Headlight bulbs
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Headlight bulbs
My headlight lenses are not in the best of shape.
I found online headlight lenses for $35 per side.
I am thinking about replacing them as well as picking up some headlight bulbs.
Which would you suggest?
How do I determine the brightness when searching for bulbs?
I would like them brighter than the stock replacement
Can i plug in a xenon bulb just as I would a halogen bulb?
Would I need an upgraded harness to use any of these bulbs?
Just some examples of what I've found
Nokya Stage1 7000K 65/55Watt Halogen Headlight Bulb ( 9007/HB5 )
"Kelvin (color) 7000k"
EIKO ClearVision Supreme Halogen Headlight Bulb ( 9007/HB5 )
"80% brightness, 50% whiter, 35%Downroad Visibility, 35%Sideroad visibility Kelvin (color) 4100k"
Osram Sylvania Halogen Headlight Bulb ( 9007/HB5 Ultra Silver Star Version)
" 50% Brightness, 50%Downroad Visibility, 50%Downroad Visibility
I found online headlight lenses for $35 per side.
I am thinking about replacing them as well as picking up some headlight bulbs.
Which would you suggest?
How do I determine the brightness when searching for bulbs?
I would like them brighter than the stock replacement
Can i plug in a xenon bulb just as I would a halogen bulb?
Would I need an upgraded harness to use any of these bulbs?
Just some examples of what I've found
Nokya Stage1 7000K 65/55Watt Halogen Headlight Bulb ( 9007/HB5 )
"Kelvin (color) 7000k"
EIKO ClearVision Supreme Halogen Headlight Bulb ( 9007/HB5 )
"80% brightness, 50% whiter, 35%Downroad Visibility, 35%Sideroad visibility Kelvin (color) 4100k"
Osram Sylvania Halogen Headlight Bulb ( 9007/HB5 Ultra Silver Star Version)
" 50% Brightness, 50%Downroad Visibility, 50%Downroad Visibility
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Joined: Sep 2008
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From: Northern California
The standard (and legal limit) headlight bulbs come in the car from the factory: 55W low beam and 65W high beam. If you go any higher than that: 1. you would need to upgrade the wiring and 2. it is illegal and you are going to **** off everyone else on the road...kind of like people who put HIDs in halogen housings.
All of that said, I put Silver Star Ultras in my car. Found the pair for under $25 on eBay.
All of that said, I put Silver Star Ultras in my car. Found the pair for under $25 on eBay.
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Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 5,584
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From: Northern California
They definitely are not 50% brighter than stock, but they seem a little brighter. Why? The light is whiter (therefore brighter) looking because of the blue coating on the bulb. So, the answer to your question is: you really aren't upgrading a bulb at all when it's the same wattage, but paying for marketing. I got the Ultras for the same price as the basic Long Life bulbs at local stores, so, why not?
The Xenon bulbs are the same idea. The coating is the "upgrade." However, the Xenon bulbs have a much heavier coating than the non-Xenon bulbs that are supposed to be brighter. If you want the best output, get a bulb with clear glass. There are some other bulbs that are supposed to be pretty good.
The Xenon bulbs are the same idea. The coating is the "upgrade." However, the Xenon bulbs have a much heavier coating than the non-Xenon bulbs that are supposed to be brighter. If you want the best output, get a bulb with clear glass. There are some other bulbs that are supposed to be pretty good.
"Xenon" bulbs just have a bluish layer added to a regular halogen bulb's glass, filtering out the yellowish rays and making the light whiter. The problem here is, because its filtering out some of the light, the amount of light projected onto the road is decreased significantly.
So how can they be advertised as "Brighter" and "greater visibility"? Simple, because "brighter" is ambiguous and subjective, just like "louder" or "better". "greater visibility" is pretty much a lie no matter how its sliced, but its also subjective. Pure white light does have the advantage of improving contrast and, given the same light output, will improve visibility in clear conditions. The problem is that the bulbs with coating on them have a heavily reduced light output. I can guarantee that using a "Xenon" bulb will NOT make you see better, although maybe you will be convinced it has because you just spent money on them. As a warning, both true HID systems and these "blue bulbs" can both be referred to as "Xenon" -- but if it's an HID system, it'll require ballasts, and "blue bulbs" will not.
So how can they be advertised as "Brighter" and "greater visibility"? Simple, because "brighter" is ambiguous and subjective, just like "louder" or "better". "greater visibility" is pretty much a lie no matter how its sliced, but its also subjective. Pure white light does have the advantage of improving contrast and, given the same light output, will improve visibility in clear conditions. The problem is that the bulbs with coating on them have a heavily reduced light output. I can guarantee that using a "Xenon" bulb will NOT make you see better, although maybe you will be convinced it has because you just spent money on them. As a warning, both true HID systems and these "blue bulbs" can both be referred to as "Xenon" -- but if it's an HID system, it'll require ballasts, and "blue bulbs" will not.
Last edited by darthroush; Sep 30, 2012 at 03:02 PM. Reason: Clarification
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From: Northern California
I wouldn't really trust a $10 Made In China harness, either. Not to mention, you'll likely melt your plastic headlights. There's a reason the off-road lights that come with those wattage bulbs have glass lenses. The "proper" way to get more light out of the front of your car would be to buy 9007 Plus bulbs, which are high efficacy 65/55W bulbs. Like this:
