Philips X-treme Power lamps: a review

[compu_85]

I bought a set of headlights for my W126 Mercedes off of German eBay a while back. They use H4 lamps, just like A4 and earlier Jetta ecode lights. The 'benz lights came with Philips X-Treme Power lamps in them.

They are not a blue tint bulb. The capsule is somewhat smaller then a usual H4 lamp. I wondered how much, if any, difference these lamps made, so I decided to do a test.

I removed the headlamp assembly from the car, put it on a table, connected it to a regulated 13.8v power supply, turned off all automatic corrections on my camera, and took these photos. FWIW my wall is painted a light brown color.

Up first are some photos of a stock H4 bulb, made by Koito. I got it out of the headlamp of a Toyota in the junkyard. It says 'Made in Japan' on them so I would assume it is a factory bulb. Low then high beam:

Now with the fancy bulbs:

A comparison of the low beams:

Besides being brighter they seem to put out more foreground light.

I don't expect these lamps to last long. I can't say what difference these lamps make on the road because I've never used a stock bulb in that car, but from the pictures at least everything is indeed brighter with the XP bulbs.

For giggles here is the fog beam pattern (the W126's headlamp assembly has the fog light built in):

-Jason

 

[whatnxt]

I have run the Philips Vision +50s and then the +80s when they came out. Not much difference in light. The main difference was cost per bulb and the bulb life. The +50s have lasted 2 years and still going. The +80s lasted three months.

 

[woofie2]

your Foglights seem aimed high, as they are higher than your low beams.
Good review, thanks.

 

[20IndigoBlue02]

I'm waiting for Intech to jump in, and tell you that they are blue bulbs and why they are bad.

That's what he did to me when I posted these bulbs (I have for my car)