VX1 wrote on 15. Sep 2007 at 22:17:

different shape

Have been using Philips Vision +30% (when that was the best they did) and +50% for many years, change them every 12 monthts, and can report they are much better than standard bulbs. (application: 1999 my with projector lamps).  They do create a bit of glare for the car in front, but in normal circumstances I have the headlamp levelling switch down 1 level, then move them up to the zero setting when someone is hogging the 3rd lane of the m/way even when not o/taking anyone....they get out of the way like Moses parting the Red sea.

What I don't like about the Philips bulbs is that the +80% "X-treme" bulbs aren't available in H1 format, even a year after H4 and H7 came out, and Philips UK advise they aren't likely to bother doing so anytime soon.   

Might move to a good set of aftermarket HIDs, but have the usual problem of the silver reflector being loose within the h/lap (both sides); this is fine with normal bulbs (passes the h/lamp alignment test in the MOT each year), but reckon the weight of the ballast and extra wiring might move the reflector too much, so would have to shell out £100 for a pair of new pattern-part h/lamps off ebay before then buying the HIDs.