Head Lite Mods

[sailsmen]

I have looked at the posts on head lite mods. Several have Silver Stars.

I am near sighted so nite vision is poor and urban area looking for better low beam performance.

Anyone have a bulb replacement they like or any they have had problems with? Do you retain the Ford Lite Bulb Cone Reflector over the Bulb?
:cool:

[martyo]

Sails: I did the SilverStars and they improve both low and hi-beam performance. I think the general consensus is that the SilverStars are the best headlight mod you are going to come up with price/performance/difficulty wise.

[RF Overlord]

^^^what marty said^^^

The Sylvania SilverStars are about $20/ea @ AutoZone, and the installation is fairly simple, needing only ordinary hand tools, but a word of caution: save yourself some grief and READ THE OWNER'S MANUAL section on how to replace the bulbs FIRST...

[russ in VA]

A while back there was a thread on headlights (go here to see the thread -->> http://www.mercurymarauder.net/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1212 ) and several people recommened a guy who sells headlight stuff who is supposed to be a real headlight guru. His name is Dan Stern. I emailed Dan and asked his opinion. He said "Bulbs: Pick up a set of Sylvania Xtravision bulbs (in the pink package --do not pick the Cool Blue or Silverstar items!)." I'm not sure why he favors the Xtravision. I know they are about half the price of the Silverstars. Anyone have any info comparing the two?

[RF Overlord]

russ:

I have e-mailed Sylvania asking for a comparison of the SilverStar and the XtraVision bulbs...and which they recommend for the Marauder, and why. I have the SilverStars and am happy with them...they are brighter and whiter than the stock bulbs, but I'm not familiar with the XtraVision line...

BTW, Sylvania is having a sale on the SilverStars...buy one pair, get the second pair @ ½ price...

[WolfeBros]

I installed the extravision bulbs first. IMHO if they are not the same as stock they are damn close. No improvement that I could tell. I then put in the Silverstars and am very satisfied with light output, pattern and color temperature. Do the Silverstars.

[martyo]

This from the Sylvania Website: http://www.sylvania.com/auto/carapp/

Sylvania Xtravisions:

Three times brighter! Twice the life!
Halogen XtraVision® headlights provide three times more illumination in the critical foreground area than standard halogen lamps in low-beam mode. Light is more uniformly bright throughout the entire beam pattern, making both the roadway and shoulder easier to see.
Halogen XtraVision headlights last twice as long a standard halogens. With normal use you can expect outstanding performance for years down the road.

Sylvania Silverstars:

Your ride makes a statement. SilverStar pumps up the volume. SYLVANIA's SilverStar is the brightest, 100% street legal halogen on the road- burning cleaner and crisper, with a white-hot intensity that will set you and your machine apart. SilverStar is the only halogen that captures the high performance look of HID, changing your view of the night.

SilverStar's color temperature is a white hot 4,000K, which is higher than other halogens on the road and comparable to High Intensity Discharge headlights.

SilverStar shines with greater luminance than other halogens.

SilverStar meets all US and Canadian requirements (FMVSS 108 and CMVSS 108), and standards for visibility, color, and safety.


Now, who can tell me what this means in terms of what is better?

The all knowing "guy at the store" (Pep Boys), told me to go with the SilverStars, so I did. They are much better than the stock headlamps. I am satisfied with them and think you will be too.

[RF Overlord]

OK, here is Sylvania's response to my e-mail:

Thank you for your inquiry. The Silverstar are our premium performance brand lights. Although a fine product on their own, the XtraVision will not give you the crisp, intense white light that you get from the Silverstar. The XtraVision, however, have been designed to put more usable light into the foreground but emit the standard, yellowish colored light as opposed to the intense white light.

I can understand why Mr. Dan Stern said not to get the Cool Blue, but why not the SilverStars? :confused:

[Billatpro]

Originally posted by RF Overlord
russ:

I have e-mailed Sylvania asking for a comparison of the SilverStar and the XtraVision bulbs...and which they recommend for the Marauder, and why. I have the SilverStars and am happy with them...they are brighter and whiter than the stock bulbs, but I'm not familiar with the XtraVision line...

BTW, Sylvania is having a sale on the SilverStars...buy one pair, get the second pair @ ½ price...

Is this an instore deal or a mail in rebate?

[RCSignals]

Originally posted by RF Overlord
OK, here is Sylvania's response to my e-mail:

Thank you for your inquiry. The Silverstar are our premium performance brand lights. Although a fine product on their own, the XtraVision will not give you the crisp, intense white light that you get from the Silverstar. The XtraVision, however, have been designed to put more usable light into the foreground but emit the standard, yellowish colored light as opposed to the intense white light.

I can understand why Mr. Dan Stern said not to get the Cool Blue, but why not the SilverStars? :confused:

Other people I know have found the Xtravisions to be the same as or only very slightly better than stock bulbs.

The Silverstars seem to be the way to go.

Dan Stern also advocates rewiring your head lights all together, adding relays, etc. He sells kits to do it.
I really don't think that should be a necessity.

[martyo]

Originally posted by RCSignals
Dan Stern also advocates rewiring your head lights all together, adding relays, etc. He sells kits to do it.
I really don't think that should be a necessity.

In the words of TAF: "What fer?"

[sailsmen]

Thanks for all the 411. This site and the participation add so much to owning the MM.:) :) :)

[russ in VA]

I've done the rewiring trick before on other cars. Using the stock (relatively small guage) wiring only to trigger your new relays, and running large guage (12?) from the alternator or battery directly to the relay and then to the headlights (keeping the length as short as possible) you accomplish two things: 1) minimize voltage drop putting around 14 volts to the headlights (according to Jacobs Ignition, this alone will increase the light output by 42%), 2) prepares you for running higher wattage bulbs without the risk of frying your stock wiring.
Standard headlights are 55w low/ 60 (or 65?)w high ... my Miata with the headlights rewired has 80w low and 130 w high. Combined with a 14 volt power supply they really put out some light! I have them adjusted so the low beams do not dazzle oncoming traffic (since the roofline of the car is below most cars's hoodlines keeping the lights out of everyone else's eyes is not too much of a problem) but needless to say you dont want to "bright" me when coming at me at night ;)

[RF Overlord]

Originally posted by russ in VA
you accomplish two things: 1) minimize voltage drop putting around 14 volts to the headlights (according to Jacobs Ignition, this alone will increase the light output by 42%)

Just want to add my $0.02 here...yes, increasing the voltage to the bulbs WILL increase the brightness, but it will also RADICALLY DECREASE bulb life. I'll try and find the supporting info, but basically, it's not a linear relationship; in other words, raising the voltage 10% reduces the bulb life by much more than that. Traffic-light bulbs, tower lights, and long-service bulbs (bulbs for hard-to-reach areas) are all rated for more like 130 volts, so that when run on the standard 120 V, they will last a lot longer.

[russ in VA]

RF, while I know your right (I run a dimmer switch at about 50% on the outside lights in the yard that my wife insists on leaving turned on ALL the time so I don't have to change the darn bulbs so often; IT WORKS!), I have not had a bulb life issue with the Miata. I replaced one bulb after perhaps two years. That's it. Much easier than dealing with fried wiring from high watt bulbs and I'd take the trade off of bulb life for increased light output!

[RF Overlord]

russ:

Cool!...maybe RADICALLY decrease was too strong a word, and most automotive bulbs are designed for rough service and longer life anyway, so the small increase in voltage with the larger wiring may not have as profound an effect on bulb life.

You are certainly correct that installing higher-wattage bulbs will require the larger wiring and relay mod...

:D

[hd2805]

Could someone share the part # for the silverstars, I have PIAA Super white bulbs and they do nothing for me since installing..

Thanks in advance...
Ed

[sailsmen]

S/B 9007, check chart in owners manual.

[RF Overlord]

Originally posted by hd2805
Could someone share the part # for the silverstars,


Ed: Sylvania's P/N is 9007ST. If there's an AutoZone near you, they carry them..so does Benny's.

Go to Sylvania's web site and there is a $10 rebate coupon to print out and send in:

http://www.sylvania.com/auto/silverstar.htm

[hd2805]

Thanks, do appreciate it!! Will pick em up today...

[MarillaMarauder]

Thanks for the info.. I love this site. Just finished putting in the SilverStars. More involved than usual but thanks for the tip on READING the manual first. ( Lost a lousy lower screw though ) Oh well , I always seem to have parts left over after I take something apart. I wonder why I hear a rattle coming from under the hood now? :)

[Sidney]

Did any one break the wiring harness clip installing?

[LincMercLover]

No... but if you do, just silicone it back in. It's what the dealership will do if they break one and you don't notice it.

[MarillaMarauder]

Originally posted by Sidney
Did any one break the wiring harness clip installing?

Yep, good thing there are 2. One seems to hold just fine.

[RF Overlord]

^^^what Tom K. said^^^

[2003_MM_FYRE49]

I went to Auto Zone today and asked them about the Sylvania Silverstars. They told me that they didn't carry them. If anyone in the Chicago area has them, let me know where you picked them up.

Thanks,

Tim

[hd2805]

FYI took out my PIAA's yesterday and installed the Silverstars, worth the $40.00, a huge differance, thru the PIAA's in the wife's Jeep (she probably won't even notice)

[WolfeBros]

^^^Another satisified customer here at Marauder.net :up:

[V10_P70]

We are trying these lights on our V10 car. Does it seem like the light assemblies collect moisture? Seems like a constant replacement item. Even had problem on new cars that we purchased.