Another bulbs thread - D3S Xenon

[squerble]

Hi all,

I have a Focus Titanium X (Mk3.5) which has adaptive xenon headlights. The stock bulbs are the "standard" Osram XenArc bulbs at about 4300K. The light output isn't bad (although not the best for xenons - I've read a couple of times the headlight design ain't great on this unit, and I'm inclined to agree), especially when I'm mostly driving on lit roads. I'm considering getting something with a higher colour temperature to match both the LED DRLs on the headlight unit and the white/slightly blue light that seems to emanate from all the latest German cars with LED headlights. I was looking at the Osram Cool Blue Intense at about 5000K, which are mostly just going to offer a whiter light with only a small 20% bump in brightness.

I'm looking for real-world experience where people have changed from standard xenon bulbs to the CBIs and liked/disliked it etc. I'm also aware that the bluer the light, the more light is lost in wet weather and on wet roads, which obviously happens a lot in the UK, so again this is something I'd like to know if people noticed.

I've also seen the Osram Nightbreaker Laser Xenarcs which still offer around 4200/4300K, slightly-yellow light but with a 200% increase in brightness. The reviews are all glowing (ha) for this bulb, and if you have experience going to these and they really are as amazing as the reviews say, I'd possibly be swayed to go for these, though they're quite expensive so I'd need a hard push. (£150/pair vs about £110/pair for the CBI vs about £90/pair for standard xenon bulbs)

Thanks!

 

[Howard]

When my car was about 5 years old I replaced the (presumably) factory-fit xenon bulbs with CBIs. Although not 'night and day', there was a definite increase in brightness and uniformity of light spread.

A year or so later, I replaced the internal reflector bowls with new ones, which improved the output some more.

I was actually in a friend's 2017 Focus Titanium X recently and I remember thinking to myself that the xenons didn't seem as good as some (mine included).

 

[Clarkey]

I would personally stick with the lowest colour temp you can buy, even 4300k is a little high IMO. I find that the more yellow light of a standard halogen casts a better visible light on wet roads then bluer xenons.

 

[squerble]

When my car was about 5 years old I replaced the (presumably) factory-fit xenon bulbs with CBIs. Although not 'night and day', there was a definite increase in brightness and uniformity of light spread.

A year or so later, I replaced the internal reflector bowls with new ones, which improved the output some more.

I was actually in a friend's 2017 Focus Titanium X recently and I remember thinking to myself that the xenons didn't seem as good as some (mine included).

Did you find them much whiter, or did it seem more of a brightness increase? Yea the lights aren't the best - my best guess is that they've used cheap glass in the lens part which moves for the side-to-side adaptive bits in order to keep the weight down for less strain on the motors. That, or they're just cheap units in general

I would personally stick with the lowest colour temp you can buy, even 4300k is a little high IMO. I find that the more yellow light of a standard halogen casts a better visible light on wet roads then bluer xenons.

That's the worry with the CBIs, and the biggest upsell for the Nightbreakers, though my current desire is still more towards a whiter look than overall light output (even factoring in what I'll lose in inclement weather).

 

[Howard]

Did you find them much whiter, or did it seem more of a brightness increase? Yea the lights aren't the best - my best guess is that they've used cheap glass in the lens part which moves for the side-to-side adaptive bits in order to keep the weight down for less strain on the motors. That, or they're just cheap units in general

A little bit whiter, but mainly just the brightness increase

 

[snapdragon69]

There are lots of professional bulb reviews on youtube where they install them one after the other in the same lamp and shine then on a wall and measure the liumens with luxometer. CBI are old hat now and there are much brighter newcomers. Many headlights such as Hella G4 have reflectors that are of such poor quality that they are dull and tarnished after 5 years.

 

[ahenners]

I can echo Howard's comments. My Octavia VRS had original Philips Xenstart bulbs when I bought it at 3 years old. Replaced them with Osram CBI which despite the name are not blue at all. They are definitely whiter and seem brighter than the bulbs they replaced but it's not night and day. 3 years later I'm still happy with the Osram CBIs. Not noticed any real difference with the visible light in rainy conditions etc.

 

[squerble]

Thanks for the input gents - hoping to make up my mind today and actually buy something!!

 

[DarkBahamut]

It's worth pointing out that these bulbs probably (definitely...) aren't any brighter, by the way. Same old story with bulbs that claim xxx% brightness increase. I'm surprised they are still allowed to get away with it.

If we use Osram as an example. Their Xenarc Original bulbs produce 3200 lm @ 35 W.

The fancy pants Xenarc night breaker +200% bulbs? 3200 lm @ 35 W.

Even Osram confirm they are exactly the same brightness. They just don't expect you to read the datasheet to check!

 

[squerble]

It's worth pointing out that these bulbs probably (definitely...) aren't any brighter, by the way. Same old story with bulbs that claim xxx% brightness increase. I'm surprised they are still allowed to get away with it.

If we use Osram as an example. Their Xenarc Original bulbs produce 3200 lm @ 35 W.

The fancy pants Xenarc night breaker +200% bulbs? 3200 lm @ 35 W.

Even Osram confirm they are exactly the same brightness. They just don't expect you to read the datasheet to check!

But the amount of lux for these bulbs in the same conditions does vary, to a noticeable amount. Lux measures how much light actually falls on a surface, so higher lux means more light hitting the surface of pavements, roads, obstacles etc.

 

[snapdragon69]

It's worth pointing out that these bulbs probably (definitely...) aren't any brighter,

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JkSOiPSkZO8

There is an objective difference when measured with instruments:
I think the 200% claims is because of the hot spot created by the hotspot in the plasma arc.
You are right, no way is there 200% more light brightness or distribution.
I suppose it is a bit like PMPO wattage ratings of stereos.


#1: Original Osram Xenarc 66340 HBI
Low Beam: 800 Maximum Lux
High Beam: 1,320 Maximum Lux

#2: Osram Xenarc 66340 CBI: https://bit.ly/2Bhr9b9
Low Beam: 720 Maximum Lux
High Beam: 1,580 Maximum Lux

#3: Osram Xenark 66340 Night Breaker Laser: https://bit.ly/2TpveBe
Low Beam: 1,310 Maximum Lux
High Beam: 1,610 Maximum Lux

#4: Morimoto XB 5500K: https://bit.ly/2BcYe8c
Low Beam: 740 Maximum Lux
High Beam: 770 Maximum Lux

#5: HID WarehouseX0013JAX8H 6,000K: https://bit.ly/2Ttlo1a
Low Beam: 320 Maximum Lux
High Beam: 950 Maximum Lux

#6: Xenon Depot 5,000K: https://bit.ly/2GltGEq
Low Beam: 630 Maximum Lux
High Beam: 920 Maximum Lux

#7: Philips 42403XV2C1 X-tremeVision gen2: https://bit.ly/2GiaNTc
Low Beam: 700 Maximum Lux
High Beam: 1,390 Maximum Lux

#8: Philips 42403WHV2C1 WhiteVision gen2: https://bit.ly/2BePXk1
Low Beam: 580 Maximum Lux
High Beam: 1,410 Maximum Lux

#9: Osram Xenarc Cool Blue CBB: https://bit.ly/2Bfq4Rj
Low Beam: 810 Maximum Lux
High Beam: 1,410 Maximum Lux

 

[jpaul]

It's worth pointing out that these bulbs probably (definitely...) aren't any brighter, by the way. Same old story with bulbs that claim xxx% brightness increase. I'm surprised they are still allowed to get away with it.

they are all legal / dot certified though, versus, older led replacement bulbs for halogen fittings;
I though the Halogen ones just had to confrim to 55W to be certified, so if you choose to have multiple thinner filaments say they can burn brighter but with reduced lifespan.

with the £100 cost of these CBI's, I'd want some explanation of how the bulb achieves better direction of the available lumens, and that, like some of the (illegal) led replacement for halogen (recent thread) this is not longer projection distance traded-off for poorer adjacent roadside illumination


edit - interesting
OSRAM XENARC NIGHT BREAKER LASER D3S VS 5YR OLD 40K MILE STOCK PHILIPS