Trainman Posted December 24, 2005 Share Posted December 24, 2005 Here is a link to the text and a graph from a CR article on the super white headlight bulbs. Article Text Bottom line in CR's testing the super white's do not cut it. Interesting feedback at the link. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OR99.5Speed Posted December 24, 2005 Share Posted December 24, 2005 (edited) Yup, I called it...most of these bulbs are hype. I have a variation of the Philips bulbs...the Vision Plus bulbs that I bought from PowerBulbs in the UK. I bought them not as much for the increased output, if any, but I prefer the subtle apperance change and I like the more white light on the road. I've always been the one saying Silverstars are crap, and it looks like this test proves it again. While I still don't think CR knows jack about cars, I applaud them on performing this test. Interesting to see how bad the GE did in the Camry, but it was at the top with the Sebring and Ridgeline. I can't think of a logical reason why the Camry's headlights suck so bad. Wattage? Poor reflector design? I fear for the geriatrics driving that car at night, old people already can't see well in the dark! I really wish they would test a set of HID retrofits, i.e. what 05thumpinpathy has. I find those extremely distracting at night, and was curious if a set of retrofit projectors would help out with the beam pattern. Looking at the responses, interesting to see another member pissed with the PIAAs' short life and average performance. Edited December 24, 2005 by OR99.5Speed Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trainman Posted December 24, 2005 Author Share Posted December 24, 2005 Interesting to see how bad the GE did in the Camry, but it was at the top with the Sebring and Ridgeline. I can't think of a logical reason why the Camry's headlights suck so bad. Wattage? Poor reflector design? Our Mystique had awful headlights, did not matter what bulbs were in it. Must have been the design. Probably the same with the Camry. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
glenn Posted December 24, 2005 Share Posted December 24, 2005 I recently swapped out original 1990 OE bulbs for GE Nighthawk. Got them at Walmart for about $25. Maybe they're a little better/ brighter. Prior to buying I did internet searches that all rated Nighthawk same as Osram silverstar and Philips Vision plus.. So its not a scientific study but I would tell someone not to spend too much money or go to crazy ordering light bulbs from Europe -- becuase it just didn't seem to make that much improvement over my 15 year old OEMs ! At this point I really believe you would have to go to HIDs to get any significant improvement but they are really expensive and most are not street legal. --my 0.02 -----glenn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tuned200 Posted December 26, 2005 Share Posted December 26, 2005 I just put silver stars in my 04 and I like them so far, they seem to light the road better. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest psyopper Posted January 4, 2006 Share Posted January 4, 2006 One of the problems with this test is the use of OEM reflectors and/or lenses. A more fair test would be to use a recognized industry standard housing/reflector a 6" or 7" round H4 or a 160mm or 200mm rectangular reflector. This is basic high school science - it's all part of the control to isolate what you are testing as much as possible. I can tell you from experience from my Miata that uses 7" H4/9003/HB2 round lamps that the factory seald beams sucked, the DOT approved Hella's were better and the Hella ECE's were the best for pattern. The Hella branded lamps have been the best improvement over graduations - the standard 60/55 was perfect yellow, the Xenon 60/55's were whiter but the same brightness, the halogen 100/85 had a whole lot more of the yellow light, the 60/55 Xenon +50's were a touch whiter than the regular Xenon's and just as bright as a regular 60/55 and my current 100/85 Xenon +100 have the whitest light but a touch less of it than the regular 100/85's. Again, all of the above mentioned bulbs were Hella brand (and not their Optilux Korean re-brand). Now I plan to do the same to the Pathfinder. The Hardbody light buckets, grille and sidemarkers are on their way from carpartswholesale.com, as are a set of 200mm Hella ECE's with Xenon 60/55 +50's from rallylights.com Brad Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
statikuz Posted January 4, 2006 Share Posted January 4, 2006 http://danielsternlighting.com/tech/bulbs/...superwhite.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest psyopper Posted January 5, 2006 Share Posted January 5, 2006 http://danielsternlighting.com/tech/bulbs/...superwhite.html Good link Trainman! That hits the information dead on accurate. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trainman Posted January 5, 2006 Author Share Posted January 5, 2006 Good link Trainman! That hits the information dead on accurate. I would love to take credit this time (I have posted this link before ) but it was actually statikuz you quoted, so good job statikuz And it is a great site for light info. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
statikuz Posted January 5, 2006 Share Posted January 5, 2006 hahaha i guess so yay for me! yeah if you read everything on that site you come away knowing a lot more about headlights than you probably want to... =) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tuned200 Posted January 7, 2006 Share Posted January 7, 2006 I will post a pic of the R50 with silverstars if the weather holds out and I can get a good shot of them tonight. Also, good read. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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