Hi all

So I was thinking of upgrading my bulbs to the often mentioned night breaker bulb. I checked before at what bulb I have already and it's a osram h11 12v 55w 64211 dot. Can anyone confirm my suspicions that this is a night breaker and is just one of osrams standard bulbs.







Thanks

Dave 2010 HSE SD4 in Santorini black
(Privacy glass, leather/heated seats, ICE, Verde AS M+S)

2002 Freelander GS TD4
(sold 2011)

Night Breakers have the NBU (Night Breaker Unlimited) suffix; that's from Osram's "Original Line", however, the specs on the Osram website do list luminous flux of 1350lm, the same as the NBs, but with a longer life!

Hmmm. Are they being a bit optimistic with those figures or are the Night Breakers just a big con...  Freelander 2 2007 TD4 Manual HSE Tambora Flame
Discovery 3 2006 TDV6 Auto HSE Zambezi Silver
Previously: Freelander 2 2007 TD4 Manual SE Santorini Black

Arent Nightbreakers 60watt?

Depends on the bulb type - H11 is nominally 55W (max), though, according to the Osram specs, the NBs (and the OPs bulbs) actually run at up to 62W. H4s are a nominal 60/55W, but the NBs run up to 75/68W etc. etc.

 Freelander 2 2007 TD4 Manual HSE Tambora Flame
Discovery 3 2006 TDV6 Auto HSE Zambezi Silver
Previously: Freelander 2 2007 TD4 Manual SE Santorini Black

Ah yes I see, I had HB3 bulbs for mine which are 60w, and from the spec I see H11 are 55w

Also I noted that the HB3 are brighter at 1860 lumens compared to the H11 at 1350 lumens thats quite a bit, so I can see when folk fit these bulbs some say they dont notice much difference and some say they do.
The HB3 is around a third brighter to start with than the H11 version on that basis??

In my case the HB3s have made a big difference to the standard halogen but as for how long they last, well we shall just have to see, I dont do an enormous deal of night driving.

Yes, the HB3 produces more light, at the expense of bulb life, so they won't last so long.

In truth, halogen bulbs that claim to produce X amount of extra light from the standard wattage never fully live up to their claims. To really increase light with halogen, higher wattage bulbs are needed, but they aren't suitable for use in standard factory reflectors (particularly plastic ones) as they'll melt/burn them, and the electrics aren't rated for the current. Freelander 2 2007 TD4 Manual HSE Tambora Flame
Discovery 3 2006 TDV6 Auto HSE Zambezi Silver
Previously: Freelander 2 2007 TD4 Manual SE Santorini Black

Had a Nightbreaker just go pop, so went out to replace it with the old standard bulb [until I buy a new Nightbreaker].
But only once I see how much better the Nightbreaker is against the standard - now I've got two odd bulbs fitted.

Anyway, took a pic:
Original on the Left, Night breaker on the right.
Nightbreaker has blued glass with a clear window around it.

 FL2 now gone and have a couple of items left for sale:-

Brodit active iPhone holder + Brodit dash clip,
Bluetooth Music Streaming Module.

I fitted HB3 Nightbreaker, took them back out as they were worse than originals, now using Halfords +120% and they are very very good.
?? possible were counterfeit as I bought them on Ebay, official type pack but NOT one word of English on the box. All FL2's (3) Gone
2011 Mercedes C180 CGI Gone
FL2 GS Auto SD with heated leather, factory tints, alloy spare and a few other bits.

I have to admit the same. I've always been a fan of the Nightbreakers but not the ridiculously short life span

Now on Halfrauds Ultra bulbs (as they were on offer) and can't fault them. The light is just as good - if not better - and so far they've lasted twice as long as I ever got out of the Nightbreakers and still going strong

I must be the only lucky one with Nightbreakers then, same dipped pair 2 1/2 years in a MY11 and this MY13 has had the same HB3 ones in for just over two years now.
Maybe it's because I purchased OM lamps and not going for the cheapest Chinese copy.

Just checked out these super duper Halford HB3 Ultrabright bulbs with view to giving them a go.
BUT ..... £30 each ..... they've got to be having a laugh.
Ok they've got a bogof promo, but still at a net of £15 per bulb that's above what the Nightbreakers will cost me.
Plus, I only need one bulb!
Am I missing something

http://www.halfords.com/motoring/bulbs-bla...b-9005-hb3 FL2 now gone and have a couple of items left for sale:-

Brodit active iPhone holder + Brodit dash clip,
Bluetooth Music Streaming Module.

Decent bulbs do cost money. Whether said Halfords ones are worth it or not though, I couldn't say.

The blue glass is part of the issue with Night Breakers. Any bulb that is intended to produce as much light should not have a blue filter on it (it reduces light output and shortens bulb life at the same time). They do get good reviews however, but equally, the opinion of humans that X is brighter than Y is also one of the most subjective things there is. Many claims of "X-watt equivalent" or "+Y%" play on the fact that higher wattage bulbs tend to produce light at a higher colour temperature. Freelander 2 2007 TD4 Manual HSE Tambora Flame
Discovery 3 2006 TDV6 Auto HSE Zambezi Silver
Previously: Freelander 2 2007 TD4 Manual SE Santorini Black

ronp wrote:

Just checked out these super duper Halford HB3 Ultrabright bulbs with view to giving them a go.
BUT ..... £30 each ..... they've got to be having a laugh.
Ok they've got a bogof promo, but still at a net of £15 per bulb that's above what the Nightbreakers will cost me.
Plus, I only need one bulb!
Am I missing something

http://www.halfords.com/motoring/bulbs-bla...b-9005-hb3

My thoughts exactly when I looked on their website. I thought I had got something wrong

I'll I've the nightbreakers a go. 2010 HSE SD4 in Santorini black
(Privacy glass, leather/heated seats, ICE, Verde AS M+S)

2002 Freelander GS TD4
(sold 2011)

they might be the same price, but so far mine have outlasted the Nightbreakers by quite a distance