high mileages they wont last.

peasant

The nightbreakers are still working fine.

They are pretty much off duty now, the daytime running lights are starting to take over

vibe666

i'm doing at around a couple of hours nighttime driving and my nightbreakers are still going strong so far (touch wood).