SILVERSTAR headlights???

Page 2 - Seeking answers? Join the AnandTech community: where nearly half-a-million members share solutions and discuss the latest tech.

Zenmervolt

Elite member
Oct 22, 2000
24,514
41
91
Originally posted by: Colt45
Originally posted by: Zenmervolt
Originally posted by: Colt45
if you want bright light just buy some jiggawatt ones.

ie. stock H4 is 45/65 (?)
step up is 80/100

not sure about legality, and it's a good idea to run relays.. but it's *bright*.
It will also melt the plastic reflectors in most modern cars.

ZV
pfft. plastic.
Seen it happen more than once.

ZV
 

NutBucket

Lifer
Aug 30, 2000
27,131
616
126
You other option is to find out if HIDs were an option on that car and obtain a set of HID headlights/ballasts/etc..
 

Colt45

Lifer
Apr 18, 2001
19,720
1
0
Originally posted by: Zenmervolt
Originally posted by: Colt45
Originally posted by: Zenmervolt
Originally posted by: Colt45
if you want bright light just buy some jiggawatt ones.

ie. stock H4 is 45/65 (?)
step up is 80/100

not sure about legality, and it's a good idea to run relays.. but it's *bright*.
It will also melt the plastic reflectors in most modern cars.

ZV
pfft. plastic.
Seen it happen more than once.

ZV

Yeah, I know it happens.
It's just pathetic that your modern average $300 headlamp assembly is made out of plastic.
 

zixxer

Diamond Member
Jul 6, 2001
7,326
0
0
i have them in my car, and on my bike.

All in all, NO it's not the ricer blue ghetto look.


It's WHITE. Whiter than stock, with maybe a *hint* of blue...




a lot whiter than 'cool blue' and all the other crap that's out there. in general, worth it.
 

SportSC4

Golden Member
Aug 29, 2002
1,152
0
0
Originally posted by: Colt45
Originally posted by: Zenmervolt
Originally posted by: Colt45
if you want bright light just buy some jiggawatt ones.

ie. stock H4 is 45/65 (?)
step up is 80/100

not sure about legality, and it's a good idea to run relays.. but it's *bright*.
It will also melt the plastic reflectors in most modern cars.

ZV

pfft. plastic.

some el-cheapo higher wattage bulbs almost melted one of my bulb's harness.
 

Colt45

Lifer
Apr 18, 2001
19,720
1
0
Originally posted by: SportSC4
Originally posted by: Colt45
Originally posted by: Zenmervolt
Originally posted by: Colt45
if you want bright light just buy some jiggawatt ones.

ie. stock H4 is 45/65 (?)
step up is 80/100

not sure about legality, and it's a good idea to run relays.. but it's *bright*.
It will also melt the plastic reflectors in most modern cars.

ZV

pfft. plastic.

some el-cheapo higher wattage bulbs almost melted one of my bulb's harness.

Me and ZV were talking about the reflector melting.
harness melting = you suck and didnt install relays. and your car has a higher fuse than the the wire can take.
 

KingNothing

Diamond Member
Apr 6, 2002
7,141
1
0
I have them in my car, they were definitely brighter than stock.

Advance Auto Parts had them on sale for two for $27, plus a $5 mail in rebate last week.
 

Ikonomi

Diamond Member
Dec 19, 2003
6,056
1
0
You should get some HIDs for your Lincoln LS. HIDs are super bright. I installed a set on my car (I'm talking about the factory projector ones, not an aftermarket kid, BTW), and the difference is like night and day.

http://www.ikonomi.com/images/hidbeamshot800.jpg

You can see every grain of dirt and drop of oil on my driveway. :p

As for the Silverstars, I heard they're unreliable and can burn out very quickly. Within months, if you have DRL on.

I've been wondering about some brighter high beam bulbs, though. After the HIDs, my high beams just don't seem bright enough. I was thinking of doing an HID conversion for them, but that's pretty expensive.
 

geno

Lifer
Dec 26, 1999
25,074
4
0
I saw them on a friend's 98 GTP before, compared to the factory lights that were in them, they were much whiter
 

Viper GTS

Lifer
Oct 13, 1999
38,107
433
136
Have a pair on my Impreza, I like them.

Since I have KC they're worth every penny to me, anything that improves my night vision is a help. Whether they put out more light or not, the color is helpful for me. One of these days I'm going to take my car in to the dealership & get what would have been factory fogs put in. The more light the better.

I've been using them for 5 months or so, & they're on whenever the car is on. No burnout yet.

Viper GTS
 

Viperoni

Lifer
Jan 4, 2000
11,084
1
71
Here's all you need to know about tinted bulbs (such as Silver Star's, most PIAA's, Xenon imitations, etc): http://www.danielsternlighting.../tech/bulbs/bulbs.html

Sorry Ikonomi, with the van in the way, the picture is pretty much useless. If you're just putting HID bulbs into a stock bulb housing, you're wasting your time since the factory lens isn't design for the different light dispertion pattern the HID bulb puts out compared to the stock bulb.
 

zixxer

Diamond Member
Jul 6, 2001
7,326
0
0
after rereading the thread... I see a lot of 'I *heard* they burn out quickly, etc..;'


They've been in my car for well over a year without burning out.

My roommate had them, and one burned out after about a year and half... sylvania replaced both of them though...



fwiw.. even if they do burn out in a year; WELL worth the extra light.
 

Babbles

Diamond Member
Jan 4, 2001
8,253
14
81
I like them, but I really don't think they are worth the cost. In fact I had one burn out on me and I just replaced it with a higherquality bulb, right under the Silverstar level.
 

GprophetB

Platinum Member
Jun 20, 2003
2,632
0
76
wow great info here thanks viper ill check that out

and thanks for the pic ikonomi
 

zixxer

Diamond Member
Jul 6, 2001
7,326
0
0
Originally posted by: Viperoni
Here's all you need to know about tinted bulbs (such as Silver Star's, most PIAA's, Xenon imitations, etc): http://www.danielsternlighting.../tech/bulbs/bulbs.html

....................................

hey man.. I have them in my car, and they ARE better than stock. They might not be better than higher wattage bulbs; but I'm not wanting to fry my harness here.


When my roommate put them in his 99 maxima, he put one in, and left the other stock. We drove around and agreed it IS white, seemingly brighter light. Yes, it might glare against.. glass in road or something... but at least I can see further/better.
 

KingNothing

Diamond Member
Apr 6, 2002
7,141
1
0
Originally posted by: Ikonomi
As for the Silverstars, I heard they're unreliable and can burn out very quickly. Within months, if you have DRL on.

I put them in my car when I got it, and that was 3 years ago. Just had them both burn out on me, about 3 months apart, this year. I can live with a 3-year lifespan for the increased light output.
 

Ikonomi

Diamond Member
Dec 19, 2003
6,056
1
0
Originally posted by: KingNothing
Originally posted by: Ikonomi
As for the Silverstars, I heard they're unreliable and can burn out very quickly. Within months, if you have DRL on.

I put them in my car when I got it, and that was 3 years ago. Just had them both burn out on me, about 3 months apart, this year. I can live with a 3-year lifespan for the increased light output.

Yeah, I was just going by what people have said at dodgeintrepid.net and the 300M club. Some have had bad luck with them, but I don't have any personal experience.
 

Ikonomi

Diamond Member
Dec 19, 2003
6,056
1
0
Originally posted by: Viperoni
Here's all you need to know about tinted bulbs (such as Silver Star's, most PIAA's, Xenon imitations, etc): http://www.danielsternlighting.../tech/bulbs/bulbs.html

Sorry Ikonomi, with the van in the way, the picture is pretty much useless. If you're just putting HID bulbs into a stock bulb housing, you're wasting your time since the factory lens isn't design for the different light dispertion pattern the HID bulb puts out compared to the stock bulb.

My HIDs are factory projectors... I thought I put that in my post, but maybe I missed it. But even with the ol' beater in the way, you can see the cutoff. In fact, I left the van there (and the Bonneville) to show where the cutoff falls on other cars when you're on the road.
 

JDub02

Diamond Member
Sep 27, 2002
6,209
1
0
My brother has them in his Grand Cherokee. Much brighter than my standard Wal-Mart "extra bright" halogens I have in my truck. Very easy to tell the difference. We did a side by side against a wall at night.
 

Yzzim

Lifer
Feb 13, 2000
11,990
1
76
I have them in my 00 Grand Prix. They are definitely brighter than stock, almost white...NOT blue.

Just bought them about 2 months ago and had one of my fog lights burn out today :(

Anyone know how long the warranty lasts? How do I go about getting a replacement?