SO many choices...

[Diablo3305]

Ok, this post is mainly for Matt, but anyone else who has an idea can join in. I was looking on ebay, and I saw those Piaa 912 stealth lights. They are superwhite driving lights. I am curious if anyone here has them. I want to get lights to go on the sides of my license plate, in that opening. I was looking into the 1400's, but those stealth ones like really nice. Is there a big difference in brightness. What do you guys think, 912's, or 1400's, or any of the other ones? Id love to see what some of your opinions are....

 

[mattadams]

the 912's are mainly for looks. They aren't terribly bright (in fact you may find they are quite a bit less bright then many of there other lights). If you like the style but want more light, look at the 910's. They are the same dimensions, but don't have the mirror look to them. The 1400's are nice, Rick has them as his reverse lights, I'm thinking of getting some for my F-150.

 

[Diablo3305]

Hey matt? what about the xtreme white piaa's. How are they, compared to the other lights?

 

[mattadams]

can't tell you, I don't have any experience with them. I didn't even know they existed until about a week ago.

 

[Bill Kemp]

The PIAA 1400 is a fog type light that puts out about 15,000 candlepower.
The 912 puts out 48,000 CP in a driving light beam.
The 1500 is 72,000 CP also driving light.
The 910 is 105,000 CP also driving The 1400 and 1500 will fit best in the bumper slot but I think the others will also. Havent tried them yet.
I have the 910 on my Cad. and they do through a beam down the road. Very impressive...

Oh ya...The solitare type new piaas are only 35 watt bulbs. Cant be too much of a light....

 

[Diablo3305]

so the 912's put out more light than the 1400? See my plan is this, Im getting brush guards over the summer, so I will get the 520's then. I want to replace my stock fogs with the 1500's. I wanted to get two to put on either side of the license plate, in the bumper. Maybe driving lights, but i want something that puts out a decent amount of light, so that I will at least notice it. I have the Piaa super white headlights. You said you have the 910's, you like those alot? I love the way the 912's look, too bad they didn't put out more light....

 

[Stephen S]

Bill, do you know for sure if the 910s will fit beside the license plate in the front bumper slot of a 95?? I want to know they'll fit there before I drop $230 for them. I'm mainly concerned with their 4 inch height. What do you think?

 

[Bill Kemp]

Yes they will fit. I now have PIAA 959 fog lights in the very location. I used a right angle "corner bracket" to attache the lights to the holes already in the bumper. On mine there was a piece of the frame the stuck out which I cut off w/a sazall so the light would sit straight. It was necessary w/959 because of the projector beam. I dont think it would matter with the 910 driving beam.
Go for it....

 

[Stephen S]

Well, in my front bumper, there are already two holes, i suppose for drainage, drilled into the bottom of the opening next to the licence plate. What I would like to do is enlarge those holes enough to fit the mounting stud of the 910s in and just mount them there.

I don't think I understand what you did with your corner bracket or why it was needed to mount the lights. Is what I am thinking about possible? Do you think it would work? Thanks.

I am debating between the 910s and the 1500XTs. Do you know if the mounting bracket of the 1500 will fit in the lip of the bumper nicely? I'm afraid that the mounting bracket might be too wide for the lights to be aimed (left/right) properly. With the single stud on the 910s, this would not be a problem. Any advice?

 

[Bill Kemp]

There isnt enough room to mount the 910 lights directly to the bumper. There is a hole in the back of the upper lip of the bumper. To that you bolt a flat right angle bracket and to the bracket you bolt the 910 lights.
You will need a hacksaw and a drill and a nut & bolt.
Drill and bolt the light to the bracket--hold the light & bracket up to the hole and see where to drill the hole, in the bracket, to mount to the bumper .
You can cut off the excess from the bracket so it doesnt stick up behind the bumper.
I cant post pics but there is a link to some in the Elite X area.
You wont be sorry doing a little extra work to get the 910s instead of the 1500s. The 1500s are very good but the 910 are much better.

 

[Stephen S]

Bill, thank's for the information. I'll check the elite Explorer threads and look for a picture. If I understand correctly, you have them mounted hanging down, correct?? It seems to matter which way you mount the 959s and 910s for ventilation purposes.

I still have concerns about the 910s though. I know that they are a great light but I'm worried that I'll never be able to use them. I drive on plenty of long dark roads where I would be able to use them, but there is frequently oncoming traffic. I want to be a courteous driver, but I'd also like to be able to see better. Do you think the 910s, maybe aimed down a little, will still be too offensive to other drivers??

 

[Bill Kemp]

Ya, they would be too bright but so would the1500s.
And yes they do have to be mounted hanging down to fit.
The 1400s you could leave on all the time.

 

[Stephen S]

I guess that settles it, I just might not spend the money on the 910s or the 1500s and not be able to use them. I see that the 1400s only come in a fog light. Available in clear which is good, but only fogs. I was really looking for a light that I would be able to see a good ways with, not just in front of the vehicle. How well do your 959's (or the 1400s) do at throwing light down the road??

 

[Bill Kemp]

The 959, 1400, any fog light is not going to through much light down the road. They concentrate the light in front of and to the side of the veh.

 

[Diablo3305]

Does anyone have the super white solitair lights? if so, how bright are they, and will they fit in the bumper opening beside the license plate?

 

[Stephen S]

Bill, thanks alot for all your helpful information, I've decided on the 1500 clear driving lights and I'll just use them whenever I can. Now I just have to figure out a way to get them mouted in the bumper slot.

Diablo, I'm pretty sure that the Solitaires will fit in the bumper slot. They look small enough. I know that Darkfox1 has a set of Solitaires on his grill guard. You may want to search for him or drop him an email to get his opinion on them. They are only a 35 watt lamp, so I wouldn't expect them to be as brihght as some of PIAAs other lamps.

 

[Frshpwdr2k]

Stay away from the PIAA 912s with mirror look

Hey,
My buddy has a set of the PIAA 912s and they would be a great light, if it werent for the mirror coating. The amount of light emmitted by the light is HORRIBLE. What a waste of money unless u are going for asthetics. Just my 2 cents, LAter
Bro

 

[Diablo3305]

Hey matt, how do the Piaa 520 driving lights compare to the fogs, are they as bright, or is it just the beam pattern that is different? I just bought a pair on ebay for like $100. They are used, but in good condition, so I figured since im low on cash i would go for them. Let me know what you think.. Thanks

 

[mattadams]

Broderick, I already mentioned that the 912's aren't designed for lots of light... they are designed for looks. If you want lots of light, get the 910's, which ahve the same exact dimensions but are much much brighter.

As for 520's, its not a matter of which is brighter, rather which is brighter WHERE. The fog lights have the beam pattern close to the vehicle for fog, etc. The driving lights project the light farther ahead of you for more light down the road. They use the same housing s and same bulbs though, only the lenses are different.

 

[Diablo3305]

I heard once that fog lights are better mounted lower, is this true? Hmm, is it possible to buy a fog light lens to convert them to fogs?