Guys.......
l today i spent 1hr looking into why my side light was not working it took 5 mins with a multi meter to discover one pin that powers the side light was pushed out the connection block hence as electric dose not jump small gaps this is why it was not working it then took 45mins trying to relocate the pin back into the correct location......

MASSIVE thanks to all the group for your help etc as per......

I made a couple of posts in December saying how good these bulbs were in terms of light output. 2013 MY using HB3 bulb
Fitted 1st week December 2015 and I noticed one not working on Monday, yesterday second one out so NO headlights. Fortunately home just in time using fog lights.
Both bulbs shattered and left hand jammed on dip. Going to see Halfords manager tomorrow, appointment made by Halfords customer services.
I have had a look at lamp internals and it seem possible to strip and remove broken glass which I assume is jamming shield or solenoid.
I will update after visit. 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.

That's not good.

Thanks for posting the info - I was thinking of going this route but I think I'll just stick with the standard ones

I have used Nightbreakers and pleased with their longevity but 2 weeks ago one side went after 2 years use (just failed). After reading on here of the few overpowered bulbs shattering I went back to the normal OEM ones.

I think its because theyre in a more confined space in the later cars projectors than the earlier cars where the bulb had a bit more space around it? They get hotter because of the higher power they get hotter and the heat is more concentrated around the bulb envelope this causes the bulb to explode, maybe??

The filaments are slightly different, shorter or thinner so that they burn brighter, hence the extra light, the trade off is faster degradation and shorter life. The power is still 55 watts so the heat in the enclosure is the same with standard or brighter lamps

I have HID on mine which are very poor compared to the MY11 HID lamps, I suspect the reflector may be burning? I will get this looked at during the service in a few weeks, the beam pattern is poor and there are some strange colours in the beam, if it was the lamp on its way out it would be a uniform colour change.

There are some powerful LED fitments coming into the market too, it would be interesting to see how they fair in the FL2 housing.

I used Nightbreakers and Halfords +120% when I had my X1, can't remember exactly how many failed but it was a few in the 65k miles I had it for.

I guess you can't have it all!!

I got through a lot of the Halfords +120% bulbs (HB3). They only seemed to last about a couple of months each. I had to carry a minimum of two spares at all time to feel secure.

Trying Nightbreakers at the moment. Waiting to see whether they are any better

Steve

I had Halfords +120% lamps in for about a week, until 1 exploded, loud enough for me to hear over the radio while I drove along! - impossible to get all the pieces of glass out the unit

I did have nightbreakers previously, but as usual they failed after about 12 months...back to the standard ones until I find something else! 2000 Xei 1.8 gone
2004 HSE Td4 Auto, MT's, sump guard, sliderz - gone
2014 GS Man - AT's, Mantec Sump guard and tank guard, split charger in boot, towbar, work in progress...

after so many failures i have decided to stick with the standard bulb than have a light go on a dark rainy night in the middle of nowhere

Original HB3 bulbs have both blown on mine after 2-2½ years. So 2 years from Nightbreakers ain't too bad! 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.

Halfords Brand bulbs are Manufactured by a Chinese manufacture called Alite that's why there crap and explode.

Ring Branded bulbs are manufactured by a German company called Gerlux.

The Oem brand bulbs are manufactured by General Electric who have been making bulbs for a past time that's why original bulbs last much longer.

Its usage I suppose how much night driving you do, and how much flicking from main to dip for the double filament bulbs? if you hardly do any they might last the life of the car? be interesting to know if its a certain hour they blow at, suppose it is, rather than a time/age?

With the double filament bulbs when youre on main beam do the dipped filaments go out or stay on with the main one? I think Ive heard they do in some cases, so that could be another source of added heat how much you do on main beam too?

It would seem that it would pay to get Halfrauds to fit the bulbs for £7 that way if they blow within a year you have some comeback. Self fitting and you cannot prove that you didn't touch the glass or incorrectly position the bulb.

I have some +120% bulbs fitted by Halfrauds but the receipt is sitting safely in my filing cabinet. 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

Landiroamer - the HB3s are not double filament. The bulb stays on for both main and dip, and direction of beam is controlled by a mechanical shutter. 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.