I have been looking for the best lights for safari with configuration similar to OEM, so that I don't have to install any extra kit to support more lighting. Now it seems I have found one. During all this time I came across the two bulbs from the stable of Philips and Osram (which were supposed to provide the best lights from a 60/55 watts configuration).
I thought to share my experience with all you guys. These are my observation in mixed conditions (roads with patholes, rainy and dry condition).
Osram Night Breaker
I got this bulb about two month back costing rs 1500, (MRP Said 1800), during the time I was about to leave for chattisgarh trip (
http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/travel...touching+heart)
When installed, I can see the difference when the shop owner showed me the light by throwing the beam on the wall, Wow white lights with a tinge of blue. Looks brilliant and i was happy to see the difference. I was excited and wanted to hit the car on road as soon as possible. Went to home on a low beam and it was clear winner as compared to my OEM bulbs on the lower beam. Put it on a higher beam and it looked fantastic. they were whiter lights. Wow...
The next morning i left for my trip and it was rainy season. During this trip when I actually got chance to use the headlight, it was in chattisgarh and then the shock.
The lights were whiter (no doubt) but the had some unwanted blue in it. Roads were wet and lots of greenery around. So it took me extra efforts to see the road patches. the most white parts of the beam were fine but those portion were confined to a few meters on the road and i had to try hard to see them at high speeds. around 100 kmph. The low beam were still excellent and every portion of the road was visible, but you can't speed on low beams.
Same problem when i was coming back to delhi. In between i changed my bullb back to OEM philips and then i was more comfortable at high beam, but the problem now was with low beam.
Philips Xtreme Power
Now last week I got Xtreme power at rs 900 from ebay. and went for a trip to shimla. This time the low beams were brialliant almost comparable with night breaker. But the good thing was High beam which was brialliant again. But this time I can speed my self to almost 120 without any glitches of road view. These are whiter in a real sense. When focussed on a wall people may say that the high beam is yellow but i would say Nightbreakers are more blue and hence Xtreme powere felt yellow.
I found Xtreme power more practical. Remember the roads are grey and with rains, patholes, patches etc its hard to see them at high speed in a blue tint.
My Verdict
Both the bulbs are good at low beam but its the Xtreme power which scores above when it comes to high beam. The throw is good in both of them but the problem with Nighbreaker is its slight more blue then it should be. When beamed on a wall both looks good (including high beam) coz the throw is perpendicular, but when it somes to throw on a road Xtreme power is clear winner.
Xtreme Power is good for both highways and city use. Nightbreakers are for city use.
So now i have put Night breaker in my esteem with safari running on Xtreme Power.