I used to only use PIAA, well ahead of their game but in today's standard... they are too expensive, too overrated and with all the knockoffs floating around... you wouldn't even know if you got the real deal.

and to OP... don't buy bulbs that are blue/blue tinted bulb.

 

According to Sylvania's spec sheet the light output is the same for all their bulbs. It's regulated by the DOT. The only difference is color and price. Philips and GE aren't so forthcoming with their specs but I bet they're identical.

Looks like the cheapest 9003 bulb is the best in terms of light and life.

 

Interesting, this consumer reports article does say that they observed 19% brighter (wonder what measurement they used here), so it's not 0% (as the spec claims) and not 100% (as the marketing material claims) so there is some middle ground there. Also no substantial difference between premium bulbs, nor ability to see further.
Although I wouldn't use CR for a car review where personal preference comes into play, they are usually OK for reviewing mundane things like this.
Do high-priced halogen headlight bulbs shine brighter? - Yahoo! Autos

 

19% is significant, but lumens are lumens, I doubt Sylvania would disparage their own products.

edit: and I didn't make up the output being regulated by the DOT, but I couldn't find a good source.

 

I have silver star in my Fit and IMO they don't seem to much brighter than oem. I put them in be cuz my wife has bad eye sight and night driving is really hard for her. Would switching over to a projector head light with a 6 or 8K hid be much better

 

Most users seem to agree that if you get a proper projector and a decent quality set of HIDs, you will have the best set-up. I personally am looking for the whitest possible light so I am most likely going to wait a year or more until an OEM bulb burns out then get 55W/5000k HIDs. 8000K gives you the blue light.

 

5000k would give you a slight blue light output, 8000k would give you a purple light output. Stay between 4000k-4500k if you want a white light.

 

depending on what brand you get, usually 6000k is the "whitest" with a very very slight hint of blue. though technically 4300k would be closest to daylight, hid kits tend to make em look a bit yellow close to regular halogens.

 

In that comparison, I agree the 6000k looks very white. In this comparison it's a little less clear

It's kinda crazy how people have opinions of pure white being from 4500K all the way to 6000K. Someone's wrong here lol.

 

The thing is, a 6000k bulb with a 35watt ballast vs 55watt ballast will not look the same color, the 55watt will wash out the color to look more like a 4500k color range. Most of the cheapie ebay HID (DDM as well) kits use the same bulb for 55 and 35 watt so color is never really true. Typically a 55watt specific kit is supposed to have a different gas mixture to cope with the higher wattage. My old 35watt 5000k kit looks like halogen 3800k range with 55watt ballast overdriving them.

 

What would you say the best solution is? Find a reputable maker, but a decently expensive kit, and go with 55W 6000k for purest white?

 

Yes, a 55watt HID with a 35watt 6000k based bulb will give you a very white light output. Albeit a 55watt HID isn't needed at all with this type of headlamp, a proper 35watt works just nicely. If you do run this make sure you aim these lower, the factory setting is way too high for HID and blinds too many oncoming drivers.

 

Less than a week ago I put a set of Sylvania Silverstar Ultra's in. I work swing shift so a lot of night time driving.

Have to admit? Pretty disappointed.

Guess I bought into the advertising "hype".

They are perhaps, maybe, perhaps just a "little" brighter than my 3 year old OEM's. But IMO the difference is not significant.

The "good" news is supposedly they only last about a year, so it really won't be too long before I can try a different brand.

 

So your basically saying that what was in the video comparison was incorrect? When he showed the 6000K at 35W it was incredibly blue. I realize he might have bought cheap set-ups but how could it affect the color temp in such an extreme way?

 

The best solution would be to retrofit projectors into your housing. If you are set into buying an expensive HID kit anyway, why not spend that money into getting something that will provide you looks and function without blinding oncoming traffic.

If you search around the forums, there are DIYs on how to retrofit.
These kits used to be almost $500, but now they made it affordable so people will do it right:

Bi-xenon Morimoto Mini Stage III Kit (D2S) - Complete Retrofit Kits from The Retrofit Source Inc
Bi-xenon Morimoto Mini Stage III Kit (H1) - Complete Retrofit Kits from The Retrofit Source Inc

 

I will bring this thread back on track and say I just swapped my bulbs to philips xtreme vision 9003 bulbs. This is also the bulb recommended over at candlepowerforums.com (The top of the line philips, without the gimmicky blue tinting).

Compared to the stock bulbs, yes they do improve visibility. Whether this was wear and tear on the old bulbs or what, it was significantly better. Oem bulbs were in for 25k miles 2009 car.

Fyi i also did adjust the headlight aim and raised the the aim a qtr turn on the bolt. I did this while the old bulbs were in; but the new bulbs still made the most difference.

 

Do you have pics of the Xtreme Vision? I really want to try this set when my Sylvania ZXE burns out. And how much was the pair?

 

Hey, heres the link from philips usa site:

http://www.usa.philips.com/c/car-lam...03xvs2/prd/en/

I bought via ebay from a us source with us branded item
http://item.mobileweb.ebay.com/viewi...d=121052723444

Although I think the part is the same as if you got the international H4 part. Just different packaging.

 

It's funny how nearly everyone says their new bulbs are brighter. Well, duh, if old bulbs dim over time then virtually any new bulb will be brighter. It stands to reason that it doesn't matter what you replace them with just that you replace them. The only way to really see if other brands are brighter is to install *one* in a brand new car and test. The rest seems to come down to color preference (to be annoying or not to be annoying) and whether you want them to last a long time or not.

 

Wow! And I paid $70 for my ZXE's. FML. Thanks for the link! And still looking forward to the pics with them on the Fit.