Anyone heard of SYLVANIA's "SilverStar" Headlights?
 

I came across this ad October's edition of Car & Driver (pg. 42).

Evidently BMW uses this type of halogen lamp on some of their models.

"Silverstar. The highest performing Halogen."

"DRIVE THE BRIGHTEST LIGHT.
SilverStar- the brightest 100% street legal halogen on the road- burning with a white-hot intensity that sets you and your ride apart from the pack. It's the one halogen that captures the high performance look of HID..."

Aww, here's the ad!

http://www.a-p-group.com/cklasse/SilverStar.Ad.JPG
So what do you guys think of this? Seems like it doesn't look like a fake HID, or cheap/wannabe like.... yet just a true, tasteful, extreme halogen lamp.

You will notice that they talk only about how they LOOK, not how well they allow you to see.

I fully expect that they will not improve night vision. If they did, they would have touted that in the ad. In fact, this blue color effect is because of a different wave length of energy. That's what color is, different wavelengths. So I expect that this particular wavelength actually provides less vision because there is the same amount of energy, but at a less efficient wavelength.

The reason that the HID's give MORE vision is that they provide more energy. Maybe this wavelength is less efficient, but since there is so much more energy, it provides more vision in spite of the less efficient wavelength.

My guess,

I agree. Nothing talking about performance, merely looks.

True Xenon lights appear blue, but the light is very white, unlike the warm yellowish cast we're used to with halogen lamps.

Remember when all we could get in North America was those lousy sealed-beam lights? We all longed for halogens!!

David, are you volunteering to be a test bed for the "new" lights?:D

Here's their website... it might shed some light (no pun intended! ;) )

http://www.sylvania.com/auto/silverstar.htm

John...

I just might. I don't think they're much money? I'll check one of the retailers via the internet and report back.

What are my options for increasing the intensity of the headlights on my 1991 560SEL?

Regarding blue bulbs and optimum bulb choice, you have to read Daniel Stern's FAQ section on the mbz.org website:

http://lighting.mbz.org/tech/info/bulbs/blue/
http://lighting.mbz.org/

also check:

http://faq.auto.light.tripod.com/

The website states the following:

"SilverStar's color temperature is a white hot 4,000 K, far higher than other halogens on the market and comparable to High Intensity Discharge headlights.

SilverStar shines with a luminance up to 20% greater than other halogens.

A sharp profile, silver tip, and amethyst blue coating create a dramatic, high-end, crisp, clean look."

Of course I can't find the price on them now... but if I recall correctly, they were just a few dollars more than standard halogen bulbs.

I'll do some more research.

hey david,

i have used these and they do improve the brightness of light...
they do have a better shine...

i've used these instead of other lights, in my integra and i was really impressed with their light output.

hope this helps...
btw...it's worth the extra few bucks for these bulbs...

silverstars
 

david

i have 3 pairs of these in my '02 ford explorer. i'm using some 9005's as fog light bulbs.

i am really impressed with them.

they do NOT have the fake looking blue cast most of the hid wannabes have.

they are 60/70 watt as opposed to standard 55/60.
my biggest gripe is they cost more [about $25.00] than the osram silverstar +50% h4's i have to replace the philips vision plus when they go, for my euro's.

i think they are worth a try.

put one in one side and do a side by side comparison.

here is a day time [overcast + slightly off center] picture.

peter

hey ebennz,
sounds like you're getting bent over...
i paid 12.99 each...total was about 26.00 for both
you're 24.00 higher...where are you buying them at?

neiman marcus automotive supplies?

:D

Well, I can't try them if I wanted to. No H7 fit.

lighting
 

The best "high-intensity" halogen bulbs I have ever found and used was PIAA "super whites". They are in my estimation the best halogen bulbs you can buy. They are definitely brighter and have a better look/color to them. They are not Xenon "wannabies", just true bright white(bordering on blue spectrum) bulbs. I bought a pair of low beam bulbs for my now sold BMW 318i and it was definitely worth the $85. They usually sell these bulbs in off-roading centers. I still have yet to get them for my 300E's low beam/high beam setup due to the expense. -- Mikey

Wow... that does look nice... very tasteful, definitly!
I'm gonna get a pair of those soon! I'll keep you guys updated.

THanks for the help guys!

mushedroom

i did not buy all 6 at the same time.
the best price i got [after seriously working the manager] was 20.00 each.

i'd like to know where you got them for 12.99 each, providing it wasn't "midnight auto supply".

lol

david,

i can't say how pleased i am with them, they are VERY EXCELLENT!!
it also helps that ford has started to put decent lights on some of their vehicles.

you know you can get h7 siverstars at http://www.powerbulbs.com/ free world wide shipping and the euro versions always seem alittle brighter.
i'll post a picture of my "euro"h4 silverstars
peter

euro osram silverstars
 

david

http://www.powerbulbs.com/
click on osram, scroll to h7 options.

good company to deal with,good products.

peter

Sorry guys, I accidentally hit "post new" instead of "post reply" when i posted my findings about piaa vs. sylvania. My info is under the string/heading of "comparison". -- Mikey

This is the best place I have found to buy quality high power bulbs. http://www.hioutputbulbs.com/

The silver stars are kind of expensive, but they are far superior to the hella optilux lights. I got some hella lights and they break all the time like I have had 3 sets in one month. The silver stars, I was waiting for them to come out christmas of last year and I bought like six sets of them, and I really like them. I gave a few sets to my dad and one to my brother. THey are in all of our trucks, and in my middle brothers 1987 300D, they are really good.

ATTN: MUSHEDROOM
 

yo mushedroom

you said YOU can get silverstars for 12.99 each.

WHERE??? i want to stock up.

i've only seen sylvania cool blues for this price.

are you sure they were silverstars?

thanks

peter

i should have stocked up...
darn...
i'm positive they are silver stars cause i looked at the hardcase packaging last night...

ugh

i went back to the shop and they told me it was a sale price...

too good to be true
 

honestly, i think the best option if you want high quality light and the best way to improve night vision is to pay the price and go with PIAA bulbs.

my suggestion is the PIAA superwhites. if you want the HID look you can get PIAA super plasma, but the blue wavelength detracts from night vision. the superwhites are teh all around best, brightest halogen light. then for the fog lights, id go Ion Crystal, also by PIAA. you'll pay i think $60 for a pair of superwhites and $25 for a pair of ion crystal which emit the yellow beam.

cheers
eric

I have 9004 silverstar for sale
 

I just bought them and decided to upgrade to euro headlights.
$35..will ship to u.

Are they H7s? I need them to fit my 95 C280.

david

have you checked out www.powerbulbs.com ?

h7 osram silverstars.

peter

No...these fit the US spec headlights
 

H7 is more like H1