SilverStar series headlight bulb question:

[Richard 34A]

The Sylvania SilverStar bulbs are available in three series:

SilverStar
SilverStar Ultra
SilverStar Xtra

For anyone here that has changed out the OEM headlight bulbs for SilverStars, which series did you go to and did you notice an improvement from the OEM's in night driving, especially low beam?

Thank you,

[Richard 34A]

The Sylvania SilverStar bulbs are available in three series:

SilverStar
SilverStar Ultra
SilverStar Xtra

For anyone here that has changed out the OEM headlight bulbs for SilverStars, which series did you go to and did you notice an improvement from the OEM's in night driving, especially low beam?

Thank you,

[SMIES]

I installed the silverstar ultra's on my 05 Vectra. The improvement was significant especially the low beam. I paid $35 for them.

[autofish]

I changed to the silver star sealed beams on my 2001 made a big improvement.

[RedneckExpress]

Are the silver stars those European kinda bluish head lamps that are super bright?

[Ray,IN]

I put them in my 96 Dodge CTD and didn't notice much difference
No, they are not those bluish lights. See: Sylvania.com for details. An option for brighter high beams is: high-4 headlight conversion kit.

[tderonne]

Do some research on the Silverstars.

Consumer Reports tested a bunch of lights and basically found that nothing worked better than new stock bulbs. Consumer Reports website is a members only deal, but you can find some of the results online.

(About CR. I work for a car company and would NEVER buy a car based on what they say, a car is just way too complex a thing to boil down to a few bubbles. But a headlight buld? Data is data.)

And check out the rated life on the Silverstars. One I checked 9006 Bulb is rated at 200 hours. Typical OEM rating is like 1000.

I've started to look into doing a direct wire relay setup. Kits are all over the Ford truck websites. Lots of people have done it and measured before and after voltage at the lights noting big increases. Given how motorhomes are typically wired, I figure it's worth looking into. One writeup on a relay setup. And a plug and play kit (For a Ford, but the headlight connections would be the same.)

[RedneckExpress]

Thanks, I was wondering as my driver's side head light burned out on my pickup and I need to get a replacement. I think I have a standard sylvania head lamp on the other side (It died earlier this year).

[DAN L]

i installed the sylvania silver star h4656 low beams and h4651 hi beams about a year ago. they produce much more white light.
i understand that they are the same wattage, but have a different gas in them to burn hotter, thus producing more light.
kinda expensive, but i got a rebate i think about $5 each.

[MrTransistor]

These lamps are probably good for the driver of a car equipped with them but personally, I'd never drive a vehicle with them installed. They blind the oncoming traffic and the older you are the more blinding they are. I also think that when people install them they don't bother with getting a proper headlight low beam adjustment so they all seem to be set too high making the lights seem more effective to the owner than they really are. Then you have the fool that won't dim their lights and you just want to scream....

Have your coach headlights adjusted, not on a machine but in a big empty parking lot at night and you should see a noticeable difference in drivability. Adding to what Tim says, have someone with a digital voltmeter check the voltage right at the headlight bulb socket and if it's not at least 12.8 Volts with the engine running, consider adding the direct wiring and relay to get the proper light output from your factory installed headlights.

[Richard 34A]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Ray,IN:
I put them in my 96 Dodge CTD and didn't notice much difference
No, they are not those bluish lights. See: Sylvania.com for details. An option for brighter high beams is: high-4 headlight conversion kit. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

Interesting concept but I'm not sure it would be legal in California. Also, one of the posted reviews states that it doesn't work with Daytime Running Lights...

[Richard 34A]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by tderonne:

And check out the rated life on the Silverstars. One I checked 9006 Bulb is rated at 200 hours. Typical OEM rating is like 1000. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

Some of the SilverStar series are rated in as little as 85 hours!

[FrankO]

Richard,
I installed them on mine as I thought the low beams were very dull at night. I first adjusted the lowbeams and drove again but saw little difference. I then installed the Ultras, rechecked the adjustment and drove again and found a world of difference. As I get older I need more light at night. I usually stop mid afternoon but every so often I find myself driving at dusk or a little later where I need the lights on. It is nice to have the light when you need it. I did not see what the hour rating was but I find it difficult to believe that they would be rated as you said as that means that they would last about a month or two for standard commuter driver.
But it works for me -- now.
Frank O.

[Richard 34A]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by FrankO:
Richard,
I installed them on mine as I thought the low beams were very dull at night. I first adjusted the lowbeams and drove again but saw little difference. I then installed the Ultras, rechecked the adjustment and drove again and found a world of difference. As I get older I need more light at night. I usually stop mid afternoon but every so often I find myself driving at dusk or a little later where I need the lights on. It is nice to have the light when you need it. I did not see what the hour rating was but I find it difficult to believe that they would be rated as you said as that means that they would last about a month or two for standard commuter driver.
But it works for me -- now.
Frank O. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

Thanks for the reply FrankO; it's true, some of the SilverStars have a pretty low lifespan.(www.sylvania.com) I think I might try changing out the low beams first and see if there is much improvement; the DRL run from the high beam, so maybe they would burn out rather quickly. I drive on low beams most of the time anyway, except for Hiway 5, and that's only because the headlight output is so poor. I've hit fog a few times and talk about scary; sure seems there has to be a way to improve night driving in a motorhome...