[purduealum91]

Hey Gang

New E owner here. I found these on ebay:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2479043676

Will these work ok without frying the OEM wiring? Is there a better alternative? Just looking to replace bulbs only at this point. Thanks!

Tom

 

[random]

purdue,

I recently changed out my stock headlight bulbs with Sylvania SilverStars (9003ST). A bit more expensive ($19 ea) than the ones via eBay...but these were locally available (AutoZone), known to be "street legal", and from a major manufacturer.

Mine work great. They are a white color, not so much blue as the ones you are looking at. I am not sure if these are better than what you are looking at, but I like em.

-doc

 

[biocube]

there are several threads if you search for 'eurodezign' or 'silverstar'

i actually ordered some of the eurodezign last week. hopefully they arrive soon and i could tell you.

 

[Nanook]

Best Price for *Osram* SilverStar Headlight Bulbs (?) W/PICS!

All the recent talk about headlights reminded me of yet another "project."

I found the Osram SilverStars, which are brighter than the Sylvanias although not DOT approved yet (shhh!) here:

http://www.casporttouring.com/store...ct_Code=17184&Category_Code=st1300_electrical

This was the best price I could find, and cheaper than the Sylvanias: $27.80 for a two pack. They charge $4.00 to ship Priority Mail. Needless to say, I just placed my order.

[Edit] Follow up: They are still going strong after ~16 months. Here are some very belated beamshots. The Osram is on the right/passenger's side.

 

[random]

A question. Osram is a subsidiary of Sylvania, or vice versa. Osram, as far as I can tell is a German company, and Sylvania is in the US.

I don't know if there is a difference in the two imprints' SilverStars. Do you have any sources to tell the difference?

Thanks,

-doc

 

[Nanook]

I think I first read it somewhere here. I'm too frustrated with search to bother, but here are the figures from the sister companies' respective sites:

The Sylvania SilverStar 9003, our bulb style, is listed as (High/Low-beam) 1500/910 lumens.
http://www.sylvania.com/auto/silverstar.htm

The Osram SilverStar H4, same as 9003, is listed as 1700/1075 lm.
http://www.osram.com/pdf/service_corner/110PPSilverstar2E.pdf
Couldn't find an HTML page with the info.

Oh yeah, this site has respective percentages of brightness ratings:
http://suvlights.tripod.com/suvlightscom/html/halogen-h4-9003-hb2.htm

And this addresses the Osram/Sylvania relationship:
http://suvlights.tripod.com/suvlightscom/html/faq-qa.htm#3

The Sylvania's are listed as 4000K whiteness, while the Osram's do not list that figure. The last site says they are "slightly whiter" than a standard halogen bulb.

 

[GGMEX4WD5SP]

I like the Silver Star, but the left lamp lasted less than 6 months.. Put the original back, waiting to see if the right lamp dies as quick before I purchase another set..

Silver Star are good, but not is it cost $30 every six months...

 

[Skeptic]

[quote:5c85d1ad58=" "]I like the Silver Star, but the left lamp lasted less than 6 months.. Put the original back, waiting to see if the right lamp dies as quick before I purchase another set..

Silver Star are good, but not is it cost $30 every six months...[/quote:5c85d1ad58]

I had a civic before my E and I replaced the bulbs in it almost every 6 months until I realized water was getting into the headlight because I was putting the rubber boot on wrong (gotta watch that rubber :lol: ). I finally got a set of lights to last several years by putting silicone grease around the boot to keep out moisture.

-emily

 

[hownowcb]

Why didn't you show up at Gettysburg!? You shoulda been there! I didn't know it then, but I missed you now!! (Me, with the weird fog lights had a bulb burn out on the way home!) Of course, they were already 10 years old when I put them in my Element, but what-the-hey!? I replaced one a few weeks ago, and should have done them both while I had the entire front end off, right!?

 

[HEK]

[quote:da80beb70b=" "]I like the Silver Star, but the left lamp lasted less than 6 months.. Put the original back, waiting to see if the right lamp dies as quick before I purchase another set..

Silver Star are good, but not is it cost $30 every six months...[/quote:da80beb70b]
same here but mine lasted less than a week...crap IMO. ..got replacements but haven't put them on...

 

[Beachbabeis]

The Osram Silverstars and the Philips Weather Vision from Jim at http://suvlights.tripod.com/suvlightscom/ have both lasted and lasted and are visible superior.

I wonder if bulbs that failed early were installed dirty or were underpowered, or if some shops sell seconds or mishandle their inventoty?

I think that the Osram Silverstars and the Philips Weather Vision are not as good as more radical upgrades, but are still a very acceptable OEM upgrade.

The next step is a better harness with its own battery direct fused power supply and relays triggered by the factory circuits to improve voltage and current flow to the bulbs and reduce current flow through the factory harness.

Next mods to different model bulbs or high wattage bulbs which can melt stuff and probably will fail much sooner.

After that comes HID lighting.

I've been happy with Osram SilverStar or Philips Weather Vision from Suvlights.



[quote:6b08d22a8a=" "]I think I first read it somewhere here. I'm too frustrated with search to bother, but here are the figures from the sister companies' respective sites:

The Sylvania SilverStar 9003, our bulb style, is listed as (High/Low-beam) 1500/910 lumens.
http://www.sylvania.com/auto/silverstar.htm

The Osram SilverStar H4, same as 9003, is listed as 1700/1075 lm.
http://www.osram.com/pdf/service_corner/110PPSilverstar2E.pdf
Couldn't find an HTML page with the info.

Oh yeah, this site has respective percentages of brightness ratings:
http://suvlights.tripod.com/suvlightscom/html/halogen-h4-9003-hb2.htm

And this addresses the Osram/Sylvania relationship:
http://suvlights.tripod.com/suvlightscom/html/faq-qa.htm#3

The Sylvania's are listed as 4000K whiteness, while the Osram's do not list that figure. The last site says they are "slightly whiter" than a standard halogen bulb.[/quote:6b08d22a8a]

 

[Nanook]

Good!

I was starting to get bummed wth all the short lifespan stories.

 

[Beachbabeis]

[quote:f0987c6525=" "]Good!

I was starting to get bummed wth all the short lifespan stories.[/quote:f0987c6525]

I did see short lifespan from high wattage PIAA bulbs and some korean bulbs...but the Ray Brigg bulbs from Japan seem quite interesting.

The Osram and Philips products are just better than OEM and as reliable, IMHO.

 

[Jaybo]

I am considering switching to the Sylvania Silverstar headlights, but question how long they would last. Does anyone know if this bulb has a shorter live expectancy than the average bulb?

Is there a specific warranty on Sylvania Silverstar headlights? I called their 800 number, but continuously got a busy signal.

 

[lizzurd]

I have seen some silverstars that have only lasted a month or 2....i have had ine almost a year with no problem.Up here in canada they came with a 1 year warranty.

 

[Einstein]

Expect about 1/3 the life of a standard bulb.

If you want a little more light than stock yet retain the life of a stock bulb, go with their "XV" xtravisions, and check to see if your headlights are aimed too low from the factory.

 

[Florida Roadie]

[quote:75d1172f1e=" "]Expect about 1/3 the life of a standard bulb.[/quote:75d1172f1e]

Einstein ..Where did you see that info in regard to the Silverstars ? As far as I could find out ,they were expected to last longer ? I have mine in about 3 months now .. From what I read they used less power ,resulting in lower heat levels. Here I was expecting them to last 3 times longer.
Maybe MikeQBF can throw some (pardon the pun ) light on the subject. :lol: Mike you out there ?

 

[GGMEX4WD5SP]

Right one still working... I like like the light but waiting to see how long the right lasts before I replace them. Left lamp is back to the original unit until then.

 

[Einstein]

The 1/3 number I threw out is based on information from their website.

I can't find the original specs that were once there, but check out these life expectancy quotes from their website:

"The life expectancy of a SilverStar halogen light source is dependent on the driver’s use of the lights, which vary by season, time of day and number of miles driven. We estimate the SilverStar halogen lights to have a life span of up to one year under average driving conditions. "

"Halogen XtraVision headlights last twice as long a standard halogens. With normal use you can expect outstanding performance for years down the road."

I read on the internet ppl complaining about 6 month silverstar life. Over the years I always get 4 years easy out of standard halogen bulbs.

The silverstar accomplishes it's higher output by using a "underrated" filament. It provides the correct wattage, but the additional light is produced at the expense of filament life. Think of it as being overdriven, the filament of that size would normally be run at 10 Volts but is being driven at 12-13.8 volts instead.

 

[Florida Roadie]

Thanks for that info ..Einstein. :lol: They are already in sooooooo ,way late for worry.