How to check the authenticity of car bulbs OSRAM, Philips and Narva

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How to distinguish a fake lamp: life hack.

Alas, the proportion of counterfeit products on the Russian market, despite the efforts of the authorities continues to grow. This is especially noticeable in turbulent economic times. Unfortunately, this also applies to fake auto parts, which share in the domestic market is gradually increasing. How to protect yourself from counterfeiting in automotive aftermarket the ordinary motorist?

How to learn to spot the fake automobile components from the original, as well as how to choose the right place to purchase auto parts, will talk in the new cycle of our articles. We start with the most popular contrafaction parts (after the engine oil, the proportion of counterfeit products in Russia has reached unimaginable proportions) – with the automotive bulbs.

Alas, the article, of course, we won’t be able to tell you about ways to test all brands of car lamps. We therefore decided to confine the most popular among Russian drivers avtokomponenty. So, arm yourself with a pen or get ready to copy our advice in the electronic Notepad of your smartphone. Let’s start with automotive lamps.

Here’s how to check the authenticity of automotive lamps

You are faced with the fact that newly purchased auto lamp for the front optics (it does not matter what kind of lamp are talking about expensive seats or the cheaper halogen) soon burns out? In most cases, the small life of the lamp is associated with the questionable origin of this light source. Yes, of course, even among the famous brands come across a defective product, which may cause minimum service period. But such light sources are rare. More often than not, quickly burned out head lamp light should bring the motorist to the idea that the lamp was a fake.

Like engine oil, the attackers often copy lamps famous brands. You know, cheap fake automotive lamps, such as domestic producers, it makes no sense.

In the first place by fake lamps on the Russian market of automotive components have long been the bulb for low beam and high beam brands Osram, Philips and Narva.

The worst thing is that the amount of counterfeit lamps of these brands in the Russian market in recent years has reached an unprecedented scale. As a result, many motorists have even started to hurl abuse Osram, Philips and General Electric in their products. Many motorists refused to buy the products these companies by going to cheaper domestic brands.

But few people realize that in most cases, the blame does not change the quality products of leading manufacturers of automotive lamps, and the huge prevalence of point-of-sale counterfeit auto lamps.

So how can today, you can protect yourself from buying left car lights? Is it possible to distinguish a fake self naked eye? Read about it in more detail below.

How to distinguish fake Osram lamps?

We’ll start with Russia’s most popular automotive lamps Osram. Original Osram light bulbs have long been a favorite object for fraud. Especially if we are talking about automotive gas-discharge lamps (xenon).

It should be noted that the level of counterfeiting of automotive lamps in the world has reached such a level that some of those fakes are distinguished from the original only by a professional. Therefore, Osram, caring about their reputation and about the client, run the possibility of checking the original bulb with the help of online service or mobile application. This is the best way to make sure you have bought original products of Osram. It really is the level of counterfeiting in our days does not allow 100% trust your eyes.

To check the originality of automotive lamps, Osram, please visit:

https://www.osram.ru/appsj/trust/frontend/trust.do?locale=ru_RU

Next you must enter the 7-digit code of the label you will find on the packaging of the lamp. Also, you will be prompted to enter the captcha (the characters on the screen).

Here’s where you can find this 7 digit code on the packaging of the lamp:

Then you will be prompted to check the entered code, the authenticity of the lamp and will give information about it. Compare the obtained data with the marking on the lamp cap. The information must match. If provided by the Osram company information is not the same as marked on the lamp socket or on the code entered data is not found, 99% of you have bought counterfeit automotive lamp. Unfortunately, in most cases to check so you can only xenon lamp.

But how else can we know that we face a fake lamp? For example, how to distinguish fake a halogen lamp or a xenon with the same packaging and appearance? As we have said, the level of counterfeit lamps is so high that to distinguish the fake from the original lamp can only professionals. Fortunately, in most cases on the Russian market of automotive lamps are not very good fakes which can be distinguished by their appearance. Here’s an example:

Before you two Osram lamps: one is a fake (on the right) and one of the original lamp (left). Immediately catches the eye the difference in quality of packaging and printing. For example, texture packing the original bulbs seem rough, whereas the packaging of counterfeit lamp is completely smooth.

Inner packing fake lamp also has a lower quality than the authentic. Inside fake lamp you can see the spiral on the cardboard:

But the most interesting – on the light bulb. So, here you have two lamps: original on the left and the fake on the right:

Blue ceramic insulation blue stripe on the side lamp may not reach the top of the lamp on the fake.

The upper part of the follicle (bulb) – on the fake the lamp has a rough shape with uneven and curved edges.

Spot weld mark – metal feet on the base of the lamp has a label spot weld on the genuine light, which, as you can see, no fake.

The lower part of the lamp – similar to the upper part of the bulb: the bottom of the fake bulbs can also look rough and not to be made of quality quartz glass.

Also on the fake bulbs inside may be missing a “bubble” that exists on the original lamp.

Of course, this is just one example of fake automotive lamps. Other light bulbs such signs of forgery may be missing or may be in other places. Especially if we are talking about fake halogen lamps. But these examples indicate in General, what to pay attention of motorists to determine what light was purchased in the trading network.

How to distinguish fake Philips lamps?

Car bulbs Philips also used in our country is not less popular than Osram products. As Osram lamps, Philips lighting is popular with manufacturers of fakes, and to distinguish some copies from the original, sometimes not under force even to a professional. How then to protect yourself from buying counterfeit Philips lamps of a low quality, which is unlikely to last a long time?

First, this can also be done using the online service on the Internet which was created by Philips in order to anyone could verify the authenticity of the purchased product.

To check the authenticity of the Philips product, please click here:

http://www.chk.philips.com/ru_ru/

Enter in the appropriate field of the security code specified on the product packaging:

Next, the code you entered will be checked against the database. If code is not found, then you bought a fake lamp.

Counterfeit lamps can be distinguished by appearance. Fortunately, the market often sell the fake is not of very high quality. For example, a video that clearly shows how different the original Philips lamp from a fake:

As fake Osram lamps, counterfeit lamps Philips have a number of differences, which always produce non-original lamp. For example, the most common differences between fake xenon bulbs Philips from the original:

How to distinguish fake Narva?

Narva also not spared by those involved in the fake light sources. On the Russian market of running into fake car lamps Narva’s probably even easier than on lamps Osram and Philips. This is especially true of halogen lamps which, despite their low cost, are popular with underground producers.

Here is an example comparison of fake lamps Narva (information taken from the site kontrafakta.net)

* Click to enlarge

Here are the basic signs of tampering of the automotive lamp:

• – Different shade of color printing
• – Is the font of the application label
•  
• – Poor processing of the insulator
•  
• – Different shape of the top of the cap over the bulb
• – Different bending of the electrode
• – There is a glass electrode holder

Read more about the fake car light bulbs Narva can be seen here.

In conclusion, I would like to say that the choice of car lamps should not be taken lightly. Especially if we are talking about the xenon auto lamps. The fact is that fake xenon light sources can damage the ballasts are in the car. In the end, your small savings on the cost of questionable lamps can cost you a “penny”.

Unfortunately, at the moment there is no 100% method that will protect you from buying counterfeit lamps. To run left the car lamp can be as a large chain shop, and tent aftermarket parts.

However, you can reduce the risk of buying counterfeit substandard lamps, buying products only at trusted outlets. For example, you can use the search on the Internet (on various forums), where you will find many real reviews about different suppliers.

Including keep in mind that if you saw in the sale of automotive lamp for significantly reduced price, this should alert you at least. After all, when a product is too cheap, there is a very great risk to buy a fake. Please remember the famous saying: we are not so rich to buy cheap things. Agree, in this sentence is the truth. Often save, we then pay exorbitant prices. Especially when it comes to spare parts and consumables.