Looking for non HID headlight upgrade?

[Wishmaster]

So I've got a burnt out low beam and I began searching for a better bulb...

I didn't want to go the HID conversion route as I had been hearing from a few sources that almost all HID conversions are actually a downgrade and illegal... and I also wanted to find out if this was in fact true, and why. So I found a couple good sources:

One, the automotive section of the candlepower forums... lots of good info and knowledgeable users. - http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/forumdisplay.php?87-Automotive-Motorcycles-Included

Second, Daniel Stern Lighting... Daniel Stern Lighting is North America's premier automotive lighting consultancy and supply house, tons of great technical info, explains very well and in great detail why most, if not all, of the HID conversion kits are total s***. Here is the direct link to that explanation... http://www.danielsternlighting.com/tech/bulbs/Hid/conversions/conversions.html

Home page...
http://www.danielsternlighting.com/

So, what did I do with my newly acquired bulb info... after much reading, purchased myself a set of these - http://www.powerbulbs.com/ca/product/philips-xtreme-vision-h7-car-headlight-bulbs for those in the US that don't have to worry about the shipping cost across the border... basically the same bulb can be found here - https://www.amazon.com (commissions earned)

And I'll be painting the inside of my fog lenses with Duplicolor Metalcast Yellow. Reasons why can be found here - http://www.danielsternlighting.com/tech/lights/light_color/light_color.html

And some good info from people who've already done this can be found here - http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?354797-About-Duplicolor-Metalcast-Yellow

Cheers!

 

[markuszoom5]

well, you can try zxe

So I've got a burnt out low beam and I began searching for a better bulb...

I didn't want to go the HID conversion route as I had been hearing from a few sources that almost all HID conversions are actually a downgrade and illegal... and I also wanted to find out if this was in fact true, and why. So I found a couple good sources:

One, the automotive section of the candlepower forums... lots of good info and knowledgeable users. - http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/forumdisplay.php?87-Automotive-Motorcycles-Included

Second, Daniel Stern Lighting... Daniel Stern Lighting is North America's premier automotive lighting consultancy and supply house, tons of great technical info, explains very well and in great detail why most, if not all, of the HID conversion kits are total s***. Here is the direct link to that explanation... http://www.danielsternlighting.com/tech/bulbs/Hid/conversions/conversions.html

Home page...
http://www.danielsternlighting.com/

So, what did I do with my newly acquired bulb info... after much reading, purchased myself a set of these - http://www.powerbulbs.com/ca/product/philips-xtreme-vision-h7-car-headlight-bulbs for those in the US that don't have to worry about the shipping cost across the border... basically the same bulb can be found here - https://www.amazon.com (commissions earned)

And I'll be painting the inside of my fog lenses with Duplicolor Metalcast Yellow. Reasons why can be found here - http://www.danielsternlighting.com/tech/lights/light_color/light_color.html

And some good info from people who've already done this can be found here - http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?354797-About-Duplicolor-Metalcast-Yellow

Cheers!

I put in Sylvania Silverstar ZXE, they are amazing, because they are really white and bright. But they burn out after a year. I am not sure if you want to buy them once a year. They are about $54 for 2 piece set. But if you use a code for Advance Auto Parts you can get them cheaper. It's up to you.

 

[Davicho]

I put in Sylvania Silverstar ZXE, they are amazing, because they are really white and bright. But they burn out after a year. I am not sure if you want to buy them once a year. They are about $54 for 2 piece set. But if you use a code for Advance Auto Parts you can get them cheaper. It's up to you.

Agree on ZXEs the brightest and whitest light closest to an HID without being an HID.

 

[Wishmaster]

Thanks guys, saw those...

but, cruising around the candlepower forums, found out they are similar to the OSRAM Nighbreaker (http://www.powerbulbs.com/ca/product/osram-night-breaker-nightbreaker-plus-h7-two-bulbs)

Except, I also found out that the Sylvania product is an "extra white" bulb with blue glass. They have an unreasonably short lifespan and produce less light, not more, than a standard bulb. This is because the blue glass blocks a significant proportion of the light from the filament. Bad value given their very high price. The Osram product and the Philips X-Treme Vision product (the ones I bought and linked to above) have clear colorless glass so all the light from the filament escapes the bulb and is available for use within the beam pattern.

Stay away from bulbs labeled as "extra white". All they do is add blue glass which blocks light and makes it look more white, which tends to look like more light, but is usually in fact less light.

 

[MAZDASPEED MX5]

The German Osram 65w H7s are pretty good. I've been very happy with them on my MX5, having tried the HID:

http://forum.miata.net/vb/showthread.php?t=393678

I'll likely pick up a set for the Mazda5 soon.

 

[Wishmaster]

The German Osram 65w H7s are pretty good. I've been very happy with them on my MX5, having tried the HID:

http://forum.miata.net/vb/showthread.php?t=393678

I'll likely pick up a set for the Mazda5 soon.

Thanks, I was considering those as well. But the bump up to 65 watts just shortens the lifespan too much for me. I'm already shortening it with an upgrade to the Philips Xtreme. But yes, those are great bulbs in terms of light emission!

 

[Pyroboy]

Has anyone found an H7 low beam bulb that lasts more than a year? I seem to be replacing them far more than in any other vehicle I have owned.

Thanks.

 

[MarkVII88]

Our 2008 Mazda5 blew a headlight bulb for the first time after about 3years. I went to Advance Auto Parts and bought a pair of the Sylvania Silverstars. Since then, the driver's side low beam bulb has blown twice. Looking online, some people seem to think that Mazdas simply don't like Sylvania bulbs as others have seen their Mazdas eat Sylvania bulbs. I even had the guy at Advance test the electrical system and it was OK. I ended up going to the dealer and got a pair of the OEM Philips bulbs to install the next time I lose a low beam bulb.

 

[MAZDASPEED MX5]

The German Osrams. They are a standard 65w H9 bulbs on standard H7 bases. Nothing working overtime here.