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How long should bulbs last?
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Meh, one of my bulbs blows every 3 months or so and they are just ordinary bulbs. Par for the course
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I sort of watched a 5th gear program the other day, if I understood correctly they were comparing a volkeswagen (polo?)to renault (clio?) headlamp bulb change.
V/W 5 mins, usual reaching from inside engine bay etc.. Renault 40 mins involving removing inner wheel arch liner and going in from there.
I used to have a citroen xsara picasso, in the end I got the dealer to change the bulb as I couldn't reach the unit from within the engine bay.
I think the VW was a Golf, but the Renault was definitely a Megane.
Manufacturers are getting desperate in trying to push people into dealerships for service items.
Hell, im pretty sure that the Vectra's manual tells the owner to get bulbs replaced at a VX dealer. Fortunately they're easy to get unless you have sausage fingers.“I may not agree with you, but I will defend to the death your right to make an a** of yourself.”
<><><><><><><><><<><><><><><><><><><><><><> Don't forget to like and subscribe \/ \/ \/0 -
That is if you don't drive a modern Reanult/Nissan/Citroen etc', if you do you will need to carry an extra set of skin for your hands to graft it on top, post bulb installation.;)
True. I currently have a Mk.6 Fiesta. Only three (IIRC, T25) screws. You do have to remove the radiator grille to get to one of them, but it just unclips and pulls off.The acquisition of wealth is no longer the driving force in my life.0 -
It is highly unlikely that both bulbs would come to the end of their life at once. If both went at the same time, I would suspect your car had some sort of current surge.0
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Stephen_Leak wrote: »
OSRAM [STRIKE]to[/STRIKE] upgrade them. The Plus version has a thicker filament, a better mix of gas, and even gold plated contacts. The body doesn't even have the rough edges the old one did. They just look and feel more "up to a quality, not down to a price" than the old ones.
Sounds like you write the advertising or believe it at least.;)
Can't remember when I last changed a headlight bulb probably 10 years or more and we have had one car 5 years and another 8 years in that time.
Those whiter lights might help you see but they blind others more IMO."If you act like an illiterate man, your learning will never stop... Being uneducated, you have no fear of the future.".....
"big business is parasitic, like a mosquito, whereas I prefer the lighter touch, like that of a butterfly. "A butterfly can suck honey from the flower without damaging it," "Arunachalam Muruganantham0 -
Dont forget not to touch the glass when installing the bulb as it will affect bulb life.
I used to have a car which went through bulbs every few months - it was only on one side though. I never really got to the bottom of it.0 -
The old NightBreakers really did live up to their name, sometimes at 1AM on an unlit country road
The Halfords extreme brilliance I fitted to my car in 2008 are still going strong, however.
You didn't touch the glass while installing them did you? The oils from your skin cause a significant heat problem on headlight bulbs that reduces their lifespan dramatically.0 -
You didn't touch the glass while installing them did you? The oils from your skin cause a significant heat problem on headlight bulbs that reduces their lifespan dramatically.
The problem that causes is the oil/grease burns offs, due to the intense heat, and "lacquers" itself on the reflector and lens dulling them, making them less shiny/bright.
That what my bro told me anyway, he used to work for Lucas designing the things.
If you do touch them use some surgical spirit (alcohol) to clean them, before, inserting them."If you act like an illiterate man, your learning will never stop... Being uneducated, you have no fear of the future.".....
"big business is parasitic, like a mosquito, whereas I prefer the lighter touch, like that of a butterfly. "A butterfly can suck honey from the flower without damaging it," "Arunachalam Muruganantham0 -
grizzly1911 wrote: »The problem that causes is the oil/grease burns offs, due to the intense heat, and "lacquers" itself on the reflector and lens dulling them, making them less shiny/bright.
That what my bro told me anyway, he used to work for Lucas designing the things.
If you do touch them use some surgical spirit (alcohol) to clean them, before, inserting them.
The grease and salts also cause local hot spots causing changes to the glass which can weaken it causing gas to leak out or, in more extreme cases, the glass could fail completely and the bulb could shatter.0 -
grizzly1911 wrote: »That what my bro told me anyway, he used to work for Lucas designing the things.
Not sure I'd trust a Lucas employee for expert opinion on the design of things or understanding why they fail.
Did he also tell you that most electrics fail because someone let the magic smoke out of the harness?0
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