Sylvania Silverstars or Xtra-vision for car lights?

[AlexGT]

I noticed that Target have both set of bulbs on clearance and was wondering which bulb gives off more light before I go and get a set. Anyone tried them both and want to share?

AlexGT

 

[unclearty]

X-Travision..by far. I had Silverstars..they were great..for about 10 months. One died on a Friday evening..the other the next night. Both headlights burned out 1 day apart..only 10 1/2 months old! Fortunatly, I kept the factory bulbs and just popped them in. I called Sylvania on Monday and tols them my story. The customer rep told me very matter-of-factly that YES...Silverstars are only good for 9 to 12 months!!!!!
I bought a set of X-Travisions..they are almost as bright, but they have been in my car for almost 2 years now.

 

[NoMoShocks]

dito on SilverStar short lifespan. I used mine during the day aslo, and they both died within one week of each other in just about three months. Sylvania did send me another set, but they were quick to tell me they were not intended for use as DRL, and I could not expect them to last. Ended up selling the car before I could burn through the second set.

 

[craig333]

Don't waste your money. Its a marginal upgrade if any. I tend to think any improvement is just wishful thinking.

 

[FlashKat]

I had the same results with the Silver Stars, but mine lasted 3 months and both blew out at the same time. The Xtravision lights up a wider area which I prefer alot more, and they are bright.

X-Travision..by far. I had Silverstars..they were great..for about 10 months. One died on a Friday evening..the other the next night. Both headlights burned out 1 day apart..only 10 1/2 months old! Fortunatly, I kept the factory bulbs and just popped them in. I called Sylvania on Monday and tols them my story. The customer rep told me very matter-of-factly that YES...Silverstars are only good for 9 to 12 months!!!!!
I bought a set of X-Travisions..they are almost as bright, but they have been in my car for almost 2 years now.

 

[2xTrinity]

Silverstars actually use a bluish tinted filter to make the lamp look "whiter" at the expense of lumens. In order to compensate, the filament is overdriven. Thus, you are trading off bulb life, for cosmetics, NOT a trade I'm willing to make with my vehicle headlights.

 

[LukeA]

Silverstars actually use a bluish tinted filter to make the lamp look "whiter" at the expense of lumens. In order to compensate, the filament is overdriven. Thus, you are trading off bulb life, for cosmetics, NOT a trade I'm willing to make with my vehicle headlights.

Why, that's quite retarded.

 

[TorchBoy]

Luke, do you mean the desire not to make that trade-off is retarded, or that someone would actually do that to a bulb (and their customers) is retarded?

 

[VegasF6]

I am surprised there haven't been more negative thoughts on these bulbs posted here. They sure aren't very popular :naughty:

I have tried a few different bulbs on my truck, I started with some popular Japanese brand that I can't remember right now. They were higher wattage bulbs, made for "off road use only." They didn't last long, so I went with MTEC's at stock wattage, and while they did last, the shape of my beam was terrible, all scattered. (I didn't even realize that could happen, I thought it was a function of the reflector)

So, now I have Silverstars in it, the beam shape is as good as stock, and the light is certainly whiter. But after reading about them here and checking Daniel Stern's site, I have decided once these go I will just go back to stock.

I would suggest putting the money towards some good driving/fog lights instead, if you have room for them. Maybe behind your grill even? I have a set of Hella Micro FF, and I like them. Others may disagree with my choice.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0002M9RHS/?tag=cpf0b6-20

On my motorcycle I have installed a cheapie set of autozone projector lamps and on dark highways, they really help out as well. I had put a 55/100 watt bulb in it, and instead of wiring to a relay I went through the stock switch and melted it. That was an expensive lesson.

Speaking of which, I have been told before that a good cheap upgrade for your headlights is to run them off a relay with a heavy gauge wire as short as possible. Straight off the battery, with only an inline fuse to protect them. You lose all the stock resistance in the factory harness and switch, they are "free" lumens.

 

[WildChild]

I bought Siverstar for my Yaris last October or November to try them as I really looked the look of whiter headlights. Bad choice! With the winter we got here in Quebec (we got over 5 meters of snow up to now), the feeling they give is really bad. Where there is very little snow on the road, contrasts starts to be really bad and it's like there was not much light to show my path! No more blue tinted bulbs for me. Next, I'll use up my stock bulbs and I may try after the Osram Silverstar (not blue tinted) or the Xtra-vision (also not blue tinted).

 

[Avatar28]

I guess put me in the minority, I LIKE the Silverstars. The light seems much whiter than I have gotten from other bulbs I've tried, including the Xtra Visions and I much prefer it. As far as life, my Durango came equipped with them when I bought it nearly 3 years ago and the same bulbs are still going strong. I'm sure they would be brighter if I replaced them with newer ones, but they are personally, by far my favorite headlamps. Even if I had to replace them once ever 12-18 months, that's still only about $40/yr, not that bad. Especially when you figure even a single Fenix flashlight is going to run $50-60 and I certainly use my headlights more than my flashlight.

 

[craig333]

From my experience it seems, if you start with good reflectors a good bulb will improve them. If you start with a poorly designed reflector all you'll get from a brighter bulb is a brighter crappier headlight.

 

[BruiseLee]

I have an Acura RSX, and pretty much everyone who has used Silverstars in an RSX has experienced extremely short service times with them. One bulb I had burned out in less than a month, and I drive two different cars! I am on Acura forums a lot, and everyone there will tell you the same thing.

I would steer away from Silverstars.

 

[drizler]

I guess put me in the minority, I LIKE the Silverstars. The light seems much whiter than I have gotten from other bulbs I've tried, including the Xtra Visions and I much prefer it. As far as life, my Durango came equipped with them when I bought it nearly 3 years ago and the same bulbs are still going strong. I'm sure they would be brighter if I replaced them with newer ones, but they are personally, by far my favorite headlamps. Even if I had to replace them once ever 12-18 months, that's still only about $40/yr, not that bad. Especially when you figure even a single Fenix flashlight is going to run $50-60 and I certainly use my headlights more than my flashlight.

Yea, I have to agree with you, I have them in 2 cars and a snowmobile. The first set lasted about 2 years and during that time I hit a couple knotheads on a snowmobile at 25 MPH. The impact was hard enough that it broke all 4 mounts off both sets of lights yet they worked fine for over a year after that. Much more light than stock here in the North Woods where deer are lurking everywhere and I work the graveyard shift. With the snowmobile it gives me a lot brighter light than the yellowish bulbs they use stock. 2 seasons and counting with those though I don't ride all that much. Finally , yes they seem to burn out within a couple weeks of each other like they are worn out. I still value the deer safety factor a lot.

 

[greenLED]

I put some SilverStars in my old car... they didn't last through the winter. Had to put the stock lamp back in.

 

[drizler]

Not quite off the subject but what about these? http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/XENO...fTruckQ5fPartsQ5fAccessories#ebayphotohosting

My daughters 03 Cavalier has really crappy headlights but I think just due to crap bulbs. Do any of you guys have any experience with these HID kits ? Her car has those curded daytime running lights, does that effect using HIDs'?
Along a similar topic I have heard of another way of making any lights brighter. Some of you guys said wire to the battery. I have heard that wiring to the alternator gives more voltage yet, especially using heavy wire. I haven't tried it myself though.

 

[JohnR66]

I have limited night vision, so I need the best headlights. I tried a lot of stuff, but the best so far is the Philips Extreme Power bulbs. They are not the over wattage types, but use premium fill gas at higher pressures and some overdrive to achieve the extra lumens from the same wattage.

They are expensive, but worth it if you really need a noticeable improvement in light. I can't comment on the lifetime, however.

 

[-Virgil-]

"HID kits" in halogen-bulb headlamps do not work safely or effectively, which is why they are illegal. See here.

Xtreme Power is a very good line of bulbs. Very high output and good beam focus, no blue-colored glass to steal light while uselessly tinting it "whiter" like the Silver Stars. Another good line is the GE Night Hawk, though in the case of the 9007 bulb the '03 Cavalier takes, the Xtreme Power is a better pick if you can find it in that size. SUVlite claims to have them in stock — make sure you're getting what you think you're getting; Philips also offers "Night Guide" and "Crystal Vision" and "Vision Plus bulbs"; no, you want the Xtreme Power type.

 

[Coaster]

I've been using the Silverstars for a couple years in our beater car. It's a Suzuki Esteem that has to have the worst factory headlights I've ever seen. The Silverstars make the car drivable at night.

They do have a rather short life, I got about a year and a half out of the first set. I carry at least one spare bulb in each car though anyhow. I suppose I should look at switching to another brand when this set dies.

 

[Fenris]

I put my silverstars in my jeep around 2004 and they're still going......maybe I just got lucky.