I have 2 FL2's [63 & 14 plates] both fitted with the above and I have had 6 failed bulbs in the last couple of months.

I am now binning Osram as I cannot trust them. I have just fitted the Halfords 9005 HB3 90+ bulbs - it will be interesting to see whether they are any better

If you touch the glass envelope or scratch it then life is dramatically reduced, are you handling them correctly?

Yep, fitted many many bulbs over the years.

Fitted news sets to both cars in Nov 14, they started to fail in Sept this year. Replaced all 4 and now these are failing on both vehicles.

Bad batch - nope. bought them sepratley from different suppliers. Just can't risk failures when my wife is driving down wet, dark and narrow lanes in the country.

thinking of complaining to Osram, probably won't do any good. Just wish Philips did the HB3

I bought 4 of these for my Saab in November 2009 because I thought dip beam was a bit dim. As they failed I put the originals back, all 4 originals were back by summer 2010 and they are still in.
They are brighter but when the average life is around 6 months they are just not worth it. Mine, Saab convertible
Hers, MY08 GS auto

First set I used lasted 12 months and all 4 failed within a very short time of each other (about a month I think). Replaced with same now 9 months in. It will be interesting to see if this set lasts a year.

I have to say that given the palaver involved in changing a bulb on the FL2 I am thinking of trying something else next time if the longevity of current bulbs isn't significantly greater than the last set. I like the extra light they give but not the lack of reliability.

AW14 wrote:

I have just fitted the Halfords 9005 HB3 90+ bulbs - it will be interesting to see whether they are any better

Quote:

I have to say that given the palaver involved in changing a bulb on the FL2

Perhaps pay Halford to fit the next set (not that much in the grand scheme of things) then if they fail within a year you get free replacements Or is there a problem in my thinking? MY 09 GS manual in Lago Grey, Wood Co arm rest and side bumper strips - now sold.

MY 15 SD4 SE Auto Orkney Grey with colour coded Bumper Door Mouldings

I have made a number of replies to various "bulb posts" on this matter.
I took nightbreakers back out as they were inferior to original bulbs HB3 in a 2013 model.
I am now using Halfords +120%, they are very very good. Brilliant white light on dip and good range on main. 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.

SaabDriver wrote:

I bought 4 of these for my Saab in November 2009 because I thought dip beam was a bit dim. As they failed I put the originals back, all 4 originals were back by summer 2010 and they are still in.
They are brighter but when the average life is around 6 months they are just not worth it.

AW14 wrote:

thinking of complaining to Osram, probably won't do any good.

My local repairer says that for the latest cars (the ones with just a single bulb) he would only fit Genuine parts, as the others he's tried fail prematurely. Ex AA Series III LWB Safari - Gone
300TDi Disco (bought new - terrible car) sent back after 18 months
Freelander 1 Estate - leased, given back at end of lease
200TDi Disco (bought from a mate with 100,000 on the clock) - Gone
Disco 2 TD5 - sold and exported to France
FR2 TD4 GS - Gone
FR2 SD4 HSE - Now changed for a DS
New model ex-demo Evoque S 180 in white
Unable to order a new DS, so gave up. Now have a Volvo S90 Recharge.

EYorkshire wrote:

Quote:

I have to say that given the palaver involved in changing a bulb on the FL2

I would say that 5 minutes changing a lamp on the FL2 must be one of the best there is compared to a lot of modern cars. Incidentally my Osrams are just over 2 years now using the HB3 type.

Nightbreakers are good but have a rep for not lasting to long.
Might just be they are not cooled enough in some headlight designs.

High efficacy bulbs will never last as long by definition, that's the trade-off. What is totally unhelpful is the blue filter on the Night Breakers - it reduces a significant amount of the output, counteracting some of the initial gains and shortening bulb life even further.

Daniel Stern explains well how these things go.  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

I've had good life with Ring +90% on my TriumphTiger800. BUT....they are H4.

http://www.ringautomotive.co.uk/uk/product...enon130-h7