What kind of headlight bulbs do you use?

[brianjwilson]

Bookmarked. Thanks for the link, Bill!

 

[TacoRocco]

So wait?

Osram Silverstar are different from Sylvania Siverstar?

 

[Hilldweller]

So wait?

Osram Silverstar are different from Sylvania Siverstar?

Big-time different.
Jeep Compass compared to built-Wrangler different.
The Osram is clear and endowed with plenty of lumens; the Sylvania (domestic only) product is tinted.


Remember that white light has all colors. By tinting the bulb blue you've effectively removed lots of the yellows, reds, oranges --- the dominant wavelengths of light, the ones that are easy to see by. But you leave the blues, the ones that we can't see well by, that dazzle our eyes and look bright.
It's a sham. A hoax. It's not your fault if you bought them; it's your fault if you keep them though...

 

[TacoRocco]

Big-time different.
Jeep Compass compared to built-Wrangler different.
The Osram is clear and endowed with plenty of lumens; the Sylvania (domestic only) product is tinted.


Remember that white light has all colors. By tinting the bulb blue you've effectively removed lots of the yellows, reds, oranges --- the dominant wavelengths of light, the ones that are easy to see by. But you leave the blues, the long wavelengths, the ones that we can't see well by, that dazzle our eyes and look bright.
It's a sham. A hoax. It's not your fault if you bought them; it's your fault if you keep them though...

Have not bought them yet.

I found both the Sylvania and the GE Nighthawks at Canadian Tire (Pep Boys, Autozone type store here in Canada) and they offer a 1 year warranty when the manufacturer does not cover it.

From reading online I heard the GE's arn't that bad.

The thing is:

1. I'm starting to investigate better lighting (and an ARB bumper) due to a couple of close encounters with some monster mule deer at 65 mph and

2. I don't want to always be changing my bulbs if they have a short life - especially when its -30C (-22F) without windchill.

P.S.

Thanks for all the replies!

 

[tdesanto]

So wait?

Osram Silverstar are different from Sylvania Siverstar?

And, according to one of the articles mentioned in this thread, owned by the same company. Silly, isn't it?

Now, compared to standard Sylvania bulbs (side by side comparison the last time I ponied up $50 for the Sylvania Silverstars) the Sylvania Silverstars were noticeably brighter. This makes me wonder just how much more I could get out of these Osram or Phillips bulbs mentioned.

 

[Hilldweller]

Now, compared to standard Sylvania bulbs (side by side comparison the last time I ponied up $50 for the Sylvania Silverstars) the Sylvania Silverstars were noticeably brighter. This makes me wonder just how much more I could get out of these Osram or Phillips bulbs mentioned.

You have to think differently.
The Sylvania Silverstars appear brighter due to the glare; you squint and they seem bright.
The Osram Silverstars, Phillips Visionplus, etc emit more light. A light meter doesn't squint...


I work for Johnson Controls as the onsite administrator for an Agilent Technologies test & measurement training lab, EMG sales support, and RF software R&D lab. The Sylvania Silverstar (and other neo-HID poseur bulb) dog & pony show just rubs me the wrong way.

 

[hillbillyjake]

are the 07 fj's and 05+ tacoma headlights the same? tried to look tonight but couldn't really tell in the dark. thanks

 

[Schattenjager]

My '05 Tacoma and I lived in Alaska a little over three years. Long, dark winters prompted the same research. I came up with Hella H4's in 80w low and 100w high and simply used the factory wiring. 80k miles / 4 years like this with no problems. None. No hot wiring and the bulbs lasted a respectable amount of time. The best part is they are clear - none of the blue snake oil. Nice white light that worked perfectly in the factory lens. On coming traffic was not bothered and it looked to me like a pro football stadium was lighting my way. Cost was very reasonable too.

 

[Hilldweller]

My '05 Tacoma and I lived in Alaska a little over three years. Long, dark winters prompted the same research. I came up with Hella H4's in 80w low and 100w high and simply used the factory wiring. 80k miles / 4 years like this with no problems. None. No hot wiring and the bulbs lasted a respectable amount of time. The best part is they are clear - none of the blue snake oil. Nice white light that worked perfectly in the factor lens. On comming traffic was not bothered and it looked to me like a pro football stadium was lighting my way. Cost was very reasonable too.

That's a good set-up for LIGHT.

Some vehicles are equipped from the factory with beefier wiring and reflectors to handle the older Eurospec 65 watt high beam standard and are fairly safe with over-wattage bulbs.
My Jeep's wiring is not and I'll be replacing the loom soon with a custom job, two beefy relays, a pair of Hella reflectors, and Hella slightly over-wattage bulbs.

 

[AlexJet]

are the 07 fj's and 05+ tacoma headlights the same? tried to look tonight but couldn't really tell in the dark. thanks

Bulbs are H4 type, but headlighst are different as FJ has round while Taco is more complex...

 

[hillbillyjake]

i meant bulbs. my fault jet. i thought i could see h4 in there but wasn't sure. thanks

 

[chet]

I bought some silvania silverstars and won't again. Like was said they only appeared brighter and in fog really sucked! also they had a super short lifespan. Both burned out about a year after I bought them and in the same week!

 

[craig333]

Hella H4 100/80 bulbs in my Jeep with the IPF E-code inserts. Now thats bright and doesn't bother oncoming traffic.

My Dodge has horrible headlights. Absolutely dreadful so I've tried most all the "upgrade" bulbs. None of them made more than a very slight difference. If your reflector is a pos no amount of extra wattage will help. Only hope I see for the Dodge is going to run me over $500 and involve some custom work. At least off road I can un cap the lightforces.

 

[matt s]

I am running these in a sealed bulb. Wagner Xenon Brite lites. There is debate about the xenon in the name, but most people seem to agree that they are definitely brighter than stock and last longer than the sylvania bulbs. I will say this, they are "white" not blue, the lenses are clear and the beam pattern is great (a little extra side light, and up here moose are everywhere). My visibility improved greatly and I have tested it myself for glare (I drove by my own truck in my wife's tahoe). The lights are non-offensive enough that I have inadvertently left my brights on several times and not been "flashed".

From the website How much is true? I don't know but they are brighter/whiter.

Wagner BriteLite Xenon Headlight Bulbs

If you want to give your car, truck, van or SUV the added safety of better nighttime lighting then you want Wagner BriteLite xenon headlight bulbs. These extraordinary bulbs provide you with 80% more light on the road by means of a 30-degree wider headlight beam pattern. While standard headlamps only provide enough light to show you what’s in front of you on the road, Wagner BriteLite headlights also show you what’s on the side of the road and in the ditch for safer turning and better peripheral vision at night.

Another way BriteLite headlight bulbs improve nighttime vision is by using xenon. Xenon headlights burn brighter and whiter than halogen and incandescent headlamps to provide your auto with light that’s closer to HID lighting. Even at low beam settings BriteLite xenon headlight bulbs are better than standard halogen bulbs thanks to the powerful 55-watt low-beam filament. Plus, Wagner BriteLite xenon headlights burn cooler and more efficiently than halogen bulbs. If you want the brilliant, pure white light of HID lighting without the cost, then Wagner BriteLite bulbs are the best buy you’ll find

 

[R_Lefebvre]

You have to think differently.
The Sylvania Silverstars appear brighter due to the glare; you squint and they seem bright.
The Osram Silverstars, Phillips Visionplus, etc emit more light. A light meter doesn't squint...

I agree. I never buy the "blue" bulbs.

I generally use standard Hella overwattage bulbs. In my track car, I have 100W H7's (IIRC) in both the high and low beams inside of Hella 90mm projector capsules. No flashing with 100W on the low beams because the reflector is so good.

In our Minivan, I swapped the crappy stock H11 bulbs for standard (not blue like the photos) H9 65W bulbs. This is a STUNNING improvement for not much money. Double the lumens.

http://expeditionportal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=22069&highlight=bulb

On my old WRX, I used to run HIR bulbs in the high beams. This was also a stunning real world lumen increase without many extra watts. It's really too bad this technology never got a foothold. I also put these in my Dad's old Yukon which really needed help.

http://www.rallylights.com/detail.aspx?ID=1414

In my truck, I haven't upgraded anything yet in the factory lights. The housings are plastic, and it would be tough to run HD wiring. Instead I rely on Hella FF1000 driving lights with 100W bulbs for my lighting. And to be honest, it's plenty for the speeds I drive it. I would like more lumens on the low beams however.