Most effective headlight bulb ?
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 11,117
Likes: 671
From: SE Pennsylvania
St. Jude Donor '03 thru '26
Oldtimer
Most effective headlight bulb ?
I'm sure this has been posted before, BUT, what is the most effective headlight bulb, best light, best overall usefulness and the best long term bulb ? There are Halogen, HID and LED bulbs, what has your experience shown to be ?
Thank you,
Thank you,
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 11,117
Likes: 671
From: SE Pennsylvania
St. Jude Donor '03 thru '26
Oldtimer
That's nice, but I'm only looking to get a better headlight/OEm type of lights, if I need to go LED do I need to get a resistor to be able to use the DRL function ?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 3,399
Likes: 1,339
From: Havre de Grace Maryland
Although I avoid driving at night, when I had to with the orighinal bulbs, it was scary. After reviewing post on the CF and remarks online about replacement recommendations, I replaced the low and high beams with SYLVANIA SOLVERSTAR ULTRA (#9005 AND 9006). A whole world of difference in illumination.
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2017
Posts: 1,961
Likes: 693
From: Avon Lake OH
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...post1605519125
You can go this route, which is what I did, but the real problem is the sub par at best factory lense / reflector and no simple bulb swap can fix that. The only true safe and effective solution for night time driving is something like the Sharp Lighting Innovations complete replacement system. Their original system used halogen projectors, the latest version now uses LED projectors. The only other option is the near unobtainium GM export C5 glass lense headlamps which used H4 bulbs. And no sorry, the real true fix for the deficient factory C5 headlamp system is NOT inexpensive.
You can go this route, which is what I did, but the real problem is the sub par at best factory lense / reflector and no simple bulb swap can fix that. The only true safe and effective solution for night time driving is something like the Sharp Lighting Innovations complete replacement system. Their original system used halogen projectors, the latest version now uses LED projectors. The only other option is the near unobtainium GM export C5 glass lense headlamps which used H4 bulbs. And no sorry, the real true fix for the deficient factory C5 headlamp system is NOT inexpensive.
Last edited by JHrinsin; Dec 20, 2022 at 10:30 AM.
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 11,117
Likes: 671
From: SE Pennsylvania
St. Jude Donor '03 thru '26
Oldtimer
I bought a low and high beam set of LED bulbs, but I'm kinda put aside by the DRL being on, and this set of LED don't like to be a part of DRL, and I like having the DRL, so I have to look to the forum for some guidance. Now 'Vette-Lights' has a HID system which is Plug-And Play system and JHrinsin has a good point inlight is by how much you want to spend, and I'm not sure where to go at the present ?
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 12,861
Likes: 4,664
I bought a low and high beam set of LED bulbs, but I'm kinda put aside by the DRL being on, and this set of LED don't like to be a part of DRL, and I like having the DRL, so I have to look to the forum for some guidance. Now 'Vette-Lights' has a HID system which is Plug-And Play system and JHrinsin has a good point inlight is by how much you want to spend, and I'm not sure where to go at the present ?
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)
Joe Kucinski
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know
Joe Kucinski
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2
Michael S. Palmer
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 11,117
Likes: 671
From: SE Pennsylvania
St. Jude Donor '03 thru '26
Oldtimer
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...post1605519125
You can go this route, which is what I did, but the real problem is the sub par at best factory lense / reflector and no simple bulb swap can fix that. The only true safe and effective solution for night time driving is something like the Sharp Lighting Innovations complete replacement system. Their original system used halogen projectors, the latest version now uses LED projectors. The only other option is the near unobtainium GM export C5 glass lense headlamps which used H4 bulbs. And no sorry, the real true fix for the deficient factory C5 headlamp system is NOT inexpensive.
You can go this route, which is what I did, but the real problem is the sub par at best factory lense / reflector and no simple bulb swap can fix that. The only true safe and effective solution for night time driving is something like the Sharp Lighting Innovations complete replacement system. Their original system used halogen projectors, the latest version now uses LED projectors. The only other option is the near unobtainium GM export C5 glass lense headlamps which used H4 bulbs. And no sorry, the real true fix for the deficient factory C5 headlamp system is NOT inexpensive.
Thank you,
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 12,861
Likes: 4,664
Ok, I don't want to go in that direction but the swap from the standard 9005 & 9006 over to the 9011 & 9012 seems like a affordable and safe option. Did you do anything else other than the trimming to get everything up, lit and completed, everything fit and all went back in OK no over heating problems ?
Thank you,
Thank you,
ALWAYS wipe the glass bulb of any Halogen lamp with a paper towel, or small washcloth, soaked in rubbing alcohol, the higher %, the better. Do this last, after the bulb is mounted in the socket. Otherwise, the oil in your fingers will be deposited on the glass. This will cause hot spots, and shorten the bulbs life. I suppose brake parts cleaner might work, but I've never tried it.......
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 12,861
Likes: 4,664
BTW.......Don't expect miracles from HIR bulbs. They do improve things, buy its not like a good, modern HID/LED setup. If I drove a lot at night, I'd ditch the factory lenses, and go with an HID/LED setup.....
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2017
Posts: 1,961
Likes: 693
From: Avon Lake OH
Here is what I posted almost 4 years ago concerning the 9011/9012 swap and links to what others have said years earlier. Some of the links do not work anymore and the online store is now closed (the owner sadly passed away).
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...post1596513975
Here is a link that explains how to modify the 9011 / 9012 bulbs tabs to fit into the 9005 / 9006 housing openings.
https://www.f150ecoboost.net/threads...version.76918/
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...post1596513975
Here is a link that explains how to modify the 9011 / 9012 bulbs tabs to fit into the 9005 / 9006 housing openings.
https://www.f150ecoboost.net/threads...version.76918/
Last edited by JHrinsin; Dec 20, 2022 at 02:57 PM.
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 11,117
Likes: 671
From: SE Pennsylvania
St. Jude Donor '03 thru '26
Oldtimer
Here is what I posted almost 4 years ago concerning the 9011/9012 swap and links to what others have said years earlier. Some of the links do not work anymore and the online store is now closed (the owner sadly passed away).
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...post1596513975
Here is a link that explains how to modify the 9011 / 9012 bulbs tabs to fit into the 9005 / 9006 housing openings.
https://www.f150ecoboost.net/threads...version.76918/
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...post1596513975
Here is a link that explains how to modify the 9011 / 9012 bulbs tabs to fit into the 9005 / 9006 housing openings.
https://www.f150ecoboost.net/threads...version.76918/
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 13,587
Likes: 1,352
From: Home of the VOLS ! Knoxville, TN. Tennessee
St. Jude Donor '11-'12-'13, '15, '16-'17-'18-'19
I don't drive the Vette much at night. I have other cars for that.
Spending a lot on lighting was not an option. A set of LEDs with resistors solved my lighting problem. They are bright and plentiful for my purpose.
As far as blinding other drivers, this has not happened to me. The car is low enough for it to be a non issue.
All new cars have blinding LEDs in them anyway.
I understand there are haters of LEDs in OEM housing, but they work for me and I have never bothered anyone coming the other way.
Spending a lot on lighting was not an option. A set of LEDs with resistors solved my lighting problem. They are bright and plentiful for my purpose.
As far as blinding other drivers, this has not happened to me. The car is low enough for it to be a non issue.
All new cars have blinding LEDs in them anyway.
I understand there are haters of LEDs in OEM housing, but they work for me and I have never bothered anyone coming the other way.
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 11,117
Likes: 671
From: SE Pennsylvania
St. Jude Donor '03 thru '26
Oldtimer
I don't drive the Vette much at night. I have other cars for that.
Spending a lot on lighting was not an option. A set of LEDs with resistors solved my lighting problem. They are bright and plentiful for my purpose.
As far as blinding other drivers, this has not happened to me. The car is low enough for it to be a non issue.
All new cars have blinding LEDs in them anyway.
I understand there are haters of LEDs in OEM housing, but they work for me and I have never bothered anyone coming the other way.
Spending a lot on lighting was not an option. A set of LEDs with resistors solved my lighting problem. They are bright and plentiful for my purpose.
As far as blinding other drivers, this has not happened to me. The car is low enough for it to be a non issue.
All new cars have blinding LEDs in them anyway.
I understand there are haters of LEDs in OEM housing, but they work for me and I have never bothered anyone coming the other way.
Thank you,
Night Owl for life
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 24,721
Likes: 4,557
From: Bugs Bunny should'a made a left turn here
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 13,587
Likes: 1,352
From: Home of the VOLS ! Knoxville, TN. Tennessee
St. Jude Donor '11-'12-'13, '15, '16-'17-'18-'19
Ok, what did you use as far as LED's There are so many on the market, I'm trying to keep the lumens as high as possible, but again I'm not too sure if that has that much bearing on LED's. I'm trying to get the best high output light within OEM application ? if i'm stating it correctly ?
Thank you,
Thank you,
1997-2004 C5 Corvette High-Powered Low Beam LED Kit – Vette Lights (vette-lights.com)
There may be better options out there. There were partially plastic with a good and quiet fan. I would like to have used a single piece all metal housing. they're out there.
The Fogs don't have fans if I recall. If I am mostly driving at dusk or dawn, like I typically do, I run on the fogs alone and they give plenty of lights. Past that, I use the headlights.
Their description says 12k lumens. Total price was $ 259.00 for all three but honestly, I wouldn't do the high beams. Waste of money.
Last edited by corvettezman; Dec 21, 2022 at 02:11 AM.
Racer
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 450
Likes: 159
From: Port Charlotte Florida
I experimented with LEDS and HIDS, and was not happy with the light output. The lenses are the problem. If you bite the bullet and spend the money for the Sharp Lighting Innovation assemblies you will be happy with the results. The difference is like night and day. Expensive but worth the money and effort. IMO.