The following information is from Auto Express in the UK. The complete text and test results are available in the "product tests" section of http://www.autoexpree.co.uk.

"Judging by your response to past tests, night visibility is a high priority, and many of you are keen to up-grade. Yet the industry does little to help the motorist. While there's a wide range of products, they often use bewildering or misleading names. Confusion often arises over gas discharge or xenon lights, as seen on BMWs, Mercedes and Audis. These use a totally different technology from that of conventional bulbs, as the source of light is an arc burning between two electrodes in xenon gas rather than a filament. The result is a bright blue-white glow.

But manufacturers also put xenon into conventional halogen bulbs - for longevity - and claim higher performance. How many motorists have bought these, thinking they were going to get the same units as used in the BMW 7-Series?

Power claims can be misunderstood, too. The most common one is '30 per cent extra' light, but a standard 12V bulb with such a high output would be illegal. The figure refers to the amount of light on the kerb 75 metres ahead of the car - a critical point for night driving.

This stronger light is achieved by burning a smaller filament harder, to give a tighter focus to the beam. Philips and Osram make 50 per cent brighter bulbs, and some examples claim 'plus 60 per cent', although they were launched too late for this test. We assessed plus 50, plus 30 and standard bulbs - in general, expect to pay more for better performers. A further complication is blue bulbs, which aim to give a BMW or Audi look using filters or coatings to achieve the colour. These coatings actually cut light, and coloured units perform poorly. Don't confuse these with all-weather bulbs, which have a yellow beam for driving in fog."

Auto Express rated the following H4 bulbs as the best...

Standard Bulbs - Lucas Premium LL; Motaquip

Plus 30 Percent - Philips Premium; Osram Super

Plus 50 Percent - Osram Silverstar; Philips VisionPlus


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Auto Express online

• Question about headlights and Lumens-Silverstar related, Chris R., Sat, 20 Dec 2003 12:05:00
  • 9005 to 9006 Conversion, Ben, Mon, 22 Dec 2003 18:22:29
  • "Brightness" is used as a synonym for whiter color, not, Saabing in KS, Mon, 22 Dec 2003 10:52:55
  • From Auto Express in the UK....., REM in Seattle, Mon, 22 Dec 2003 09:43:47 <-- Viewing This Message
  • Re: Double the price & how long is the life?, Noel, Sun, 21 Dec 2003 10:31:08
  • Regardless of their stats . . ., jc, Sun, 21 Dec 2003 05:16:47
  • it's marketing trying to upsell halogens as HID's, Trev, Sat, 20 Dec 2003 15:22:21
  • Re: Question about headlights and Lumens-Silverstar related, paul de k, Sat, 20 Dec 2003 15:15:50
    • Re: Question about headlights and Lumens-Silverstar related, Rod899kT, Sun, 21 Dec 2003 14:17:13

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