30 replies to this topic

[Ryan.]

There have been a lot of threads about bulbs recently and these two bulbs have been most recomended so as i had the philips and one died i decided to get the osram so i could compare the two.
The car is a 1996 3dr Civic EJ.

My 1st impressions are that the Osram have a much shorter dipped beam. When driving with just dipps i cant see much at all tbh. They stretch about 4 car lengths, if that infront of me and I feel that i need my main beam on when ever i can if no-one is infront of me.

Compare this to the dipped beam of the Philips and there is a huge difference. I feel safe driving in all conditions with just my dipps on and being able to see far enough. Much further than the Osrams.

The colour of the beam is also superior from the philips, much whiter and clearer which imo is what is important. Main beam is also much clearer and whiter, the osrams seem to have a blue tint altho they say they are 10% whiter :confused:

The distance of the main beam is good on both bulbs, being about the same distance but due to the colour the philips comes out tops for me.

The philips looks a much better built bulb too. The osram is short and stumpy where as the philips is a bit longer but thinner, i guess this might help with the longer dipped beam.

My over opinion is that the philips is the better bulb. From powerbulbs.co.uk they are the same price at £22 (altho i got the osrams for £14 off ebay).
The vision is much clearer and longer so i would much prefer the philips, so much infact that im considering buying a set of the philips before the osrams die.

Hope this helps :)

[TomG]

halfords +90% bulbs at BOGOF FTW :D

[Edgey]

Can you be 100% sure that the eBay bulbs are genuine? I have bought a few bulbs off eBay, all of which have been 'branded' bulbs, and I'm not convinced any of them were the genuine artical.

Edit: If they are what's the sellers name? Could be useful.

I currently have halfords all weather bulbs which are interesting, good, but interesting...

Edited by Edgey, 04 Nov 2008 - 20:41.

[Skeelsie]

Thsose Philips ones are the badgers snadger, like you say you pretty much don't need to bother with full beam any more.

http://www.autoexpre...tbulb_test.html

[s29uny]

spend the little extra and get HID's speak to jag singh he might be able to get you some cheapo...
i bought a set off him and now all my mates from work and uni have them, they look nice and they are bright

[Skeelsie]

s29uny said:

spend the little extra and get HID's speak to jag singh he might be able to get you some cheapo...
i bought a set off him and now all my mates from work and uni have them, they look nice and they are bright

But they break then you get spun the "can't get the parts mate" line and have to buy a new set for £50 and have hassle of fitting the bleeders again plus the usual they is illegal innit issues.

Std bulbs FTW.

[summerlightning]

http://www.powerbulb...il.asp?prod=43# thems the ones? i need something better then some halfrauds/bosch jobbies ive got in the tank at present,

[Murph]

TomG said:

halfords +90% bulbs at BOGOF FTW :D

I think I've got the Halfords +50% H7s and they really deteriorate after 8 months or so. Very good when you buy them, but I don't think the quality is that high.

[TomG]

I've never had a problem with any of the decent halfords ones. The cheap ones are pants, but the boxed ones are usually alright. I ran them in the fiesta from day one, my sister still uses the car with the same bulbs in and they're stupid bright.

[Ryan.]

easytease said:

http://www.powerbulb...il.asp?prod=43# thems the ones? i need something better then some halfrauds/bosch jobbies ive got in the tank at present,

thats the philips one yeap :)

Edgey said:

Can you be 100% sure that the eBay bulbs are genuine? I have bought a few bulbs off eBay, all of which have been 'branded' bulbs, and I'm not convinced any of them were the genuine artical.

Edit: If they are what's the sellers name? Could be useful.

I had a look to make sure and after looking at the feedback and the fact that the packaging is identical to that which is shown on power bulbs so im pretty sure they are genuine

seller

Edited by Ryan., 04 Nov 2008 - 23:49.

[BenW]

I've got philips x-treme in my fiesta and rate them highly, they shine for miles on dipped and main beam. Road signs are almost blindingly reflective with them on full!

[Edgey]

Nice one Ryan, will have to give them a go, ta.

[HeavyChevy]

Just because they look good in the packaging doesn't make them genuine, theres lots of very convincing counterfeit tat on ebay. I've been happy with Ring X% brighter bulbs, have them in the Trooper.

[Ryan.]

not just the packaging that makes me think there real. The feedback from other people and the bulbs etc looks identical to pics i've seen on sites selling the night breakers

[Kevhaywire]

Are those 80W/100W, or 100W/150W etc type bulbs illegal for road use?

[HeavyChevy]

Yep and you may well end up with an electrical fire as your wiring will only be specced for 55W.

[Ryan.]

HeavyChevy said:

Yep and you may well end up with an electrical fire as your wiring will only be specced for 55W.

yeap totaly agree there. i had some in one of my punto's and it melted the loom. lucky it wasnt anything worse

[Kevhaywire]

Pants, thought as much.

The loom isn't a problem. Being a VW owner, uprating the wiring is a necessity rather than an option!

Providing the headlights are aligned correctly and you're not dazzling anyone, can the fuzz tell if you're running illegal bulbs? Just thinking some of those HIDs are crazy bright and it must be hard to tell these days?

[focuszetec]

powerbulbs themselves sell their bulbs cheaper on eBay, I've seen them half the price of their shop!

[Ryan.]

Kevhaywire said:

Pants, thought as much.

The loom isn't a problem. Being a VW owner, uprating the wiring is a necessity rather than an option!

Providing the headlights are aligned correctly and you're not dazzling anyone, can the fuzz tell if you're running illegal bulbs? Just thinking some of those HIDs are crazy bright and it must be hard to tell these days?

tbh the 100w bulbs are no brighter than a pair of good bulbs like the Philips x-treme power.
The cops can easy tell if you have a HID kit which is not fitted properly etc as the beam is all over the place