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Model specific boards => Golf mk5 => Topic started by: pridders on 12 September 2008, 09:58

Title: Philips X-Treme Power or Osram Night Breaker
Post by: pridders on 12 September 2008, 09:58
Hey All,

I am going to upgrade my main beam bulbs so the light matches the xenons a little better.  The question is Philips X-Treme Power or Osram Night Breaker which is best?

Ohh and what H# do I need to order? Thanks again guys for you excellent advise, the money is slowly draining from the savings account!
Title: Re: Philips X-Treme Power or Osram Night Breaker
Post by: WobGTI on 12 September 2008, 10:06
oo interesting, with it getting close to winter im tempted to upgrade these now too.
Title: Re: Philips X-Treme Power or Osram Night Breaker
Post by: Teutonic_Tamer on 12 September 2008, 10:49
I'd personally say the Philips, though no doubt others will have a different opinion!  :wink:  :grin:

If you have factory fit OEM Bi-Xenon HIDs, then the main beam is H7.  (And if you have the standard factory fit halogens, then both bulbs are H7, but the dipped is a special longlife version - H7LL).  :nerd:

If you order from www.PowerBulbs.com, then they usually throw in a free pair of W5W "blue" side lamp bulbs too.  And PowerBulbs are arguably the best on-line bulb company.  :smiley:
Title: Re: Philips X-Treme Power or Osram Night Breaker
Post by: WobGTI on 12 September 2008, 10:54
I used powerbulbs before, good company quick delivery but i soon got bored and ordered a £200 xenon kit from japan lol
Title: Re: Philips X-Treme Power or Osram Night Breaker
Post by: joesgti on 12 September 2008, 10:58
i use the philips, heres a after pic, dont have a before but notice there not a yellow colour   :smiley: :smiley:


(http://i223.photobucket.com/albums/dd153/joesgti/Frontbulbs.jpg)
Title: Re: Philips X-Treme Power or Osram Night Breaker
Post by: WobGTI on 12 September 2008, 12:09
is it me or is one of the key attributes of a nice car, really crystal clear headlights or xenons etc...

when you're driving down the road i instantly assume its a cool audi or a new bmw or something..
Title: Re: Philips X-Treme Power or Osram Night Breaker
Post by: joesgti on 12 September 2008, 12:16
is it me or is one of the key attributes of a nice car, really crystal clear headlights or xenons etc...

when you're driving down the road i instantly assume its a cool audi or a new bmw or something..

yea, yellow lights are ghay  :lipsrsealed:
Title: Re: Philips X-Treme Power or Osram Night Breaker
Post by: The Wheel Man on 12 September 2008, 12:18
is it me or is one of the key attributes of a nice car, really crystal clear headlights or xenons etc...

when you're driving down the road i instantly assume its a cool audi or a new bmw or something..

Definatly.  I remember when the only cars that used to have the cool blue headlights were Omega plad cars!  Good thread though, i have been loking at the OSRAM power breaker H7's but seems Phillips are the more popular....... (I should go with the Osram just to be diffierent :grin:)
Title: Re: Philips X-Treme Power or Osram Night Breaker
Post by: Teutonic_Tamer on 12 September 2008, 12:26
is it me or is one of the key attributes of a nice car, really crystal clear headlights or xenons etc...

when you're driving down the road i instantly assume its a cool audi or a new bmw or something..

yea, yellow lights are ghay  :lipsrsealed:

PMSL

And how would you know Joe?  Got sommat to 'fess?  :evil:
Title: Re: Philips X-Treme Power or Osram Night Breaker
Post by: davoaj on 12 September 2008, 12:52
I've been thinking of doing this for a while. I take it I'll need a set of H7's for dipped, a set for main and the W5W sides to get the full benefit?

How easy are they to fit?
Title: Re: Philips X-Treme Power or Osram Night Breaker
Post by: bobotheclown on 12 September 2008, 12:55
Not sure if you caught Fifth Gear last week, but they showed how easy it was to change the bubls compared to the Megane. It took the presenter 53 seconds to change the bulb compared to 42minutes (approximately) to change the Megane's front bulb. The guy changing the Megane's bulb was a bloke from the RAC with all his tools from his truck.

Glad I bought the GTI and not the Megane R26!
Title: Re: Philips X-Treme Power or Osram Night Breaker
Post by: WobGTI on 12 September 2008, 13:06
oh my god i can completely vouch for how stupid french cars are when it comes to changing bulbs its so so annoying!!

P.S sidelights - i keep seeing cars with xenons changing their sidelights for like led things which burn much clearer, are they legal!?
Title: Re: Philips X-Treme Power or Osram Night Breaker
Post by: Teutonic_Tamer on 12 September 2008, 13:32
I used powerbulbs before, good company quick delivery but i soon got bored and ordered a £200 xenon kit from japan lol

If you mean a HID kit, then unless you have the auto levelers and headlamp washers, they are very illegal in the UK.  This is now very clearly stated on the DfT website.  :rolleyes:
Title: Re: Philips X-Treme Power or Osram Night Breaker
Post by: Cass on 12 September 2008, 13:36
I used powerbulbs before, good company quick delivery but i soon got bored and ordered a £200 xenon kit from japan lol

If you mean a HID kit, then unless you have the auto levelers and headlamp washers, they are very illegal in the UK.  This is now very clearly stated on the DfT website.  :rolleyes:

OH NO.......................................................................................NOT AGAIN :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:

Cass
Title: Re: Philips X-Treme Power or Osram Night Breaker
Post by: Teutonic_Tamer on 12 September 2008, 13:38
I've been thinking of doing this for a while. I take it I'll need a set of H7's for dipped, a set for main and the W5W sides to get the full benefit?

If you have the standard halogens, then yes, two pairs of H7s, and one pair of W5Ws.  Whilst you are at it, a pair of "silvered" indicator bulbs would finish the job nicely.  Halogens use PY21W for the front indicators, whereas OEM Xenons use a dinky H21W halogen.

How easy are they to fit?

The dips and mains are fairly easy, but the side lamps are fiddly little bu&&ers, and you'll need fingers like a pixie or ET.  Oh, and treasure the skin on you nuckles, because the car will claim it in revenge!  :evil:
Title: Re: Philips X-Treme Power or Osram Night Breaker
Post by: WobGTI on 12 September 2008, 13:39
yeah it was about errrr 2003? when i got those, for my old leon...

standard all the way for ze gti... she was misbehaving earlier the rear wiper came on when i started the car...

i was like "coooler 2 veeks" haha
Title: Re: Philips X-Treme Power or Osram Night Breaker
Post by: Teutonic_Tamer on 12 September 2008, 13:41
oh my god i can completely vouch for how stupid french cars are when it comes to changing bulbs its so so annoying!!

Yup, just like the rest of the garlic-munching junk!  :evil:

P.S sidelights - i keep seeing cars with xenons changing their sidelights for like led things which burn much clearer, are they legal!?

As long as the light is clear, white, and of the appropriate brightness, then LEDs are fine.  Indeed, the high level 3rd rear brake light is LED, along with the standard tails on GolfPlus, Jetta, Audi A6, etc.
Title: Re: Philips X-Treme Power or Osram Night Breaker
Post by: Teutonic_Tamer on 12 September 2008, 13:42
I used powerbulbs before, good company quick delivery but i soon got bored and ordered a £200 xenon kit from japan lol

If you mean a HID kit, then unless you have the auto levelers and headlamp washers, they are very illegal in the UK.  This is now very clearly stated on the DfT website.  :rolleyes:

OH NO.......................................................................................NOT AGAIN :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:

Cass

LOL

Whatever happend to CC ??  :huh:
Title: Re: Philips X-Treme Power or Osram Night Breaker
Post by: davoaj on 12 September 2008, 13:45
Cheers TT, will have a look for some nice silvered indicators on powerbulbs then.

Sadly when it comes to the side lights, i am 6'3" and have hands like shovels, so I think I'll be getting one of my little friends to volunteer to do those with the offer of some savlon and a couple of elsatoplasts for when they're finished!
Title: Re: Philips X-Treme Power or Osram Night Breaker
Post by: Teutonic_Tamer on 12 September 2008, 13:47
yeah it was about errrr 2003? when i got those, for my old leon...

Retro-fitting HIDs has always been illegal.  It was just that the DfT couldn't be ar$ed to publish the info in a timely manner.  :rolleyes:  However, VOSA, MoT stations, the plod, and insurance companies all knew they were illegal from the outset.  Construction and Use Regs is what they breach, and to breach C&UR is a breach under the Road Traffic Act - so you really could have had the book thrown at you.
Title: Re: Philips X-Treme Power or Osram Night Breaker
Post by: WobGTI on 12 September 2008, 13:49
christ! no way, i had no idea....

they should really put that they're for off road use only the adverts
Title: Re: Philips X-Treme Power or Osram Night Breaker
Post by: Teutonic_Tamer on 12 September 2008, 14:16
christ! no way, i had no idea....

they should really put that they're for off road use only the adverts

But that is part of the problem.  Internet advertising (or indeed internet retailing) in the UK is not regulated in any way, unlike say ads on TV or in magazines.  Which is how Superchips has one load of bollox on their website, yet has completely different bollox in Volkswagen Driver mag.  :rolleyes:
Title: Re: Philips X-Treme Power or Osram Night Breaker
Post by: topher on 12 September 2008, 14:24
for those that find the rest of the forum scary, use our club discount to get 10% off, free delivery and sidelight bulbs from powerbulbs

http://www.golfgtiforum.co.uk/index.php?topic=7198.0
Title: Re: Philips X-Treme Power or Osram Night Breaker
Post by: Teutonic_Tamer on 12 September 2008, 14:33
for those that find the rest of the forum scary, use our club discount to get 10% off, free delivery and sidelight bulbs from powerbulbs

http://www.golfgtiforum.co.uk/index.php?topic=7198.0

You'll need to give me GPS co-ordinates for me to find my way back to the Mk5 section!  :laugh:  :laugh:
Title: Re: Philips X-Treme Power or Osram Night Breaker
Post by: VeeDubDan on 12 September 2008, 22:15
Hey All,

I am going to upgrade my main beam bulbs so the light matches the xenons a little better.  The question is Philips X-Treme Power or Osram Night Breaker which is best?

Ohh and what H# do I need to order? Thanks again guys for you excellent advise, the money is slowly draining from the savings account!

I thought the front indicators got their colour from orange lenses built into the cluster as opposed to orange tinted bulbs?
Title: Re: Philips X-Treme Power or Osram Night Breaker
Post by: Teutonic_Tamer on 12 September 2008, 22:28
Hey All,

I am going to upgrade my main beam bulbs so the light matches the xenons a little better.  The question is Philips X-Treme Power or Osram Night Breaker which is best?

Ohh and what H# do I need to order? Thanks again guys for you excellent advise, the money is slowly draining from the savings account!

I thought the front indicators got their colour from orange lenses built into the cluster as opposed to orange tinted bulbs?

On the OEM Xenons, yes, but on the standard halogens, the bulb itself provides the colour.
(http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t108/Teutonic_Tamer/Golf%20V/Golf5halogenheadlamps.jpg)
Title: Re: Philips X-Treme Power or Osram Night Breaker
Post by: L555BAT on 13 September 2008, 07:13
I wish I'd went for the xenons when I was getting the mk5.  i though at the time "there's no way I'm paying £700 quid for fancy lights", but the do look pretty cool tbh.  I put the philips xtremes in mine about a year and a half ago, well worth the upgrade from standard bulbs.
Title: Re: Philips X-Treme Power or Osram Night Breaker
Post by: finlayjacobin on 13 September 2008, 07:59
I have xenons on mine and recently on TTs recomendations I fitted the Philips H7 and complimenting sidelights bulbs from Powerbulbs. the  sidelights were a little tricky to fit.
I am absalutly chuffed with the results they look great, work even better and match the xenons perfectly!

Just so I am clear it would be pointless upgradding the xenon equiped indicator bulbs for some silver ones correct?

Fin
Title: Re: Philips X-Treme Power or Osram Night Breaker
Post by: Teutonic_Tamer on 13 September 2008, 08:36
I wish I'd went for the xenons when I was getting the mk5.  i though at the time "there's no way I'm paying £700 quid for fancy lights", but the do look pretty cool tbh.  I put the philips xtremes in mine about a year and a half ago, well worth the upgrade from standard bulbs.

I agree the OEM Xenons are quite expensive, especially when compared to the cheap Korean retro-fit kits available over 'tinterweb.  However, when you realise that the retro-fits are illegal (unless you go for retro-fitting the entire OEM setup, including levelers, which would be a real ball-ache) - and you discover just how good Xenons are (especially so when you get a courtessy car without Xenons  :sick:), you will (a) never go back to halogens, and (b) realise that the £700 was really worth it.  :wink:  :smiley:

For those out there who just couldn't quite get their pen to reach the "Xenons option box", and give it a tick on the order form,  :cry: then the Philips Xtremes are a very good and worthwhile upgrade - and www.PowerBulbs.com really are the best place to get them from.  I've been using PowerBulbs.com for years, and they only sell quality kit (and not cheap junk from korea or china), have really superb customer service, are very "open" and honest (they will not sell you wrong stuff, or stuff you don't/won't need), and when I met them at Inters this year, the bloke from PB was a really great and funny guy.  Anyway, enough of my headdy recommendations of PowerBulbs - to maintain "neutrality", a-la BBC, other online bulb sellers are also available!  :tongue:  :grin:
Title: Re: Philips X-Treme Power or Osram Night Breaker
Post by: Teutonic_Tamer on 13 September 2008, 08:54
I have xenons on mine and recently on TTs recomendations I fitted the Philips H7 and complimenting sidelights bulbs from Powerbulbs. the  sidelights were a little tricky to fit.

Any skin left on your knuckles?  :evil:  :evil:

I am absalutly chuffed with the results they look great, work even better and match the xenons perfectly!

How do you find the "blue" sidelights?  When I first fitted mine, and turned them on, I thought they wern't working (but then it was a really bright and sunny day [that must have been our "allowance" for us this year here in blighty :evil:]) - but at night-time, they look really cool, especially when you use the parking light function (indicator stalk moved up or down), and are able to compare the side which is working to the side which is off.  I was just a little concerned that someone might say "ey opp mate, yer side lights aint workin'".  But inside a workshop, for MoT tests for example, they are very obvious.  Just a little very hard to see in bright daylight.

Just so I am clear it would be pointless upgradding the xenon equiped indicator bulbs for some silver ones correct?

Fin

As far as I know, there are no "upgrades" for the dinky halogen H21W LL (I think I stated the wrong bulb earlier in the thread  :embarassed:).  And even if there were, I reckon they'd be pointless, because the bulb is hidden behind a large prism and you cant actually see the physical bulb from the outside.

The reason to upgrade the orange indicator bulbs on the halogen headlamps is to prevent the "fried egg" look - of a big orange "yolk" showing in the middle of a bright silver reflector!  :sick:

Incidentally, VW (along with Audi/Seat/Å koda) stealers will stock "silvered" PY21W SV indicator bulbs - part number N 102 564 04.
Title: Re: Philips X-Treme Power or Osram Night Breaker
Post by: AlanD on 13 September 2008, 10:52
Im running the Philips on mine and have been very impressed with the improvement.
Title: Re: Philips X-Treme Power or Osram Night Breaker
Post by: VeeDubDan on 13 September 2008, 11:12
Aside from the whiter light how much brighter are the Philips bulbs?
Title: Re: Philips X-Treme Power or Osram Night Breaker
Post by: Teutonic_Tamer on 13 September 2008, 11:15
Aside from the whiter light how much brighter are the Philips bulbs?

Doesn't it tell you on the www.PowerBulbs.com website?  I think they are available in "50%" and "100%" brighter, but you best check for yourself.  :smiley:
Title: Re: Philips X-Treme Power or Osram Night Breaker
Post by: JonnyG on 13 September 2008, 22:38
Aside from the whiter light how much brighter are the Philips bulbs?

Have a looky here :-

http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/products/products/212994/philips_xtreme_power.html

Philips X-treme Power are +80% Brighter  :shocked:
Title: Re: Philips X-Treme Power or Osram Night Breaker
Post by: winrya on 14 September 2008, 15:26
Aside from the whiter light how much brighter are the Philips bulbs?

Have a looky here :-

http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/products/products/212994/philips_xtreme_power.html

Philips X-treme Power are +80% Brighter  :shocked:

I put these in mine 12 months ago and the difference in night and day.  They produce a very nice white light as opposed to the yellow of the oem bulbs.  Our mini has xenons and i would say apart from the very blue light they produce, they are no brighter than the philips in the golf :cool:
Title: Re: Philips X-Treme Power or Osram Night Breaker
Post by: BradHarris on 21 September 2008, 22:46
Fitted the Philips bulbs this weekend.
Can vouch for the excellent service from PowerBulbs.
Lights are definately whiter and brighter.
Thanks for the heads up on sourcing these.

PS - as others have mentioned, the side lights are v awkward, I gave up.
Might borrow some snipe nosed pliers - unless anyone else has any other suggestions for pulling them out ?
Title: Re: Philips X-Treme Power or Osram Night Breaker
Post by: stealthwolf on 22 September 2008, 17:34
How quick was delivery from when you ordered?
Title: Re: Philips X-Treme Power or Osram Night Breaker
Post by: AlanD on 22 September 2008, 19:35
PS - as others have mentioned, the side lights are v awkward, I gave up.
Might borrow some snipe nosed pliers - unless anyone else has any other suggestions for pulling them out ?

Nope, my fingers where in bits from trying with my hands, ended up using a set of pliers to get them out as I couldnt get enough grip on the longnoses.
Title: Re: Philips X-Treme Power or Osram Night Breaker
Post by: BradHarris on 22 September 2008, 19:52
Stealthwolf - just a couple of days - 2 I think.
Title: Re: Philips X-Treme Power or Osram Night Breaker
Post by: Cass on 22 September 2008, 22:38
Just ordered mine and a set for the wifes Aygo  :evil: - both with forum discount - cheers topher  :wink:

Cass
Title: Re: Philips X-Treme Power or Osram Night Breaker
Post by: Jimp on 22 September 2008, 22:44
How quick was delivery from when you ordered?

Mine were delivered in 3 days, which is good considering the shipping to Ireland too. A good few other English sites I have ordered from have taken 5-7 days.
Title: Re: Philips X-Treme Power or Osram Night Breaker
Post by: indublin on 27 September 2008, 15:41
I wish I'd went for the xenons when I was getting the mk5.  i though at the time "there's no way I'm paying £700 quid for fancy lights", but the do look pretty cool tbh.  I put the philips xtremes in mine about a year and a half ago, well worth the upgrade from standard bulbs.

I agree the OEM Xenons are quite expensive, especially when compared to the cheap Korean retro-fit kits available over 'tinterweb.  However, when you realise that the retro-fits are illegal (unless you go for retro-fitting the entire OEM setup, including levelers, which would be a real ball-ache) - and you discover just how good Xenons are (especially so when you get a courtessy car without Xenons  :sick:), you will (a) never go back to halogens, and (b) realise that the £700 was really worth it.  :wink:  :smiley:

For those out there who just couldn't quite get their pen to reach the "Xenons option box", and give it a tick on the order form,  :cry: then the Philips Xtremes are a very good and worthwhile upgrade - and www.PowerBulbs.com really are the best place to get them from.  I've been using PowerBulbs.com for years, and they only sell quality kit (and not cheap junk from korea or china), have really superb customer service, are very "open" and honest (they will not sell you wrong stuff, or stuff you don't/won't need), and when I met them at Inters this year, the bloke from PB was a really great and funny guy.  Anyway, enough of my headdy recommendations of PowerBulbs - to maintain "neutrality", a-la BBC, other online bulb sellers are also available!  :tongue:  :grin:

Here here..... PowerBulbs all the way.  :kiss:
Here is a little story that may make some of you chuckle, I am a Yorkshire lad, from a place called Ossett and I am currently residing in Dublin. Well I did a trip back to Yorkshire a few months back and when I returned to Dublin I ordered a set of H7's for the Golf from Power Bulbs. Wasn't I surprised to see the address of PowerBulbs was in Ossett. Oh well maybe it wasn't that interesting  :smiley: