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I am trying to decide what lighting improvements to do on my C5 and considering Euro headlamps, Philips HID, and the PIAA fogs......so I have a few q's:
Will I loose my highbeams? What combo works best? Do I need the Euro headlamps for HIDs to be effective? Are they worth the $? Easy to install? Do they make a huge difference?
Skidmarc,
Hi ya. I've got the T-84s on mine and really like them (upgraded the bulbs to the APC H4's from LAPD). Really notice a big difference and like the light spread of the beam on the exports. The H4 bulbs are Hi/Lo in one bulb so you won't lose any capability. Also, the T-84's are glass and the CONUS versions are plastic. Picked up the T-84's here on the forum for $75.00. Only thing I would recommend is that you also purchase the harness, it's a heavier wire and will withstand the higher draw. I built my own and in hindsight would buy the harness. Install is easy, 3 screws on each assembly to remove it and the same for installation, aim them and you're in business. If you want to build your own I have a diagram that will show you the layout, just let me know.
You might want to try the Sylvania Silver Star bulbs. I replaced the stock bulbs with them and they are really good and cost 19.99 each but get a 10.00 rebate per pair.
Just a brighter halogen bulb. You can get them at Auto Zone and alot of other stores that carry auto parts. I really like them and the cost wasn't off the wall.
Just some advice on SilverStars...I bought into the "brighter bulb" frenzy, only to be disappointed. If you search for silverstars, you will find several people that put them in and then went back to stock bulbs. I left mine in for now, but I am not impressed.
Hmm I was just investigating the silverstars.....was going to order them but now hesitant.....
Also I found the Phillips HID lighting system for $640 which is cheapest I have seen them.....and as an added plus they are 6000k's of light....I am not sure but do think that the ones on the mall are only 4200k's of light...can anyone confirm???????
I am thinking that the euro lamps and phillips HID might be the best way to go......any input???????????
I did the Sylvania Silver Star upgrade on both high and low beams. I can atest to a much whiter light that if you do a side by side comparison with the factory lighting the Silver Stars are easily 25% whiter/brighter! I can actually see now at night compared to the pitiful factory lighting arrangement. As mentioned, they ran me 19.95 each with a $10.00 rebate on a pair. The low beams are 9006's and the high beams 9005's. For $60.00 I feel I got my monies worth. I would never go back to the original factory Sylvania bulbs.
I did the SilverStar upgrade on both my Avalanche and my 'Vette...I like the color (no, not blue) but not really any "brighter." I was somewhat disappointed as well. Nice color, things you look at appear truer in their color but as for seeing farther down the road or lighting up more...didn't do it. :chevy :flag :seeya
Correct, whiter or "bluer" doesn't translate to brighter. I read a lighting engineer's article in a motorcycle magazine that said without more actual lumensand/or a different shaped beam the fad of whiter/blue light is marketing hype and does NOT improve what one can actually see.
Just my .02 worth, but if you subjectively like something--go with it, Grasshopper! :yesnod:
You can see that in the before and after lighting pictures in the Mid America catalog. In the before picture you can see a certain number of the center highway stripes in the after picture you don't see any more stripes but they are whiter which isn't really any better. The one thing they do well is blind the oncoming driver.
Bill