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First off, many to thanks to many of you who helped me when I was hunting for my C5. I finally got my black, 2002 Z06 last week and I'm starting the process of dialing it in. One of my first changes will be the awful dim headlights. Now, I was able to squeeze this car in as my 3rd in the stable (by my wife's good graces) so I can't be spending a lot of $$ so preferably under $100. I've done research & see all sorts of advise from, 9011 & 9012 Bulbs, to LEDs to HID conversion kits. I won't be driving this car a lot and less at night but I need better lights.
Thanks in advance.
Here are some pics of the new ride.
Last edited by Juggs44; Mar 18, 2019 at 02:02 PM.
Reason: spelling
Great looking car and start driving it.
Although I have never driven my 04 C5 Vert at night in the almost 5 years of ownership, I wanted brighter lights just in case I had to since I live in a semi rural area. So I researched and decided to use the Sylvania Siverstar ULTRA 9005 and 9006. I also installed the Radioflyer Hi-4 harness that allows both high and low beam on at same time and installed the Radioflyer upgrade extra bright fog lamps bulbs. I was amazed at the difference without doing a full headlight mechanism change. Good luck on your search for what meets your needs.
Best cost effective bulbs are the HIR 9011 and 9012 bulbs. LEDs put out bluer light (appears brighter), and depending on which brand you buy, can cause excessive glare.
HIR is the most cost effective solution. You can get the Phillips stuff for about $20 per bulb, four bulbs (two of each).
The next step up is the cheapest ACA clone you can find, preferably used. Sometimes $150-200. Then there're the new ones that are a bit more expensive, $300-450 ish. The really nice stuff people like seems to be the Radioflyer kit, which is about $700. You could spend more on non-popups if you wanted.
...One of my first changes will be the awful dim headlights... ...I can't be spending a lot of $$ so preferably under $100. I've done research & see all sorts of advise from, 9011 & 9012 Bulbs...
As mentioned above, the best cost effective solution is HIR bulbs. If you couple that with a Hi-4 harness (to keep the low beams ON when you switch ON the highs) the difference will be noticeable.
You can also upgrade the foglights and the results would be even better.
from Beamtech are plenty bright and won't break the bank. Get the 800 series. They use heatsinks rather than fans (silent operation and no moving parts to fail). No need to deal with ballasts and less heat than HIDs.
I too hardly drive my 2003 C5 at night, I wasn’t aware that you could change the bulbs to LED,what would be the cost to change just the headlights.
About $30-120 per set of 2 bulbs (depending on how cheap you want to be and how much glare you want to throw into other drivers' eyes) and potential headlight closing issues.
Here's a great alternative for much brighter lights
Pick up a pair of SilverStar 9005. That's right, the high-beam bulb.
Search for the 9005 conversion and follow the very simple directions.
Realistically what you are doing is filing down a tab inside the harness on the BULB so that it will plug into the 9006 wiring harness. Takes about 1 minute and the results are fantastic.
Otherwise, either spend much more $$$ or run around with dull, yellow lights.
I seen one of the review for these and they did not recommend projector housing which the fog lamps are. What do you think
Originally Posted by GCG
As mentioned above, the best cost effective solution is HIR bulbs. If you couple that with a Hi-4 harness (to keep the low beams ON when you switch ON the highs) the difference will be noticeable.
You can also upgrade the foglights and the results would be even better. These plug-and-play bulbs from Beamtech are plenty bright and won't break the bank. Get the 800 series. They use heatsinks rather than fans (silent operation and no moving parts to fail). No need to deal with ballasts and less heat than HIDs.
[QUOTE=GCG;1599068189]As mentioned above, the best cost effective solution is HIR bulbs. If you couple that with a Hi-4 harness (to keep the low beams ON when you switch ON the highs) the difference will be noticeable.
You can also upgrade the foglights and the results would be even better.
from Beamtech are plenty bright and won't break the bank. Get the 800 series. They use heatsinks rather than fans (silent operation and no moving parts to fail). No need to deal with ballasts and less heat than HIDs. [/QUOT
So if I buy these ^^ I just swap them into my Low beam socket and be done with it. I can always opt for the harness to then have both the high and low beams on at the same time. Just want to make sure I'm not missing anything.
I seen one of the review for these and they did not recommend projector housing which the fog lamps are. What do you think
I replaced my OEM halogen foglamp bulbs with these and I'm very pleased with the results. Why did they not recommend them in projector housings? As you can see in the picture below, their design emulates a halogen bulb.
So if I buy these ^^ I just swap them into my Low beam socket and be done with it. I can always opt for the harness to then have both the high and low beams on at the same time. Just want to make sure I'm not missing anything.
I recommended the Beamtech 880 for the foglights. They are completely plug-and-play.
As the best cost effective solution for the headlamps, I recommended HIR and a Hi-4 harness.
Besides the 880 configuration, Beamtech offers them in 9005 and 9006 configurations as well but I haven't read any reviews based on installing these as headlamp bulbs in a C5.
I too hardly drive my 2003 C5 at night, I wasn’t aware that you could change the bulbs to LED,what would be the cost to change just the headlights.
I spent $100 on four LED (low and high beams) and a driving light that is white until the turn signal is turned on then it blinks amber. I have put these in a 2007 Saturn Sky and they really light up the road. Huge improvement in that car. The high beams are very bright.
New Owner, Headlight question
