Head lights

[Big Paul]

Can anyone advise of the best headlight bulbs for brightness and range for my 2002 CLK W208

 

[ash59fifty-uk]

Osram nightbreakers

 

[Codger49]

Philips Xtreme Vision.

 

[ray_hennig]

Osram nightbreakers

I just got some of those Osrams and am well pleased with them.

RayH

 

[Chrishazle]

There are different varieties of Nightbreaker these days - over time they've come out with Nightbreaker, then Nightbreaker+, then Nightbreaker Ultimate, then Nightbreaker Laser. I had the + in the mains on my S204, they were pretty good, I currently have NB Ultimate in the dips, much better than the normal bulbs they replaced, and Lasers in the mains replacing the NB+ I was surprised to find installed! Not yet convinced the Lasers are worth the extra money compared to ultimates (£6 cheaper per pair than Lasers) or even the NB+ - but then I do very little night time main beam driving!

For sure the NB's are much better than original cheapo bulbs!

 

[ash59fifty-uk]

Think mine were the unlimiteds, should've mentioned that!

 

[Zonergem]

Seems through the Amazon reviews that a lot of people find the Nightbreakers to have a very limited life. The figure of 250-300 hours on average compared to 600 for standard bulbs. Anyone here care to comment on that?

 

[CabrioDave]

Seems through the Amazon reviews that a lot of people find the Nightbreakers to have a very limited life. The figure of 250-300 hours on average compared to 600 for standard bulbs. Anyone here care to comment on that?

True. Auto Express does a review of headlamp bulbs each year, and mention this - see the latest here: Best car headlight bulbs: group test | Auto Express

 

[b1g1an]

Seems through the Amazon reviews that a lot of people find the Nightbreakers to have a very limited life. The figure of 250-300 hours on average compared to 600 for standard bulbs. Anyone here care to comment on that?

Always been true of increased brightness bulbs because of the finer elements used.

 

[carolanddom]

I contacted Philips customer service recently and heard back that their H7 LED lamps are planned to be released in Autumn 2017. I asked about retail price but didn't hear a response!

 

[Chrishazle]

Until then fit a pair of NB Unlimiteds - about £14 for my S204.

 

[markjay]

Until then fit a pair of NB Unlimiteds - about £14 for my S204.

Osram Night Breaker Unlimited are indeed very good - but you need to be aware of their relatively short service life (compared to standard bulbs). Mine lasted 6 to 12 months each.

 

[Chrishazle]

I've only just fitted them Mark, about a month ago in my dip beams - which are on full time when driving. I previously had NB of some description - may have been originals or NB+ - in my S203 and they only lasted a year or so. However, I remember removing them and installing them in the S204 when I swopped cars, and when I recently swopped all 4 in the S204 I found I had ordinary bulbs in the dips and NB+ in the mains - which were still OK. Maybe my memory is playing tricks and I fitted NB+ to the 203, had 2 fail in the dips but not in the mains (which I seldom use). Anyway, I now have NB Ultimate in the dips, much better than the originals, and NB Laser in the mains - not convinced about them compared to the NB+ they replaced. Did both sets at the same time, will see how they last - and have a set of NB+ and 2 sets of originals in the boot just in case!