Rx-7Doctor

iTrader: (13)

Anyone interested in upgrading your headlamps. I recommend the new sylvania
silverstars. I recently picked up some and they are a pure white light with no annoying glare for other drivers. They are the closest thing to HID that i have seen.
Walmart sells them for about $20.00 apiece for fb's. If you do any type of night driving they are well worth the investment. Or you can get the HID retro kits for
around $500-$600 if you just won lotto, lol. rx7doctor

AdrenalifeRX7

Is this just a bulb replacement or the whole circular enclosure that Wal-Mart sells?

Gregs

our cars dont have bulb replacements, they are replacement sealed beams

you can get h4 conversions for our cars at www.procarparts.com

ive got em on my gsl-se and they kick ***

smnc

I've said it before, and I'll say it again.

If you REALLY care about seeing the road in front of you, and not about flashy advertising, bling, or showing off fake "HID"s
Go to Daniel Stern Lighting.

http://www.danielsternlighting.com/

The most knowledgeable person I've ever met about car lighting, and so VERY helpful.

-Spencer

anthrax

I have the Bosch H4 replacement kit, which gives you the H4 bulb and a lense that they are incerted in, and the seem to work well.

This allows you to install other bulbs if you like.

They install easaly and maintain a stock look

Rx-7Doctor

iTrader: (13)

I have hella's with replacement bulbs, but they are not as good as the silverstar's. rx7doctor

Mills

iTrader: (1)

I bought IPF's H4 lamp/bulb replacement kit and am very happy with it.

The lights angle up 15 degrees to the right-there's no way any critter can sneak in front of me from that side!

1984se

I have these...Dont know what bulb they are but their very very bright.

1984se

1984se

1984se

Gregs

take pics from the front! come on now

mcnannay

flashy advertising??? fake HID's??? whatever, don't be ignorant, silverstars are brighter and much better than any other stock replacement, if you find me a better bulb for $40 a set im all ears

i've already hit one deer and had a few close calls out where i live and the "fake HID" works awesome for me, i can't afford to nail another deer

on the other hand, ive seen the "flashy" apc bulbs, and they don't work, they just look bright white, the silverstars are the absolute best value out there if you want to see well at night, and in no way are they the blueish purpleish what i consider rice type lights....

cosmicbang

There are a lot of better bulbs to be had, for less than $500. Originally The Sylvania Silverstars had a blue tint and produced more glare, and it was the Osram Silverstars that were recommended. Perhaps these bulbs have changed, but I would check on that before buying any. Do not buy any bulb that is not clear, uncolored glass. Here are Daniel Stern's remarks on them:

Re: SilverStar headlights
by Daniel Stern Lighting <dastern@[EMAIL PROTECTED] > Nov 14, 2003 at 10:32 AM

Sylvania Silverstar bulbs have a blue filtration coating on the glass.
There is no such thing as a blue-coated headlamp bulb that gives genuinely
better performance than an uncoated bulb. All colored filters "steal" some
of the light passing through them -- you cannot have filtration *and*
still have all of the source light available for use after it's passed
through the filter.

There are legal regulations on the minimum and maximum light output
allowed for each different headlamp bulb type. The range for most types is
nominal value plus or minus 15 percent (some have a narrower plus-minus 10
percent allowable range). That means a bulb type -- for instance, the low
beam of a 9007 -- with nominal output of 1000 lumens is legally permitted
to produce between 850 and 1150 lumens. This, in turn, means that five
different 9007 bulbs, all producing _legal_ output, do not necessarily
produce the _same_ output. For maximum headlamp performance (maximum
seeing) you want the highest lumens.

There are also legal regulations on the maximum power consumption allowed
for each different headlamp bulb type. For many nominally "55 Watt" types
(again, such as the low beam of a 9007), the maximum allowable power
consumption is around 62 Watts at 12.8 Volts. This means manufacturers
cannot ramp up the wattage in an effort to get higher headlamp performance
(near the top of the allowable lumens) *with* the light-stealing colored
glass. So they put in a high-luminance filament coil that is, effectively,
designed for use at a slightly lower than normal voltage (typically 11.9
to 12.1 instead of 12.8 to 13.2). This is called "overdriving" the
filament: It puts out a lot of light when run at normal voltages, but its
lifespan is very short compared to a filament that isn't being overdriven
-- and all the extra light being produced is absorbed by the colored
coating, so in the end at best you have the lumens of a standard bulb, and
in most cases the actual lumens are less than with an uncoated bulb.

These colored bulbs, whether it's Sylvania's Silverstar, Wagner's
Tru-View, General Electric's Super Blue, PIAA's Xtremewhite, etc., do not
produce "blue" light. They tint the light *in the direction of blue* to
produce a visual appearance that is "whiter" and "brighter". "Brighter"
does not mean there's more light -- it's a subjective visual appearance
only. More light is indicated by the term "more intense", which you'll
notice the marketers of blue bulbs stay away from, because these bulbs do
not make your headlamps more intense. You may also see reference to these
kinds of bulbs producing light of a "higher color temperature". That's
another way of saying the same thing: The light is tinted in the direction
of blue.

There's been a fair amount of research done on the effects of these bulbs
on all aspects of headlamp-related phenomena (seeing, glare, etc.).
Sullivan and Flannagan of the University of Michigan Transportation
Research Institute, and others, have found that there is no improvement in
seeing with either the Sylvania-type (blue coated) or the Wagner-type
(Neodymium Oxide) colored bulbs, but -- at equal *intensity* -- the
colored bulbs produce significantly more glare (nearly 50% more) than
bulbs with clear glass:

Sullivan, J. M.; Flannagan, M. J. 2001. Visual effects of blue-tinted
tungsten-halogen headlamp bulbs. Michigan University, Ann Arbor,
Transportation Research Institute, Human Factors Division. 28 p. Sponsor:
Michigan University, Ann Arbor, Industry Affiliation Program for Human
Factors in Transportation Safety. Report No. UMTRI-2001-9. UMTRI-94291

A copy of this study can be had fairly easily by contacting UMTRI (
www.umtri.umich.edu ). That 94291 number at the end of the cite is the one
you need.

It is also worth considering as we head into winter that light of a
*lower* color temperature is better for driving in rain, fog or snow. Not
because such light "penetrates the snow (fog, rain) better", as has often
been erroneously argued in support of yellow fog lamps, but because of how
the human eye processes different light wavelengths (colors). See:

Bullough, J. D.; Rea, M. S. 2001. Driving in snow: effect of headlamp
color at mesopic and photopic light levels. Rensselaer Polytechnic
Institute, Lighting Research Center, Troy, N.Y. 9 p. Lighting Technology
Developments for Automobiles. Warrendale, SAE, 2001, p. 67-75. Report No.
SAE 2001-01-0320. UMTRI-94232 A10

Bottom line, some people find the appearance of these "extra white"
headlamps more pleasing than the appearance of untinted headlamps, but
they do not help you see, they cause more glare, they work against you in
bad weather, and their lifespan is comparatively short.

Most of the manufacturers offer headlamp bulbs that have higher-output
filaments _without_ any light-stealing color coating. These tend to run
right at the high end of allowable lumens. They're more popular in Europe
than in North America, but North American examples are Sylvania
Xtravision, Wagner BriteLite, GE High Output, Philips High Visibility,
Candlepower Bright Light, Narva Rangepower, and -- confusingly -- Osram
Silverstar, an extra-high-output *uncolored* bulb line sold primarily
outside North America.

Finally, some comparative bulb test results. AutoExpress finally released
the results of their new H4 (=9003, =HB2) bulb tests.

Standard and blue bulbs ("Osram CoolBlue" is what is currently sold in
North America as "Sylvania Silverstar"):

http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/product_test/product_test_story.php?id=39920

"Plus 30" high efficiency bulbs ("Osram Super" is what is sold in North
America as "Sylvania Xtravision", while "Philips Premium" is available in
North America as "Wagner BriteLite" and "Candlepower Bright Light"):

http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/product_test/product_test_story.php?id=39919

"Plus 50" ultra high efficiency bulbs (Osram Silverstar is available in
North America as Candlepower Super Bright Light, or -- like the Philips
VisionPlus -- can be ordered from one of the overseas websites that ships
worldwide):

http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/product_test/product_test_story.php?id=39917

The AutoExpress website will let you view up to two articles before it
wants you to "register" -- throwing phony info at it will make it shut up
and let you see more stories. They've done similar tests of other bulb
formats over the last few years (regrettably no longer on the site) and
come up with very similar results.


Daniel J. Stern
Standing Appointed Member
National Academy of Sciences
Transportation Research Board
Visibility Committee

mcnannay

wow, thats some good stuff,

silvania actually makes a bulb called "cool blue" i hope they aren't confusing that with the silverstars

the cool blues actually give off a blue tint, where my silverstars are just white, i honestly can't pick up a hint of blue or purple in the light

before i installed my silverstars i had the silvania xtravisions, which are a good bulb, but i have noticed increased visibility with the silverstars. as for the bad weather, that has yet to be seen with them (personally that is), i hope they fair well i guess we'll see come winter!

Atkins Dan

That is what I had in my 7 thay worked good than I whent to the H4 set up and WOW!!!! what a diffrence I can see the road @ 75-90 MPH. Need to get a set for my REPU thoe I can't see s..t when I drive 40 MPH at night .

Dan

faye x7

I bought something off ebay, yeah probably a big nono for the technobabble freaks that are on here, but whatever. They're are a hell of alot brighter than the stock lamps and and the light is much whiter and I can see VERY well at night. Maybe I will take pics of what they are.

Tom

I definately plan on using H4 lamps in my first gen. The Hella driving lights I installed in my Mariah front dam kick rockin' ***! I can't imagine what H4 replacements will do in the stock assembly..

cosmicbang

Thats interesting, maybe Sylvania changed or switched the bulbs, which could be worth investigating. Anyhow, here are some recommendations from Daniel Stern:

In a nutshell:
Reject any headlamp bulb that does not have CLEAR, UNCOLORED glass -- no
blue or purple or "extra white" or "superwhite" or "silver" colors.
Reject any headlamp bulb that is not made by
Philips/Narva/Norma/Wagner/Candlepower, GE/Tungsram, or Osram/Sylvania.
Reject any headlamp bulb making claims about the color or "kelvin
temperature" or appearance of the light produced, e.g. "whiter",
"whitest", "close to daylight", "similar to HID headlamps", etc.
Follow these three rules and you're almost certain to get a perfectly good
headlamp bulb.

If you want better than "good", use:
Sylvania Xtravision (9000-series)
Candlepower Brightlight (reboxed Narva Rangepower, 9000 and H-series)
Narva Rangepower (9000-series and H-series)
Wagner BriteLite (9000-series)
GE High Output (9000-series)
Osram Super (H-series)
Philips Premium (H-series)
Philips High Visibility (9000-series)

If you want the best, and your car takes H7, H1 or H4 (=9003), use:
Osram Silverstar (NOT the same as Sylvania Silverstar!)
Candlepower Super BrightLight (reboxed Osram Silverstar)
Philips VisionPlus
Tungsram Super Megalicht
DS

Tom

Well- I am certainly impressed with the Hella driving lamps I have. They still need to be tweaked on the adjustments, but my abilty to 'see' especially from sides has increased dramatically. Here's a few pics (like I said- I still need to tweak them in the dam a little more.. hafta cut a notch in the top of the mounting holes to get it aimed correctly on the vertical plane)

Rx-7Doctor

iTrader: (13)

For everones information sylvania and osram (which is german) are sold under same trademark. I did comparison between h4's standard halogens and silverstars. Silverstars
won hands down with clarity and distance and angle of view. If i could get a portion of this reponse concerning my color delimna??? Other wise i might be forced to tell everyone that
all club members have to paint their car lime green with gold specks and put 13inch dayton
wheels on. lol, rx7doctor

cosmicbang

No, no no! It is exactly the opposite. Sylvania and Osram are separate trademarks. Sylvania, or Osram/Sylvania is the brand name used in North America, and Osram is the brand name used everywhere else in the world. The products may or may not be the same. They are branded differently and the names do not always match. For example the Osram Silverstar is NOT the same as the Sylvania Silverstar. Sylvania's own web site states that fact:
Yes they both offer greater luminance than some baseline bulb, but the Osram offers greater luminance than the Sylvania, (approx. 1500 lumens vs. 1200). You should not buy a bulb with coating on the glass, period. Sylvania is sacrificing performance in an attempt to increase sales, using marketing hype such as "..high performance look of HID..." In a similar vein, would you buy a product for your car advertised to make it "look faster" but which actually decreased performance and made it slower? Oh, wait...

joe84Rex

I just bought a pair of diamond headlights with the blub replacement for less the $20.00 for the pair on ebay. here is the link if you would like a pair..... http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...category=33710

joe84Rex

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...category=33710

Rx-7Doctor

iTrader: (13)

OK, buy the ones with osram/sylvania on them, that is what mine are. The thread started out as a good upgrade for your stock lamps. lets not get carried away, the bottom line is use what you are happy with. I switched my hella h4's out and like the osram/sylvanias better, if you can get something for less than $20 a pop that works better, than all the power to you. Now lets get passionate about something really important. Like what to do about my paint decision!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! rx7doctor