claf

Couple weeks ago I replaced the (4) headlights in my C5 with Sylvania Ultra's. Last night was the first opportunity I had to drive any significant distance at night since the installation.

My opinion is "save your money" I did not see any greater distance nor better side lighting compared to the ( I assume) OEM lights that came with the car when I bought it last year. Possible a little "whiter" light but certainly ZERO better. Somewhat poorer now but also a little smarter.

Tsumi

At least you didn't get HIDs or LEDs that blind people.

The best replacement bulbs for 9005 and 9006 are modified (by nail clippers) 9011 and 9012 bulbs.

Skrilla

I have never noticed a difference in spending more money on "upgraded" headlight bulbs .

SG Lou

Yup, that's what I read.
Here is a diagram that shows where to trim and file !

Vetteman Jack

Thanks a lot for posting this info.

SSTG

Has anyone tried these?

Tsumi

LED bulbs in halogen reflector housings blind people and have worse light output except for Philips H4 bulbs in H4 housings. The only positive is that they don't glare as bad as HIDs.

aj98

I did the silverstars a long time ago. Not much difference there, either.

Christmas present to myself last year was radioflyer aca bi-xenons.

Wish I'd have done it years ago....

Jeff T.

Sylvania Ultras = Marketing not performance.

Had them in my 4Runner and returned them, just garbage.

ALLEGRO

I did the 9005 conversion for low-beams with Silverstars.

Major difference and an EASY mod taking only a few minutes to accomplish.

WAY better than the 9006's that were stock.

mstromquist

Thanks for the info. I'll be looking into the 9011 & 9012's.

stingray76l82

I have radio flyers bi -xenons. Out standing light and service.

Volk2142

To fix my horrible visibility at night I got the C5R non pops with projectors with HIDs I also painted the tops black and have 2 thick layers of uv clear coat so the sun doesn't get to them.

terrelljames91

HIR bulbs are deffinilty the way to go! i did an HIR upgrade in my WRX over stock bulbs and they were amazing. I finally did a full retrofit on them and would NEVER go back to halogens, Looking to do a retrofit on the C5 this summer

Volk2142

What are HIRs and retrofit on C5? You lost me a tad

Tsumi

HIR stands for Halogen Infrared Reflecting bulbs. They have a special coating that reflects infrared light back to the filament, heating it more than a standard bulb and producing more visible light. They use the same wattage and have the same lifespan, but are able to produce almost twice as much light.

A retrofit refers to modifying headlights to install true HID projectors. In other words, NOT the cheap headlights with halogen projectors with HIDs slapped into them that I am assuming you did (correct me if I am wrong).

Volk2142

Didn't know they had such a bulb, that's interesting, and no my headlights aren't the cheap ones, mine are the "legit" C5R headlight design Pratt & Miller (the ones who designed the C5R) pointed these out to me when I called and asked about them. I know which cheap ones you are speaking of though lol

Choreo

Been there... Done that! Went with Euros, perfect light for me.

Tsumi

If your bulbs are anything other than D1S or D2S (S can be R), then you do not have true HID projectors, and instead have halogen projectors. Expensive does not guarantee HID projectors, unfortunately.

laurent_zo6

Same here. The difference with the OEM is like night and day.