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Re: headlight longevity factors (2005 9-5 halogens) Posted by Larry West [Email] ![]() ![]() ![]() In Reply to: headlight longevity factors (2005 9-5 halogens), Bruce A, Tue, 24 Aug 2010 07:26:20 Members do not see ads below this line. - Help Keep This Site Online - Signup |
What is "short" to you? Weeks? Months? Years?
Like anything, the better a brand you use, the longer they should live. Hella, Phillips, Osram, Sylvania, are all good brands. I used to go through Phillips or Sylvania 9004s at least annually on my C900. H4s lasted a LOT longer.
If the headlight low beams are your DRLs, that can shorten their calendar life. This is particularly bad if you do a LOT of short trips (frequent on and off kills bulbs faster than leaving them on a long time). See if you can get your mechanic to set your DRLs to the European mode with Tech 2, where you only get headlights when the switch is in the headlight position. Otherwise, the parking lights - including the "city lights" inside the headlamp housings, are your DRLs. That's how I've set up all of my 9-5s. And in every case, I've had to replace the parking light bulbs that are living in the headlight housing.
I've been using Sylvania Silverstar Ultra bulbs. These are NOT the usual "silly blue" Silverstar bulbs, but a brighter, whiter, yet shorter-lived bulb. They cost more, about $50 per pair retail, but you can get them for about half that on eBay. Note: they are the SAME wattage as standard, so no worries about melting things.
_______________________________________ Current: 2002 9-5 Aero Kombi Cosmic Blue 2000 9-5 SE sedan, Imola Red 1990 900S Rose Quartz, Auto Past: 1999 9-5 LPT Combi 1999 9-5 LPT sedan 2002 9-5 Arc 1990 900 5-speed 1986 900 turbo Convertible 1991 9000 turbo 1980 99 GLi 1986 900 turbo 1986 900 S 1991 900 turbo 1984 900 turbo 1976 99 GL
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