| Author | Message | ||
| FAST FRED (Fast_fred)
Registered Member Username: Fast_fred Post Number: 80 Registered: 10-2006 Posted From: 206.149.192.28 Rating: N/A |
Sylvania claims great things for their $20.00 each silver star headlamps. Anyone tried them? FF | ||
| Bruce Henderson (Oonrahnjay)
Registered Member Username: Oonrahnjay Post Number: 127 Registered: 8-2004 Posted From: 69.143.43.3 Rating: N/A |
I have no experience with them on any vehicle but there's a lot of discussion on VW Diesel websites about "upgraded" headlights. Apparently there are a few replacement headlights out there that are indeed very good but many that give cr@p light output, poor distribution -- and burn out quickly. No idea which category the "Silver Starts" fit into but the whole subject would cause me to think "beware". | ||
| John Zabrocki (John_z)
Registered Member Username: John_z Post Number: 18 Registered: 9-2006 Posted From: 64.61.224.214 Rating: N/A |
If these are the same as the "Osram Silver Stars" that are popular with the motorcycle crowd, they are considered to be well worth the money. They are about the best "normal" replacement setup out there. The high tech replacements put out more light, but require replacing wire harnesses, and the bases with ceramic etc ones to stand up to the heat. I have even heard of some riders distorting the protective covers with the high tech lights. Here are some of the things one vendor has to say about them - "Don't confuse these with what your local auto parts store carries! These are Euro spec bulbs, so are not DOT approved. Up to 50% more light on the road! Service life comparable to that of standard H4. More light/same wattage! Objects and situations can be seen clearly at a distance of 75 meters. No need to up grade the wiring circuit for higher power usage! If you really want to jack up your light out put add a Harness to your purchase for maximum voltage to the bulb." IIRC, they are about 30.00 a pair. And replacing the wiring with heavier wires and a relay is aways a good idea to get the most light out of whatever you are using. And here is the required disclamier to avoid having my post edited - "I DO NOT SELL THESE BULBS, NOR AM I RELATED TO ANYONE WHO DOES" Merry Christmas to everyone, and i am jealous of all of you at the rally, enjoy! | ||
| John Zabrocki (John_z)
Registered Member Username: John_z Post Number: 19 Registered: 9-2006 Posted From: 64.61.224.214 Rating: N/A |
Sorry about the unneeded disclaimer,,, i lost track of which board i was on! Merry Christmas!!! | ||
| Bill 340 (Bill_340)
Registered Member Username: Bill_340 Post Number: 11 Registered: 7-2006 Posted From: 72.23.74.246 Rating: N/A |
Fred I used them in my eagle, and thought they were great as we drive at night a lot. Bill | ||
| RJ Long (Rjlong)
Registered Member Username: Rjlong Post Number: 1145 Registered: 12-2000 Posted From: 67.181.163.170 Rating: N/A |
Fred - Unless these Silver Star headlamps have the optics ground to match E-code lights, you'll just get a whiter light with more glare. Oncoming traffic will love you. . . NOT!! The real secret to the expensive E-code lamps are in the optics of the lens - they use stock H3 or H4 bulbs. I'll pack a low-beam model in my suitcase and show you next week at Jack's.  | ||
| john w. roan (Chessie4905)
Registered Member Username: Chessie4905 Post Number: 365 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 71.58.126.56 Rating: N/A |
Our experience is that their life expectency is a little on the short side, compared to the regular ones. Now they just came out with a new model Silver Star that is brighter than the original Silver Stars. | ||
| Tim Strommen (Tim_strommen)
Registered Member Username: Tim_strommen Post Number: 261 Registered: 11-2004 Posted From: 67.169.151.53 Rating: N/A |
If they use a blue tint (or any tint) on the bulb capsule - walk away... The stock wattage of halogen headlight bulbs is 55 for low and 65 for high. When after-market bulb makers put a tint on the bulb exterior to mimick the appearance of HID (High-Intensity-{gas arc}Discharge) like those found on BMWs, Mercedes, and Cadilacs - they cut out the yellow light that the tungsten-filaments very efficiently produce. This requires that the bulb manufacturer crank up the wattage to output enough light to be usefull (can be upwards of 85 watts for a low beam). The actual color of light these "blue" bulbs produce is more greenish than blue. Other than increasing the output of a light bulb, there is no "magic lightbulb". I have to agree with RJ about the glare issue. The E-Code bulbs are H(x) (like H1, H3, H4, H7, etc.) The comment from the vendor: "...These are Euro spec bulbs, so are not DOT approved....service life comparable to that of standard H4..." seems to indicate that the bulb is not DOT approved (DOT does not "approve" bulbs by the way) - nor is it an H4 (sounds like this vendor doesn't know what he's selling or talking about ). The biggest problem with headlights is the mandated beam pattterns in the U.S. We use the "DOT" beam pattern (because we Americans hate change), whereas most of the rest of the world uses the E-Code beam pattern. Each beam pattern has its trade-offs. For my money (opinion to follow), I'd recommend spending that money on a set of E-Code lamp assembiles that use standard H4 bulbs (nothing special or expensive/hard to find). After the light generated by a filament bounces off the reflector, it's up the lens (unless the reflector is a "free-form") to create the beam pattern out of the light. Thus the optics are the meat of the lighting system (again agree with previous poster). Here's a link to Daniel Stern Lighting. Here you will find some good info from an optical engineer who knows a lot about headlights. It's worth a read. If you decide to buy an E-Code assembly, I buy mine from Aardark International (Talbot & Co). Cheers! -Tim P.S. Not associated with either link - I've just had good experience with them. -T (Message edited by Tim Strommen on December 25, 2006) (Message edited by Tim Strommen on December 25, 2006) | ||
| john w. roan (Chessie4905)
Registered Member Username: Chessie4905 Post Number: 391 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 71.58.126.56 Rating: N/A |
Newer Ford pickups don't use DOT beam patterns... They use IN YOUR DAMN EYES EVEN ON LOW BEAM PATTERN. |