Learn Me: Replacement Headlights

Not the housings, but the bulbs.

The headlights on the P71 are dull and improperly aimed. I found some low priced housings and are crystal clear and they just came in. Next step is the actual bulbs.

The current bulbs are E36 M3ty and I can barely see in wet weather. I have midrange silverstars in the F150 and love how well they work even in foggy, water-logged housings. They work well in all weather.

I'm looking at OEM options and HID conversions and I'm not convinced of one or the other. We're talking a stockish color as well. No fancy blue or yellers.

Anyone have experience or suggestions in this area?

A good set of relays, silverstars and a proper aiming.

Done.

In reply to Stefan (Not Bruce):

I did not even consider relays as an option. Great idea.

Concur on the Silverstars. Don't bother with the Silverstar Ultras, however.

Yeah, always relays if you can. A lot of cars out there will start melting headlight switches if you increase bulb wattage.

On the recommendation of a couple people on here, I've been using Sylvania Xtravision bulbs in the fleet.

I put Phillips xtreme vision in my wife's ford escape for the same reasons. Phillips claims 100% brighter than standard bulbs. Don't know about that, but they are definetly a big improvement in the mid range as well as sides of the road illumination. They are the same wattage as stock, so a drop in install.

DO NOT even consider hid's in a reflector housing. Unless you have projectors you will have worse visibility than normal halogens not to mention blinding every person you pass with scattered light. I wish the brodozers in my area understood this...

chiodos wrote: DO NOT even consider hid's in a reflector housing. Unless you have projectors you will have worse visibility than normal halogens not to mention blinding every person you pass with scattered light. I wish the brodozers in my area understood this...

I suspect that the brodozers in you area (and everywhere else) already understand this. It just enhances their asshattery.

Silverstar Ultra has my vote. Pack of 2 and use the Advance Auto Parts online order discount/pickup to save $

M2Pilot wrote:

chiodos wrote: DO NOT even consider hid's in a reflector housing. Unless you have projectors you will have worse visibility than normal halogens not to mention blinding every person you pass with scattered light. I wish the brodozers in my area understood this...

I suspect that the brodozers in you area (and everywhere else) already understand this. It just enhances their asshattery.

Based on what I see around here, brodozer pilot comprehension of, well, anything seems pretty minimal. Apart from the 'Hey look at me. I'm cool!' thing.

In reply to M2Pilot:

It still blows my mind that although illegal, no cops do anything about it every.

chiodos wrote: In reply to M2Pilot: It still blows my mind that although illegal, no cops do anything about it every.

It would involve inspections, paperwork, and generally be a pain in the assignment.

Anyway, this thread solves my problem.

N Sperlo wrote:

chiodos wrote: In reply to M2Pilot: It still blows my mind that although illegal, no cops do anything about it every.

It would involve inspections, paperwork, and generally be a pain in the assignment. Anyway, this thread solves my problem.

It's actually a stupidly easy test, but that's neither here nor there. Cops don't give two E36 M3s about equipment violations.

1kris06 wrote:

N Sperlo wrote:

chiodos wrote: In reply to M2Pilot: It still blows my mind that although illegal, no cops do anything about it every.

It would involve inspections, paperwork, and generally be a pain in the assignment. Anyway, this thread solves my problem.

It's actually a stupidly easy test, but that's neither here nor there. Cops don't give two E36 M3s about equipment violations.

but they do give reasons to pull you and run your license

Dunno about the P71 in particular, but it's often less of a housing/bulb issue and more of a marginal when new, bad when old wiring problem. Check voltage at the bulb with the lights on.

On this subject, what about LED conversions? It looks like they come with some sort of heat sinks, do these things tend to melt?

I run Sylvania Xtravisions - cheaper than the Silverstars, and similar output (but without the "whiter" light).

WildScotsRacing wrote: Concur on the Silverstars. Don't bother with the Silverstar Ultras, however.

Agreed. After having a couple Ultra bulbs burn out in a ridiculously short time, I gave the regular Silverstars a try, and was pleased with the very comparable brightness and longer life, at a lower price.

Do not go with HIDs unless you have a projector lens type housing. The reason conversions blind people is because they are put in a stock reflector housing. If you look at most cars that have HID lights stock, the bulb is behind a projector lens. You need that lens to direct the lighting to where it needs to be.