Certain brand of headlamp bulb fails early - recourse?

[Mars]

Following the advice of people here, I replaced my headlamp bulbs with some well-known branded ones that provide brighter and whiter light than the standard ones. They are the same power rating as originals.

One of the first pair I bought lasted about 4 weeks, so I bought another pair which left me one spare. However, only a week later another failed. Now, another month later, another has failed. That's 3 in a little over 2 months. Until my original (yellowy dim) bulb failed, I hadn't had to replace either in nearly 70K miles and just over 3 years.

I'm a bit annoyed that they seem to have such a short life and wish to communicate this with someone. Question is, should I write to the seller or to the manufacturer?

Thanks.

[miniman]

This is in your Caterham, right?

What is happening is the bulbs are overheating. The lamp enclosure is really small, and the "brighter whiter" bulbs burn hotter than regular ones.

[Mars]

No, it's in my Legacy. Caterham is long gone.

[marshalla]

Your contract is with the seller (retailer) under SoGA so they should be your first port of call.

If you are sure that the lamps are genuine, however, it is sometimes worth politely expressing disappointment to the manufacturer too.

Either/both may suggest and incorrect fitment or electrical fault as the underlying cause though.

[miniman]

Mars said:

No, it's in my Legacy. Caterham is long gone.

Suspect it is still a heat thing though. In reality your only recourse is to change brand.

[Mars]

miniman said:

Suspect it is still a heat thing though. In reality your only recourse is to change brand.

As they still dispel the same power, and they're brighter, conservation of energy would suggest they waste less to heat, and should run cooler. I haven't tested them but I would be surprised if this is the case.

marshalla said:

Your contract is with the seller (retailer) under SoGA so they should be your first port of call.

Thanks, yes I supposed that was the case however I bought each pair from different places, and clearly they're not at fault for manufacturing them which is why I wondered whether to contact ze Germans themselves.

marshalla said:

If you are sure that the lamps are genuine, however, it is sometimes worth politely expressing disappointment to the manufacturer too.

They are genuine - they come with a hologram on the packaging.

marshalla said:

Either/both may suggest and incorrect fitment or electrical fault as the underlying cause though.

They're H7 fitment - you can't get that wrong. I'm also conscious of not touching the glass when handling them. And the prev set lasted for so long, that I just don't believe it can be an electrical fault with my car.

Thanks for your advice.

[Mars]

Interesting analysis here:

http://www.benzworld.org/forums/w251-r-class/13527...

[Yodafone]

Are they the ones called break in the night by any chance, as I know they have very short life, but ome retailers of them will give you 1 year warranty on them and will replace them for you if they have failed within a year.

So worth going back to the place of purchase to ask if they are covered for a year.

[Mars]

Yodafone said:

Are they the ones called break in the night by any chance, as I know they have very short life, but ome retailers of them will give you 1 year warranty on them and will replace them for you if they have failed within a year.

So worth going back to the place of purchase to ask if they are covered for a year.

Thanks. I don't really want to insinuate which ones they are (although they are mentioned amongst others in that analysis I linked to) but I appreciate your advice. I shall go and find all my receipts to see if either of the dealers will accept returns.