Silverstar vs. PIAA vs. Nokya

[Hartman]

The BMWs have what's called "angel eyes." If you had the right headlight lenses, you can make some. There's a tutorial somewhere around the internet but you can't do it on an Explorer because it doesn't have projector headlights.

 

[mattadams]

I had the PIAA's in my 94 Explorer and my 00 F-150 until I put in HID's, I loved em. Never did tried the sylvania silverstar, but now that I've had HID's I think everything would look horribly crappy, LOL. (my HID's are Sylvanias btw, if that helps at all)

 

[91'Ranger]

Silverstars - Can I use my factory wiring harness with these or will the bulbs melt it?

 

[Alec]

If you get the stock wattage 55/65 bulbs you'll have no problems using the stock wiring.

 

[aldive]

Originally posted by 91'Ranger
Silverstars - Can I use my factory wiring harness with these or will the bulbs melt it?

Yes you can, however, the use of a HD harness will really unleash those bulbs.

 

[Hokie]

Originally posted by aldive
Yes you can, however, the use of a HD harness will really unleash those bulbs.

Al, did you buy the HD harness? If so, where did you get it? And did you upgrade just the wiring or the relays and stuff like that too (which I doubt is necissary)

 

[edlmann]

Originally posted by HokieBert
Al, did you buy the HD harness? If so, where did you get it? And did you upgrade just the wiring or the relays and stuff like that too (which I doubt is necissary)

To upgrade the harness means to tap power from the battery, then use relays to switch power on and off. Nothing is gained by hooking heavier wire onto the end of Ford's inadequate existing wiring. There are commercial harnesses available, but I'm in the excruciatingly slow process of building one. I just got heavy duty male & female 9004/9007 sockets, the females prewired with #12 wire. Ford's wiring is no bigger than #16 and may be smaller.

Here is some reading on this:

http://lighting.mbz.org/tech/relays/relays.html

He also sells the sockets I mentioned. They are much better looking than the ones I got as Discount AUto Parts, and the attached wire is clearly heavier.

 

[aldive]

Originally posted by HokieBert
Al, did you buy the HD harness? If so, where did you get it? And did you upgrade just the wiring or the relays and stuff like that too (which I doubt is necissary)

Yes, I purchased the HD jarness, the install is detailed at http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=67524&highlight=headlight+harness

I am extremely happy with it.

 

[aldive]

This is the harness that I used....

 

[ksaldibar]

if money is not an factor, which should I get... silverstars or piaa extremewhite plus...

-kenny

 

[Bill Kemp]

IMO the PIAAs that have a higher K color than the superwhites have too much blue in them to see very good in rainy conditions. 3800K PIAA seem just right to me. I tried some 3900 Krypton and they seem too blue. So I dont think these mfgs. really know what the color is on some of them.

 

[ksaldibar]

i went with the silverstars because i wanted them and they were there, lol. however i ran into a problem. i got the 9005's to fit the wiring harness for my fogs on my '99 eddie bauer, but the bulbs won't fit in the housing. they're too wide. so i cane eaither return the unopened 9005 and get 25 back and eat the 25 of the opened package, sell them (never used) to anyone that wants them, or is it possible to make the opening wider so the bulbs can fit..... thanks for your help.

-kenny