Osram Nightbreaker bulbs - opinions please guys.

[Kev]

I've put a couple of hours research into this but would value your opinions too guys.

I have standard '05 factory Xenons, and have been trying to get H1 (main beam), and H11 (foglight), bulbs that match the colour of the Xenon dipped beam. Already fitted the Predator ICE (only the 3w versions - which suck as they are nowhere near bright enough).

I dont want any kind of bulb that looks blue when switched off. So that rules out a lot (including the PIIA). Just something with a nice crisp white beam to almost match the Xenons.

Has anyone on here used the Osram Nightbreakers? I'd really appreciate any comment on whether they look white at all compare to Xenons.

Thanks in advance.

Kev

[UncleBob]

i started using the Osrams (which are "sylvania" in the US) a few years ago. they would burn out at least twice a year. a friend had similar experience.

i tried the philips and they are now lasting years. i have them in the fogs, hi-beam and even the w5w position lights in the headlight housing. they are a crisp clean white, not " i wanna be HID" blue and compliment the xenons very well. i'm totally happy with them and recommend them. in fact, i think philips has since upped the kelvin temperature a few hundred degrees so they should be even whiter yet. i'd like to get them but my current bulbs just won't burn out!

[Kev]

Cheers Bob,

Which Philips bulbs do you recommend ? I have a feeling that the Philips Xtreme +80% don't come in facelift X5 sizes (H1 & H11).

The lifetime of these bulbs won't be a mjor issue as they are used only when I flash oncoming traffic (main beam), or motorway driving (fog lamps). Very rare that they will get used for more than a couple of hours per month.

But if the Philips were better, and they came in H1 and H11, then I'd go for them, but as far as I can tell they only come in H4 and H7.

Or am I looking at the wrong bulbs ? Thanks for the advice.

Kev.

[UncleBob]

ooops, i should have mentioned that the philips bulbs that i'm using are the "Blue Vision"
here's a link to the philips website. check out the "types available" tab.

[Kev]

Aaah, I see. Thanks Bob.

These don't seem to come in H11 either . Seems its a bit of an obscure fitting. I'll try the nightbreakers on the H11 fogs as they seem to be the only legal manufacturer of performence replacement bulbs. For the main beam, since the H1 will be used for the odd flash of headlights and very rare country lane driving, the lifetime is not so important so I'll try the nightbreakers for this too.

They claim 90% extra power and 10% whiter so I guess if standard halogen is around 3500k, then these will be 3850k. Not quite the 4300k of the xenons, but worth a try.

I'l let you know how I get on.

Have a great new years. All the best. Kev.

[primetime]

Try Luminics, Titanium white. They are closest to HID white as I've ever seen....Whiter then any PIAA's. You won't get the blue reflection in your foglight assembly when they are off either. But the bulbs are blueish tint....

[UncleBob]

kev,
what year X5 do you have? i have an '02 and the fogs are H3. i've never heard of H11 nor can i find any reference to them anywhere.
I have the Philips Blue Vision in my fogs so i know they exist in H3 for the fogs.

[Kev]

In europe, the facelift X5s (2004>) have H11 fogs and H1 main beam (were Xenons are fitted). I've actually removed the bublbs to check as I've seen bulb sites that contradict this. Wierd

Hoen don't seem to go my sizes either, or I would have gone with them. Hopefully I'll get the bulbs tomorrow and wont be too disappointed with the colour.

I'll let you know and post some pics (if they show the difference).

Cheers. Kev