Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums Modifications Aesthetics Sylvania SilverStar Q

Installed them tonight, and it's pretty much what I expected. Good solid light and they're WHITE WHITE! I'm happy.

-John

they're worth the money in my opinion. (and i just got lows in my lows)

Glad you are happy with them, but I just want to clear up confusion for anyone else.

1) Total lumens is like a real dyno plot on a motor.

2) Whiteness, color temp, apparent brightness when you look at your headlights, or look at their light pattern against your garage door, are like, not even the butt-dyno, but more like trying to tell how much power you have by how the exhaust sounds.

Lots of people will testify to the "benefits" of one light or another based on their own experience, but the thing they don't have is that dyno plot, the measure of total lumens.

Real HID looks blue/white (really more purplish white) as a side effect, but puts out an amazing volume of light (big HP, much of which is not apparent).

By copying the glare and dazzle characteristics of HID, the blue-bulb guys are trying to copy the look of HID, but the end result is like, well, putting 30lb 19" wheels on an underpowered car. Great looks, but less go.

Well, more accurately, it could actually be more go than your stock halogens, but it won't be the max go available. For example, the Sylvania XtraVisions are supposedly about 20% brighter than stock bulbs. To make the "White" bulbs, Sylvania adds the filters, reducing the available light output, but the end result may still be, say, 5-10% brighter than stock (but I don't know this number). So, it's possible that they actually do put out more light.

Ironically, though, you could get even more performance from the cheaper, non-filtered versions.

I was looking at the Osram (Euro) Silverstars earlier. I found that the Osram models have a different gas and have a higher pressure. The combination of the two produces a brighter lamp. The Sylvania (US) Silverstars are the same bulb, but they have a blue coating to bump their color temp from the normal 3200K up to 4000K (HID temp).

The blue coating does hinder the output slightly, but the different gas and the higher pressure still allows the bulb to create more light then a stock halogen.

And here is a $10 rebate towards a set: Clicky!

Quote:

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From osram.com
Question:
What does "SILVERSTAR" mean in connection with headlamps? ?

Answer:
The successful technology of the "SUPER" - lamps was developed further. The luminance has been optimised in view of modern headlight systems. The effect: up to 50% more illumination (in comparison with the standard version) in 50m - 100m in front of the car and a longer illumination of 20m, a real Plus of security.
In addition for the first time the H7 has been designed with a silver cap.

This lamp generation fits harmoniously into the shiny look of modern transparent headlamp modules.

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Even the coupon for the offer says that these lights allow you to "enjoy the look" of HIDs. That makes my decision a lot easier.....

And , if I am not mistaken, we can't get the Osrams in North America, can we.

I'd just go for the Philips Premiums (if their site told me where to find them in Canada! ).

Not from a Sylvania dealer. You would have to find a gray importer and the chance of finding a 9000 series (excluding the H4) would be slim. I was just posting that because I know that the Sylvania model is built off of the Osram idea and I couldnt find the info on Sylvania's site Anyone confused yet?

I will dig around more tonite and see if I can locate the lumen rating for a Silverstar. I am curious to see just how much more light is hitting the ground.

Yes you can buy the SilverStars in Canada . I tried to get a group buy going for them but not much interest. You can do a search in that forum for the info. One CEGer posted a place in Mississauga that sells them for around $27 each bulb. As far as the difference in the SilverStars go, the Osram rep told me that ALL of the SilverStars sold in N.America come from their plant in Huntington (I believe that's the name she gave me) including the ones sold in Canada.

Jonnie

All of the Silverstars in N. America (incl Canada) are the blue-filtered variety, so I've read. The ones sold in other markets are clear.

There is a chart on this page:

http://hanker.tripod.com/headlights.htm

Although it shows the same lumen rating for "Cool Blue" and "Silverstar," so I have to believe that the tint is somehow unaccounted for.

At any rate, compare these to the Philips Premium, and you'll see which is the better value.

Anyone see the Sylvania commercial spot with all the ricers talking about the Silverstars? I had never seen a sylvania commercial on TV before. I think they said something about a deal going on right now at their site.