exploding headlights?

[Smeins, Larry]

I had a similar thing happen twice with high power 9004s in the stock
headlights in my 5kcst.  When the bulbs exploded they coated the lens with a
metal film that made poor headlights very bad headlights.  I know I did not
touch the bulbs but they came in cardboard boxes and I suspected that
someone else may have touched them, possibly when they were boxed.  I have
since cleaned all new bulbs with alcohol before installing them. 

Larry

From: Marc A Swanson <mswanson at cisunix.unh.edu>
Subject: exploding headlights?

(snip) but it turns out that somehow, my H4 bulb EXPLODED!!??  I've changed
a few burnt out headlights in my lifetime but I've never seen one just
simply explode like that.  Anyone else seen this happen before?  And no, I
didn't touch the bulb when I installed it....