Silverstar Update

[Jim Frye]

I finally got the time to install the Silverstar bulbs (9003 ST) in the Honder. What a booger! You have to remove the air filter box and the power steering resevoir to get at the bulb mounts! I don't have pics, but the ones on the Sylvania site are exactly what they look like compared to the stock halogens and the Cool Blues. I went out with one OEM and one ST bulb installed on an unlit straight two lane road to compare. Standing in front of the car and alternately blocking the lights, you could see a difference. They do project a bit farther than the OEM bulbs and light up objects in the distance better. The light is a lot brighter on the road surface. According to OSRAM/Sylvania the lumens are 890 low beam/1470 high beam, so they aren't any more powerful (55/60 watts) than others, but the color is better. Were they worth the $40 for a pair of bulbs? I think so. Are they an inexpensive HID substitute? Of course not. Jim

 

[jrodhotrod]

Jim,

Thanks for sharing. I was thinking of picking up a pair of these as I won't have the money for the HID conversion for a while, if ever. I had my doubts. My biggest complaint was the light on the road, especially in the recent rain here. I'll definetly be looking into these now.

 

[Jim Frye]

As a result...

I will mounting a pair of Cibie 950 style driving lights in the lower grill on either side of the license plate. These puppies will reach out beyond the low/high beams of the regular headlights and they really screw up LIDAR. The mount I am making will also allow the license plate to swing back into the grill opening at speed (the plate will then be facing down toward the road) to reduce infrared reflection and not block air flow as much. When stopped, the plate returns to vertical. Doesn't look as nice as with no plate, but it's legal in OH. Jim

 

[mypfizzle]

jim.. i was thinkin about the same thing but my thought was to get a plate eliminator kit like a motorcycle has so you can flip it with the press of a button. what do you think about that.?

 

[Jim Frye]

Plate Flipper

I've thought about a device like that, but I'm way too cheap to spend the money for a comercially made unit. A solonoid, a return spring, a switch, and a relay should be all electricals you need to do a plate flipper. I did my '83 Honda Civic hatchback with a spring loaded license mount in the lower grill that laid back in the air flow and then popped upright when the car stopped. My '88 Mazda 323 license was mounted under the bumper with the same lights and swung back like I'm going to do on this Honda. Jim

 

[GXL]

Too bad Osram does not sell the H7s Silverstar bulbs for our P5s. I was able to find these, but looks like they are available in Europe only - at least for now I hope.

Here's the source:


http://www.conrad.de/scripts/wgate/...51&p_init_ipc=X&p_page_to_display=fromoutside


Any other H7 bulb out there as good as the Osram Silverstar?

 

[jrodhotrod]

Too bad Osram does not sell the H7s Silverstar bulbs for our P5s. I was able to find these, but looks like they are available in Europe only - at least for now I hope.

Here's the source:


http://www.conrad.de/scripts/wgate/...51&p_init_ipc=X&p_page_to_display=fromoutside


Any other H7 bulb out there as good as the Osram Silverstar?

After reading this post I went out and was dismayed to find out that the only silverstar bulb I could get would be for the highbeam I guess the search for something that's suitable for less then the cost of the HID conversion goes on.

 

[GXL]

I knowk, it sucks!
Osram only offers the high bean Silverstar along with the H3 fog light bulbs, but no H7:mad:


My search will continue, or I might wait for the to bring the H7s Silverstar to the US.

PIAA and HKS make some super white H7 bulbs, but they look blue to me.

 

[Jim Frye]

I knowk, it sucks!
Osram only offers the high bean Silverstar along with the H3 fog light bulbs, but no H7:mad:.

There is a Silverstar H3??!!. I haven't seen that. The Sylvania lamp replacement page only lists a regular H3 for the P5 fogs. The web page only list 900x capsules for the Silverstar line. I googled and dogpiled for "Silverstar H3" and didn't find a thing. Who is carrying the Silverstar H3? I just sent an e-mail to Sylvania asking about the availability of Silverstar H3s and H7s. They were most prompt when I asked about the lumens for the 9003 ST bulbs. Jim

 

[Rider69]

I talked to a Sylvania rep at the recent HIN here in Orlando and asked about the possibility of the H7 silverstars and he said that he really doubts that they will come out. He stated that the H7 is a really good bulb as it is as far as power output and the upgrade to a Silverstar would not be that big of an upgrade. He said that if you want the blue look than you should get the Cool Blues.

 

[Jim Frye]

Silverstar H3s & H7s

According to an e-mail from OSRAM/Sylvania in reply to my question on the availability of these bulbs, the H7 is not planned at this time. They think it's bright enough. The Silverstar H3 (like the one available in Europe) is planned for late spring 2003 availability in the US. For what it's worth. Jim

 

[GXL]

I got some Sylvania "Cool Blue" bulbs, and I'm very happy with the purchase. They don't look blue at all, they look really white! Which is what I wanted

I really recommend the Sylvania Cool Blue H7s along with the Silverstar 9003 for the high bean, and maybe some Hella Xenon White H3s for the fogs.

I paid $30 plus tax for my cool blues at a local auto part.