OE manufacturer and renowned lighting specialist, OSRAM, has provided some useful advice to technicians on what to look out for with regards to lighting and how to best service their customers.

One of the leading reasons for NCT failure is lighting, including faulty headlights, brake lights, indicators, and registration plate lights.

OSRAM points out that when technicians are notifying drivers of their lighting issues, it’s the ideal opportunity to provide a complete bulb check service. An important element of this is replacement 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. 

By using and fitting OE quality bulbs, there are assurances that will benefit the motorist and the workshop too. OE bulbs offer 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 can be an issue with budget bulbs. 
 
The OSRAM offers a wide range of lighting technologies for drivers and technicians to choose from:

Xenon (HID) range  

• These OSRAM upgrade xenon bulbs generate up to 220% 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% 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% 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 10 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

• 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% more brightness and up to 150 metre long beam.
• The range also includes; the Night Breaker Laser,  the second most powerful halogen bulb with up to 150% more brightness and the Night Breaker Silver, which has an excellent performance-lifetime ratio, up to 130 metres long beam and up to 100% more brightness.
• For a more modern and stylish look for halogens, OSRAM offers the Cool Blue Intense (Next Gen) and for drivers looking for a reliable headlight there is the OSRAM’s Ultra Life with a four year guarantee and up to a 62,000 miles service life.
• The Original Line 12V, 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 6,500 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