Headlamps keep blowing

[dineshcooper]

Hi,

I replaced my headlamps on an E90 320D a month ago and noticed today that both have blown again. Interestingly the lamp error symbol did not come up this time though!

The bulbs I used were the Osram Nightbreakers and I was very careful not to touch the bulbs at all when I replaced them.

Any ideas on what could cause them to blow so quickly?
And why would the lamp error symbol not show?

 

[Ralf*]

Hi,

I replaced my headlamps on an E90 320D a month ago and noticed today that both have blown again. Interestingly the lamp error symbol did not come up this time though!

The bulbs I used were the Osram Nightbreakers and I was very careful not to touch the bulbs at all when I replaced them.

Any ideas on what could cause them to blow so quickly?
And why would the lamp error symbol not show?

not specific to your problem or the quality of the Osram Nightbreakers but
1) A globe that is On is less brittle and thus doesn't break due to impact or vibration, compared to a globe that is off and subjected to vibrations and shock motions
2) Touching the glass only affects the unifrom temperature over the entire surface of the glass, due to oil deposits heating up and creating localized hot spots on the glass, this can in turn affect the cooling or operating temperature of the fillament inside,
3) Incorrect voltage or faulty voltage regulator could cause excessive current being fed to the globes

so based on the above
1) do you drive with the lights on....making the fillament less brittle and thus able to absorb road vibrations/shocks etc
2) if you drive mainly with the lights off and/or on uneven roads, then also factor into account if the fitting is secure, or does the globe have free-play, thus allowing it to recieve extra unnecessary shocks and vibration
3) always driving with the lights on will unfortunately also cause the globes to burn out faster mainly due to useage, but it should last longer than your current time period.
4) Touching/not touching the glass during replacement is only a casual factor for possible localized hot-spots on the glass, which can increase the operating temperature and thus reduce the lifespan.
5) The fact that your warning display doesn't indicate the blown globes makes me wonder about either a computor fault caused possibly due to a too-high/faulty voltage regulator which is also passing thru a too high voltage to the globes causing them to blow....or you have an earthing/short circuit problem on the globe mountings, which could also be the problem either to the globes and/or the computor warning function

 

[dineshcooper]

Hi,

I replaced my headlamps on an E90 320D a month ago and noticed today that both have blown again. Interestingly the lamp error symbol did not come up this time though!

The bulbs I used were the Osram Nightbreakers and I was very careful not to touch the bulbs at all when I replaced them.

Any ideas on what could cause them to blow so quickly?
And why would the lamp error symbol not show?

not specific to your problem or the quality of the Osram Nightbreakers but
1) A globe that is On is less brittle and thus doesn't break due to impact or vibration, compared to a globe that is off and subjected to vibrations and shock motions
2) Touching the glass only affects the unifrom temperature over the entire surface of the glass, due to oil deposits heating up and creating localized hot spots on the glass, this can in turn affect the cooling or operating temperature of the fillament inside,
3) Incorrect voltage or faulty voltage regulator could cause excessive current being fed to the globes

so based on the above
1) do you drive with the lights on....making the fillament less brittle and thus able to absorb road vibrations/shocks etc
2) if you drive mainly with the lights off and/or on uneven roads, then also factor into account if the fitting is secure, or does the globe have free-play, thus allowing it to recieve extra unnecessary shocks and vibration
3) always driving with the lights on will unfortunately also cause the globes to burn out faster mainly due to useage, but it should last longer than your current time period.
4) Touching/not touching the glass during replacement is only a casual factor for possible localized hot-spots on the glass, which can increase the operating temperature and thus reduce the lifespan.
5) The fact that your warning display doesn't indicate the blown globes makes me wonder about either a computor fault caused possibly due to a too-high/faulty voltage regulator which is also passing thru a too high voltage to the globes causing them to blow....or you have an earthing/short circuit problem on the globe mountings, which could also be the problem either to the globes and/or the computor warning function

Thanks for the detailed reply Ralph - I have the auto lights so they stay on all the time - will stop being lazy from now on

I will have a look to see how secure the fitting is and whether the bulb has any free play and sort out if necessary.

I am definitely leaning towards your point 5 though because of the lack of a warning symbol - so I guess getting the voltage regulator checked-out would be the best next step.

Thanks once again. I will post a follow-up once I get it figured out.

 

[Philip Foglar]

I think you were just unlucky maybe with a bad batch. I had a similar problem with my double cab a few months ago - one of the original halogen H3 bulbs so I ended up replacing both with a set of Hella Daymakers. They barely lasted a month or so! Fitted Osram Nightbreaker Plus and still seem to be fine.

Oh, and I am also running Osram Nightbreakers on my E90 (both main and high beams) which I fitted in mid 2011. The E46 also has these, but interestingly one of the bulbs (main beam) went after a little more than a year, replaced with Nightbreaker Plus and still going fine. Also, both cars are always driven with their lights on.

 

[Iceman007]

Hi,

I replaced my headlamps on an E90 320D a month ago and noticed today that both have blown again. Interestingly the lamp error symbol did not come up this time though!

The bulbs I used were the Osram Nightbreakers and I was very careful not to touch the bulbs at all when I replaced them.

Any ideas on what could cause them to blow so quickly?
And why would the lamp error symbol not show?

I also had this problem with the Osram.Night Breakers. I switched to the Hella Day Maker globes and they last much longer. I did write a e-mail back then to Osram and they came to my house where I showed the proof of purchase and they replaced 2 of the H7 globes.

---

Hi,

I replaced my headlamps on an E90 320D a month ago and noticed today that both have blown again. Interestingly the lamp error symbol did not come up this time though!

The bulbs I used were the Osram Nightbreakers and I was very careful not to touch the bulbs at all when I replaced them.

Any ideas on what could cause them to blow so quickly?
And why would the lamp error symbol not show?

not specific to your problem or the quality of the Osram Nightbreakers but
1) A globe that is On is less brittle and thus doesn't break due to impact or vibration, compared to a globe that is off and subjected to vibrations and shock motions
2) Touching the glass only affects the unifrom temperature over the entire surface of the glass, due to oil deposits heating up and creating localized hot spots on the glass, this can in turn affect the cooling or operating temperature of the fillament inside,
3) Incorrect voltage or faulty voltage regulator could cause excessive current being fed to the globes

so based on the above
1) do you drive with the lights on....making the fillament less brittle and thus able to absorb road vibrations/shocks etc
2) if you drive mainly with the lights off and/or on uneven roads, then also factor into account if the fitting is secure, or does the globe have free-play, thus allowing it to recieve extra unnecessary shocks and vibration
3) always driving with the lights on will unfortunately also cause the globes to burn out faster mainly due to useage, but it should last longer than your current time period.
4) Touching/not touching the glass during replacement is only a casual factor for possible localized hot-spots on the glass, which can increase the operating temperature and thus reduce the lifespan.
5) The fact that your warning display doesn't indicate the blown globes makes me wonder about either a computor fault caused possibly due to a too-high/faulty voltage regulator which is also passing thru a too high voltage to the globes causing them to blow....or you have an earthing/short circuit problem on the globe mountings, which could also be the problem either to the globes and/or the computor warning function

Thanks for the detailed reply Ralph - I have the auto lights so they stay on all the time - will stop being lazy from now on

I will have a look to see how secure the fitting is and whether the bulb has any free play and sort out if necessary.

I am definitely leaning towards your point 5 though because of the lack of a warning symbol - so I guess getting the voltage regulator checked-out would be the best next step.

Thanks once again. I will post a follow-up once I get it figured out.

Auto lights are suppose to switch off in the day. You should check your settings in the lights menu and disable the daytime driving lights. Then your headlights will switch on and off as they should

 

[Philip Foglar]

I also had this problem with the Osram.Night Breakers. I switched to the Hella Day Maker globes and they last much longer. I did write a e-mail back then to Osram and they came to my house where I showed the proof of purchase and they replaced 2 of the H7 globes.

It seems like you have had exactly the same problem, but other way around in terms of the brands. This is why I have the bad batch theory in mind. It's annoying that these days things generally cost so much and just don't last nearly as long as they should!

 

[akash]

Maybe try the Night breaker Plus version.

I have been using them for 3 years now with no issues

 

[Philip Foglar]

The Plus version is claimed to have longer life. :thumbs:

 

[dineshcooper]

I think the bad batch theory was the correct one.

The car went in for a service last week, they replaced the lamps (Bosch h7's) and they have been holding out so far. I have set the auto-lights so that they are not on during the day as well.

Thanks for the help everyone :bravo:

 

[Waseem 333i]

There was a faulty batch of osram nightbreakers. The plus were supposed to be fine. In my bakkie i was going through lightbulbs like crazy because of fauly regulator. Very irritating when both blow at the same time at night. Before they blew lights got very bright indicating faulty regulator. Go into the obc and check your battery charging. Keep an eye out while driving the the charge spikes.