OS
Lifer
- Oct 11, 1999
- 15,581
- 1
- 76
I had two sets in my car, 2 for highs (9005), 2 for lows (9006). I got them at $10 each during a pepboys fire sale. I tend to drive with my headlights on, the low beams burned out in 3 months. Which is quite annoying cause changing the bulbs in my car is a PITA. The highs have been in my car for a year now. Sylvania has a list for rated hours of use for their various bulbs and silverstars were something ridiculous like a tenth the life of OEM ones.
Color is closer to white, but during the day its still apparent it's a spit polished halogen bulb. At first they were great but then the color novelty wore off. White light does in fact scatter more, particularly during sprinkling/light rain. I got Xtravisions afterward and they actually light up the road better than silverstars. They cost $17 a pair at walmart. Rated life is half of OEM, but considering OEM is many years, this isn't really a problem. The xtravisions in my car have been in their for almost a year and I run them the same during the day.
At $10 each, they are an interesting toy, but at $20 each, it's really not worth it considering xtravisions are less than half the cost and rated for several times longer life.
Color is closer to white, but during the day its still apparent it's a spit polished halogen bulb. At first they were great but then the color novelty wore off. White light does in fact scatter more, particularly during sprinkling/light rain. I got Xtravisions afterward and they actually light up the road better than silverstars. They cost $17 a pair at walmart. Rated life is half of OEM, but considering OEM is many years, this isn't really a problem. The xtravisions in my car have been in their for almost a year and I run them the same during the day.
At $10 each, they are an interesting toy, but at $20 each, it's really not worth it considering xtravisions are less than half the cost and rated for several times longer life.
- Jun 20, 2003
- 2,632
- 0
- 76
Yeah that makes sense, thanks for the opinion,
Originally posted by: Tiles2Tech
Nice vehicle.
thanks, i havent got any recent pics of it yet (i got a billet grill for it about 3 months ago) and it really cleans up the front. I like it a lot
but thanks for the compliments.
Interesting responses in here. I bought a pair 2 weeks ago and just got around to installing them last saturday. (replacing bulbs involves unbolting headlight assembly, blah)
My first impressions is that they seem marginally brighter - and whiter. Not a riced out look by any means, in fact, I was concerned that they might make my stock foglights look yellowish but that was not the case.
Overall I'm happy with them. It was not a cheap upgrade - if I were to do it again I'd probably wait until one of the stock bulbs burned out - but seemed like a noticable improvement and I'm happy with the look. A little better than stock but not "hey look at me."
PS: I'm surprised about all the lifespan comments - I had assumed that such high $ bulbs from a big name would at least be in the same ballpark as normal stock lights for longevity... I don't do a ton of nighttime driving so we'll see how that works out.
My first impressions is that they seem marginally brighter - and whiter. Not a riced out look by any means, in fact, I was concerned that they might make my stock foglights look yellowish but that was not the case.
Overall I'm happy with them. It was not a cheap upgrade - if I were to do it again I'd probably wait until one of the stock bulbs burned out - but seemed like a noticable improvement and I'm happy with the look. A little better than stock but not "hey look at me."
PS: I'm surprised about all the lifespan comments - I had assumed that such high $ bulbs from a big name would at least be in the same ballpark as normal stock lights for longevity... I don't do a ton of nighttime driving so we'll see how that works out.
There is a website that sells the European spec Silverstars, which is the same as the one in the US but without the blue coating. Supposed to be much better. Blue coating will make the light look whiter, but it will actually reduce visibility.
I got Philips Xtravision in my car and they are better than OEM. Dunno if its better than the silverstars tho.
I got Philips Xtravision in my car and they are better than OEM. Dunno if its better than the silverstars tho.
It should be noted that any bulb with a coating of any colour will cut out a large chunk of the light spectrum. Obviously, this is not good.
OS, whiter light does not bounce or scatter more. The reason why you experienced that is because of the coating on the SS's bulb.
Sylvania XtraVision's, which is what I run, are actually very nice bulbs and give out whiter than stock light, but because it's not blue-glare-light, it's actually useful and helps you see better.
So, please, SAY NO TO TINTED BULBS!!!!
OS, whiter light does not bounce or scatter more. The reason why you experienced that is because of the coating on the SS's bulb.
Sylvania XtraVision's, which is what I run, are actually very nice bulbs and give out whiter than stock light, but because it's not blue-glare-light, it's actually useful and helps you see better.
So, please, SAY NO TO TINTED BULBS!!!!
Just installed XtraVisions on my vehicle about 5 minutes ago. Now, I need to take it to the shop so it can get its safety inspection for our state. I'm officially 2 months delinquent.
I'll report back any improvements in my lighting scenario when I get back.
After reading about the limited lifespan of the SS bulbs, I figured I couldn't take the risk of having to replace them too frequently.
I'll report back any improvements in my lighting scenario when I get back.
After reading about the limited lifespan of the SS bulbs, I figured I couldn't take the risk of having to replace them too frequently.
The Stigenator
Lifer
- Oct 9, 1999
- 15,216
- 3
- 81
i have SS in my car right now. Since i do a lot of late night driving, i thought it would be worth it. At this point i am happy, i can see the reflectors on the road much better than i did before.
I got to remind myself to put spare bulbs in my car just in case they blow.
By the way i did melt my wiring (had to install another hardness from a motorcycle) by using a higher wattage (though not much higher).
The PIAA HID look alike's are great, but they melt teh wiring.. 80W bulbs for 49 each i think. Look like HID.
I used to run xtra vision on my tercel, it worked great but it kept blowing every year.. i wonder how long this SS will last, i run the lights on during the day time too.
I got to remind myself to put spare bulbs in my car just in case they blow.
By the way i did melt my wiring (had to install another hardness from a motorcycle) by using a higher wattage (though not much higher).
The PIAA HID look alike's are great, but they melt teh wiring.. 80W bulbs for 49 each i think. Look like HID.
I used to run xtra vision on my tercel, it worked great but it kept blowing every year.. i wonder how long this SS will last, i run the lights on during the day time too.
My 97 Jetta has daytime running lights. I changed to silverstars about a year ago. I think they don't last nearly as long as the basic Sylvanias that were in there before but they're whiter. I can't really say they're that much brighter but the white looking vs yellow light makes things feel more illuminated. I think it really helps with the road stripes though. Recently, I had a bulb burn out on me and bought a 2 pack so I have the other one just in case. I still have the basic Sylvanias but it'd be very odd to mix them... it really wouldn't look good.
Oh yeah, I've bought them from autozone.com before $37.99. look for rebate forms on their website every once in a while. In WA they're discounted fairly well at the schucks auto supply.
Oh yeah, I've bought them from autozone.com before $37.99. look for rebate forms on their website every once in a while. In WA they're discounted fairly well at the schucks auto supply.
coolblue==ricer. period. If you drive a civic or something then fine. Otherwise, I'd avoid. They are BLUE.
PricklyPete
Lifer
- Sep 17, 2002
- 14,582
- 162
- 106
Had the exact same problem with the silverstars...except I had it happen twice. I gave up and just got Cool Blues like Nutbucket and haven't had a burnout since.
The "advantages" of using silverstar and other coated bulbs are about the same as using monster wire cables.
:thumbsup: so true. Any coating will reduce the lumen output of the bulb, period, unless we are talking about an HIR bulb.
European Osram silverstars are like the Sylvania ones in the US, except they do not have a coating on the bulb. Osram=Europe, Sylvania=US market.
The best clear bulbs out there, in either euro or US, is either the Osram silverstar, or the Philips VisionPlus, or GE MegaLightPlus. Up untill recently, the VisionPlus from philips was only availible from europe or from specicalty shops that import them into the US.
Philips now carries the VisionPlus bulbs in the US, in sizes from 9003(H4), 9004, 9005, 9006, 9007, H7, and H1; it is in their latest automotive lighting catalog, trouble is that finding them in stores is still scarce, some part numbers and SKUs are still TBA. K-Mart carries Philips bulbs, maybe you could ask them if they can order a box for you. Hopefully philips will begin to market and advertise the VisionPlus bulbs, they are a superb bulb. I have them,H1, in my father's low beams Audi A6.
http://www.powerbulbs.com sells Osram and Philips, but since they are european based, they carry H1, H4, HB4(9006) and H7 bulbs; these are the most commonly used bulbs in europe. They are european based.
http://www.autolamps-online.com sells GE and philips bulbs. They are also european based.
yes they do. look under the "usa cars" your lincoln takes a 9006 for the low beam?
In that case, untill the Philips VisionPlus is more readily availible in the states, the best you can get would be either Sylvania XtraVision, GE High Visibilty, or Philips premium/high visibilty. All of these are +30% compared to the +50% of the VisionPlus, MegalightPlus, and Osram silverstar.
However, you may try ordering the Philips VisionPLus from this store: Text it is a yahoo based store, but apparently they are seling the Philips VisionPlus bulbs in the states.
The +percentages refer to the luminosity and is achieved by better filament placement inside the bulb and a different gas mixutre.
Ordering from powerbulbs or autolamps-online is safe, i've ordered from both comapnies in the past. autolamps seems to be faster though.
Heres a press release about Philips' VisionPlus bulbs in Norht America: Text
Do you like replacing your headlights every 3 months? Pepboys occasionally has coupons every few weeks for them.
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