Xenon, Blue, Superwhite...super HELP!!!

[Tim K]

I posted a thread here about adding some aux. lighting, but I think I will replace my standard Sylvania 9007 bulbs before I try to install any driving lights. I figure if I can get better lighting from my headlights I won't need any aux. lights. First of all, what wattage are the factory bulbs? I have seen choices from [45w low / 65w high] to [90w low / 100w high]

I would LOVE to get some superwhite lights, and I have seen the PIAA group buy for $60/pair, and I have seen some other "superwhites" at a performance shop near me for $40/pair. There are also tons of "Diamond Blue" and "Super White Bulbs" on sites like JC Whitney for around $28/pair.

How can I tell if they are any good? What is the difference? Has anyone had any luck with a lower priced "Superwhite" bulb???

I am not ready to fork over $60 for bulbs, but if I could see marked improvement from some $30 bulbs I would be willing to buy. Pleaase help!!!

 

[DarkFox1]

try www.streetglow.com for their xenon HID lights, I don't think they are that expensive, lemme know how they turn out, to be honest, I am about ready to fork over $60 a set for piaa superwhite headlights and factory foglights

 

[Anime]

PIAA

I'm not sure of the actual chemical or scientific stuff for how it works, but I do know most of the low-end lighting (especially the blue/white bulbs) you see at auto stores and even wallyworld are designed more towards how the light beam LOOKS to other people, and not really towards brighter, better lighting. Check out some of the rides on the highway and you'll see what I mean....theres bulbs that are just BLUE with no white to them at all...looks different but all it does is look blue...if anything it hurts the lighting performance cuz the blue light is so dull..something about the quality of Xenon gas or how its used.
I say if you want a whiter, brighter light, thats also gonna last...just hop in on the next group deal and drop the $60 for PIAA...the "superwhites" have that "blue/white" look that everyone thinks is so cool, but the "blue" is a tinge on the edges cuz of the Xenon gas...you can see it when looking AT the lights, but the only time you'll see blue from the drivers seat is when the very edge of your beams hits a white object or at least a light colored one.

You could try the cheaper ones, but the general opinion is you get what you pay for, plus I've yet to hear anybody rave about how good their cheap blue/white bulbs are except RuDawg, or how long theyve lasted with no problems.

[Edited by Anime4x4 on 12-22-2000 at 11:24 AM]

 

[Ru Dawg]

I have a set of 9007's in my truck that are Xenon superwhites. I got the off e-bay for like $17.95. They are GRREAATT!!! I even bought a pair for my father-in-laws 2k F-150 and he loves them just as much. Let me know if you are interested and I'll dig up the guy's auction off e-bay for you. He's a cool guy and he has all types of Xenon's on e-bay all the time.

My lights are twice as bright as stock and are a VERY clear white with a TINY hint of light blue. They draw just as much power as stock so you don't have to worry about burning up wires/harnesses.

Ok...I went and found it anyway just to make it easier!
Try Dead Link Removed
This guy answered my questions very quickly and I had my bulbs 2 days after payment was received.

BTW...Anime...I'm now raving about how great my <$20 bulbs perform and I've had them 6 months so far with no trouble at all!!!

[Edited by Ru Dawg on 12-22-2000 at 10:24 AM]

 

[Tim K]

Thanks Dave

I will check out the auction...

Does anyone know any Brands of Superwhites that ARE STREET LEGAL??? PIAA seems to be the only ones I have come across.

 

[Ru Dawg]

no prob tim

I wouldn't really worry about being street legal if you go with any superwhite because they look a lot like the HID's you see on new cars and trucks, so I don't think there's any need to worry. I'd also check with local laws and see if they are legal or not. I pass cops all the time with mine and have yet to get pulled...*knocking on wood*

 

[DarkFox1]

i'm considering getting some piaa superwhites for my headlights and factoyr fogs also, I don't think thered be a problem about being legal, like ru dawg said, they look so similar to HIDs.. there should be no problem

 

[<<MONOCHROMOUS>>]

ill have to be a bragger on those "cheap bulbs" i paid $36 for my Hiper Purple Plazma Xenon. they are Xenons, but you can buy different tints, like blue, purple, green, i got purple b/c it was more of a darker blue like i wanted. you can tell the difference at night, you can see how white/bluish they are on the street and the backs of other cars. i can use my factory fogs any more b/c they look so yellow now! and these bulbs are much higher wattages than stock, ill have to check and let you know for sure. of course when the road is wet, i cant see anything, thats when i use the Hellas

 

[DarkFox1]

hey monochromous, heh, this is about something you said on anothre post but um, how did oy uget the bulbs in your doors out? are they 194Bs? I coulnd't get mine out when I tried...

 

[<<MONOCHROMOUS>>]

the bulbs on the mirrors?

 

[DarkFox1]

nono, in the front doors, theres a clear one and a red reflector right above it

 

[<<MONOCHROMOUS>>]

um, im not sure if i have those, ill have to check, if i do i missed them but i didnt do anything to my bulbs to make them blue, i tried marker and then paint on the bulbs, but they burned off. i used blue stained glass paint from a craft store to paint all the lenses on the lights blue. it worked out really well actually!

 

[DarkFox1]

hrmm, interesting.. well I don't think my parents would like that very much "why in the world are these lights BLUE?" and I don't think Ima do anything that drastic.. I mean, what do you do when you want to go back to stock? so.. the floor neon is about as far as I'm going on that.. I'm looking at puting a tube on the ceiling, if I can get it to stay up there!

 

[<<MONOCHROMOUS>>]

paint thinner takes it off, i tested it, or you could go to a junkyard or something and buy them for cheap.

 

[Dan E.]

Originally posted by DarkFox1
try www.streetglow.com for their xenon HID lights, I don't think they are that expensive, lemme know how they turn out, to be honest, I am about ready to fork over $60 a set for piaa superwhite headlights and factory foglights

Wait a second, HIDs for $60? I thought they were $600. Are these really HIDs like the ones of BMW and Mercedes?

 

[<<MONOCHROMOUS>>]

just checked the wattage on my cheap hiper xenon bulbs 130/100 if anyone cares...

 

[DarkFox1]

heh, they resemble HIDs.. I don't really think they are actual HIDs.. not for that price..

now that I've gotten some stuff out of the way, I've got a grille guard down at a local parts store.. just gotta get it installed..

the Piaa superwhite bulbs I've been told will run about $30.. I'm considering getting some for my headlighst and factory fogs, but I just don't know yet...

 

[<<MONOCHROMOUS>>]

let me know how much those ones for the factory fogs are, ive been trying to find them all over the place! just installed my Pioneer speakers! WHOOPIE. merry xmas everyone

 

[mattadams]

Originally posted by DarkFox1
heh, they resemble HIDs.. I don't really think they are actual HIDs.. not for that price..

now that I've gotten some stuff out of the way, I've got a grille guard down at a local parts store.. just gotta get it installed..

the Piaa superwhite bulbs I've been told will run about $30.. I'm considering getting some for my headlighst and factory fogs, but I just don't know yet...

The PIAA superwhites will be quite a bit more... the headlight replacements will range from $60 (if you take part in the next PIAA group purchase) or up to about $90 (if you buy it at a retailer). As for HID's for $30, sorry there just regular bulbs dipped in blue. If you ever find an HID light that uses more then about 60 watts, then it's lying. The PIAA HID unit runs 35 watts and produces 650,000 candlepower (for a comparison, the PIAA 80 XT's which are halogen are 120 watts and produce 385,000 candlepower). The HID units you see in Mercedes, BMW's, Audi's, etc. run as low as 20 watts, and as high as 40 watts. The PIAA HID unit will run you about $1800, I know KC has one out for about $1750, and hte cheapest I've ever seen is Eagle Eye which was about $700. That's for lamps. Also Troll has the HID replacement bulbs which run about $600... not sure of the quality though, I've never seen them myself and I'm quite certain you'd be limited by the crummy headlight reflector...

 

[Mikes95XLT]

did it when i bought mine

Originally posted by DarkFox1
hey monochromous, heh, this is about something you said on anothre post but um, how did oy uget the bulbs in your doors out? are they 194Bs? I coulnd't get mine out when I tried...

I replaced my bulbs when I bought my 95 XLT. Both were burned out, and I hate when bulbs are burned out. If you look really close by the lens, on the curved side there should be a little indentation where you could fit a very small flat-head screwdriver tip and pop the lens off. Then it's just taking out the bulbs and replacing them.