HID Xenon Bulb recommendations

[nordwulf]

I need some new D1S bulbs for my 10-year old 9-5. I am pretty sure they are the original ones and they have the usual symptoms of turning off/on and one is much pinker than the other.

Any current vendors or eBay auctions that are good original manufacturer bulbs? eEuro has them for $70 each but the brand is now Flosser. Haven't heard of that brand before. SAAB Light Bulb (Headlight) (Xenon) 5402433 - Flosser 85410 - Free Shipping

This seems to be a reputable seller of original bulbs: The Retrofit Source | Innovative Headlight Upgrades

Very tempted to try the Osram 5000K bulbs. Doesn't seem to bad for $200 a pair. New Osram D2S Bulb Xenarc Cool Blue Intense

[Yamarocket630]

Wulf, Check your PM

[9-3 Aero]

By a coincidence am I in a process of buying bulbs for dipped (and main) beams, and ended with Philips X-tremeVison Xenon (and Philips X-tremeVision +130).

A link referring to the xenons: Buy the Philips X-tremeVision Xenon car headlight bulb 85415XVC1

The purpose was to keep them as spares, as buying online is approx. half the price going to a store. However reading specs and having e-mail exhanges with the Scandinavian Philips Automotive Sales Manager, changed my mind; Both beams will have the lamps installed! This in spite of the current life of the dipped beams is in the 700 - 1000hrs time frame.

I just want to be on the safe side++, as the original lamps are Philips, and matched to the control module, thus avoiding any mismatch on the voltage line control module/D1S producing spikes wihch could kill the expensive module.

The lamps was just delivered at the door

[walawala]

I'm using the flosser bulbs from eeuroparts for about a year now. No issues so far.

[nordwulf]

Thanks for the feedback and suggestions. With all the reports of fake HID bulbs, it seems best to stick with a reputable and well-known seller. I decided to order the Phillips bulbs from Amazon for $50.50 each. There are other sellers that sell these same bulbs and shipped by Amazon but reviews show some can be fakes.

I figure if it is sold by Amazon, they should original OEM. Philips also has a website where you can check the serial number and code. Besides that and checking the bulbs carefully, not much else you can do. And I get free 2-day shipping and no sales tax so that's a nice bonus.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listi...2AZXJNIMT22REN

[nordwulf]

I received the bulbs and started a review here: http://saabworld.net/f263/philips-d1...d-bulbs-31244/

Hopefully this will help others in finding information about real vs fake bulbs.

[9-3 Aero]

Following recent discussions on the Saab forums STCN and STCS, a member on the latter had a conversation with Philips Automotive Lightning Aftermarket, with regard to frequent failures of the xenon lamps and control systems. The member received the information as attached, and encouraged us to spread it.

Important information to Car Dealers and Garages 2013-01-29.pdf

In gratitude to Fredrik / 1941.

[nordwulf]

That's interesting info. The question is where can you buy these special bulbs. Searching for the number 9285 147 294 or SKU 8 711500 825414 doesn't give any useful results.

The lamps I recently bought are marked with 9285 148 294 so I am curious what the difference is between 147 and 148.

[9-3 Aero]

Currently am I aware of only one retailer, Autoexperten in Sweden: https://www.autoexperten.se/reservde...lampa-d1s-saab. Unfortunately are the lamps sold in the shop(s) only.

Regarding - 147 - vs. - 148 - exenons, did I a week ago send an e-mail with request for clarification, to my "contact" at Scandinavian Philips Automotive, however with no reply so far. I'm working on it, and another route.

The 9285 141 294 xenons will work with the "problematic" control module, Valeo LAD5G, however with shortened life time.

[frav]

Following recent discussions on the Saab forums STCN and STCS, a member on the latter had a conversation with Philips Automotive Lightning Aftermarket, with regard to frequent failures of the xenon lamps and control systems. The member received the information as attached, and encouraged us to spread it.

Important information to Car Dealers and Garages 2013-01-29.pdf

In gratitude to Fredrik / 1941.

Thats me I hope the information is usefull.

Here is the FAQ-article I wrote in the STCS-forum (in Swedish)
FAQ: 9-5 2002-2005, Philips Xenon lampor, Valeo LAD5G ballast