No need to threadcrap.
I gave the stats on my car, that I changed the bulbs at 25k miles.
If the OEM bulbs only "lasts" 25k miles before getting this dim, then it seems like the tradeoff of being "long lasting" isn't cutting it either.

I do not have proof for you that getting new (cheaper) OEM bulbs would not also provide the same effect; only my personal memory that the Philips bulbs made the car lights the brightest that I ever remember(again to my memory). Even getting the car new, I always had the nag that these lights weren't very bright. With the new bulbs, for once I felt that the light output was sufficient. Whether this lasts only 10hours or 100hours or 1000hours remains to be seen. But at least for hours 0-10 so far they are good.

If you are always in a city with streetlights, even the dimmed OEMs are good enough. But for me, regularly I drive this car to tahoe, and the mountain roads are considerably dark at night, and I wasn't happy with the lighting even the first year I had this car (0-7k miles). Enough was enough, and reading this thread prompted me to do some research, switch the bulbs even though they were mechanically OK.

So for the Original question on what halogen bulb is the best standard halogen bulb if you are going to replace them anyway, I would recommend the Philips xtreme vision. (and not spinning into a tangent about modding to HID). So do the moderators and some threads over at CPF.

Do whatever you want, but you should personally try these bulbs so you can report from your own first-hand experience with a specific bulb, rather than just Theorycrafting on it based on hearsay, theories or stuff you read on the internet. Mythbusters always keeps an open mind and tries stuff out, so should you.

 

*shrug* I thought the OEM lights left something to be desired as soon as I drove it off the lot. Whether or not my new bulbs are "brighter" the beam is more concentrated and raising the lights a little bit in combination with that and the whiter light made it MUCH better.

 

after almost 3 yrs xtreme power gave up the ghost... xtreme vision is coming my way.

 

If one of your XP bulbs is still working, maybe you can take the side/side pictures to satisfy the curious among us.

 

that would have been a good idea if both bulbs are both new, bulbs dim out over time.

 

I use Bosch halogen lamps for about 5 years and they are working good. My favorite brand is Bosch Halogen Lamps.

 

PIAA's worked great for me before I did a retrofit.

 

I just put my 8000k bulbs in with 55w ballast... maybe, just maybe a slight tint of blue, but honestly I don't see it, and definitely not purple.. from what I was reading online and youtubing, if I had bought a 35w ballast, then I would get that blueish tint, but with the 55w ballast, like I said, I don't see it.... il upload pics later