Osrams website - Nightbreakers.
https://www.osram.com/osram_com/news-and-knowledge/automotive-special/automotive-performance-lamps-full-power-of-light-for-your-vehicle/night-breaker-unlimited-product-details/index.jsp
Check the chart near the bottom of the page, I ordered HB4’s from Autobulbs, and they sent H4, which as I stated above, are twin lo/hi beams, hence two elements and three contacts. It’s also the wrong fitting.
The HB4 is both lo beam and fog light fitting*, so a dual purpose bulb suitable for the earlier Mk2.5.
(click on the left/right arrows to see what type of fitting they supply) If you have a later Mk2.5, check what type of bulbs and fittings are on your car, and use the chart to determine which type of bulb you need.
* However, considering the issue with fog lights on early Mk2.5’s - Lamp housing falling apart due to heat - which resulted in a fire on one car, and burnt lower nose cones on others - which meant a recall from Mazda so the dealers could fit a retaining spring to hold the two fog light body assemblies together - I would be cautious about ordering a higher output bulb. While the box says 51 Watt, the Amazon spec says 55 watt, so be careful before ordering.
More very useful info…thanks
Headlight aim is in the top 5 of mot fails.New regulations introduced last March means the alignment is more critical,so it is important to get it right.
If you look up the tech specs for Osram Nightbreakers, you’ll discover life expectancy average of only 200 hours.
They seem to have a rep for doing what they say on the tin.
They break at night.
Thanks for that but are you able to recommend another brand with a better longevity?
Phillips or Bosch according to the Fiesta forum. My son finds his standard Ford bulbs very poor.
It’s a recognised “issue” with lower powered Fiestas.
I only found out all about this 2 days back myself…so it’s sort of topical!
While he is home from barracks for a few days, I’m nipping down to Halfords.
They charge a tenner to fit…and our local branch is actually very good
You raise a valid point there, last year I bought 8 240v 40 watt halogen light bulbs for the general areas in the house, I have two left. They seem to last about two months max, then they just fail. Add to that the cost increase, where a halogen bulb is more than four times as expensive than a normal incandescent bulb, we are on a constant spend spend cycle.
On a historic note, I still remember mention years ago of a light in an outside toilet, that had been left switched on for over 25 years, and was still working. Now I know that switching anything on and off results in a current surge which does more damage than leaving a device switched on permanently, but having said that, normal incandescent bulbs lasted for years - not months. My existing lamps in the car have been functioning without replacement for 15 years now (well - to next month) so that makes you think - dunnit? Turn signals alone get some hammer when you think about it.
None of us would be looking for upgrades if it wasn’t for modern LED lighting, which makes our headlights on lo beam look like candles, and having missed our turn twice (finishing up on the pavement twice, once before and once after the actual turn) due to the fact our side road is at top of a hill, and I’m constantly blinded bu oncoming traffic with their lights on lo- beam, so they hit me straight in the eyes as I search desperately for where the flipping curve of the kerb actually is. I’ve switched the lo beams to position - 2 on the adjustment switch to try and get immediate light close to the car, and that doesn’t help one bit.
The problem gets worse every night, so I’m careful about night driving now, where I loved it at one time. Having said that, the suns out (Wow) so it’s time I fitted mu upgrades too - - - !