Long Service Headlight Bulbs

[Turbo]

I'm getting fed up replacing the H4 headlight bulbs on my 2013 Dispatch van. Every 2 or 3 months I have to replace one, either left or right. It's not just the cost, fitting them is a pig of a job.
I've tried different brands, from premium like Philips and Osram to cheap ones from lidl and it makes no difference.
I only travel around 500 miles a month and very little night driving.

I've seen long life bulbs advertised, has anyone any experience of them?

 

[m_c]

Something is wrong if you're going through bulbs that quick.

Are you buying them from a reputable source?
Also are the headlight reflectors secure, and not worn/rattling?

 

[jenki]

Earth problem perhaps?

 

[Mick Annick]

Something is wrong if you're going through bulbs that quick.

Are you buying them from a reputable source?
Also are the headlight reflectors secure, and not worn/rattling?

I had a similar problem with a VW Polo, it would eat headlamp bulbs though I never got to find out why.

 

[Robotstar5]

I generally buy from Autobulbs direct, mrs Robo had a Peugot that ate bulbs so I bought some with a few years warranty, when one failed Autobulbs honoured the warranty and sent a replacement.

 

[Nomad]

Said already "Something is wrong" ... suggestions would be to check earths (remove and clean them), vibrations (lose mountings? low tension on the bulb holder allowing it to rattle?), any over-voltage problems?
Any missing water seals (cold water on a hot bulb often kills it but usually by cracking the glass).

The only vehicle I had that killed bulbs that quick was a 600cc "Thumper" bike that somebody had removed the balance shaft from - vibrated like a pig at tickover and I used to buy stop/tail bulbs a box at a time until I fitted leds.

 

[pedrobedro]

I had a Nissan van that used headlight bulbs regularly and that was earth problems. The wires to the bulbs were replaced as the copper had all turned black and powdery, all good after that.

 

[optima21]

my headlight bulbs on both cars are over 15 years old......if only I could remember where I got them from

 

[bricol]

How are you fitting them - holding the glass directly doesn't help.

How are they failing? Broken filament or going opaque due to the tungsen depositing on the glass?

I bought a set of expensive Autolamps HID conversions (off road use, private road etc) via a Scoobynet bulk buy close to 30 yrs ago for my first Lancia integrale . . . they've done the last 20 years or so in the second integrale - about 10 quid a year. Several cheaper kits for the main beams, and several halogens failed in that time.

 

[steveo3002]

my focus used to eat them , fitted a set of factory xenons and that fixed it lol

they run a funny charging system that can be well over 14v, blamed that

 

[Onoff]

Potholes.

 

[Morris]

Potholes.

Shouldn't put them in potholes surely

 

[Mark 5]

I'm getting fed up replacing the H4 headlight bulbs on my 2013 Dispatch van. Every 2 or 3 months I have to replace one, either left or right. It's not just the cost, fitting them is a pig of a job.

As others have said, something is wrong.

Admittedly there are some crap brands and doggy sellers but if you are buying from a decent source and avoiding like the plague own brands like Halfords you shouldn't be having this issues.

Check earthing, headlamp seals, secure mountings, no finger marks/grease when installing.

For one of my kids it was water/damp getting into the lamp unit.

Another it was cheap own brand lamps, installed some decent ones, it resolved the issue.

But that many replacements and that often, it ain't the lamps, time to start investigating.

 

[8ob]

All of the above and worth checking the alternator isn’t overcharging.

Bob

 

[Onoff]

Fed up with changing bulbs on SWMBO's old 206 I bought some "off road" ones. Figured rugged and brighter. It was only when I got them did I see it said not legal for road use on the box.

 

[MetalMonkey]

Fed up with changing bulbs on SWMBO's old 206 I bought some "off road" ones. Figured rugged and brighter. It was only when I got them did I see it said not legal for road use on the box.

That used to be a common and slightly naughty mod back in the day - upgrade to off road "rally" bulbs.
Usually they are brighter (hence not allowed for road use) but also last substantially less time, sometimes only half!
They also run a lot hotter and pull more current, quite a few melted headlights and wiring looms as a result.

 

[Robotstar5]

That used to be a common and slightly naughty mod back in the day - upgrade to off road "rally" bulbs.
Usually they are brighter (hence not allowed for road use) but also last substantially less time, sometimes only half!
They also run a lot hotter and pull more current, quite a few melted headlights and wiring looms as a result.

I remember them, think they were 100/80W instead of the road legal 60/55W.

 

[Migmac]

My old Ford Ranger went through headlight bulbs like they were going out of fashion. I used the 100 watt bulbs in my Astra van, just because I could !

 

[rtcosic]

I remember them, think they were 100/80W instead of the road legal 60/55W.

Yup.
The old Rover 800s we ran had separate additional main beam units. They got 100W bulbs

400W on main-beam lit up motorway roadsigns miles ahead. I had to dip headlights within 200 metres or so of the sign to avoid dazzling myself with the reflected light! The occasional new cat's eye could be irritating too. Old school glass 'lens' so didn't melt anything and the beam pattern was good too.

They were fitted with relays.

Oddly they lasted several years and were transferred to the succesor.

I add my vote to the 'something else is wrong' party.

 

[brightspark]

I remember them, think they were 100/80W instead of the road legal 60/55W.

yep i had them in all my vehicles the wiring would take them no bother .you could get the 150watt ones but would need the wiring upgraded so also had a pair of cibie long range 100w driving spotties on the front never had a problem folk not dipping there headlamps all new vehicles are ok now so no need to alter them