Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums Modifications Aesthetics Sylvania SilverStar Q

I've read all the old posts, and it seems like you can't go wrong w/ getting the SilverStar 9005s. However, I remember looking at them sometime last year, and they were $30 per bulb. Was at AutoZone tonight, and they had them there for $19.99. Is this the real thing? Did they drop in price that much?

I know others have bought them @ AutoZone, but they were next to the pseudo-HID-wannabe blue bulbs, so I just wanted to make sure before I splurge the $40.

Packaging and all looked authenthic, but ya never know.

-John

Yup, should be 19.95/bulb last that I can remember. Can't go wrong... wont be blue... wont be yellow... will be a nice white. You won't regret it...

Bob

I know it's probably been brought up a million times, but what are the main differences between the Silverstars and the Cool Blue bulbs?

The main difference is the brightness and color temperature of them. I personally have the Cool Blue bright bulbs in my Bright socket, and Silverstar bright bulbs in the Normal socket. The result? Headlights that are bright as hell, and me having to pay more attention to when there is oncomming traffic when I have my brights on! lol. -Nick

For a while, autozone was selling them in two-packs for $24.99. This was after I dropped $22 each a few months ago.

What's the difference? A blue coating that actually HINDERS the lights. See this link.

http://www.overboost.com/story.asp?id=102

Every time I read it, I get cautious about buying fancy bulbs. Also, the reflector is an important part of the mix. SCC did a test on fog lights a couple of years ago, and their winner threw a lot of light further than most bright headlights. They used 55-watt bulbs. Of course they had huge reflectors. They ended up putting them on their project Sentra.

There has been a lot of talk (almost unanimously positive) here on the forums about the Silverstars. It has probably been posted before, but Sylvania has a $10 rebate available for Silverstars (when you buy two):

http://www.sylvania.com/auto/pdfs/coupon.pdf

Allow me to add to the negative.

If you want the max light output, get the Sylvania Xtravision. It's the same bulb and internal gas charge of the blue-filtered Silverstars without the light-filtering blue coating, or the increased scatter and glare of "blue" wavelength light (esp in bad weather.)

Better yet, get Philips Premiums, $30/pair from http://www.autooptiks.com/front.htm. Even more light output, and available in high and low beam.

There is no inherent advantage to high "color temps" or blue-white light, and "looking brighter" doesn't mean it really is brighter.

But, if you want that fashionable faux-HID look, the Silverstars are an OK choice. Get the Cool-Blues if all of your friends have them, and you want to be laughed at by anyone over the age of 25.

I thought the silverstars are ultrawhite (non blued)... ?