Recommendations for headlight bulbs
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 18,396
Likes: 169
Recommendations for headlight bulbs
Drove my (new to me) 1999 C5 for the first time at night.
Scary.
The light is dangerous.
What is the best replacement bulbs that everyone is using.
I gotta fix this !!!
Scary.
The light is dangerous.
What is the best replacement bulbs that everyone is using.
I gotta fix this !!!
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 8,700
Likes: 298
From: Ft. Lauderdale Fl
There are many answers to your question....the answer to me is LED's. (Bang for the buck). HID's ...a little costly but work great. There are several other bulbs and systems being used. Get back to us with your choice.
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 4,308
Likes: 3,455
From: Somewhere, Florida
St. Jude Donor '20-'21-'22-'23-'24
LEDs are garbage, too. I have a set and they're abysmal. The real "good" answer (short of a proper projector) is apparently a 9011 conversion, but I haven't done that yet to comment.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 3,473
Likes: 691
From: West Virginia
I had HIR's in another vehicle car. They are definitely better than OEM - brighter and whiter - and actually lasted longer than both the OEM and Silverstar bulbs. This was in a car that used them as DRL's (at reduced voltage) so they were on continually. But, I have to say not as good as modern LED lighting (dramatically better) or projector/HID's, nor even the much better OEM Euro spec lights. But it's a low cost, quick and easy upgrade. At least with the Euro's you can put off road 100w/80w bulbs in with a wiring upgrade.
Got my HIR's from Candlepower in Rockville MD - https://store.candlepower.com. They also supplied me with high watt versions of the rear back up bulbs. Combined with an Adjure and an alignment "tweak" of the whole assembly, I can now actually see what's behind me at when reversing at night.
Got my HIR's from Candlepower in Rockville MD - https://store.candlepower.com. They also supplied me with high watt versions of the rear back up bulbs. Combined with an Adjure and an alignment "tweak" of the whole assembly, I can now actually see what's behind me at when reversing at night.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 12,864
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Last edited by grinder11; Nov 11, 2020 at 10:37 AM. Reason: Spell and more info to add
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 5,602
Likes: 3,320
From: Virginia
2021 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
St. Jude Donor '21-'22
Bulb swaps help a little, but the real solution is swapping to an ACA style bi-xenon or bi-LED setup from Sharp light innovations. This is a bit pricy. However, it is hands down the best solution if you want to keep the flip up functinality of the C5.
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Race Director
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 12,864
Likes: 4,667
I researched the HIR bulbs and also the Sylvania Ultra Silverstar bulbs. I ran the Silverstar bulbs for years in my '03 Buick LeSabre (400,000 miles! Only a deer finally took it off the road!) and they were very good. I have also read recently that the Silverstars actually put out less lumens that plain 9005/9006 bulbs, but look brighter due to the light spectrum. So I went to the HIR bulbs for Hi beam. The Silverstar bulbs still in the Low beams appear brighter than the HIR Hi beams!! Again, probably due to the light spectrum.......
Race Director
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 12,414
Likes: 1,750
From: DFW TX
I actually don't do much driving at night.... the upgrade to Silverstar has been enough for my very occasional use.
I did install fog/driving lights and have them come on with the 'parking' lights. I run the parking lights on all the time to help other drivers see me. Silver is not a super visible color
I did install fog/driving lights and have them come on with the 'parking' lights. I run the parking lights on all the time to help other drivers see me. Silver is not a super visible color
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 3,399
Likes: 1,339
From: Havre de Grace Maryland
I replaced both high and low beams with Silverstar ULTRA 9005 and 9006. Much better than the original. Like others, I do not usually drive at night. Only did once in 6 years of ownership. I also replaced the fog light bulbs with higher intensity. So when I have to drive at night there will be enough light.
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 4,308
Likes: 3,455
From: Somewhere, Florida
St. Jude Donor '20-'21-'22-'23-'24
FWIW - most issues with headlights are attributed to the aiming of the stock lights. Yes, even BRAND NEW cars have headlights poorly/not proprerly aimed.
Find a shop that has a real headlight aiming machine and not just pointing them at the wall and it will help you.
http://www.danielsternlighting.com/tech/aim/aim.html
Find a shop that has a real headlight aiming machine and not just pointing them at the wall and it will help you.
http://www.danielsternlighting.com/tech/aim/aim.html
Last edited by Stingroo; Nov 11, 2020 at 02:46 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 3,473
Likes: 691
From: West Virginia
I researched the HIR bulbs and also the Sylvania Ultra Silverstar bulbs. I ran the Silverstar bulbs for years in my '03 Buick LeSabre (400,000 miles! Only a deer finally took it off the road!) and they were very good. I have also read recently that the Silverstars actually put out less lumens that plain 9005/9006 bulbs, but look brighter due to the light spectrum. So I went to the HIR bulbs for Hi beam. The Silverstar bulbs still in the Low beams appear brighter than the HIR Hi beams!! Again, probably due to the light spectrum.......
Last edited by jackthelad; Nov 11, 2020 at 03:26 PM.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2018
Posts: 1,113
Likes: 144
From: Miami
I don't agree with the comments that LED headlight upgrades are garbage. They're a great bang for the buck. You just have to get some decent ones. I'm pretty happy with my LEDs: (LASFIT LA Series 9006 HB4 6000K 72W 7600LM Low Beam LEDs). I didn't change the high beams, as I rarely use them.
PS: You can retain the flip up and down functionality. They flip up normal, and to flip down you just push forward the stock (as if putting high beams on) and they flip down.
PS: You can retain the flip up and down functionality. They flip up normal, and to flip down you just push forward the stock (as if putting high beams on) and they flip down.
Last edited by turabo87; Nov 11, 2020 at 04:04 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 5,602
Likes: 3,320
From: Virginia
2021 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
St. Jude Donor '21-'22
I don't agree with the comments that LED headlight upgrades are garbage. They're a great bang for the buck. You just have to get some decent ones. I'm pretty happy with my LEDs: (LASFIT LA Series 9006 HB4 6000K 72W 7600LM Low Beam LEDs). I didn't change the high beams, as I rarely use them.
PS: You can retain the flip up and down functionality. They flip up normal, and to flip down you just push forward the stock (as if putting high beams on) and they flip down.
PS: You can retain the flip up and down functionality. They flip up normal, and to flip down you just push forward the stock (as if putting high beams on) and they flip down.
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 3,638
Likes: 245
https://www.ebay.com/itm/EiKO-9006-C....m46890.l49292
They're $10 now which is a steal and I put them on my daily instead of LED for the moment.
I've had used those bulbs for 2 or 3 years on my c5 when I daily drove and yes I drove at night on a regular basis too.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2018
Posts: 1,113
Likes: 144
From: Miami
Well, just offering my opinion and personal experience. I see just fine with mine. Wayyy better than stock halogens, for me at least. I have no issues with the bead pattern being different; at least doesn't bother me. Headlights are so low that I doubt I'm blinding anyone.
