[Kal101]

was looking at Osram night breakers which are alleged to put up to 70% more light on the road with a whiter beam that's 20m longer.

Sounds tempting at about £70 or so per bulb as a relatively straight forward safety upgrade

Anyone out there tried them or any general thoughts ????

Also any ideas roughly how much have people paid to have bulbs changed as I don't think you can/ should do it yourself - although I bet somebody somewhere has and lived to tell the tale

[ukbeemerboy]

Originally Posted by Kal27

was looking at Osram night breakers which are alleged to put up to 70% more light on the road with a whiter beam that's 20m longer.

Sounds tempting at about £70 or so per bulb as a relatively straight forward safety upgrade

Anyone out there tried them or any general thoughts ????

Also any ideas roughly how much have people paid to have bulbs changed as I don't think you can/ should do it yourself - although I bet somebody somewhere has and lived to tell the tale

Quite happy with the Xenons fitted from factory and as they are covered under warranty, I'll leave them well alone

[....,,,,..,,..]

Bound to be someone that has, however with the 'dancing lights' not sure I would want a longer throw as may get flashed more or mess up how they interact with other motorists.

[Tengocity]

DTP1980 has them fitted, says they're noticeably better. The standard bulbs are the standard Philips or Osram bulb and then they both do a higher spec one.

I will replace mine with these upgraded ones but have decided to wait till autumn when the nights draw back in again. And the wife will kill me if I don't pause on the mods for a bit!

[Kal101]

Wouldn't have thought they would affect the warranty as its still a standard spec bulb

Can see the point about the adaptive headlights though but still might be worth a punt as having looked on you tube there seems to be a noticeable difference in light quality. Didn't have any issues when I upgraded and increased the height on my previous 3 which had halogens

[Daftasabrush]

I've used them before, there's no issue at all with adaptive, but I've found on the latest car that the headlights are aimed higher so I don't think I'd benefit much from the "upgrade". After reading a few weeks ago that the HIDs are under warranty, I don't think I'll bother now.

[DTP1980]

They are a significant improvement over oem (which are Phillips). Phillips do their own top end bulb of comparable performance for the same price. Ignore the fact the the lumens are all the same, it is misleading but I can't give a scientific reason why. These are much.

They draw the same wattage and are e marked so warranty problems should be unfounded.

They work especially well with adaptives. The 'dark patch' is even clearer (seems darker) and in certain circumstances they work even better, switching off at safer points. Night driving confidence is much greater.

Easy to fit too. 20 mins for none adaptive, 30 mins for adaptive. Care is needed regarding the locking tabs for the sealing 'door' into the back of the headlight unit. And they need 'bedding in'. The more you use them, the brighter they get.

So far as value for money is concerned, these are on a par with LED, if not better, for a fraction of the price and I throughly recommend it.

Also, buy from an approved retailer. There are cheap imitations everywhere. Just buy from Powerbulbs. Usually some discount around to ensure sub £150 for a pair.

[Andrewthefirst]

Originally Posted by Tengocity

DTP1980 has them fitted, says they're noticeably better. The standard bulbs are the standard Philips or Osram bulb and then they both do a higher spec one.

I will replace mine with these upgraded ones but have decided to wait till autumn when the nights draw back in again. And the wife will kill me if I don't pause on the mods for a bit!

Surprised you still have a wife the amount of mods you do

[Daftasabrush]

Originally Posted by DTP1980

Care is needed regarding the locking tabs for the sealing 'door' into the back of the headlight unit.

How do you mean? I seem to remember that the back covers almost appear to have tabs that render them single use.

[ukbeemerboy]

Originally Posted by Kal27

Wouldn't have thought they would affect the warranty as its still a standard spec bulb

Can see the point about the adaptive headlights though but still might be worth a punt as having looked on you tube there seems to be a noticeable difference in light quality. Didn't have any issues when I upgraded and increased the height on my previous 3 which had halogens

On my E90 the rear of the lights were sealed with a warranty tamper label. If the F3X are the same, then any warranty relating to the headlamps could be void. If they need to be touched, then it would be done by a dealer through warranty and so would be logged as such.

[DTP1980]

Originally Posted by Daftasabrush

How do you mean? I seem to remember that the back covers almost appear to have tabs that render them single use.

As referred, they are like tamper tabs, and provide little or no 'lock'. I kept them prised back to prevent breaking them. So it doesn't look like mine have been opened.

[Daftasabrush]

ok, yeah, that's what I experienced, I just left them, if they're really single use then that's stupid, I assumed that they had been designed to hold well enough.

[x-m4n]

Originally Posted by ukbeemerboy

Quite happy with the Xenons fitted from factory ... I'll leave them well alone

+1

[Kal101]

Originally Posted by DTP1980

As referred, they are like tamper tabs, and provide little or no 'lock'. I kept them prised back to prevent breaking them. So it doesn't look like mine have been opened.

Thanks for all your input. Appreciate that

Standard Xenons are good and definitely an improvement over halogens which I upgraded in my previous 3

As mods go seems a relatively cheap upgrade that would improve safety etc as I do a far bit of mileage on unlit roads.

Would probably check with dealer re cost of changing bulbs before I tried to have a go myself to avoid any warranty issues.

[Bee Pee]

Kal,

Will dealer fit non OE parts ? Esp as BMW sell Philips upgraded xenon bulbs badged as BMW MP xenon bulbs and an inflated price.....

BP

[Kal101]

Originally Posted by Bee Pee

Kal,

Will dealer fit non OE parts ? Esp as BMW sell Philips upgraded xenon bulbs badged as BMW MP xenon bulbs and an inflated price.....

BP

Definitely.

Got ACS springs, front splitter and rear diffuser fitted to my car all by my local BMW dealer all non BMW Not the cheapest but work is done to a decent standard and you know you can go back them

Didn't know that about the bulbs though !!!!

[Bee Pee]

Kal,

Link below, brace yourself though when read the price 100%+ mark up !!!!

http://www.bmw.co.uk/en_GB/topics/ow...ryId=9890.html

[Kal101]

Originally Posted by Bee Pee

Kal,

Link below, brace yourself though when read the price 100%+ mark up !!!!

http://www.bmw.co.uk/en_GB/topics/ow...ryId=9890.html

From £410 plus fitting

That's just taking the mickey. About £120 or so from powerbulbs that's nearly 350% mark up. !!!!!!

[Kal101]

Checked with BMW approx £57 a pair to fit only

About 20mins of labour

[Bee Pee]

Kal,

£57 for BMW main dealer to fit only, based on you supplying the non OE bulbs ?

Which dealer, as my local service dept wont touch customer supplied non OE parts......

BP

[Kal101]

Originally Posted by Bee Pee

Kal,

£57 for BMW main dealer to fit only, based on you supplying the non OE bulbs ?

Which dealer, as my local service dept wont touch customer supplied non OE parts......

BP

Seriously !!!

Sytners in Oldbury

Found osram nightbreaker plus bulbs on e bay for £110 delivered or powerbulbs - safer bet probably for £150 after 20% discounted and hopefully in stock this week.

[....,,,,..,,..]

Originally Posted by Kal27

Seriously !!!

Sytners in Oldbury

Found osram nightbreaker plus bulbs on e bay for £110 delivered or powerbulbs - safer bet probably for £150 after 20% discounted and hopefully in stock this week.

I find then a really good dealership, debating having them as my 'Local' service place.