E34 headlamp - bulbs keep blowing up !!

You are not touching the glass on the bulb during assembly, are you?

And, the conversion from 55w to 100w is probably problematic.

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Dom,

In my opinion they dont blow but burn... The problem is insificient cooling. the bulb get to warm in the housing and burn.

Erik

Correct. I'll bet the failed ones were milky or discoloured internally too. The lamps themselves have a maximum pinch seal temperature of 350°C which will be well exceeded in the E34 optics causing air leaks into the lamp envelope. The E34 optics are marginal even at 55W. I thermal tested both as part of my job as a lamp engineer back in the '80s. You want more light, use Osram Nightbreakers or Silverstars. Same wattage, much higher lumens and no drama with overheating.

JB.

You may also want to check out the Toshiba HIR bulbs too:

I don't think that is the problem. My '94 525i still has the 100w h/l bulbs that were fitted nearly 3 years ago. Mike.

HI jeff,

NO did not touch the bulbs.used gloves or a cotton cloth to hold it.

cheers Dom

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HI Erik,

Yes I mean burn :) ..to many burning in a matter of few months.Mind you the HI Beams..work great.

cheers Dom

Will check out the OSRAM's & TOSHIBA.

Cheers Dom

You may want to read the BMWCCA article on light bulbs:

Thanks all..

Cheers Dom

HI jeff,

NO did not touch the bulbs.used gloves or a cotton cloth to hold it.

cheers Dom

Do not touch the glass at all. Ever.

Handle new lamps by the base, and avoid touching the glass at all.

But if like most 100W bulbs they were bought from a well known internet auction site they'll have been mauled by numerous sets of hands on their way from Asia.

Everyone I know (total count - Several) that have bought bulbs from a well known internet auction site have found that they blow within a week. It become a joke now.

Al.

The other thing to consider is that these bulbs give off a considerable amount of UV radiation and this will make any acrylic (Plexiglas) go yellow. Now my old E38 has glass on the front but the lenses were plastic and I have seen a few that have gone yellow and cracked on cars that have had 100W and even 80W bulbs fitted for any length of time.

Just a thought if you're going to be stupid!

Clean them with IPA or industrial alcohol before fitting.

=A0 London SW

thanks all for the feedbacks and advice

Cheers Dom

No fuses on your car, Hugh? ;-) However, car wiring won't burn out with a

They're 35 watts.

My E34 had glass lenses. But have you got to keep plastic ones out of the sun?

Think you have. ;-)

If I have Dave I have no idea where they are yet. The old E38 yes my new E65 No!

The sun can burn but then its about 8 light minutes away whereas the bulb is about 2" and the same amount of atmosphere filtering