Headlight Life Expectency

[KYProtege5]

Is it just me or does everyone's P5 go through headlights like they're going out of style?

 

[Ride92]

I will not comment on my light longevity as I don't want them to blow, seems like everytime someone says they have good luck with lights there on here in a week saying they needed to replace them. Get a good quality light and knock on wood. Use rubber gloves to install them so you don't get finger prints on the bulb. The brighter the bulb, like silverstar ultra's won't last as long, it's a trade off. Or get some hids and be done with it.

 

[hornsfan10609]

If your headlight clips are in good shape they are more secure and last longer, I would upgrade to HIDs to save money.

 

[ShortBusDriver]

Yes, my P5 goes through headlights like they're M&Ms. Once I had a bulb burn out, and in the same week before I could replace it the other one burnt and I had to drive around with only fogs (rlaugh)

I've been using cheap "blue" ones from this chinese store called Oriental Gifts and the pair I'm on now has lasted about 6 months which is record time! I've used more expensive silverstars or whatever and they all seem to blow within a few months so I go with cheap ones anyway. I think you might just eventually get lucky.

I laugh at how often I see other P5s driving around town with a dead headlight ^_^

 

[clicknext]

It does seem like P5 lights go fast. I've seen lots of P5's around with one headlight as well. I've only had to replace mine twice through five years of ownership, but I think that's still more than a lot of other cars. First time I got Silverstars and they didn't last too long, second time I got the stock replacements and they're still going.

 

[Rockin03mp5]

see this thread, or the 100 other threads about it.

http://www.mazdas247.com/forum/showthread.php?t=123722581

my p5 used to eat headlights like food. then i bought an HID kit, and everything is better.

 

[KYProtege5]

I'm using Syvlania Silverstars. I recognize that the base model bulbs have a significantly higher lifespan, but I figure it's worth it for the better illumination. Still, I've had the car for just over 3 years and I think I've now changed my low-beam bulbs at least 5 times now. (I will claim one of those as my fault as I handled the bulb with my bare hands. Allegedly the oil from your skin will cause premature failure of Halogen bulbs) The most recent bulb replacement was just this past Friday and the other low-beam bulb was just replaced about 4 weeks before that.

Thanks for the link to the previous thread, Rockin.

 

[Rockin03mp5]

there are lots of theories as to why they blow so much.

the clips holding the bulbs suck, and are too loose. this can cause the bulbs to bounce around and blow.

my theory is the stock wiring also sucks. voltage spikes kill the bulbs.

the first thing, everybody assumes you are an idiot and touched the bulb.

Either go cheap, with stock, or go HID's. HID's are cheap right now. ddm has some that cost about the same as silverstars.

 

[Matt V]

Get HIDs and be done with it. However, I that's not an option, these are the brightest halogen bulbs on the market:

http://www.suvlights.com/product_info.php?products_id=164

Yes they are expensive, but they are twice as bright as those bad Silverstars and actually have decent life on them.

 

[bucksatan]

I've had my P5 for almost 4 years and have replaced 1 bulb, and that was shortly after I bought it.

 

[Matt V]

BTW, replace both bulbs at the same time. If you replace only one you're just asking for trouble.

 

[reprogle]

Yes, I've had the car just under 2 years and am on my fourth set of bulbs. Wouldn't be so bad if they were easier to change, I'm sick of wrestling with the weird wire/gromit assembly.

 

[MIKECRPR5]

i bought my car in october 08 (idk when the previous guy changed them) and a headlight just kicked for the first time yesterday

 

[MIKECRPR5]

Yes, I've had the car just under 2 years and am on my fourth set of bulbs. Wouldn't be so bad if they were easier to change, I'm sick of wrestling with the weird wire/gromit assembly.

its actually really easy, you just needa push in and down on the curved part on the bottom. when the bulbs out take a look how the wire works, it goes to a little hook, that makes it much easier once you understand

 

[reprogle]

I've changed it enough to understand it, that isn't the problem, the wire is simply hard for my hands to bend at all. I just don't know why they'd use the wire hook setup when a simple pull out gromit like the Chevys would be so much easier to replace/manufacture. Plus they have the one fluid tank (thinking.. is it the wiper fluid? don't remember) right next to the headlight bay and it's always in the way.

 

[503Wagon]

HID = win. My civic has had HID's for over 3 years with no dead bulb/ballast (knocks on wood).

Just picked some up for our P5 (55wat 8000k for headlights, 35watt 3000k for fogs) from DDM Tuning. The headlights showed up but no fog light bulbs...still no reply via email from them about where they are at, but that's my problem.

Matt V linked me the other day to a good set from a site. They were like 80 bucks shipped. Long story short HID are a lot brighter whch improves visability and IMO they last longer than normal bulbs.

 

[DarkAngel]

You know, there is a lot of controversy with just sticking an HID bulb where it does not belong. Reflector headlamps are notorious for this. Well I wont go into detail about it. My brother was going to buy Silverstars but I told him not to. They dont last as long because they are a higher wattage bulbs and paying $20-$25 a bulb was out of the question. He stuck to OEM replacements for now. I rather do a retro and do it right the first time like Matt V does for members here, its night and day difference.

As far as changing the bulbs, always change in pairs. They are rated in hours and if one blows, the other will follow. When I had my Protege back in 01 I went through bulbs like crazy. From experience I found out that OEM replacements lasted longer which was obvious why.

 

[503Wagon]

The only thing "wrong" with throwing HIDs in a non proextor housing is your light output goes EVERYWHERE instead of being directed like a projector does.

I angled my headlights as far down as they go, thus to not blind oncoming traffic. Still gets great light output on the road, and doesn't blind oncoming traffic like some do when they dont angle their lights down.

 

[DarkAngel]

The only thing "wrong" with throwing HIDs in a non proextor housing is your light output goes EVERYWHERE instead of being directed like a projector does.

I angled my headlights as far down as they go, thus to not blind oncoming traffic. Still gets great light output on the road, and doesn't blind oncoming traffic like some do when they dont angle their lights down.

Yea thats one way. Sorry, I was not trying to single you out. Its was more a generalization from what many people do.

 

[503Wagon]

Yea thats one way. Sorry, I was not trying to single you out. Its was more a generalization from what many people do.

its all good i understood what you meant, i figured i'd just make a comment about the angling them down so maybe others would do the same!