238 replies to this topic

[NickH]

Might try fitting them and crimping the connector having read these posts.

I'm not sure this makes much difference.

Best to keep an eye on this post as hopefully Paul will be able to shed some light on this (sorry no pun intended! )

[dkennedyVXT]

The Vauxhall garage have told me they were faulty and 'sub-standard'. I'll put the old ones back in tonight.

[Muncher]

I had two go due to dodgy connections but have been fine since, my client assures me he has only ever had one bulb blow that he knows of, may be a VX thing I don't know.

[dkennedyVXT]

I had two go due to dodgy connections but have been fine since, my client assures me he has only ever had one bulb blow that he knows of, may be a VX thing I don't know.

Is there anything we can do with your supplier Muncher as it seems like there are a number of bulb failures and I can't see how it would be down to the VX as my standard bulbs never blew in 18 months.

[Muncher]

I had two go due to dodgy connections but have been fine since, my client assures me he has only ever had one bulb blow that he knows of, may be a VX thing I don't know.

Is there anything we can do with your supplier Muncher as it seems like there are a number of bulb failures and I can't see how it would be down to the VX as my standard bulbs never blew in 18 months.

He has offered a discounted exchange, but I've asked him to get pricing for branded ones like Osram. I'm not best pleased that so many appear to have failed though.

[ianrm]

I had one go the day before my holiday so I had to do a quick change. Our local Motorist Discount Centre had some of the Osram silverstars (H1) so I fitted a pair of them and they seem even brighter. For your info the Bulb that blew and the other one that hadn't seemed to have got that hot that the metal part close to the bulb had blued. The connector ends seem fine with no traces of arcing and the connections were tight.

[willow]

I read this post earlier today and thought to myself, you poor buggers, to those whos bulbs had blown - thinking 'Mine are perfect, its a shame a few have gone' Anyway, the irony, stepped out to the car tonight to go for a spin, and what should I find? yep, one of the bulbs out, looks like im going to be joining the list of people needing some new ones

[Muncher]

I feel really bad that you guys have had bulbs blow I don't know what I can say really....

[willow]

Its not your fault chap - it'll teach us all that being tight fisted and going for the deal doesnt always pay off haha Im going to have to switch back to the standard ones for a bit and see if anyone comes up with any reason/plan haha!

[dkennedyVXT]

I agree.....not your fault, however I think the supplier should be named and shamed

[Muncher]

Spoke with my client today (he had spoken to the manufacturer) apparently the dipped beam bulbs can be somewhat fragile and the problem may be due to the nature of the VX. I'm not sure to be honest.... He now can get Osram and Phillips branded bulbs at a good price, anyone know how much they usually retail for?

[ianrm]

Agree with the others not your fault Muncher. I feel sorry for you after all the hard work you put in only to be embarrassed by the product. H7 you supplied are still working fine I paid about £18 for a pair of H1 osram Silverstars from our Local Motorist Discount Centre.

[SteveM]

Just had another bulb go yesterday the same day it was due for a service Picadors informed me the connector got so hot it melted the insulator and couldn't be repaired, and would I like to pay £700 for a new headlamp assembly Me: no thanks , just replace the bulb please Picadors: ok sir, but we won't be able to insulate the connector as it'll get too hot, don't touch it or get it wet because your electrics will be f##@ed Steve

[snoopstah]

So is it the H1 bulb connector that's melted or the entire headlamp unit connector? If it's just the H1 connector I would have thought it would be relatively easy just to crimp a new connector onto the wires...

[Muncher]

The plastic insulator was melted on both of my units even before I got the car. As far as I'm concerned they can be discarded as they do pretty much nothing.

[jules_s]

mine melted too, I put it down to a poor connection as the bulb had ceased working.... tightened up connector, discarded isolator and all is well again

[Mutt & Jeff]

Er, hate to say it but my right hand insulator melted & both bulbs blew just over a week ago. Since I put the old bulbs back in I crimped the connector on....seems brighter than I've ever had! Muncher, no crit on you mate, it was very kind of you to sort out the group buy I still owe you a pint for all the gearbox advice

[jneill]

So is the general advice to swap out these bulbs and either revert to standard or go for Osrams? I really don't want to fry the electrics...

[JimH]

One of my H1s failed about a month ago and the second one popped while I was in Germany. In both cases the metal part of the buld appeared to have been running very hot (blued - as described above) and the glass part was loose in the holder. One of the insulators on the terminal had melted but the other was fine. I took a look at the mains while the headlamp was out and they seemed fine. That said, I still think we should organise some sort to torch lit mob Frankenstien stylee to visit Muncher's house.