replacing low beam bulbs
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 13
Likes: 0
From: hilton head sc
replacing low beam bulbs
my low beams are very low and I usually have to use the high beams.
are there any replacement bulbs that will give me better lighting without damage to the wiring or installing a relay
are there any replacement bulbs that will give me better lighting without damage to the wiring or installing a relay
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 2,332
Likes: 31
From: Silver Spring MD
Check the aiming first - I am using Silverstars
I find that Silverstars seem to give a brighter light than regular bulbs.
I have also replaced the fog lights with 885s and have reaimed them.
When using low beams and the fogs together get a lot more light on the road.
I have also replaced the fog lights with 885s and have reaimed them.
When using low beams and the fogs together get a lot more light on the road.
Pro
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 606
Likes: 3
From: Long Island
I've had tremendous success with HIR bulbs. http://finemotoring.com/ is where I've been purchasing them for years. Hope this helps.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 12,413
Likes: 502
From: Rio Rancho NM
Get hids in the fogs and aim them higher and get better bulbs for the low. The fog hids are so good you can drive with them just soley on with no lows. I did that for a few months while chasing some issues lucky no cops ever stopped me but it was brighter then having lows on by themselves.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
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
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 2,375
Likes: 426
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 1,490
Likes: 257
From: Lake Tapps WA.
I have done the same in all 3 of my vehicles that use these same bulbs. I used SilverStar 9005's and they give out much better light.
And NO they don't blind oncoming drivers. They are still aimed the same as they were, just 10 more watts. Even in my Silverado 2500 HD 4x4 I have never had anyone flash because they think the lights are too bright.
Also just got some Phillips X-tremePower +80 9005's to try. From the reviews I found they are supposed to be the best for light output, but the 9005 is not available in the US for some reason. Had to get some that were imported. (Sold in Europe and Asia) The 9006 bulbs are available here, but not 9005????
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 12,413
Likes: 502
From: Rio Rancho NM
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 228
Likes: 2
From: California
I like these http://store.candlepower.com/hirlighting.html scroll to the bottom - $100 for all four but they are REALLY great!
Last edited by Old Horsepower; Jan 2, 2013 at 11:11 PM.
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 109
Likes: 0
From: Mary Esther Florida
The sylvania ZXE bulbs are nice, but they say that the life span is diminished compared normal bulbs. They are warranted for 12 month's, so keep your receipt. I just replaced my low's and fogs with HID's today. So far it's a nice upgrade.
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 10,342
Likes: 667
From: Beverly Hills (Pine Ridge) Florida
I have done the same in all 3 of my vehicles that use these same bulbs. I used SilverStar 9005's and they give out much better light.
And NO they don't blind oncoming drivers. They are still aimed the same as they were, just 10 more watts. Even in my Silverado 2500 HD 4x4 I have never had anyone flash because they think the lights are too bright.
Also just got some Phillips X-tremePower +80 9005's to try. From the reviews I found they are supposed to be the best for light output, but the 9005 is not available in the US for some reason. Had to get some that were imported. (Sold in Europe and Asia) The 9006 bulbs are available here, but not 9005????
Plasticman
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 2,375
Likes: 426
Projectors would be swell but I'm a poor old white man on a fixed income and can't afford $1000 headlights. I have NEVER been flashed by oncoming traffic. The lights are correctly aimed and I'm certain I'm making less glare than the average SUV or raised pickup truck.
Rice is nice.
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 1,340
Likes: 233
From: Placitas NM
St. Jude Contributor '03 & '04
And what have you done to solve the seal problem? The 9006 (low beam bulbs) have a larger dia. boss & seal than the 9005 high beams bulbs, and would allow water/dirt to ingress when using the smaller dia. 9005 (high beam bulbs) in the low beam position. Perhaps using a larger (#-115 3/32" dia.) O-ring might make up the difference. Wonder if they need to be "high temp" (orange/red silicone), since that was what was on the high beams (lows had a yellow O-ring, and havn't a clue what material that is).
Plasticman
Plasticman
rr
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 10,342
Likes: 667
From: Beverly Hills (Pine Ridge) Florida
However, as I mentioned previously, using a larger size O ring (ring material being 3/32" rather than the original 1/16") in #115 (11/16" ID & 7/8" OD) did do the job to fill up the difference in boss diameters.
Just wish I had some silicone O rings in that size, but we will see if they melt......
Plasticman
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 12,413
Likes: 502
From: Rio Rancho NM
HEY! Don't call me ghetto just cause my ride has a 'brick house'!
Projectors would be swell but I'm a poor old white man on a fixed income and can't afford $1000 headlights. I have NEVER been flashed by oncoming traffic. The lights are correctly aimed and I'm certain I'm making less glare than the average SUV or raised pickup truck.
Rice is nice.
Projectors would be swell but I'm a poor old white man on a fixed income and can't afford $1000 headlights. I have NEVER been flashed by oncoming traffic. The lights are correctly aimed and I'm certain I'm making less glare than the average SUV or raised pickup truck.
Rice is nice.
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 1,490
Likes: 257
From: Lake Tapps WA.
Err, that does not appear to work properly. The boss for the high beam and low beam bulbs are different diameter, as well as the O ring. Just putting on the larger diameter O ring on to the small boss does not seal properly.
However, as I mentioned previously, using a larger size O ring (ring material being 3/32" rather than the original 1/16") in #115 (11/16" ID & 7/8" OD) did do the job to fill up the difference in boss diameters.
Just wish I had some silicone O rings in that size, but we will see if they melt......
Plasticman
However, as I mentioned previously, using a larger size O ring (ring material being 3/32" rather than the original 1/16") in #115 (11/16" ID & 7/8" OD) did do the job to fill up the difference in boss diameters.
Just wish I had some silicone O rings in that size, but we will see if they melt......
Plasticman
