My Hella H4's shattered themselves.

[Mystikal]

Strange. On a road trip to NY, and on the way back to Canada, like usual since I'm a young minority in a BMW (I won't get into that any further) they made me pull over to customs to search the car. When I get out and look at the front, BOTH Hella assemblies are completely shattered, a spider web effect on the glass. There are absolutely no chips or other damage to the paint, and I know I didn't hit anything. Both bulbs were still fine, too.

I went and bought a pair of sealed beams for now, and stuck those in. I still don't know how you guys survive with these, they only light up the straight and narrow; if the road bends I might as well turn off the headlights. I have Bosch smilies to install, but I'll wait until it's warmer outside.

But anyways, anyone ever seen this happen before? Some sort of electrical surge? God just hates me?

[e30sd]

customs did it.

this is a great time to upgrade to euro's

[MR 325]

Maybe something got too hot?

[Mystikal]

Nah, I was watching the car from inside the whole time, they didn't do it. I have the euro ellips here too, just too cold to be fussing around with wiring.

The bulbs were standard Hella 55W. Had them in for almost a year now, don't think heat would be an issue.

[NickP]

I had the same problem, I called up Hella and they sent me warranty replacements, here's some of the email. Of course your headlights were less than a year old so you won't have a problem (no proof of purchase was required in my case).


From: hella.faq@hellausa.com

Dear Nick,

We offer a one year from the date of purchase warranty on Headlamps.

Thanks!

Scott Kornhaus
Hella, Inc.
770-631-7556

[Mystikal]

These assemblies were roughly 8 years old. I guess I can still try and see if they ask me for proof. ;)

[MR 325]

Worth a shot

[BMW BMXER]

God hates you Jay.

Sealed beams make you have to be more alert when driving. :P

[ZiMMie]

am rockin sealed beams also. for now also. they r the shit :roll:

[KenC]

How cold was it when you stopped at customs? The bulbs will heat up the lens and it will expand. When you turn the lights off, the glass shrinks quickly and it can cause cracking. This is what happens a lot when people use 80-100w bulbs. Extreme temperatures can also do it.

[Mystikal]

How cold was it when you stopped at customs? The bulbs will heat up the lens and it will expand. When you turn the lights off, the glass shrinks quickly and it can cause cracking. This is what happens a lot when people use 80-100w bulbs. Extreme temperatures can also do it.

An average winter day, just below freezing. They've withstood damn near 0 fahrenheit being heated then cooled, and for 8 years now. I'm thinking maybe they just weakened over time, not sure what to think.

What I find odd is that they BOTH cracked. Something else happened.

[KenC]

I'm thinking maybe they just weakened over time.

That is my guess too. Physics, my man, physics...

Perhaps it is just coincidence that they both happened to crack at the same time...

[Ryan Stewart]

did you have protection on them?

[e30sd]

did you have protection on them?

trojans? prolly not. he is canadian, after all...

[Mystikal]

did you have protection on them?

trojans? prolly not. he is canadian, after all...

Right on.

And I highly doubt it was debris. Wayyyy too coincidental, plus the highway was empty. There's protection on my new smilies, though. :D