Is it the low beam headlight or should I get a brighter halogen fog light bulb (Philips HB4)?

[thinkpad240]

I usually have to turn my foglights(Philips HB4) on with my regular headlights(low beams) to get "sufficient" minimal direct and side road visibility. I have not change the headlights bulb yet since I got this car used, but with it on alone, it is tough to see the road so I'm not sure if the bulb is going out soon, as my prior E46 headlights bulb(Osram H7) illuminate fine on its own. Can someone address this part please?

In regards to the foglights, does any one have any recommendation on a quality halogen bulb that has around 33% more illumination than my current Philips HB4 9006(which gives off a yellow color light), without blinding the incoming cars? I'm not an expert on bulbs but I've been reading the various products from brands PIAA Night Tech, Sylvania Silverstar, Philips VisionPlus. Yellow or white output from bulb and why? Ideas... I have the OEM fluted glass foglight case. Thanks

31694

[az3579]

I usually have to turn my foglights(Philips HB4) on with my regular headlights(low beams) to get "sufficient" minimal direct and side road visibility. I have not change the headlights bulb yet since I got this car used, but with it on alone, it is tough to see the road so I'm not sure if the bulb is going out soon, as my prior E46 headlights bulb(Osram H7) illuminate fine on its own. Can someone address this part please?

In regards to the foglights, does any one have any recommendation on a quality halogen bulb that has around 33% more illumination than my current Philips HB4 9006(which gives off a yellow color light), without blinding the incoming cars? I'm not an expert on bulbs but I've been reading the various products from brands PIAA Night Tech, Sylvania Silverstar, Philips VisionPlus. Yellow or white output from bulb and why? Ideas... I have the OEM fluted glass foglight case. Thanks

31694


Does your car have Xenons or halogen headlights? The pic makes it look like Xenons, but pictures can be deceptive.
If they're halogen, that is your problem. If they're Xenons, then perhaps you could do with some new headlight bulbs, which can make a world of difference if you have original bulbs.

[thinkpad240]

I bought the car used and it does not come with the sticker sale sheet. I ran the Vin# online for my 330ci coupe which shows that the car comes with the Xenon Light and Adaptive Headlights, but I've yet to verified the Xenon light bulb by looking at it (as I've not have to replace that bulb yet)

[theothersawyer]

Could be burnt bowls if the car has ZKW’s.

[dkmcclelland]

Could be burnt bowls if the car has ZKW’s.

If it’s a 330CI it wouldn’t have ZKW. Those were sedan only

[az3579]

If it’s a 330CI it wouldn’t have ZKW. Those were sedan only

This.

[theothersawyer]

If it’s a 330CI it wouldn’t have ZKW. Those were sedan only

That’s what I get for not looking closely at the photo!

[Dual]

What in the photo is the tell? Mirrors?

[az3579]

What in the photo is the tell? Mirrors?

That fact that it's a coupe/convertible. They never got ZKW Xenons.

[Dual]

I may have misread the thread (wouldn't be the first time), but I thought dkmcclelland (http://www.zhpmafia.com/forums/member.php?5372-dkmcclelland) called it a coupe based on viewing thinkpad's photo, and I was asking what was the tell for him? Mirrors?

[dkmcclelland]

I may have misread the thread (wouldn't be the first time), but I thought dkmcclelland (http://www.zhpmafia.com/forums/member.php?5372-dkmcclelland) called it a coupe based on viewing thinkpad's photo, and I was asking what was the tell for him? Mirrors?

Coupe/convertible cars have a completely different headlight. Sedans have a separate turn signal housing. The coupe/convertible is integrated into the headlight

But also, the grills on sedans/coupes are different.

But also the OP said he ran the vin for the 330CI. [emoji13]

[Dual]

Whoops. Apologies.

[theothersawyer]

Whoops. Apologies.

Glad I wasn’t the only one that missed it!

[thinkpad240]

Thanks guys. Over this weekend, I will pull the bulbs out the Xenon low beam socket to see what brand it is and then get replacement suggestions from you.

[thinkpad240]

I looked today. The low bean Xenon bulbs are the Osram Xenarc D2S 35W model 66040, Germany. It came with the car used so I have no ideas how old these bulbs are . But I would not mind replacing them now with the new model Osram D2S CBI model 66240 that I saw on Amazon today, if it gave me some more(by 20%) lighting and distance.

Also, do Xenon bulbs loose brightness over time(in some years)?

[az3579]

The CBI bulbs are a solid choice. It seems to be the most preferred bulb among lighting enthusiasts.

Yes, Xenon bulbs lose brightness over time.

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[thinkpad240]

I have the new bulbs Osram D2S CBI model 66240 installed for a week now as the low beam and I can see much better and wider range than the old dim bulbs. I did not even need to turn on the foglights to see at night. I guess it is going to be a few more weeks until these bulb are fully "broken in" .

But I also replaced the foglights with new $17 Philips 9006 VisionPlus which has slight yellowish illumination to it. Exactly what I wanted

One more thing, what do you guys use as the H7 bulbs for the high beams to get a matching very white color to the Osram D2S CBI?

[joeybananaz18]

One more thing, what do you guys use as the H7 bulbs for the high beams to get a matching very white color to the Osram D2S CBI?

Im gonna bump this for the OP because I'm going to be doing some headlight work in the coming weeks. I 99% sure I'm gonna do CBI bulbs vs night breakers. But do e46 owners typically upgrade the high beams too?

[Vas]

The CBI bulbs are a solid choice. It seems to be the most preferred bulb among lighting enthusiasts.

Yes, Xenon bulbs lose brightness over time.

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How about a review of the Osram CBB?

[az3579]

How about a review of the Osram CBB?



This quick snippet really is all I have time for but it should do:

Great lighting from an intensity perspective, with stock 35W ballasts.

The color, however, isn't anywhere near what I was hoping for. CBB stands for Cool Blue Burst, but blue isn't anywhere in it's color output. It's honestly closer to a 5k bulb than the "up to 7k" temps Osram claims. I got used to the slightly cold color of the Morimoto 2Stroke LEDs, so I was hoping for something more 6k from the CBB's, but they failed to deliver in that department, once fully warmed up. The cooler blue color only comes right after turning them on, while warming up.

The lighting is great though once warmed up so if that's all you're worried about, you'll be happy.

I should also note that I don't have a load of burn in time yet. Was it 100 hours I saw mentioned somewhere? Not sure. I will continue to monitor performance as they break in more.

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[Vas]

This quick snippet really is all I have time for but it should do:

Great lighting from an intensity perspective, with stock 35W ballasts.

The color, however, isn't anywhere near what I was hoping for. CBB stands for Cool Blue Burst, but blue isn't anywhere in it's color output. It's honestly closer to a 5k bulb than the "up to 7k" temps Osram claims. I got used to the slightly cold color of the Morimoto 2Stroke LEDs, so I was hoping for something more 6k from the CBB's, but they failed to deliver in that department, once fully warmed up. The cooler blue color only comes right after turning them on, while warming up.

The lighting is great though once warmed up so if that's all you're worried about, you'll be happy.

I should also note that I don't have a load of burn in time yet. Was it 100 hours I saw mentioned somewhere? Not sure. I will continue to monitor performance as they break in more.

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So spend the extra money on CBB or go with the CBI?

[az3579]

So spend the extra money on CBB or go with the CBI?
If I had to do it again with the knowledge I have now, I'd probably choose the CBI, CBH, or perhaps try a Phillips bulb. With that said, I probably won't be switching off the CBB's because they're still awesome.

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