I know a thread has been started regarding our crappy headlights and to upgrade to better bulbs or even an HID conversion. However I was wondering how many people have had problems with their bulbs since changing over to aftermarkets. I have sylvania silverstars(H7) in my tib. My left one blew out on me this morning. I think ive had them for....5-6 months max? So basically has anyone else had problems with aftermarket bulbs?

EDIT

I just realized i posted this in general performance by accident, if a mod could move it for me plzz...sry

 

5-6 months is pretty good considering our headlights propensity to destroy bulbs. (Stock replacements or Aftermarket)

Really, it depends more on the voltage than anything else. And by that I mean that you need to let your car run for a few (I usually go about 30 seconds) before turning them on, to let the voltage stabilize after starting.

I have had 70w bulbs last me anywhere from 1-5 months....and this was before I started waiting before turning them on.

I currently have a set of 55w Ion Yellow $29.95/pair bulbs that have lasted me almost a year and a half. Longest yet.

I'm considering swapping them out for 70w yellow Nokya's.....same price higher wattage...???? IDK though. I also have haloz to be installed, once I get the rest of the replacement stuff from Blacktibs, and I may just drop the yellow bulbs as I will have yellow Lunar Accents and Amber haloz.

Just get into the habit of letting your car run for a little bit before popping them on and the bulbs will last you much longer......Not as long as some other cars, but longer.

 

this is not a bad place for this topic.. just be forwarned.. we have covered all this before.. so if we start repeating old news.. it will be locked.

 

Blown headlights happen with every brand, not just the Silverstars. Also, I have found that the big 3 upgrade doesn't really help at all. In the 6 months since I did it, I've had a headlight, a tail light, and a reverse light all blow.

 

Mine must be the only tib around that is still running the original lamps...

Though I am going to have to change the front turnsigals now.. the amber coverings are melting off.

 

Sylvania lists on the bulb packaging that Silverstars are the brightest but also have the shortest life. The same is true with any bulb, that I know of. The brighter the burn, the shorter the life. Don't know if that holds true for HID or not, never had any experience with that.

If you're blowing bulbs a lot, switch to a dimmer bulb and see if it lasts longer. If not, check your electrical.

 

HIDs do not have a filiment to burn out.. silverstars do..

In order to get a regular incandesent lamp to burn brighter, you need to lesson the gage of the filiment so that it glows hotter and brighter.. the trade off is reduced life..

A HID is a gas discharge lamp.. it uses an arc between two carbons in a pressurised container filled with whatever gas allows it to make the most amount of light without burning away the contacts that the arc is suspended from. They WILL eventually burn out.. but in a lot longer time than it takes for an incandesent lamp.

 

UMMM NO. I have a set in my hands right now, and NOWHERE on the packaging, NOR in the little install instructions does SYLVANIA state that. On EITHER H7 or H1s.

As for burning Brighter Shortening life.......yes it does, ONLY if its a higher wattage bulb. Or you do not do what I said to do above.

 

I'm positive it was on the package, the single bulb packages anyways. if not there, then for sure on their website. They had this neat little graph with partially filled circles and such.

 

My HID ballasts have a life of 3000 hours. I guess I would just have to replace the ballasts after I hit 3000 hours. I have no idea.