Great article on the myths of "xenon" headlights

[Yanks0114]

This site has a few interesting articles which dispel rumors and myths

http://www.danielsternlighting.com/tech ... bulbs.html

[fotodad]

Thanks for the article. Quite informative.

[Jon11582]

I was reading this right here

http://www.danielsternlighting.com/tech ... /good.html

I never knew the Osram and Sylvania Silverstars were different before reading this. Theres lots of good info here

[SKYravefever]

^Osram silverstars are on par with the illumination of our Philips extra visions

[JoeB]

OK, so now I feel somewhat misled and ripped off. I read this just a couple days after one of my PIAA eXtreme white headlight bulbs blew out. The question you have to ask yourself is, "Why do you want the bulbs?". I have to admit, I wanted a little more light and I guess tricked myself into believing that the headlight bulbs I just bought were in fact brighter than the stock. I still think they were . The other part of it though was looks. I didn't like the look of the dingy yellowish stock bulbs. My PIAAs lasted almost 2 years to the day. When they blew, I went out and bought Sylvania SilverStars to try them out (again feeling ripped off ). Having tthought through it all, I think I will buy PIAAs again if these SilverStars don't last or maybe try those Phillips Extra Vision bulbs. I still think I'm getting most of what I paid for. -JoeB

[Jon11582]

I'm not sure about this, but reading between the lines, it seems that the Sylvania silverstars are still on the upper portion of the lumens scale, as well as being whiter due to the light blue tint on the bulb, but they're so overdriven that they wont last as long as non-tinted non-overdriven bulbs.

From what I see, they are whiter, and brighter, but to achiever brighter, the lights are overdriven.

Are Osram Silverstars legal for stateside use? If they are similar, excepting the blue tint, then the Osrams will probably be outside of the acceptable brightness range for US use. I noticed on the Osram packaging, it says +50% brighter, but on the Silvania XtraVisions, it only says +30%. Not to mention, if they are the same except for the blue tint, then the osram silverstars have the short-life overdriven problem too.

I think I'm alright for my silverstars after much thinking, but if one blows, its cheaper to get two non-tinted "Xtravision" bulbs than replace the one that blew. I definitly shouldnt have put Silverstars in my fog though, now that I think of it.

[geminimouse]

Get some HIDs.

[HKSV6SLE]

i already had a feeling with my streetglow bulbs, i still dont think they are any brighter than stock only difference is color.

[jtamas333]

get 50wat boosted HIDs, not just HIDS



www.cardomain.com/id/jtamas

----------------------------------
low beam: custom 50Watt boosted Philips ballast ($ 600)
w/ 6000K Philips Ultinon bulbs ($ 320)
w/ 2 stops at Radio Shack ($35)
-(rebased D2S bulb with correct arc (beam) placement inside housing--the lights actually have a cut-off linehttp://www.xenonfactory.com/product ... sed_ca.htm)

----------------------------------
fog lights: 5200K Hella 35 Watt HID conversion kit. ($ 550)
(http://store.yahoo.net/hidfactory/83heblhidkit.html)

----------------------------------
total damage: $1505

HID lighting system total cost:

[impactX]

Did you HID people actually read the site?
http://www.danielsternlighting.com/tech ... d/HID.html

It's not intended for the halogen bulb housing.

[noob]

I have HIDs in my Solara and despite what that article implies, converting my headlights to HID was well worth the money... $400 well spent...

This is my setup:

HID Ballast - Hella
HID Bulb - Philips D2S Ultinon 6,000K (purple'ish output)
HID Bulb Adapter - H4 Billet Adapter (from www.casperselectronics.com)

Yes, the bulbs are permanently glued on the adapter and I no longer have highbeams neither but it's focused and the adapter blocks the entire bottom portion of the reflector to prevent glare to on coming traffic. this makes the beam pattern very close to stock, if not better. I actually have a sharper cut off line (if there was any). However, I do miss my highbeam... sometimes... but I just use the fogs for more illumination.

I got HID mainly for that customized look. I'd rather have the real thing than pretend w/ fake tinted "HID" bulbs. Don't let the higher Kelvin rating fool you. It's still brighter than halogen.

[SKYravefever]

However, I do miss my highbeam... sometimes... but I just use the fogs for more illumination.

I got HID mainly for that customized look. I'd rather have the real thing than pretend w/ fake tinted "HID" bulbs. Don't let the higher Kelvin rating fool you. It's still brighter than halogen.

Good setup, however, slight misconception on your part. Headlamps and fog lights cannot do what high beams do. Those two lamps provide foreground lighting, as opposed to high beams which provide background lighting (read: down the road). Thus saying something to the effect of not needing high beams because I have HIDs is incorrect. So unless your headlamps are incorrectly aimed, that is, they're shot upwards, then your background lighting is not as good as halogen high beam.

However, you did say it was purely for aesthetics so performance is not an issue. Personally, if I'm hauling ass in the backroads or in the middle of the night, I'd prefer to know as soon as possible what's coming my way, thus the need for high beams.

[noob]

Good setup, however, slight misconception on your part. Headlamps and fog lights cannot do what high beams do. Those two lamps provide foreground lighting, as opposed to high beams which provide background lighting (read: down the road). Thus saying something to the effect of not needing high beams because I have HIDs is incorrect. So unless your headlamps are incorrectly aimed, that is, they're shot upwards, then your background lighting is not as good as halogen high beam.

However, you did say it was purely for aesthetics so performance is not an issue. Personally, if I'm hauling butt in the backroads or in the middle of the night, I'd prefer to know as soon as possible what's coming my way, thus the need for high beams.

Yes, HID(lowbeams)/fogs are not designed to cover the range of highbeams. The conception of "not needing highbeams" may have IMO derived from the fact that HIDs have a longer (farther) range than halogen... Still, it's no highbeam...

Yes, it's for aesthetics but you can't say that performance decreased because there's no highbeam. In normal everyday driving, where it counts most, it is brighter, have a farther range and illuminates the reflectors/signs on the road better. Hense, better performance. I don't use my highbeams much nor do I use my fogs. but since I no longer have highbeams, I use my fogs. again, they don't have the same purpose but it helps and it's better than nothing...

A remedy to the highbeam dillema that this article failed to mention is hi/low HID bulbs. An alternative is to retrofit HID projectors that have hi/low capability. This leads me to believe that this article is based on the early HID kits that came out. Yes, focus was an issue as well as highbeam. These WERE the problems that plagued the early kits that are now "fixed." Another is the price range. the kits today is around $400 - $800 at the most, not what that article says... But yes, price is still an issue.

[SKYravefever]

FYI, HID's do NOT have a longer/farther range. The beam range & pattern is dependent upon the optics of the headlamp.

[Guest]

FYI, HID's do NOT have a longer/farther range. The beam range & pattern is dependent upon the optics of the headlamp.

I dont think that's correct. if you were to put one hid bulb for your highbeam and one was left halogen, which one do you think will have a farther reach....?