In the lead up to one of the busiest MOT months of the year, original equipment (OE) manufacturer and renowned lighting specialist, OSRAM, is giving advice to technicians on what to look out for with regards to lighting and how to best service their customers.
According to the DVSA, one of the top reasons for MOT failure are lighting issues, including faulty headlights, brake lights, indicators, and registration plate lights. The report states that nearly one in five cars fail due to lighting and while many of these issues can be fixed quite simply, such as regularly inspecting and replacing bulbs, it’s clear drivers are not performing these checks. Therefore, it’s up to technicians to check the lighting and inform the driver of the best course of action.
When technicians are notifying drivers of their lighting issues, it’s the ideal opportunity to provide a complete bulb check service. Don’t just replace the blown bulbs, if it’s part of a paired lamp unit, but instead replace in pairs, ensuring even light output and removing the need to replace the other bulbs at a not too far off later date.
There is also the opportunity to upgrade headlight bulbs and encourage drivers to buy bulbs that may be slightly more expensive but will provide a brighter whiter light output meaning the driver can see further and feel safer on the road as a result benefitting them in the long run.
By using and fitting OE quality bulbs, there are assurances that will benefit the motorist and the workshop too. OE bulbs are made to exacting standards for a superior light output and are vigorously tested to ensure they last a long period of time and precisely manufactured to ensure they won’t cause glare, which some poor cheaper non OE manufactured bulbs do. Therefore, drivers don’t have to worry about potentially returning to the workshop to get them replaced.
At OSRAM, the company prides itself on the extensive research and development it undertakes for each bulb range it launches, as well as providing the premium quality its renowned for. With 100 years of experience they really are the OE brand you can trust when it comes to automotive lighting. The UK warehouse in Leeds has a hugh 16,000 sq/ft of space, which means that availability is rarely a problem for OSRAM in the UK, especially with its customers across the nation relying on next day delivery!
The OSRAM range is vast, which means that they have a wide selection of lighting technologies for drivers to choose from.
Xenon (HID) range
OSRAM upgrade xenon bulbs generate up to 220 per cent more brightness when compared to the minimum legal standard. Xenon bulbs also use less energy and have a longer life span than halogen bulbs.
Products that are prominent in this portfolio include the Xenarc® Night Breaker® 220, which is OSRAM’s brightest xenon upgrade bulb. It has a 250 metre long beam and up to 20 per cent whiter light, allowing drivers to see further and, therefore, respond to the conditions on the road earlier.
If a driver is looking for more whiter light, OSRAM offers the Xenarc® Cool Blue® Intense (Next Gen), which also offers up to 150 per cent more brightness than the minimum legal standard.
However, if a driver is focused on a reliable bulb that will last a very long time, OSRAM’s Xenarc® Ultra Life, has a ten-year guarantee, which is up to four times longer than a standard xenon bulb, providing the driver extra reassurance and saving them costs.
Finally OSRAM has the Xenarc® Original, which has a four year guarantee and is original equipment manufacturer (OEM) quality. These bulbs fit a variety of vehicles, and are of premium quality manufactured in Germany.
Halogen range
Due to their impressive beam range, performance and longevity OSRAM’s halogen bulb offering has always been incredibly popular amongst drivers, technicians and retailers.
Similar to its xenon counterpart, OSRAM’s Night Breaker® 220, is latest offering from OSRAM and is the brightest street-legal halogen upgrade bulb, with up to 220 per cent more brightness and up to 150 metre long beam.
The Night Breaker® Laser is the second most powerful halogen bulb with up to 150 per cent more brightness and has more light performance due to innovative laser ablation technology.
If a driver is looking for a bulb that will have excellent performance, and has longevity, technicians should recommend OSRAM’s Night Breaker® Silver, which has an excellent performance-lifetime ratio, up to 130 metres long beam and up to 100 per cent more brightness.
For a more modern and stylish look for halogens, OSRAM’s Cool Blue® Intense (Next Gen) is perfect, with extra white light for an LED look and is ideal for use in clear-glass headlights with its modern design with a silver cap.
For drivers that are looking for a reliable headlight and aren’t worried about anything more ‘flashy’, OSRAM’s Ultra Life is the ideal solution, with a four year guarantee and up to a 62,000 miles service life.
Finally, in the halogen range, is the Original Line 12V, which is an OEM quality product that is tried and trusted by vehicle manufacturers across Europe and therefore covers a wide array of applications for both headlight and auxiliary applications.
LED range
The LEDriving® retrofit portfolio includes LED bulbs for high and low beam, fog, signalling and interior lighting applications. These retrofit LEDs provide superior brightness and colour temperatures of up to 6500 kelvin.
The product ranges include the LEDriving® HL EASY, BRIGHT and INTENSE for 12V headlight applications, LEDriving® FL for fog light applications, LEDriving® HLT for trucks and 24V vehicles, LEDriving® HLM for motorbikes and LEDriving® SL for auxiliary lighting applications. There is even the LEDriving® HL Vintage range, specifically designed for use in Classic Cars. All the bulbs in the LED portfolio are marked for ‘Off-Road’ use only. Due to legislation in the UK, these bulbs are therefore only suitable for off road use.
For more information on the full OSRAM range visit: www.osram.co.uk/am ENDS.