It seems to be a common problem, just spoke to someone at HID Concept and they said it was a marketing ploy to say a percentage amount brighter.
Yes, definitely some marketing shenanigans but if you read the fine print, it says "Up to 220% - compared to minimum ECE R98/R99 requirements".
Now I know that most people won't know exactly what this means but what it's referring to are the minimum photometric intensity requirements in the UNECE regulations for gas discharge lamps. Under
R98 section 6.2.5, it provides a chart of all the test point angles and zones with minimum and maximum intensity requirements. If we take test point 75R, for example, which corresponds to downroad seeing, the minimum requirement is 12,500 cd. Osram is
claiming that the NBL bulbs will provide UP to 220% percent more intensity from this minimum standard.
The real kicker though is that most OEM xenon lamps with original/standard bulbs already produce intensity at 75R that is 150-200% (or greater) over the minimum regulatory standard. Osram you so sneaky!
So where does that put the NBL? Maybe 15-20% more output than a NEW standard bulb. But much higher against an AGED bulb.
You also have to consider factors other than just output that improves beam performance, and that involves higher luminance of the arc and higher precision focus within the tolerance specs. Its not just about lumens.
The amount of gas & space for it in the bulbs is the same + or - a very small amount so there is not much room to make the bulb much brighter.
The D3S is rated at 3200 lm +/- 15%.
The bulb is required to have no less than 2720 lm and no greater than 3680 lm.
I don't have any sphere reports to confirm what a standard D3S puts out but lets assume its just a little under the nominal rating at 3000 lm. And lets assume that the NBL next gen is almost at the peak of allowable output at 3600 lm. That's a 20% increase in flux (hypothetically).
The typical lumen maintenance of a xenon bulb is 70% which means an AGED bulb could output around 2100 lm versus a new NBL bulb at 3600 lm. That's a 71% increase in flux (hypothetically).
In your situation, you should still have noticed some sort of difference in output, even if it were small.
You never answered whether or not your headlamp lenses are hazy or weathered. This impacts performance.