Osram Xenon Bulb Options Overview - XNN, CBN, and CBB

Unsure which is the best bulb for your needs? Check out this overview and give us your feedback on what you think is the best option out there!
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[@jwherron]

My BMW F10 is almost 10 y/o, and they still have the original D1S bulbs. I reside in So Cal, and rarely deal with moisture. CBB is my likely choice. I love the color. Thank you for testing the Osram selection! 👍

[@asm200sx]

CBI Next Gen was not impressive for me. CBB is great when new but after one year it starts losing the intensity. I haven't tried the Night Breaker Laser but I'm happy with the Philips Xtreme Vision Gen 2.

[@SirBrass]

From what I've been seeing in reviews, if you're looking for the best performing (in terms of illuminating the road) d2s bulb, your only 2 real choices are osram night breaker or Phillips xv2. The rest are trading off illumination capability for aesthetics in varying degrees.

[@Johnnygga]

You could try Philips White Vision

[@SecretSauceyjuice]

​@@SirBrass This has also been my takeaway from years of keeping an eye on this market segment. I've seen a slight preference towards Philips even if the Nightbreaker is **technically** brighter on a lux reading.

[@simpleautothings_official3549]

You're right, I've been running CBBs for two years. It was yellowish for one year then it settled into a pure 6k colour which is what I want but it loses a lot of brightness with that. On dark country roads they're great but when you get onto a lit highway and/or wet roads they suck, you just get a white glow... really dangerous. My headlights are in new condition so they're super clean.

[@SirBrass]

I thought tests showed that while night breaker is better than CBI/CBA/CBB by a LONG shot, its still edged out pretty definitively by Phillips XV2

[@LightwerkzGlobal]

he Xtreme Vision Gen2 is a top tier bulb no doubt. I like to think of the XNN and XV2 as equals overall. Can't imagine there being any large difference if there is one. Philips hasn't done anything new in years for the xenon market while Osram continues to make advancements across the whole product line. Thats why we tend to focus more on Osram. Both offer excellent choices though.

[@EricGonzalezM]

I have cars with the Nightbreaker Laser and the regular Osram basics. The difference is really noticeable but IMO the best thing about the Nightbreakers is that you're sort of future-proofing for that diminishing brightness as they age, so you can in fact extract a few more months/years out of them vs a dimmer bulb.

[@dufonrafal]

But then according to Osram they last 500 hours less (2500h va 3000h)

[@SecretSauceyjuice]

​@@dufonrafalYeah, as with halogens back in the day you usually trade performance for longevity.

[@07wrxtr1]

You read my mind! Have been rolling with 6+ year old CBI's (Now CBN's)... I like how they kind of split the difference. For me this comes down to road surface types and weather. The warmer color has been nice for long drives/bad weather - where I live = out in the desert - so the warmer color is useful to spot deer/racoon/fox, and whatever else is along the road I take to/from work. I'm also rolling with 10+ year old OEM factory ballasts...so I may have to consider changing those out...for now I'm likely going to stick with the CBN's as they are a happy compromise...I cannot imagine living with LED's for long drives/long night drives... they're also terrible for night hiking, night photography, and CRI... but yes: they are brighter... Thoughts on if/when the industry will shift to compound LED's where we as end users can select color temp based upon road surface/personal preference/weather? That is what would make me want to go LED - but so far - not a fan... Also - I wonder how many need to sand down, polish with 3m, and finish with megs for their outside housings? I used an older kit (lightbrite) which turned my housings kind of a strange off white/green/barf look after a year, and they had that NASTY 2k clear wavy/satin thing going on.... I then sanded/refinished, and polished until they were clear - THEN - spray the megs clear at the end. Was the finishing touch on my Mormimoto retrofit - and the 5+ year old CBI's look much improved!! I always tell everyone - before they mess around with bulbs - spend a solid few hours/afternoon on the plastic lenses to make sure they're as best as they can be prior to "just" throwing in brighter lights

[@LightwerkzGlobal]

I believe Toyota just release their fog light color changing option through Rigid. That is pretty cool. You can select between white and yellow. For headlights, I dont think we will ever see this. Correct, performance is seriously impacted with hazed up and worn assemblies. Made a video on that - kzbin.info/www/bejne/rWjao5Z3oJ2SobMsi=VD2ptQlM3CVtwBK3 We have seen a shift in where fully plug and play assemblies have taken priority over custom lighting options. This is for a good reason. There are many Morimoto XB LED headlights that offer performance that is on par or better than a custom setup we can offer a customer. There is no downtime and the customer has a 5 year warranty. I think in many ways this makes more sense because you also gain a modern loo with upgraded features. Some customers want to keep things stock looking and thats where a retrofit makes more sense. Comes down to the end user but overall we can see the benefits of both sides.

[@07wrxtr1]

@@LightwerkzGlobal Well said and I agree - People are now keeping older vehicles longer - so hopefully morimoto will offer (I'm sure at a premium due depending upon economies of scale/demand) - some more options for some of the older vehicles. For my 370z - I opted to swap out the fronts for D2S 5.0's and the rears = morimoto replacements... The setup make sense for the shape/design flow of the lines of the car. I think morimoto missed an opportunity on the front headlights however - the stacked 3 LED array simply does not flow well with the car - it's just very bug like compared to individual projector lenses as "eyes" in a way...... At night = who cares - I'm sure the LED's outperform my lens swap - but - it just kind of has that whole "aftermarket" feel... The whole form vs function debate in art right? I do wish Morimoto kind of offered a hybrid insert - where you could use their updated DRL strip that runs vertically, with the blacked out/smoked housing, but keeping a round projector style lens. I did write them on this - I doubt the demand is there - but - the 370z was in production for 13 years so "maybe"... otherwise - anyone willing to offer a custom internal bezel assembly with an LED channel for a profile strip - or EVEN BETTER: One that is like the Supra (horizontal) would make $$$. Most of the Z guys want an update but not the Morimotos and not for that price... it's a KBB $10-20k car...A horizontal strip integrated inside of the light would make the car look wider.. Do you have any tips/resources of where I can find 90 degree T-shaped clips or LED channels if I want to mount my LED strips horizontally? There is plenty of room in the housing to do this... so far I have only found these online: www.etrailer.com/Accessories-and-Parts/TecNiq/TN54ZR.html?feed=npn&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAiA29auBhBxEiwAnKcSqpPg6YfS2V9dLObrYDlj_tX8h8LmqenDdVV6Z8ikCR165htNM30mIBoC9KQQAvD_BwE This would be perfect if it wasn't for home use and was not a half inch wide: www.aspectled.com/bendable-mounting-channel-for-flexible-strip-lights?gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAADm44evub1kDSW3YNLQehCnssRAIw&gclid=CjwKCAiA29auBhBxEiwAnKcSqoKLWTfgY7Mu9XqtHErZ9986OAcg9EXBJMr5rxCkX59futAUeDQVbBoCjBMQAvD_BwE# I'm lost on how we don't have better options than drilling holes and using fishing line - I don't mind drilling small holes - but fishing line: GHETTOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!! What is truly missing from the LED aftermarket is a clip on LED strip channel/mounting solutions. Guys are forced to use ghetto shit like 3m tape that will eventually fall apart in the sun, etc... If we could have a frosted channel that has some flexibility while also diffusing light so you don't see individual LED's for your DRL/Switchbacks = win!! Basically you could have a lego like kit for universal applications where each piece has some flexibility to curve to the design of various headlights... and don't get me started on these guys mounting LED strips outside of the headlights... completely insane.. would get destroyed in Arizona heat/sun exposure!! Anyways SORRY for the long reply - keep up the good work!! I refuse to "just buy a newer car" because - look at all those screens inside the new cars that are already causing issues = Thousands upon THOUSANDS to replace!! No thanks!!

[@davidmcnerney3048]

Going to be attempting my 1st N&B into 05 f350 (ive done quite a few threaded shaft retros however I always wished for precision & versatility of N&B). I just bought the laser along with the BRT off your site.. Your videos helped me make my decision. I was more on the fence with the laser vs the 66240's. I dont care much for the cooler colors since i deal with inclement weather here in Buffalo.

[@LightwerkzGlobal]

You'll love the laser!

[@Gnusnat]

Been out of the loop on HID bulbs for awhile, my factory bulbs are still going strong. I recall Philips was the go-to awhile back, is Osram now the top of the chain?

[@LightwerkzGlobal]

Both excellent. Osram continues to make product advancements in the Xenon world which is nice to see. The bulbs get better with every revision.

[@Gsxr617]

I’m having a hell of a time trying to choose between the CBN and the CBB. I will be running fog lights most likely a morimoto led or something similar - will the CBN match after they break in or do I have to go with the CBB to match any white looking fog light? I’m just afraid if I go with the CBB I sacrifice a lot of light output especially in rain and bad conditions

[@LightwerkzGlobal]

You'll want to go with the CBB. Yes its a sacrifice but thats how it goes.

[@Gsxr617]

@@LightwerkzGlobalappreciate the comment. I think you should do an updated video with all three of these lights as well as the Phillips extreme vision. I see a lot of people comparing them but very few videos with a comparison of all of them including the newer next gen Osrams

[@sampepper8958]

Hi, I have a question. I've had my retrofit projectors for about a year and the right hand beam is less dim and the cutoff is fuzzy compared to the other beam. What could this issue be?

[@LightwerkzGlobal]

Hard to say but I would check the front lens to see if it has any haze built up. polish it up a bit and see if that helps. If it doesnt check bulb alignment and flick the shield to high beam mode to see if anything changes.

[@TylerPoppe]

I put the nigh Nightbreakers in my LX570, and surprisingly still not that bright. Often times my headlights will be drowned out compared to other cars so not sure if it's the ballast or what. Sometimes I wonder if my headlights are actually on. Any advice on where to start? The plastic housing has gotten slightly yellow, but not so bad that you can't see inside or anything like that, just the slightest yellow tint.

[@darkboy1759]

Sounds like your projectors might be burned up and need replacing.

[@LightwerkzGlobal]

Correct. That is the only thing it could be. @@darkboy1759

[@toyotabrony]

If I ever want to convert from halogen to HID, it has to be Xenon Depot - XTR HID PRO kit. 4300K. They are the only ones that has genuine Philips capsel. ❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥 And it’s better than OEM. A combination of oem with aftermarket is such a game changer. Very high quality. @LightwerkzGlobal