ML350 garbage headlights

[Bobby Tetstall]

Sorry if this has been answered or posted elsewhere , as a newbie I need to spend some time searching.

I have a 59 plate ML350 with standard headlights and despite trying almost evert bulb I can find, the headlights are absolute garbage.

Has anyone found a nice white bulb or LED perhaps that improves the situation ?

Thx

 

[Wighty]

Sorry if this has been answered or posted elsewhere , as a newbie I need to spend some time searching.

I have a 59 plate ML350 with standard headlights and despite trying almost evert bulb I can find, the headlights are absolute garbage.

Has anyone found a nice white bulb or LED perhaps that improves the situation ?

Thx

Welcome buddy , have a read up on Osram Nightbreaker bulbs , they always get mentioned on here as a decent upgrade option

 

[LostKiwi]

You cannot legally fit LEDs unless you use a full factory replacement headlight unit. To be legal whatever you fit must be e-marked to show it's compliance.

Basically if you're light units take a halogen fitting they must use halogen bulbs to be legal.

As Wighty says Osram Nightbreakers are the best.

 

[M80]

Nightbreakers have served me well in the past.

 

[Bobby Tetstall]

Thx for the info , I'll see what I can find on YouTube.

 

[Bobby Tetstall]

Someone has recommended Philips Racing Vision 150 or extreme Vision 130 , how do they compare with the Nightbreakers ?

 

[Wighty]

Someone has recommended Philips Racing Vision 150 or extreme Vision 130 , how do they compare with the Nightbreakers ?

If my memory serves from conversations on here , the Osrams edge in front ? . Just go for the Osrams if there is not a lot of money in it .

 

[LostKiwi]

Racing visions have extremely short lifespans and when I tried them I was underwhelmed compared to the Osrams or Philips +130.

 

[Bobby Tetstall]

Perfect , Osrams it is then, thx folks

 

[Wighty]

Perfect , Osrams it is then, thx folks

Got mine off eBay a few months ago , let us know how you get on .

 

[JBell]

Good value here

https://www.amazon.co.uk/64210NBL-H...-1-spons&keywords=osram+h7+nightbreaker&psc=1

 

[Gazwould]

Osram Night Breaker are no longer the best.


https://www.autoexpress.co.uk/accessories-tyres/76760/best-car-headlight-bulbs-2018

Previous Auto Express H7 test results around 2016.

1. Philips RacingVision
2. Ring Xenon130
3. GE Megalight Ultra +130
4. Bosch Gigalight Plus 120
5. Osram Night Breaker Unlimited
6. Philips X-tremeVision +130
7. Twenty20 daylight120
8. Osram Night Breaker Laser
9. M-tech Powertec Platinum


Short 200hr life with the the Philips RacingVision so best so with Ring
( GE made ) .

 

[LostKiwi]

I'll stick with my Nightbreakers....

 

[JBell]

I'll stick with my Nightbreakers....

Me too

 

[Wighty]

And me ! (Smiley face )

 

[Gazwould]

Of course incandescent halogen ( but Xenon gas filled ) Night Breakers are an improvement over stock .

My first experience of them are the Plus version , +90% , now they're 150% , at this level of performance the technology is truly exhausted without reducing a bulb to a 100hr life .

In two cars for dipped one did fail inside a year before it was sold and I've still some as main albeit hardly used in my older vehicle .

Fair play to Osram as they have created a long standing forum bandwagon .

But when people get presented with a creditable tested alterative they don't like to change the old thinking and what they have .

Let's face it , they're still Van Helsing coach candles when compared to HID and LED , and I welcome the day we see the back of them .

W5W / T10 / 501 , lmfao .

 

[LostKiwi]

But when people get presented with a creditable tested alterative they don't like to change the old thinking and what they have .

Sweeping generalisation.
Over the years I've tried all manner of bulbs, PIAA (waste if money), Philips Extreme +130, Silver Star, Ring, Halfords Philips Racing Vision (lasted no time at all) andOsram Nightbreakers of various flavours. I've also tried illegal LEDs and HiDs (still have the HiDs in the shed - they were carp).
The Osram has consistently lasted better and provided the best beam pattern with the Philips Extreme +130 not far behind. The biggest issue with the Philips is that have found them to be inconsistent in the beam produced.
There is a legal maximum of 2000 lumen before headlight cleaning etc is required.

Personally I don't have any problem with halogen. It's cheap reliable simple to fix technology. I'd far rather a £20 pair of halogen bulbs than a couple of hundred for HiD or a couple if grand for LED.
FWIW our Mini has LED matrix headlights and our R230 has HiD for low beam and H7 for high. My Smart has H7 low beam and LED high beam (aftermarket 90mm units - never got round to buying the low beam ones). My 129 has H4 Osrams and my 210 has H7 high and low beams, laser in both.

 

[Gazwould]

Good bulb count , have you tried the Ring 130 or 150 ?

H4... the days of bulb change ease .

 

[LostKiwi]

Good bulb count , have you tried the Ring 130 or 150 ?

H4... the days of bulb change ease .

No. Ring has always been suspect quality in my experience. Even if they're GE made I'd buy the GE ones in preference.

 

[Gazwould]

Yes , well made .