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Lighting choices

btfarm

btfarm

America First!
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Location
Sandwich, Illinois
I need to replace my 9006 low beam headlight bulbs and 9145 fogs. I don't want some super bright stuff but I'd like something better than stock that lasts a long time.
Suggestions?
 
If you wanna stick with Basic Halogen, Philips Xtreme Vision's are the best out now.

If you wanna go HIR, Philips 9011's with the "Tab Mod" will get you almost HID Brightness with Halogen.
 
RI Chevy Silveradoman said:
I would go with HID's. James is THE GO TO guy on light upgrades. ;)
Click to expand...

Honestly, unless you spend the couple $100 and do an OE HID Setup, the HID Kits out now aren't even worth it.

I mean hell, you can get an HID System for about $20 now. That's less than ALOT of Halogen Bulbs out now, that...chances are, will outlast the HID Kit, and cost you less in the long run (replacing Ballasts & Bulbs)
 
A headlight harness is a good place to start. GM sized the wiring pretty small, and voltage drop is pretty common across the harness. And I believe with a quick file job, you can fit in a 9005 high beam bulb into the low beam housing. Or you can go with a set of 9011 bulbs(WAGNER I believe is making a replacement for the HIR bulbs, it's wha I have in my high beams now).

http://shnu.us/HIR%20Trimming%20Stock.htm

Some more bulb stuff i found.

http://www.gm-trucks.com/forums/topic/152495-2014-sierrasilverado-bulb-sizes/
 
What's the downside to these Silverstar units using stock wiring? I'm not in a mood to drop $50+ per bulb. Remember, I was around when halogen sealed beams were the new hot setup...

bulbL.jpg bulbF.jpg
 
I bought yellow HID's from James a while back for the fogs...they are bright and I have had no issues whatsoever with them( maybe because they don't get used as often?)

I still run HID's in the OEM Denali projectors, but I've replaced bulbs and ballasts a couple times...

my biggest issue with the HID's is sometimes one won't light and I have to turn them off for a minute and then turn back on(it's not a hot strike issue, because I start my 01 with the parking brake on to eliminate that.
 
I run the fogs every day that I'm driving in the dark (5-6 months?) to light the roadside for small animals since I run 60 miles of 2 lane rural each day. For that reason I want white light. Yellow is great for fog but I really see little fog.
 
These are pretty bright...I can see off the sides of all the roads I drive even when clear...I use mine a lot, but not 50-60%...maybe 30-40% of the time...I find the yellow better for rain as well as fog...may not be optimal for clear, but as stated these are plenty bright enough to make up for being yellow...
 
Silverstars are junk and are DIMMER than the OE Bulbs...don't believe the Hype on em.

If you want a Bulb that's cheap, that can get had at most Auto Parts Stores, but is still an Upgrade over the OE Bulbs, get the Philips Vision Plus.
 
Mad Maxx said:
Honestly, unless you spend the couple $100 and do an OE HID Setup, the HID Kits out now aren't even worth it.

I mean hell, you can get an HID System for about $20 now. That's less than ALOT of Halogen Bulbs out now, that...chances are, will outlast the HID Kit, and cost you less in the long run (replacing Ballasts & Bulbs)
Click to expand...

James: The kits that I bought from you a while ago are excellent! And bright! Well worth the money spent, and a tremendous upgrade.
 
HIDs are great, when they work. I bought kits from Mad Maxx and I've already had to change a ballast. However, the HID kits are so cheap now and the light is superior, I would never go back to Halogens.

The key to HIDs is to use the right housings. I had to scroll through hundreds of housings on eBay to find the right ones. You need many vertical lines in the mirrors, not the squares. Those with many vertical line like 1/2" apart will give the best light dispersion. You also need a deflector cup with a short, thick arm that mounts to the back mirrored wall, not the top. The ones that mount at the top will melt out of their mounts.

I posted links here back in spring of this to the right housings for HIDs, but a subsequent check and that eBay retailer no longer had them. They said to check back periodically. Point being, these housings aren't always a available, but the wrong kind seem to be always available. Regardless of what you buy, you will need to do the "Matuva Mod" so that the housings sit flush with the grill. It's an easy mod.
 
I run PIAA lamps in the camaro and they are awesome. Pure white light. Good in the rain (dark) as well. Only thing is they're going on 8 years old now and I'm not sure if they offer the same 'line' of bulbs (PIAA Platinum) or if the quality is still there.

James is spot on with aftermarket HID.. Most are not worth ones time. (or if you love changing parts out all the time)
 
Good one, Leo!

hey Mike, you walked right into that one. However, I didn't say much because I remember Sealed-beams! :D
 
JiFaire said:
Good one, Leo!

hey Mike, you walked right into that one. However, I didn't say much because I remember Sealed-beams! :D
Click to expand...

Only sealed beams? I figured you would have said carbide generators, or maybe a little more modern with an acetelene tank.
 
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