• We’re currently investigating an issue related to the forum theme and styling that is impacting page layout and visual formatting. The problem has been identified, and we are actively working on a resolution. There is no impact to user data or functionality, this is strictly a front-end display issue. We’ll post an update once the fix has been deployed. Thanks for your patience while we get this sorted.

Headlights question

pontifex

pontifex

Lifer
I have a 2004 Saturn L300. The headlights on it are the kind that throw light out onto the ground more than straight out (no idea what they are called).

They seem really dim or maybe its just the way they work. Can I get brighter headlights?

I also don't really like that style of headlight. I haven't really had to drive in the dark in a long time and I'm having to do it more and more. Can I replace those lights with "normal" headlights?

 
Short answer: No.

Long answer: There is no legal option for replacing your headlights. Using an overwattage bulb will be illegal as it will throw too many lumens (it will also likely melt the plastic reflectors, bulb mount, and possibly the wiring). However, you can re-aim your headlights. Most likely they are simply misaligned. See link here: http://www.danielsternlighting.com/tech/aim/aim.html

ZV
 
Originally posted by: LTC8K6
Well, you can put those silverstar bulbs in there.

The commercial says they are better. 😀
Click to expand...

Dunno if this is still an issue but a while back I thought those had an extremely pathetic lifespan.
 
Low beam headlamp
H11-55W

High beam headlamp
9005
9005SU Silverstar ULTRA for Ultra Night Vision - The Whitest and Brightest Halogen
9005ST Silverstar High Performance Lighting: The Whiter and Brighter Halogen
9005XV XtraVision Halogen - The Brighter Light
9005CB Cool Blue Halogen - The Whiter Light


Doesn't look like they offer anything different for your low beam.
 
I can personally attest to the fact that, while very expensive, Silverstar Ultra's were a vast improvement over my stock lights. In the double filament configuration, low beams are slightly better than stock, and the high beams are, dare i say, HID/Xenon bright. They're two years old now, haven't died yet...

I saw that there is a newer Silverstar Ultra out, i won't hesitate to put those in once i lose one of mine.
 
Originally posted by: Hyperlite
I can personally attest to the fact that, while very expensive, Silverstar Ultra's were a vast improvement over my stock lights. In the double filament configuration, low beams are slightly better than stock, and the high beams are, dare i say, HID/Xenon bright. They're two years old now, haven't died yet...

I saw that there is a newer Silverstar Ultra out, i won't hesitate to put those in once i lose one of mine.
Click to expand...

Aren't the lifespan worse than OEM though?
 
Are they dulled? The headlamp covers on my '01 were dull and dingy and I noticed a large improvement when I used Plast-X to clean them up (one of them subsequently had to be replaced due to damage and it's noticeably brighter than the other cleaned-up light).
 
Originally posted by: Ktulu
Originally posted by: Hyperlite
I can personally attest to the fact that, while very expensive, Silverstar Ultra's were a vast improvement over my stock lights. In the double filament configuration, low beams are slightly better than stock, and the high beams are, dare i say, HID/Xenon bright. They're two years old now, haven't died yet...

I saw that there is a newer Silverstar Ultra out, i won't hesitate to put those in once i lose one of mine.
Click to expand...

Aren't the lifespan worse than OEM though?
Click to expand...

IIRC there are two Silverstars...the original Osram Silverstar (built by Osram, most common in Europe), which offers a good deal of brightness AND good life, and the Sylvania Silverstars common in the US, which are decently bright but don't have a good average lifespan. Save your receipts.
 
Originally posted by: LTC8K6
Low beam headlamp
H11-55W

High beam headlamp
9005
9005SU Silverstar ULTRA for Ultra Night Vision - The Whitest and Brightest Halogen
9005ST Silverstar High Performance Lighting: The Whiter and Brighter Halogen
9005XV XtraVision Halogen - The Brighter Light
9005CB Cool Blue Halogen - The Whiter Light


Doesn't look like they offer anything different for your low beam.
Click to expand...

US-spec "SilverStar" bulbs are blue-tinted and put out fewer lumens than stock bulbs. However, because the blue tint does not trigger the pupil constriction response as strongly as stock bulbs, they create greater glare (for both you and oncoming drivers). Despite the fact that there are fewer lumens and therefore the bulbs actually make vision worse, the increased glare is perceived by the eyes as "brighter" (even though it's not) and people imagine that they see better even though actual vision is made worse.

Do NOT use these bulbs. They are pure marketing hype. If you want more lumens, use the Sylvania "XtraVision" bulbs instead.

ZV
 
Hey ZV... how do the "Cool Blue Halogen" compared to the "XtraVision"?
I refuse to buy the SilverStar bulbs especially if they're likely to die in a year... are these other two the same??
 
Originally posted by: Funyuns101
Hey ZV... how do the "Cool Blue Halogen" compared to the "XtraVision"?
I refuse to buy the SilverStar bulbs especially if they're likely to die in a year... are these other two the same??
Click to expand...

Any blue-tinted bulb will increase glare and a tint will always diminish the lumen output when compared to an otherwise identical non-tinted bulb. In order to maintain similar lumen output, tinted bulbs must drive the filament harder, which reduces life expectancy. It is worth noting that even "long-life" bulbs, which produce fewer lumens than stock bulbs, will produce more lumens than "cool blue" type bulbs; typically the difference is on the order of 20%.

Your best bet is to get clear, non-tinted, Sylvania "XtraVision" bulbs. They put out more lumens than stock (but still within the legal range) and last longer than tinted bulbs, though not as long as stock bulbs.

ZV
 
Check out the GE Nighthawks @ Walmart for around $26 a set. Huge difference over the OEM's in my Nissan.

I had one go out after about 18 months of use. I've heard really bad reports about the high end Sylvanias needing to be replaced multiple times a year.
 
If the headlights are aimed at the ground then new lamps aren't really going to help. Sounds like the headlights need to be adjusted. They have specialized equipment for this at garages but usually you can do a passable job yourself depending on how the adjsuters work. Sometimes this is as simple as pulling up to a wall on level ground with your bumper x number of feet away and putting two pieces of masking tape on the wall x number of inches off the ground. Then adjusting the headlights up until the beams reach the tape. The measurements will be specific to your car though. I forget whether or not the Haynes manuals have a description for this or not but it's worth looking into before you melt your lenses down with higher wattage bulbs.
My Ford Contour actually has two bubble gauges like you'd see on a carpenters level mounted to the headlight housing. I believe these will let you re-aim your headlights without the whole process I just described. My headlights are aimed fine though so I've never bothered to look into it. Your car might have these too?
 
Originally posted by: AMCRambler
If the headlights are aimed at the ground then new lamps aren't really going to help. Sounds like the headlights need to be adjusted. They have specialized equipment for this at garages but usually you can do a passable job yourself depending on how the adjsuters work.
Click to expand...

"specialized equipment" = a screwdriver?😕
 
They have computerized headlight adjusting machines these days, but the only specialized equipment Joe Public needs is maybe a torx screwdriver and good eyes.
 
they're not misaligned and they're not aimed at the ground. they are designed to throw more light at the ground than up in front like normal headlights. i guess i'll have to look at my manual to see what they are called.

is saturn the only company that uses them? is my model car the only model that uses them? i'm surprised with all the responses so far, no one has ever heard of these.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

Back
Top