PIAA SuperWhites proved to be crap in testing - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

gsxr · #1 11-11-2002, 05:54 PM

Hi all,

Check out the great bulb tests at these URL's (one each for H1 and H7 bulbs, plus a separate test):

http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/product_test/product_test_story.php?id=10357

http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/product_test/product_test_story.php?id=10356

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

To me, this was fascinating information. First, all "standard" bulbs are not created equal. I always thought all bulbs of a given wattage just put out "x" amount of light, normally measured in lumens. Well, that's generally true, but the pattern of output varies between bulb mfr's & brands! That was news to me. Also, the formal specifications for each bulb type (H1, H3, H4, etc) have a range - say, 1600 lumens, +/- 15%. Crappy bulbs (like the PIAA) may put out light at the bottom of that range (say, ~1350 lumens) and good bulbs will put out near the max (say, ~1750 lumens). The PIAA SuperWhites not only failed geometrically (output pattern), they drew more than the max allowable current (wattage), AND put out less than the legal limit for it's type (H1)!! Very sad. Also sad was the fact that some otherwise reputable mfr's bulbs were poor performers - notably Hella standard bulbs.

All the tests are for "stock" wattage bulbs. These are the ones you want to use if you lights are stock, or especially if you don't have relays installed. (If you have relays, AND E-code lights, then you can use high-wattage bulbs and get even more output. If you don't, high-wattage units either won't provide much improvment OR will blow fuses / melt connectors.) The "good" bulbs are the Phillips Vision Plus & Osram Silver Stars, which claim "50%" more light, and they really do perform well - at the top of bulb type (Hx) specs in all measurements. A couple of other brands also did very well, but they were oddballs we don't see over here in the States (at least I've never seen, or heard, of them before.) Also of note is that the "blue" bulbs do indeed put out less light than non-"blue" bulbs, regardless of how "white" their output may be. There's more information on this phenomenon at http://lighting.mbz.org/

To buy these nifty bulbs, the only sources I've found are either Dan Stern, who you can contact at dan@mbz.org , or you can order them from www.powerbulbs.com (UK based, but they ship worldwide). Otherwise these bulbs are nearly impossible to locate in the USA. They're roughly $30-35 per pair, which isn't all that bad... especially since they put out a ton more light than the PIAA's, at less than half the cost!

For the record, I have Hella E-codes on my 123, and 500E Euro lights on both my 124's. I just installed relays on the one 124 and tried some high-wattage bulbs... and all I can say is, holy crap! It's damn near daylight on high beam with the driving lights on as well! The low beam is not as impressive as high, but still awesome. I highly recommend installing relays - with proper sized cables & fusing - if you have the expertise to do so. It's worth the effort (AFTER installing E-code lights, of course.) My voltage drop was roughly 1.0 volts at the bulb without relays, and dropped to 0.3 and 0.5 volts with relays and heavy cable (measured at the bulb, for low and high beam respectively.)

Just thought I'd share what I learned...

Oh, and a special thanks to Dan Stern for explaining some of the theory behind the operation of the various bulbs!

Regards,

Ashman · #2 11-12-2002, 03:43 AM

as far as the relays, has this affected the ecterior bulb out sensor?

I had planned on rewiring my car with the relays, I already have everything to do it, and the knowhow to do it, but I have been skeptical about it since I heard that it will cause the bulb out indicator to go on.

But since I decided I like the light output enough as is, I'm not planning on changing it until I slap in xenon. then my fogs will become my high beams flashers, and my new amg bumper will house the fog and driving lights depending on what I can fit and if I like the look of the lights that will fit it.

Alon

gsxr · #3 11-12-2002, 08:49 AM

Yup - the relays make the "bulb-out" idiot light come on. But it doesn't come on when I turn on the city lights (triggered by my old fog light switch). So if that teeny city light bulb can make the sensor happy, I think I can find a way to fool it with a proper sized resistor in parallel with each relay coil. I'll be doing more research on that.

UPDATE: I had BergWerks modify my "bulb out module", which cost about $80. That works great! Also, I believe the fog light circuit (now my city lights) does not trigger the bulb-out light, even on a stock 124. So the city light bulbs weren't keeping the module happy, the module didn't care in the first place.

If you go Xenon, meaning the H4 HID replacements that are ~$500+, you can now get ones that have high & low beam. Or, you can get 500E Euro lights from PUMA that have a driving light instead of the fogs (like mine). Then you use HID for the H4/low beam, and use the H3 driving lens for high beam (and/or flashing). Using your fogs won't do much, the lens creates a wide, flat, low-aimed beam. Then you put fogs down in the lower bumper, where they belong in the first place (and where the 500E has them from the factory.)

Michael · #4 11-12-2002, 01:06 PM

I'm quite happy with my PIAA bulbs in my 500E (E-code) and find them, in this application, very white and very bright; they are far superior to Hella "+30" bulbs. FWIW

2phast · #5 11-12-2002, 01:10 PM

I agree about the Halogen bulbs. I have used many different types and the Piaa's are a joke, especially at $80 for a set. I have bought chinese made bulbs off of Ebay for $10 that put out much more light.

Finally gave up on the Halogens altogether and went with HID's. Retrofitting these into Euro headlight assemblies takes a bit of tweaking but the results were worth the effort.

gsxr · #6 09-23-2003, 11:31 AM

AutoExpress has new test results up for 2003. Same deal, PIAA is horrendously overpriced & has only mediocre performance, but read for yourself:

Standard bulbs: http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/product_test/product_test_story.php?id=39920

Plus 30 bulbs: http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/product_test/product_test_story.php?id=39919

Plus 50 bulbs: http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/product_test/product_test_story.php?id=39917

Enjoy...

KNanthrup · #7 09-26-2003, 02:40 AM

I have the PIAA superwhites also, and I would have to say I was somewhat disapointed in them. The funny thing is I had a set of crappy $25 APC bulbs that were much brighter previously.. although their quality was crap and burnt out in a few months.

The thing is, my PIAA bulbs are rated as DOT approved whereas those APC's were not. I think brightness is one thing and quality is another. I think that in euro spec headlight assemblies it would be really awesome. They are brighter than the original Sylvania silverstars that I tried, and they also have been lasting a good while... but then again for $70 they should...

#8 09-30-2003, 03:35 PM

Dan does a great job of testing and telling the truth about what's out on the market. He is doing a great job. And he is my only source for bulbs. His prices are right and he ships stuff out pronto. Consider him a prime (and only) source for headlight questions and answers.