I have a 1999 C5. A couple evenings back I used my headlamps with original halogen bulbs. I was shocked as to the lack of brightness. In researching replacement bulbs it appears LED bulbs are brightest but they have issues of blinking off and on and messing with computer unless you install other equipment. I’m not very tech savy so ideally I’m looking for a brighter Halogen bulbs that are essentially plug and play and no issues. Looking for advice. Thank you, Bill

 

Halogen bulbs do dim with age. The easiest thing to do is replace them with new ones. I have had good luck with Silvania Ultra Star.

 

This is a well debated deal. Some will change bulbs and others will go to expensive custom lights.

Here is the problem with the LED. They are all not the same. You get a 1157 conventional brake light bulb it is the same no matter how makes it.

Here is the true options you have.

Option One. have found there are bulbs that will work in a reflector and fluted lens. I found the H4 replacement bulbs. from Oracle. work well with a good cut off line and they just pop in. You do need to run a resistor in line to make the head lamps close with the switch. Other wise they will stay open. Only one bulb need this. To get all 4 bulbs will run around $400. They are made to work and you nee to index them at 3 and 9 oclock.

Option two. There is a set of replacement lights at Summit Racing . They bolt in and come with the needed resistor. They look stock but work like the Oracle. They are just below $400.

Option Three is to go with a custom light set up and theses are generally $799 and more. They work fine but are very expensive and if you want the stock look it is not going to fit that requirement for better or worse.

These three deals all work and they do improve the lights much. I have tried the first two and they are about equal is lighting and they work well. I also added the relay to make the high and low beams stay on when I hit the high beams.

On Option one I used a relay and used headlamp harness extensions to make it plug and play and no cutting factory wires. Option two is no cut too. They plug and play.

You will get another 101 opinions here so read them and pick what is right for you. None are generally wrong it is more of what you want looks wise and want to spend. I wanted to keep stock as I'm not a fast and furious fan. I just wanted more safe light.

Keep away from cheap bulbs on Amazon unless they are specific to an H4 that reflects back and you can index.

Oracles are good because they do not require fans they have internal cooling.

 

I replaced mine with : 9012 (HIR2) +120 bulbs made in Germany by Vosla, purchased from Daniel Stern, an expert in vehicle lighting. They are much brighter than OEM and I have the security of using the original housings. I had converted my last c5 to the EXCELLENT Bi-Xenon from Sharplight and they were like laser beams, but I could never stop the bracket from vibrating. With this one I decided to keep things simpler and I trust Daniel’s expertise.

 

JCGUNN:

After much research and your recommendation I going with the Sylvania Silverstar Ultra headlamp bulbs. Looks like a little brighter light and no negative issues with lights blinking and messing with the computer. I also found out my passenger side fog light is out so they will be replaced. I checked the shop yesterday that usually works on my car and asked the cost to replace the 4 headlight bulbs and the 2 fog light bulbs. They advised $521.00 dollars. I declined. My son along with help from YouTube will get the job done.

Thanks.

Bill

 

Yes you would have to be insane not to change your own bulbs. You may want yo brush up and learn to do more. This is an easy car to work on.

Still might consider led later as the brighter halogen bulbs have shorter lives.

 

I simply use my high beams all the time and only once has someone flashed at me. Much brighter

 

If you are planning to keep your OEM housings, I would opt for a high-quality halogen replacement.