C5 OE Headlight up grade
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 3,680
Likes: 1,040
C5 OE Headlight up grade
I'm sorta new to my C5 and want much better headlight power, both brightness and range... I'm asking for user input from y'all not a sales pitch... I value CF knowledge... Thanx
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 5,747
Likes: 224
From: Hillsboro Oregon
www.shop.radioflyerinnovation
RF has several different headlight options and is a great vendor
Also
http://www.jwmotorsportsllc.com
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 1,761
Likes: 235
From: North Carolina
Check out
www.shop.radioflyerinnovation
RF has several different headlight options and is a great vendor
Also
http://www.jwmotorsportsllc.com
www.shop.radioflyerinnovation
RF has several different headlight options and is a great vendor
Also
http://www.jwmotorsportsllc.com
Radioflyer's ACA Xenon HID's, HID fogs, and Switchback LED DRL's and clear corner lenses. Installed in my 98, late 2013 without any problems to date
Last edited by MAC5; Sep 23, 2017 at 05:47 PM.
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 4,704
Likes: 239
From: Redondo Beach CA
You might want to check for changes in the market before you make a decision.
Phillips has just brought out a line of plug and play led replacements for incandescent bulbs, and have a full set of bulbs for the c5, if I read the info correctly, save for the head lights. No ballast required, plug and play.
Of course, the headlights, they gave no info, if safety regulations jammed them up, or if the headlights are on the way.
In any event, I thought I would mention this new product. I would be bummed if I spent a bunch of money on obsolete tech that can now be replaced by a plug in bulb.
Of course, I would also be bummed if I hit something at night while waiting for phillips to make a bulb.
I live in the city, the stockers are fine for that.
Phillips has just brought out a line of plug and play led replacements for incandescent bulbs, and have a full set of bulbs for the c5, if I read the info correctly, save for the head lights. No ballast required, plug and play.
Of course, the headlights, they gave no info, if safety regulations jammed them up, or if the headlights are on the way.
In any event, I thought I would mention this new product. I would be bummed if I spent a bunch of money on obsolete tech that can now be replaced by a plug in bulb.
Of course, I would also be bummed if I hit something at night while waiting for phillips to make a bulb.
I live in the city, the stockers are fine for that.
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 11,874
Likes: 263
From: Arlington Va Current ride 04 vert, previous vettes: 69 vert, 77 resto mod
there are brighter version stock lights and then there is the set that you need to trim the bulb base a little bit. these are plug and play. let me find the write up
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 1,071
Likes: 14
From: Odessa TX
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 5,747
Likes: 224
From: Hillsboro Oregon
The main problem with the C5 headlights is the housing and beam pattern. I doubt that any plugin bulb in the OEM housings will ever produce a well-defined beam of light that would equal a HID in a projector housing.
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
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 5,747
Likes: 224
From: Hillsboro Oregon
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 11,874
Likes: 263
From: Arlington Va Current ride 04 vert, previous vettes: 69 vert, 77 resto mod
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 2,017
Likes: 169
From: SE VA VA
I really like the Radioflyer bi-Xeons.
Seem to be whiter/brighter than my C7 lights.
Install is more tedious than difficult, but that applies to any headlight replacement.
IDK why I waited as long as I did to make the upgrade. 'Tis worth the price, IMHO.
Seem to be whiter/brighter than my C7 lights.
Install is more tedious than difficult, but that applies to any headlight replacement.
IDK why I waited as long as I did to make the upgrade. 'Tis worth the price, IMHO.
Last edited by aj98; Sep 24, 2017 at 10:06 AM.
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 1,325
Likes: 239
From: Missi'ppi... no mo' MO for me!!
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...t-upgrade.html
Most all the aftermarket HID fans won't like my recommendation. Are you familiar with Daniel Stern Lighting? His sole recommendation is GM-OEM European-coded headlights. They're designed for Autobahn speeds, so their cast pattern and luminescence exceed USDOT standards and satisfy European (read that "German) DOT requirements.
None of the aftermarket HID vendors can make that claim, but they make a shipton of money on those "Made in China" lights. (they ain't made nowheres else)
The knock on the OEM E-code lights is they're not as bright up close; the pattern cast isn't as well-defined, and they're more expensive. HIDs are miserable in rolling hills, and extreme foreground lighting isn't important nor desirable, though at under 50mph they seem to be "illuminating". The E-code lights are expensive, though. Mebbe you're one who might agree with me in following Daniel Stern's advice.
Most all the aftermarket HID fans won't like my recommendation. Are you familiar with Daniel Stern Lighting? His sole recommendation is GM-OEM European-coded headlights. They're designed for Autobahn speeds, so their cast pattern and luminescence exceed USDOT standards and satisfy European (read that "German) DOT requirements.
None of the aftermarket HID vendors can make that claim, but they make a shipton of money on those "Made in China" lights. (they ain't made nowheres else)
The knock on the OEM E-code lights is they're not as bright up close; the pattern cast isn't as well-defined, and they're more expensive. HIDs are miserable in rolling hills, and extreme foreground lighting isn't important nor desirable, though at under 50mph they seem to be "illuminating". The E-code lights are expensive, though. Mebbe you're one who might agree with me in following Daniel Stern's advice.
