A couple of weeks ago I bought a pair of 'super bright' bulbs from a well-known car accessory store. They were for the main beam on my 2007 Impreza.
I fitted them carefully (I teach electrical/electronic engineering so know how these bulbs are made, the pressure that's inside them, and the critical importance of keeping the glass envelope clean).
Driving on Sunday night I noticed the passenger-side bulb go out.
When I got home I could see that it had exploded with great force. There is glass debris inside the headlamp unit and some scratching of the reflector where it has been struck by high-velocity shards of glass.
Back to the store today and the manager is going to call head office to see what they have to say.
My guess it will be 'tough luck' and a replacement bulb.
I won't be particularly happy with this and reckon that the bulb was most probably defective from new, or possibly handled prior to me getting it (the packaging is not tamper-proof).
The headlamp has a HID dipped unit and is sealed, so impossible to get the glass remains out. I reckon they owe me a new headlamp.
Any views on the best way forward on this - possibly a small claims court job? Needless to say I have lost the receipt, but the bulbs are in 'own brand' packaging and clearly identifiable as such.
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I think you need a new headlamp, it's a safety critical component after-all, the lamps are probably made by NARVA in Hungary? And who knows they charge enough on their products to stand by them!
Edited by Webmaster on 16/05/2008 at 02:02
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The headlamp has a HID dipped unit and is sealed, so impossible to get the glass remains out. I reckon they owe me a new headlamp.
If you got the main beam bulb in, can't you take out the whole sealed unit, take out the remains of the bulb & shake out the bits through the main beam bulb hole.. or am I missing something?
Any views on the best way forward on this - possibly a small claims court job? Needless to say I have lost the receipt, but the bulbs are in 'own brand' packaging and clearly identifiable as such.
Without the original (broken) bulb or receipt (so just a box effectively) how can you prove that the bulb may be faulty & that you bought the bulb from them? Not that I doubt it, but you need some evidence.
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I have the broken bulb and its box. The markings on the back of the bulb are evidence of its provenance I think?
It would be difficult to get the broken bits out because of the design of the headlamp - not saying its impossible, but would be a real struggle. And then, of course, the reflector is scarred from the explosion.
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As an additional query - anyone any idea if this is the sort of case that the 'legal protection' I pay for on my car insurance would help with?
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any idea if this is the sort of case that the 'legal protection' I pay for on my car insurance would help with?
Phone them and ask!
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If you paid for the bulbs using a debit or credit card, it will be easy to prove that you bought them at the particular outlet and on what day.
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If you paid for the bulbs using a debit or credit card it will be easy to prove that you bought them at the particular outlet and on what day.
Unfortunately I paid cash!
There is no question of the source of the bulbs, however, and I believe they have been on the market for less than a year. There may also be a date code on the bulb, I will have to examine it.
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>>so impossible to get the glass remains out. I reckon they owe me a new headlamp.
Because the bits of glass mean that the headlights no longer work?
If I were you I'd say thank you for the replacement bulb and forget it. Much easier that way.
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Because the bits of glass mean that the headlights no longer work? If I were you I'd say thank you for the replacement bulb and forget it. Much easier that way.
Yes, of course its easier to do that, and the best outcome for the supplier. Not the best outcome for me though. I am more concerned with the damage to the reflector than the bits of glass debris.
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I am more concerned with the damage to the reflector than the bits of glass debris.
Really? You actually wrote completely the opposite - the reason you wanted a new headlamp is because of the glass remains: "The headlamp has a HID dipped unit and is sealed, so impossible to get the glass remains out. I reckon they owe me a new headlamp."
Just trying to postpone your likely heart attack. It's only a car, for goodness sake!
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>> I am more concerned with the damage to >> the reflector than the bits of glass debris. Really? You actually wrote completely the opposite - the reason you wanted a new headlamp is because of the glass remains: "The headlamp has a HID dipped unit and is sealed so impossible to get the glass remains out. I reckon they owe me a new headlamp."
>>Just trying to postpone your likely heart attack. It's only a car, for goodness sake!
Your a righteous so-and-so aren't you? Didn't 'write the opposite' at all!
I am unlikely to have a heart attack over this matter, but there is glass debris in there and a damaged reflector, the latter being more serious IMHO. This is on an 8 month old car with rather expensive headlamp units. I reckon they've supplied a defective component and should sort it out.
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on the positive side.. thats one " super bright" bulb that wont be dazzling me come the dark winter nights
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on the positive side.. thats one " super bright" bulb that wont be dazzling me come the dark winter nights
Main beam bulb, so unlikely that it would be dazzling anyone unless I am slow to dip...
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Super bright HID bulb?
Road legal and approved? Car approved for such accessories? Higher wattage or different gas? Handled prior to your fitting it? Evidence? Arguable at best surely?
What caused the "explosion"? The bulb or the car?
Unless there is real evidence of damage I think you might be on a hard case for much more than a replacement bulb.
Edited by yorkiebar on 07/05/2008 at 19:00
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Oy gevalt! Is it the sudden hot weather that has affected the reading skills of fellow forum posters?
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Shake the bits out of your headlamp and buy replacement bulbs to the correct specification from Philips or Osram.
659.
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I cannot understand the attitude of some posters who seem to just want to shrug their shoulders when something like this happens.
The original poster bought a product, to my mind it does not matter what product, but it was a faulty product that has caused additional damage. He is right to complain and seek compensation.
It is because of this "forget it and get on with your life " attitude, that lets manufacturers, service industries and Governments get away with charging more and giving us less.
Just out of interest, Mapmaker, do you drive an old banger, or if not you do you have a company car ?
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