Replacement headlights - what about 'ULTRA White' H4 lights?

[journey]

Looking for a new set of headlights bulbs (one just burned out). I had thought about actual HID replacement bulbs that are in a H4 format, but my wallet is not upto that at the moment.

On my previous car, I purchase some more expensive bulbs but did not notice much of a difference. Has anyone noticed any real difference between basic light bulbs and more expensive ones?

Do you have any recommendations on what to use? I have seen the 'brighter bulbs' going anywhere from $10 to $35. Do you have any recommenations?

Here is a listing on ebay for "Super Bright Extreme White 6000K Xenon Gas Filled Halogen Headlight Bulbs" that cost ~$10 w/ shipping:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ULTRA-Wh ... dZViewItem (http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ULTRA-White-6000K-HID-Xenon-Headlights-H4-55W-Bulbs_W0QQitemZ8043055579QQcategoryZ33710QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem)

Here is a listing for "Luminics Ultra White Headlight Bulbs" that are supposed to draw 55/60 w but output 130/135 w:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/H4-Brand ... dZViewItem (http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/H4-Brand-New-Luminics-Ultra-White-Headlight-Bulbs_W0QQitemZ8042461274QQcategoryZ36476QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem)

I do not mind paying more $$ for bulbs if there really are differences. Thx.

[voorhees]

EBAY item #8043069382 is a better lamp, time for some knowledge kiddos. 8500K is much better than 6000k this is the KElvin temp. that the lamp burns at. 8500 is a bluer truer color. I had some 9004 lamps from this seller on my stock headlights before I went JDM crazy. It is a blue/green effect, but much better than stock. And a lamp can't be Xenon and Halogen unless of course it is Xelogen. halogen is very hot and xenon is a more effective lamp. Oh, by the way, I sell lighting for a living.

[Wiscon_Mark]

Blue is worse in most cases, because it hurts your night vision. Even if it's putting out more light, it makes your vision worse.

More of a white or yellow color is better, honestly. Blue just looks aesthetically nicer.

[journey]

I had some 9004 lamps from this seller on my stock headlights before I went JDM crazy. It is a blue/green effect, but much better than stock.
Which seller? The one selling item #8043069382? Did you purchase the same lights? The listing says that the bulbs temp is 5150K.

What do you think about the following item: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/60-55W-BLUE-WHITE-XENON-HID-8000K-BULBS-H4-H7-9006-9007_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ36476QQitemZ8041133781

The listing says the 'temp' is 8000K. I am not as worried about the blue tint as I am about getting a brighter light. For these lights, do they really produce 100/110W of illumination? Thx.

[Plays_with_Toys]

I've read that anything over 6000* K does not appear much more different, and is getting closer to blue, hence rendering your night vision worse and worse.

I bought some eurovizion yellow bulbs, then hella yellowstars, and their light output is identical, and similar pricing. My silverstars are quite a bit brighter, but alot harder to use in wet weather (***read: near impossible). I've heard really good things about PIAA bulbs. PIAA's are just about the brightest bulbs on the market, but they also run in the $60/pair range. So if you want something real bright, go for those, but again, the yellower, the better for wet/snow/fog, the bluer makes edges less defined and is more glaring to oncoming drivers.

www.danielsternlighting.com (http://www.danielsternlighting.com) is a great resource.

[voorhees]

http://www.al-lighting.de/index.php?id=984

[journey]

I've heard really good things about PIAA bulbs. PIAA's are just about the brightest bulbs on the market, but they also run in the $60/pair range.
Thanks for the info on PIAA's. Looking at PIAA.com, there are a couple of different options: Xtreme White Plus ($74.49), Star White ($60.45) & Super Plasma GT-X ($84.95). Any idea if the more expensive bulbs are any better? Thx.

[Wiscon_Mark]

I'll bet you the super-plasma are just blue tinted. I'd go with whatever is more like white, and less like blue.

[journey]

Here's a quote from the site:

The new GT-X provides an exclusive purple low beam and an Xtreme White high beam. And if that weren't enough! PIAA has added a purple colored top coat giving the headlamp a purple look even when the lamp is turned off.

Wattage 60/55w = 135/125w, 3800K/5000K
Looks like the high beam would be whiter but the low beam is 'purple'/blue based on the temperature rating. The effective brightness is higher (i.e., 135/125 vs 110/100) thus my interest.

Thx.

[Reason]

I used many brands with all my cars and the best I used are PIAA Xtreme white and Raybrig bulbs. I have the super plasma GT-x in my CRX. They aren't bad but rather have had the Xtreme white instead. I didn't care for silverstars. Most of my close friends all have Silverstars on their cars and bikes.

[AussieDan]

Sylvania silverstars are cool, but it's a little known fact that Osram Silverstars are even better.

The Sylvanias are a bluish-white and claim to be 33% brighter than stock.

The Osrams are a crisp white, and 50% brighter than stock. The whiter light is better for your vision than the bluish tint, and there is more of it so you win both ways.

I've used both on my wife's Impreza, and I much prefer osram silverstar headlights with regular sylvania fogs to sylvania silverstars in all 4.

Sadly you can't just buy a set at any parts store, you can however get them off ebay:

http://search.ebay.com/search/search.dl ... etaEndSort (http://search.ebay.com/search/search.dll?query=osram+silverstar+h4&MfcISAPICommand=GetResult&ht=1&ebaytag1=ebayreg&srchdesc=n&maxRecordsReturned=300&maxRecordsPerPage=50&SortProperty=MetaEndSort)

[Wiscon_Mark]

Sadly you can't just buy a set at any parts store, you can however get them off ebay:

http://search.ebay.com/search/search.dl ... etaEndSort (http://search.ebay.com/search/search.dll?query=osram+silverstar+h4&MfcISAPICommand=GetResult&ht=1&ebaytag1=ebayreg&srchdesc=n&maxRecordsReturned=300&maxRecordsPerPage=50&SortProperty=MetaEndSort)

And that's where you're wrong ;)

Sylvania Xtravisions are Osram Silverstars ;)

[AussieDan]

Hmmm, I've never heard that they are the same bulb, and a quick search seems to indicate that the XtraVision (http://www.sylvania.com/ConsumerProducts/AutomotiveLighting/HighPerformance/Xtravision/) is promoted as a 20% brighter bulb.

I did find this post (http://www.nissanclub.com/forums/showth ... ost2247190 (http://www.nissanclub.com/forums/showthread.php?t=170069&page=2&pp=15#post2247190)):

Here's manufacturer data for output and lifespan at 13.2v for all the
Osram/Sylvania H1 bulbs. Lifespan is given as Tc, the hour figure at which
63.2 percent of the bulbs have failed.

Osram or Sylvania H1 (plain ordinary):
1550 lumens, 650 hours

Osram or Sylvania H1 long life (factory equipment on many Japanese makes):
1460 lumens, 1200 hours

Osram H1 Super (if Sylvania Xtravision line included H1, this'd be it):
1700 lumens, 350 hours

OSRAM H1 Silver Star (NOT Sylvania Silver Star!):
1780 lumens, 350 hours

Osram H1 CoolBlue or SYLVANIA H1 Silver Star:
1380 lumens, 250 hours
And also a lot of people recommending the Philips VisionPlus (http://www.nam.lighting.philips.com/us/automotive/products/visionplus.php)

So basically it seems like the Sylvania XtraVisions are a very good option, and in terms of bang for buck may be a better option than the osram or philips bulbs. If you want the absolute best light output it still seems the osram silverstar or philips VisionPlus are the way to go.

I didn't forget the PIAA bulbs, but I'm very doubtful of their claims, especially considering the fact that all of their bulbs (that I've seen) are coatd in some form or other. The coating changes the color of the beam by blocking some of the light, so either they aren't as bright as they claim or are overdriving the filament which will most likely lead to a short lifespan.

[Wiscon_Mark]

I have the xtravision bulbs, and they did help, but not much :?

[Sarra]

Due to the way the human eye works, blue light appears to be brighter than yellow light (or white light), when in fact, it's simply a fact that the iris reacts much much more slowly to blue light than yellow light.

Due to the wavelegnth of blue light, it tends to refract and reflect more in fog than yellow light.

Blue light also tends to bounce off roads and other objects more.

Basically, blue headlights are more likely to blind you, other drivers, and inhibit actually being able to see anything in fog much more than yellow light.

Also, depending on what state you're in, blue tinted lamps may be illegal, I think they technically are in Cali, but I've never heard of anyone getting pulled over for them.

I'd strongly reccomend staying away from blue lights. Get an OEM replacement and get some yellow fog lights, and use them to enhance your vision at night.