Osram Nightbreaker death after only 7 months?

Howard · 10 Jan 2009 at 18:54

I don't think Nightbreakers are much cop. I think Philips Xtreme Powers are superb and there is a noticeable amount more of a more uniform light. The Osrams are just slightly whiter. But then they are cheaper I suppose

Dogbreath · 10 Jan 2009 at 19:58

howardcanning said:
I don't think Nightbreakers are much cop. I think Philips Xtreme Powers are superb

Whereas other reviews place them very close. The Philips have a little extra output as they don't have the slightly blue tinted section on the end, but the overall difference is negligible.

The 50% brighter thing IS a load of marketing crap, it doesn't mean you actually get double the lumens out since that is limited by law. It refers to the peak beam intensity which is higher due to tighter control of focusing.

Dogbreath · 10 Jan 2009 at 20:00

Tim said:
I'm looking into HID's as we speak. 6000k Philips ones for less than £100.

Real Philips ones, or just some from China with 'Philips' written on the box? You can get Bosch ones as well if you want, or a number of other manufacturers logos...

lmfy2k · 12 Jan 2009 at 08:18

IAmATeaf said:
Don't have the number with me, probably written on a post it note on my desk at work but the address given was:

FREEPOST
OSRAM CSC

Was told to wrap the bulb in bubblewrap and put in a letter explaining what had happened and obviously an address to which replacement bulbs will be sent to if they agree that the bulbs failed early due to no fault of mine.

do i need to send proof of purchase aswell?

also if the send replacements, how long do they take to arrive?

just getting mine jiffyed up now

IAmATeaf · 12 Jan 2009 at 09:55

lmfy2k said:
do i need to send proof of purchase aswell?

also if the send replacements, how long do they take to arrive?

just getting mine jiffyed up now

I just wrote a note with my date of purchase and whom purchased from (ebay in my case) and obviously a return address. Sent out on the week before xmas and I got the replacement first working week in Jan, so quite quick.

IAmATeaf · 12 Jan 2009 at 09:57

Tim said:
Just replaced my dead Nightbreaker with a standard Osram. You can't even tell which is which

(Osram NB is on the right)

From the pic I sort of guessed it was the 1 on the right before I scrolled down and saw your comment, honest

When I replaced them for my standard Philips they made a big diff, I tested with just 1 NB before replacing the other.

lmfy2k · 12 Jan 2009 at 11:12

IAmATeaf said:
I just wrote a note with my date of purchase and whom purchased from (ebay in my case) and obviously a return address. Sent out on the week before xmas and I got the replacement first working week in Jan, so quite quick.

Thanks mate, much appreciated.

Matt82 · 14 Jan 2009 at 20:38

i had a set of silverstars in the golf for 18 months, no problem at all.

the golf now has hid but ive ordered some night breakers for the main beam. they ought to be great i recon and last a long long time

MikeHunt79 · 14 Jan 2009 at 21:12

Matt82 said:
i had a set of silverstars in the golf for 18 months, no problem at all.

the golf now has hid but ive ordered some night breakers for the main beam. they ought to be great i recon and last a long long time

380 hours according to OSRAM, not bad considering how bright they are...

Matt82 · 14 Jan 2009 at 21:13

well in main beam, theyre only ever on for a few minutes at a time at the very most. thats ay-ok for me

lmfy2k · 23 Jan 2009 at 17:34

Sent my nightbreakers back on the 12th Jan

received today 23rd Jan

hopefully these will last a bit longer

just out of interest, if these blow soon, can i send them back to OSRAM for replacements again?

loltim · 23 Jan 2009 at 17:51

Dogbreath said:
Real Philips ones, or just some from China with 'Philips' written on the box? You can get Bosch ones as well if you want, or a number of other manufacturers logos...

Real ones.

BeatMaster · 23 Jan 2009 at 18:35

Another victim of a broken night breaker bulb after only 6 months

E-mailed Osram and sent the bulb off yesterday, hopefully get a replacement(s) soon

Do they normal replace the single bulb or send a new pair out?

lmfy2k · 23 Jan 2009 at 23:25

BeatMaster said:
Another victim of a broken night breaker bulb after only 6 months E-mailed Osram and sent the bulb off yesterday, hopefully get a replacement(s) soon Do they normal replace the single bulb or send a new pair out?

i sent 2 wrapped in bubble wrap and they sent back 2 brand new in a proper night breaker blister pack

MikeHunt79 · 24 Jan 2009 at 00:01

lmfy2k said:
i sent 2 wrapped in bubble wrap and they sent back 2 brand new in a proper night breaker blister pack

Awesome, I hope one of mine blows as I used my old blister pack to make a case for a small Hifi amp - I could use another one!

Phil W · 23 Feb 2009 at 19:47

I think i spoke too soon, one has blown in the GF's Corsa, they are about 6 months old...

Will get them posted back tomorrow

mjt · 19 Apr 2009 at 16:47

one of mine blew yesterday..
i think i replaced them in october, so it's only lased what, 6-7 months?

being in norway, they are always on, but even so, bit pathetic?

-edit, found my earlier post in this thread

mjt said:
had H7 Nightbreakers for a few months and they're still fine, and i have my lights on all the time (law). if they blow before i leave norway in the summer i won't be best pleased..

i'm not best pleased!
(and they cost £30..)

gonna call osram tomorrow and see what they say..

Conscript · 13 Jun 2009 at 20:21

Last night I had one of my Nightbreakers blow...and I do mean blow. It went out on the passenger side while driving home. Today I had a look to find that the bulb hadn't just died, but exploded. Now there's glass inside the headlight housing.

I don't want to replace the set with another set of Osrams because it looks like they are pretty prone to going bang. Whats the best alternative, Philips Xtreme?

Edit: H4 bulbs by the way, in a 1999 Focus.

Charlie Bravo · 13 Jun 2009 at 21:52

If you want bright go for Philips X-treme
If you want white go for Philips Crystal Vision
If you want white/blue go for Philips Diamond Vision

I use Diamond Vision in the car and Crystal Vison on the bike. Would never use an Osram bulb again.