Bulb and screw issue with ST 170

[idsims]

Has anyone had issues with up rated main/dipped beams blowing early i.e 6 months?

I have Phillips Xtreme for the dipped and powerplus for the main beam - one of my xtremes has just blown and its only 6 months old.

I know that the tolerances are higher in these types of bulbs but 6 months?? This used to happen on my Fiesta ST as well!!

Does anyone know of any decent bulbs that won't blow so quick?? Do they do standard bulbs that aren't brighter but are white i.e xenon gas in the bulb?

Also, whilst filling the car up today, i noticed a screw that has worked loose by the filler cap. Its at the 9 o'clock position near where the fuel flap lock engages and it won't screw back down!! Anyone know what is for and whether it should be screwed down?? It looks like a plastic trim screw.

Thanks for your help.

[Evilbat]

Get someone to check the connections in the plug on the back of the headlight unit. I had a TDCi Sport that kept killing bulbs and Ford traced it to faulty connections.