D1S & D3S LED and Xenon HID bulbs tested - Osram Easy LED - Osram Night breaker 220

D1S LED and D3S LED replacement lamps are one of the most searched upgrades for cars with factory xenon HID headlights, and one of the most overhyped. If your D1S or D3S xenon bulb is dimming, turning pink, or has failed entirely, the question is straightforward: does a D1S LED replacement actually outperform a new Osram xenon bulb? We tested six lamps, two OEM Osram xenon references and four D1S LED replacements, in a standardised setup using the ECE R112/R123 measurement grid, and the results are clear.

There is also a widely overlooked factor that explains why so many drivers feel LED replacements are an improvement: xenon HID lamps gradually lose light output over time. A worn xenon HID lamp can produce significantly less light than when it was new. Replacing it with anything, LED or a fresh xenon HID lamp, will feel like a big improvement. But as our measurements show, a new quality xenon HID lamp still outperforms the best LED replacement by a considerable margin.

The Osram D1S XN2 Night Breaker 220 delivered 37% more light at the critical forward visibility position (50V) than the best LED replacement. The XN2 is the current-generation successor to the Osram Night Breaker Laser, with up to 27% more output than its predecessor. The same conclusion applies to D3S: a new Osram D3S XN2 Night Breaker 220 outperforms any D3S LED we tested.

Best D1S & D3S replacement quick verdict

Test setup

All measurements were carried out using an Aharon EvoX-R 2.0 Bi-xenon projector in a fixed test setup at 3 metres distance from the measurement board, following the ECE R112/R123 measurement grid. The six lamps below were tested under identical conditions.

The six tested lamps from left to right: D1S LED 25B, Osram D1S XN2, Osram D3S XN2, Osram 66140DWESY, D1S LED YP, D1S LED BB

Close-up of the lamp bases, D1S and D3S connectors are physically similar but electrically incompatible.

The measurement board at 3 metres with all ECE R112/R123 positions, identical to official type-approval positions for low beam

The Aharon EvoX-R 2.0 Bi-xenon projector. The cut-off shield between reflector and lens is visible on the inside.

Left: VW/Audi OEM D3S/D4S ballast (Mitsubishi Electric, 35W/42V AC) · Right: D1S ballast (AL, 35W) both confirm the 35W cap that limits every D-series LED replacement

D1S & D3S LED vs xenon: lux measurement results

All lamps measured on a fixed board at 3 metres distance with a calibrated lux meter. Measurement positions follow the ECE R112/R123 grid. All values in klux (klx). The two amber columns are the OEM xenon references.

Measurement positions: 25L/25R = 25° left/right (wide spread) · B50L = stray light above cut-off (lower = less glare) · HV = cut-off uniformity · 50V = 50° upward (forward visibility) · H1–H4 = hotspot points in the core of the beam

Light beam heatmaps — visual comparison

The same shots displayed as false colour maps. Red/white = highest light intensity, blue = low, black = no light. All images were taken at identical exposure settings, making the colours directly comparable.

D1S Xenon Osram XN2

D3S Xenon Osram XN2

D1S LED 25B

D1S LED Osram DWESY

D1S LED YP

D1S LED BB

Beam heatmaps for all 6 lamps at identical exposure. The D1S Osram XN2 shows clearly the highest intensity in the core hotspot positions H1, H2, HV and 50V.

Verdict per lamp

The Osram D3S LEDriving HL Easy (66340DWESY) was also tested under equivalent D3S conditions and produced comparable results to the D1S version, finishing at the bottom of the LED field and running the hottest.

At the moment we are working on getting the D1S LED 25B in our assortment.

The xenon ballast as a power limit — why "50W LED" claims are impossible

Unlike LED replacement lamps for halogen headlights, there is an additional limiting factor with xenon HID replacements: the xenon HID ballast. A standard ballast delivers 35 Watts. A D1S LED or D3S LED replacement lamp therefore cannot draw more power than that, the ballast simply does not allow it, it is "35 Wmax".

The ballast label confirms it: both units output 35W. Any LED replacement operating from this ballast is physically limited to this wattage.

Why does D1S produce more light than D3S?

Our measurements confirm that the Osram D1S XN2 outperforms the Osram D3S XN2 across virtually all positions (34.02 vs 26.34 klux total). D1S lamps contain mercury, which stabilises the discharge arc and increases luminous efficacy. D3S lamps are mercury-free (a requirement under EU environmental regulations) and operate at a lower voltage (42V vs 85V for D1S), resulting in lower output: typically around 2,800 lumens for D3S versus 3,200 lumens for D1S.

Importantly, this difference disappears with LED replacements. An LED lamp does not rely on a gas discharge arc, its output is determined purely by the LED chip and driving electronics. D1S and D3S LED replacements in our test performed almost identically, since both draw the same 35W from their respective ballasts.

Warm-up behaviour: xenon, LED and halogen in the first 60 seconds

xenon HID produces a brief bright flash when switched on, after which the lamp gradually reaches its stable maximum output within a few seconds. LED works the opposite way: output is at its maximum immediately after switching on, then decreases as the chip warms up. In our test, LED lamps lost between 9.7% and 14.7% of their output after 3 minutes.

Warm-up drop at 50V (cold start → after 3 minutes):

Cooling determines light output: FLIR thermal camera measurement

With a fixed power supply of 35W via the xenon ballast, the quality of the cooling is the decisive factor for light output. We measured the Osram D1S LEDriving HL Easy (66140DWESY) and the D1S LED 25B side by side with a FLIR thermal camera after both lamps had fully warmed up. The Osram lamp reaches temperatures exceeding 80°C at the LED chip, while the 25B runs significantly cooler.

Osram D1S LED 66140DWESY chip >80°C

D1S LED 25B, significantly cooler

Lower temperature means more light and a longer LED lifespan.

Stray light: less of an issue in projector headlights

With LED replacement lamps for halogen headlights, stray light is a serious concern. With D1S, D2S and D3S lamps, the situation is more nuanced. These lamps are almost always fitted in a projector headlight with a physical cut-off shield, a metal screen between the reflector and the projection lens that mechanically cuts the light at the top of the beam.

The B50L values in our measurement results (stray light directly above the cut-off) show 0.00 klux for every lamp tested, confirming that stray light above the cut-off is not a meaningful concern for D1S and D3S LED replacements in projector headlights.

D1S LED lumen claims: what the measurements actually show

One competitor in our sector claims a light output of 8,250 lumens per lamp, more than 2.5 times the output of a standard xenon HID lamp (approx. 3,200 lm). Our measurements tell a different story. The LED replacement lamps in our test delivered between 21.7 and 23.7 klux total, compared to 34.0 klux for the Osram D1S XN2 xenon reference. At the critical 50V position, the best LED reached 3.26 klux against 5.19 klux for the xenon OEM, roughly 37% less, not 2.5 times more. Claims of that magnitude should always be verified against independent beam measurements before purchase.

Which cars use D1S and D3S xenon bulbs?

Common D1S vehicles: BMW 5 Series E60, BMW X5 E70, BMW X3 E83, Audi A4 B7, Audi A6 C6, Audi TT 8J, Mercedes-Benz E-Class W212, Mercedes-Benz C-Class W204, Jaguar XF X250, Volkswagen Touareg (2007–2010), Volvo V50/S40 (2004–2012).

Common D3S vehicles: Audi A4 B8, Audi A3 8P facelift, Volkswagen Golf 7 (base xenon), Skoda Octavia 5E, various Porsche models.

What should you buy?

If maximum light output is your priority, the Osram XN2 is the clear answer. It is the direct successor to the Osram Night Breaker Laser, delivering up to 27% more light than its predecessor, and outperforms every LED in our test at every critical measurement position.

If you prefer a cooler, whiter colour temperature, the Cool Blue Boost is our popular xenon HID choice.

If budget or longevity matters more than absolute peak brightness, the D1S LED 25B is the best LED option in our test, lowest warm-up drop (9.7%), highest total score among the LED candidates, and stable long-term output thanks to cooler chip temperatures. We are currently working on getting it in our assortment.

Conclusion

New OEM xenon HID lamps outperform LED replacements across the board in our test. The feeling of improvement many drivers notice after fitting an LED replacement is largely explained by the fact that their old xenon HID lamp had already lost significant output through age, not because the LED is better. For maximum light output, the Osram D1S XN2 and Osram D3S XN2 remain the benchmark. For a longer-lasting, lower-cost alternative, the D1S LED 25B is the most balanced option in our test. Whichever route you choose, measure before you trust: marketing lumen figures for LED-xenon replacements bear little relation to real-world beam performance.

Frequently asked questions