Anyone using Euro-spec Osram (NOT Sylvania) lights?

[sublimaze]

AutoZone has a sale on Sylvania SilverStars, and I almost bought some yesterday. Then I discovered Osram sells an entirely different bulb in Europe (50% more light than standard vs. 30% increase with SilverStars). But those bulbs are marketed as H1, H4 and H7, and I don't know what an American-spec Explorer would take. I can't find any specs on the wattage, but one online vendor claims they are "standard wattage - the extra light output is due to the use of xenon gas" (I have no idea whether "standard wattage" refers to European or American vehicles)

Is anyone using Euro-spec Osram SilverStars in their Explorer? I'm guessing these bulbs would require a new harness. I wonder if they would fry the headlamp housing...

 

[Saleen_SR71]

i dont think any of the H's fit the explorer... i think the only ones that go together is H4 with 9003.

im thinking of getting these lights (perfered over euro dezigns). http://www.oznium.com/platinum-headlights

 

[celly]

I got a set of H1 for my fogs. As mentioned above, they don't seem to come in any size to fit the headlights. Not sure what size you use for your '04, but they definitely don't come in 9007.

I did a lot of homework on this a while back. The Osram Silverstars are supposed to be much different than the Sylvanias. Claimed to be whiter and brighter. I can attest to that when I tried them in my fogs (now have Sylvanias in there to match my headlights).

 

[Rob Slade]

I got a set of H1 for my fogs. As mentioned above, they don't seem to come in any size to fit the headlights. Not sure what size you use for your '04, but they definitely don't come in 9007.

I did a lot of homework on this a while back. The Osram Silverstars are supposed to be much different than the Sylvanias. Claimed to be whiter and brighter. I can attest to that when I tried them in my fogs (now have Sylvanias in there to match my headlights).

Don't know which one you were trying to reverence, but the OSRAM Silverstar isn't as white as the Sylvania Silverstar, it just puts out much more light. The coating on the Sylvainia Silverstar makes it appear whiter, but robs some of the usable light. The OSRAM is completely clear with Xenon gas to make it a touch whiter, but not much more so than a stock clear bulb.

I have had the OSRAM Silverstars in an H1 for a set of driving lights and they were wonderful. Again, not white as the Sylvania Silverstars, but much more light. Hope that helps some.

 

[A Wise Guy]

I need to replace the Osrams in my wife's Honda, but while they were in they were totally bright and rude. If she was following me I would have to do the ghetto lean to get out of the mirrors with those headlights. As for difference from stock, they rock. Much brighter, crisper light.

 

[xlt-sport]

i use the osram silverstars in my mercedes euro lights.

they are great, standard wattage and up to 50% more light.

some osram silverstar's on ebay
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/e...&item=7935116903&rd=1&sspagename=STRK:MESE:IT

 

[sublimaze]

follow up:
I replaced my stock low & high beams with SilverStars. It took only 15 minutes to install all four bulbs, and I think it was worth the time. The light output is marginally better than stock, but the color is much more to my liking. When parked next to my '96 Mustang, there is no comparison -- the lights on the Mustang are yellow and anemic. A new harness would probably improve the SilverStars' light output, but that will have to wait until later. I think I will also replace the fogs with SilverStars, to match the headlamps

 

[Anime]

Currently, Osram silverstars aren't available to fit the American-spec 9000 series bulbs (9004, 9007, etc.) used on Explorers. The H1, H4, and H7 bulb sizes are extremely common in Europe and many other countries, and so these are the sizes many top performing Euro-spec bulbs are manufactured in. It would be unsafe to try to use these bulbs on any lamp not designed for them, not so much because of the wiring or wattage, but due to the lamp reflector and lens not being designed for that particular bulb. The result would likely be worse visibility than with the right bulb, and/or a lot more glare straight into the eyes of oncoming drivers. Not what you want for safe driving.

The Sylvania Silverstars are just Sylvania XtraVision +20% capsules, with the blue filter to tint the light towards white. They are good if you desire the "HID look", but they really do put out less light than even regular bulbs, and have a reduced lifespan due to how brightly the bulb burns to push a decent amount of light through the coating. The Sylvania XtraVision capsules are closest to an Osram Euro-spec offering in 9000-series sizes, comparable to the Euro-spec Osram Super +30% bulbs.

Philips' VisionPlus +50% & HiVisibility +30%, and GE NightHawk +30% bulbs are now available in the US in almost all headlamp bulb types. Note that the "+__%" percentages refer to an increase in brightness of the beam around 50-75 meters in front of the vehicle.

 

[Rob Slade]

GE NightHawk +60% bulbs are now available in the US in almost all headlamp bulb types.

I'm still on the lookout for those GE Nighthawks. I heard they will be in Wal Mart, but none of the Wally's around here have them yet. Anywhere else they will be sold?

 

[Anime]

The official word on the GE site lists their automotive lighting products as being available at Wallyworld, Fred Meyer, and Ace Hardware stores. I have seen them at one Wal-Mart in town, but oddly enough, the other Wal-Mart stores in town don't have them yet. You might have to drive to another store to find one that carries them. They are a little pricey, especially compared to Sylvania XtraVisions, which are also at wallyworld. Now that they're available, the GE site lists them as +30% bulbs, though their Tungsram counterparts in Europe are +60%. If you do get them, be sure to post your impressions.

 

[Rob Slade]

Well, I won't be getting them (I have HID's) but I might get a set for my GF. They will be an H4 version though. I'll let her ride be the guinea pig...hehehe

 

[Rob Slade]

I finally saw the NightHawk bulbs tonight in Wal-Mart. They had a pretty good price on them ($27.00 for the pair). The Silverstars were about $10 more. They are a clear bulb with no special look to them. Like everyone said, they say they put out about 30% more light. There was no information on the box about how many lumens they put out however. I emailed GE to find out the exact specs.

One thing I did note was the quality of the 9007 bulbs (the ones that most Explorer owners use) didn't really look up to par. If you look on most headlight bulbs, they have a "cap" coated on them. On the 9007, the cap looked to cover way too much of the bulb and the line around the edge was really uneven. I looked at a Silverstar and the cap covered much less of the bulb and it was dead straight around the bulb. The NightHawk looked really uneven as I rotated it around.

Other than that all the others look just like any other bulb.

Until the Lumen numbers come out, I would imagine the Sylvania Xtravision (+30%) might be of higher quality. They are also cheaper.

Sorry for the length, just thought I would share.

 

[Rob Slade]

Here's an email that was sent to me by GE about the nighthawk bulbs. All it tells me is bulb life and burn temperature (in Kelvin). Doesn't tell me Lumen output however. I'm still trying to get that from them.

"Thank you for visiting the GE Lighting Web Site and your interest
in GE products. I will be happy to assist you.

I hope the following information on our new Nighthawk bulbs will
be helpful:

* Average standard headlamp Kelvin = 3123.
* Average Nighthawk Kelvin = 3234.
* Average standard headlamp life = 416hrs.
*Average Nighthawk life = 402hrs.

Should you have additional questions, please feel free to contact
us anytime.

Thank you for visiting GELighting.com."

 

[Bill Kemp]

Just as a reference the PIAA Superwhite/Starwhite bulbs a 3800 Kelvin and I think the Silvertars/9007s are somewhere real close to PIAA.
Even though I know there is supposed to be more light from the Osran Sikverstars I think I can see better with the PIAAs. We have a Honda Civic which uses H4 bulbs and have/am trying out both kinds now.

 

[Anime]

Like I said, the Nighthawks are pricey compared to the XtraVisions. The specs GE sent don't tell much other than the Nighthawks actually have a shorter lifespan than regular halogen bulbs. The "kelvin" or "light temperature" garbage is just a selling gimmick to appeal to the same crowd who likes "superwhite" and "HID" bulbs.

Sylvania's H4 offerings are actually the Osram parts made in Germany. The 9003/H4 XtraVision is the Osram Super +30%.

I found the price of the H4 Nighthawks (and the Sylvania silverstars, too) to be amusing, since you can get H4 Osram Silverstar +50%'s delivered to your door direct from Europe for the same price.

Advance Auto Parts is having a "Buy one, get one 50% off" sale on Sylvania headlamp bulbs, and Sylvania is currently having a "$4 off" mail-in rebate promotion, so if you purchase a set of the XtraVisions at Advance, you can get them for around $11 after discount and rebate. Not bad for a bulb that gives better visibility and lasts longer.

 

[Rob Slade]

Please tell me where you can get the European Osram Silverstars for $27 A PAIR delivered to your door!!!! There is no way (or at least none I've seen).

The nighthawks are $27.00 a pair at Wal-Mart. The American Silverstars are $37.00 at Wal-Mart.

 

[xlt-sport]

Please tell me where you can get the European Osram Silverstars for $27 A PAIR delivered to your door!!!! There is no way (or at least none I've seen).

this is pretty close...http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/e...&category=36476&item=7935988184&rd=1&tc=photo

peter

 

[Anime]

Those are actually H1 bulbs on the link, but eBay is a source for some imported bulbs, the only downside is the additional shipping cost.

You can get H4 Osram Silverstars +50%'s at powerbulbs.com at the current exchange rate price of US$27.95 for a pair and shipping is free.

Autolamps-online.com also has the H4 GE Megalight +60% for $27.99 a pair, and is having a "buy one pair, get a second pair at 50% off" promotion. Shipping is free.

For $11 though, the Sylvania XtraVisions might be the best choice for a replacement bulb for most US DOT-spec headlamps, both in price and performance.

 

[xlt-sport]

anime4x4

where are you going to get the xtra-vision for 11.00 pair?

the OSRAM silverstars are +50%. xtra-vision is +30%

ebay and pay pal charge pretty healthy fees.

 

[Anime]

Advance Auto Parts is having a "Buy one, get one 50% off" sale on Sylvania headlamp bulbs, and Sylvania is currently having a "$4 off" mail-in rebate promotion, so if you purchase a set of the XtraVisions at Advance, you can get them for around $11 after discount and rebate.

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