Greetings,

There have been quite a few discussions on this board about the faux HID lights (like the Sylvania Silverstar). An excellent resource on the web is Daniel Stern's lighting FAQ. The topic really comes down whether upgraded bulb produces higher measurable output, or simply tricks the brain with a colour filter.

In the case of the Sylvania Silverstar 9003, the light output is actually *less* than the unfiltered form of the bulb. Your brain interprets the "whiter" light as "brighter", which in fact is not valid. Filtered bulbs are appropriate in some applications (i.e. home lighting), but not automotive -- you want more illumination, not "whiter" light as advertised. True HID lights deliver on both criteria, with an expected price of admission.

If you want to best available headlamp bulbs, buy the Sylvania XtraVision series for your vehicle (9003XV?). They are unfiltered bulbs with improved manufacturing techniques that produce 20-30% *measurable* increased illumination. If you can obtain genuine Osram Silverstar H4's for your vehicle, that would be even better (but not DOT-compliant).

-DM

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1995 E420 SE black/black
2004 Volvo V70R AWD