Headlight bulb recommendation - Sylvania SilverStar

Post by **am0220** » 04 Apr 2004, 22:12

To anyone who, like me, is complaining about their headlights seeming dim, I finally got around to replacing mine today.

Coughed up the rediculous amount of approx. $40 at the big W for 2 Sylvania SilverStar light bulbs. I've purchased bulbs before that claimed to be bright, with no noticeable difference. So, I really had my doubts about paying this much for halogens, but wow, what a difference! They really do cast a VERY white light, and very, very bright -- almost comparable to Xenon. And, no, they don't look blue (another concern I had while debating the purchase).

Hope it helps someone....

Also, the replacement is actually very easy....except those damn plastic things that house the prongs that the bulbs fit into break like a bitch! Sorry, but between that and the seat, I'm pissed at my Volvo today!

Post by **matthew1** » 04 Apr 2004, 23:12

Thanks for the tip! I'll put this on the main page under Volvo Advice.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » 06 May 2004, 14:29

I have PIAA lites from IPD, beeg improvement over what came in my 96 854t5.

petershen1984 · Post by **petershen1984** » 08 Jul 2005, 04:24

Thanks, I'm seriously considering a replacement because I've been fooled into fitting the blue-looking ones. I'll take your advise!

White850Turbo · Post by **White850Turbo** » 08 Jul 2005, 06:23

I've used the Silverstars before with decent results. I have however, upgraded to real HID's recently. All I could say the first time I used them was, "dear God I can see everything!". The difference cannot be put into words. It is incredible how much frikin' light the things put out. With one of the HID's on, it puts out more light than with both of my halogen brights on. Definitely worth every penny of the $300 I paid for the kit.

Another bad thing about most of the blue tinted bulbs is that they use WAY too high of wattage. Many of them are using 85W and put out a tremondous amount of heat out, often times enough to damage the reflective film inside the headlight as well as the wiring. I don't think that's the case with the Silverstars, as I believe Sylvania is rather intent on keeping their reputation of a maker of quality parts.

petershen1984 · Post by **petershen1984** » 08 Jul 2005, 07:14

Back from the trip to the shop, this particular auto chain store carried only Philips lamps and not Osram, and basically suggested HID "if you are to notice any difference" in making the upgrade. The Osram Silverstars would've been an intermediate step.

Mr. Norm · Post by **Mr. Norm** » 08 Jul 2005, 12:50

petershen1984 wrote:Back from the trip to the shop, this particular auto chain store carried only Philips lamps and not Osram, and basically suggested HID "if you are to notice any difference" in making the upgrade. The Osram Silverstars would've been an intermediate step.

Baloney. You can get the PIAAs from Tire Rack or IPD. Best thing short of HID, which is lots more $$.

Jot · Post by **Jot** » 08 Jul 2005, 16:16

If the wattage of the replacement bulbs are more tan 55 watts Its not just the plastic clips that are going to be a problem. A new wireing harness made from a heavier guage wire will be needed.

petershen1984 · Post by **petershen1984** » 13 Aug 2005, 07:58

White850Turbo wrote:I've used the Silverstars before with decent results. I have however, upgraded to real HID's recently. All I could say the first time I used them was, "dear God I can see everything!". The difference cannot be put into words. It is incredible how much frikin' light the things put out. With one of the HID's on, it puts out more light than with both of my halogen brights on. Definitely worth every penny of the $300 I paid for the kit.

Another bad thing about most of the blue tinted bulbs is that they use WAY too high of wattage. Many of them are using 85W and put out a tremondous amount of heat out, often times enough to damage the reflective film inside the headlight as well as the wiring. I don't think that's the case with the Silverstars, as I believe Sylvania is rather intent on keeping their reputation of a maker of quality parts.

I regretted the halogen lights the night after I bought it last year in March 2003. I finally found an affordable solution on ebay, albeit risking a pair of used ballast/bulbs that has been sitting for a while when the guy sold his car.

Ditto to "Dear God! I can see everything." I was doing a comparison tonight before I installed the HIDs -- as usual I couldn't tell the difference between the low beams and peek lights when the roadlights and other cars are really bright. After I upgraded, from about 500 meters away, I saw the overhead roadsigns (white on green) and as I got closer, I could read them like never before. I can see lane markers and lane labels (i.e. LEFT ONLY, SLOW, YIELD..) better than before. I knew the road signs had to be illuminated by none other than the HIDs. Only the freeway signs here are illuminated by their own projection lights. Either that or they lack maintenance.

A note for my H4 installation though, my particular ballast doesn't have high beams, so after the upgrade, HI-BEAM means ballast OFF. And on the 740, the lightbulb is housed inside a shell (water protection?), on which there is a proprietary inline three-prong male-female connection , which leads to the standard female bulb socket for the bulb. That had to be pulled out of the shell to be connected to the Philips ballasts.

I don't have my camera now, but I'm anxious to post pictures of before and after. I happen to have pictures of the old halogen lamps in use on the first night, for optimal contrast between halogens and HID. If my old halogens bulbs (covered in blue film) were worth anything it'd only be the wannabe HID look.

In closing, I've done my fair share of research on aftermarket lighting, and finally decided to cut corners with a resale kit. There are tons of articles online persuading and/or criticizing the upgrade kits' legality, and here's what convinced me to upgrade: For one, I'm not bothered by the glare from oncoming drivers (although I've experienced how they could make your road less visible for a brief second), and frankly, it's not even that bad when I faced another HID user. When I did, I wanted to quote Batman:

"A taste of your own medicine, HIDer!"

The second reason is the statement that, "when they started using halogens a few decades ago, [sealed beam owners] were complaining about the very same thing: how "white" (pahahaha) they looked."

HIDs will be the norm for all vehicles in the future.

As an old saying goes, "if you can't beat them, join them." hehe..