9005 silverstars really do burn out fast

[Jason]

You guys weren't kidding, ive had mine for less than a year and i already have to replace one... what is the second least expensive option for a lighting upgrade that might last a little longer?

[bimmerd00d]

HID's :)

[cary]

You guys weren't kidding, ive had mine for less than a year and i already have to replace one... what is the second least expensive option for a lighting upgrade that might last a little longer?

HIR bulbs. 1875 lumen output for the 9012 (9006 replacement) compared to stock and silverstar 1000lumens. 2500 lumen output for the 9011 (9005 replacement) versus the 1700 lumens of the 9005. They are about $60 for a pair and available from Danielsternlighting.com or hirheadlights.com. FYI, I have used them in several apps and the low beam improvement is spetacular, the high beam is an upgrade but not as dramatic.

[632 Regal]

Cary, I have had 9005s in mine for almost 2 years, I used what everyone told me not to use and am really happy. I bought 4 sets of them because of the low life warning but guess what? I have 3 sets left to go. Want a set? AND not 60 bux...sheesh some people go to extremes.

[Scott C]

You guys weren't kidding, ive had mine for less than a year and i already have to replace one... what is the second least expensive option for a lighting upgrade that might last a little longer?

Mine lasted 13 months.... but I keep my low beams on at all times....
They were noticeably brighter than prior stock bulbs.

Scott

[mikemaster]

I've had phillips vision plus bulbs in my e39 for over 2 years now, no problems and they look great.

[Aaron Bakos]

My first set of 9005's popped after maybe 9 months, I wasn't very happy. At the same time, the lighting gains are excellent for the low beams. That's in part due to the 9005 vs 9006, but the light output on the Silverstars is excellent.

Next time around I'll consider checking out a pair of the HIR Bulbs, they sound promising.

[winfred]

i am probably about a year and a half into the el-cheepo 9005s i put in my 535s elipsoids, i just grabbed whatever new bulbs that was on the shelf at work when i did mine

[632 Regal]

xenon or something like that, got a whole box from the dispair of the life of them, carry an extra set in the glove box and if one blows out ill replace both at the same time. They are brighter than the regular xenon fakos and have so far run onn. Probably have to change them tomorrow now.

[winfred]

oh you know murphy too? ****er loves me


Probably have to change them tomorrow now.

[632 Regal]

oh you know murphy too? ****er loves me.

[Scott C]

.

You guys bring good humour to my hard day - keep it up;)
Scott

[DanQ]

Here's a comparison. They do say that the life of the SilverStars are shorter.



Headlight Comparison Chart (http://www.sylvania.com/ConsumerProducts/AutomotiveLighting/Products/ProductComparison/default.htm)

[DueyT]

Jeff, the US-spec cars don't have DRL's, do they? My 9005 last about 6 months at a time...Cdn-specs have DRLs. I don't mind...but I have been thinking about the HID conversion.

Cheers,
Duey

p.s. Winfred, you just get visits...Murphy is my neighbour!

[cary]

Cary, I have had 9005s in mine for almost 2 years, I used what everyone told me not to use and am really happy. I bought 4 sets of them because of the low life warning but guess what? I have 3 sets left to go. Want a set? AND not 60 bux...sheesh some people go to extremes.

There is nothing wrong with using the 9005's if you want to. I don't use them because they have a different size shank (20mm v. 22mm) and higher current draw (65w v. 55watt). That said, they are great low $ way to get more light. BTW, I did a side by side with the 9005 in the low beams and a 9012 HIR when I installed them and the 9012 HIR is brighter, but the 9005 is pretty darn close. If you really want to go nuts, do the same swap with 9011 HIR bulbs and have 2500lumen output on the low beams. For comparision an HID lamp puts out 2800-3200 lumens with a lower color rendering index.