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Old Feb 7, 2019 | 01:02 PM
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2015 headlight bulb question

Have the stock bulbs in my 2015, and would like to upgrade. Not going with the LED's, just a better bulb for now. I see Sylvania has a couple of different upgrade bulbs, anyone have any experience with them? Are they that much better? One advertises "100% better vision". That would be nice, don't want to blind oncoming drivers though!LOL
 
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Old Feb 7, 2019 | 01:07 PM
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LED's and Xenons are angled differently so that they don't blind oncoming vehicles.

The stock bulbs you have are too dim to blind people so it is designed to scatter everywhere. DOT required that so that you are more visible to oncoming drivers. If you put in powerful bulbs without changing the lens or the housing, you might wind up pissing people off.
 
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Old Feb 7, 2019 | 01:11 PM
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And I don't want to do that. Just not impressed with the amount of light that the stock bulbs put out. One thing I have to do first, before anything, is adjust the headlights down. Just had the leveling kit put in. I can tell they are aimed too high by the way it hits the backs of cars.
 
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Old Feb 7, 2019 | 01:23 PM
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I am not happy with the output either. My next truck will have LEDs for sure. Our headlights are a little high from the bumper and I always feel bad for people in little convertibles in front of me. Broncos were way worse though.
 
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Old Feb 7, 2019 | 02:06 PM
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Originally Posted by Wiggums
LED's and Xenons are angled differently so that they don't blind oncoming vehicles.

The stock bulbs you have are too dim to blind people so it is designed to scatter everywhere. DOT required that so that you are more visible to oncoming drivers. If you put in powerful bulbs without changing the lens or the housing, you might wind up pissing people off.
Wiggums, where did you get that information? It is patently wrong.

I would suggest the first step in improving headlights to be aiming them properly, or have them aimed properly. Even from the factory, yours are probably not aimed right.

Then, for your second step, if looking for better bulbs (because they are out there)....read this thread: https://www.f150forum.com/f118/easy-...hlight=halogen
It details what bulbs to use, to get quite a bit of extra light. Note, even if changing the bulbs, have the headlights aimed...it can't hurt.
 
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Old Feb 7, 2019 | 02:22 PM
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Thanks for the info! Interesting article. What I think I'll do is, get the bulbs, get them in, then get the lights aimed that same day, so, I don't have any issues with other drivers.
 
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Old Feb 7, 2019 | 02:34 PM
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Originally Posted by 67nukeford
Thanks for the info! Interesting article. What I think I'll do is, get the bulbs, get them in, then get the lights aimed that same day, so, I don't have any issues with other drivers.
That sounds like a perfect plan.

Side note on bulb brand and model selection, I have read on a legitimate lighting forum that the Philips Xtreme Vision is great and the new GE Night Hawk Xenon is at least as good as the Philips Xtreme. I hope that helps.
 
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Old Feb 7, 2019 | 02:48 PM
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Originally Posted by Wiggums
LED's and Xenons are angled differently so that they don't blind oncoming vehicles.

The stock bulbs you have are too dim to blind people so it is designed to scatter everywhere. DOT required that so that you are more visible to oncoming drivers. If you put in powerful bulbs without changing the lens or the housing, you might wind up pissing people off.
HAHAHAHAHA....... totally wrong. It's the high end luxury cars that I can't stand coming at me on a two lane road. Those are THE lights that blind.

OP, I had to lower the beam on my stock lights after I had the level kit put in. It's very easy and requires just a phillips screw driver. Instructions are in your owners manual. Mine had to come way down. I never had much luck with the aftermarket Silver Star lights in my old Sierra. They didn't last long at all.
 
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Old Feb 7, 2019 | 02:55 PM
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Originally Posted by CR172
...........I never had much luck with the aftermarket Silver Star lights in my old Sierra. They didn't last long at all.
That is a valid point, brighter bulbs don't tend to last as long.
Tip: when replacing your bulbs with new ones, be sure not to touch the glass of the new ones....or the old ones. Put one of the functioning old ones in a baggie and set it in the truck as an emergency backup/spare.
 
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Old Feb 7, 2019 | 02:59 PM
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Okay, thanks!
 
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Old Feb 7, 2019 | 02:59 PM
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Yep. I never touch them with bare hands. Same with the tubes in my stereo setup. Whoever designed the 2007 Sierra headlights should've been horse whipped. It was nearly impossible for me to change the bulbs without dismantling the front end. Sure hope Ford did better..........
 
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Old Feb 7, 2019 | 03:02 PM
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Originally Posted by CR172
Yep. I never touch them with bare hands. Same with the tubes in my stereo setup. Whoever designed the 2007 Sierra headlights should've been horse whipped. It was nearly impossible for me to change the bulbs without dismantling the front end. Sure hope Ford did better..........
And that's a good question. How hard is it to change these out? Do you have to remove the light fixture?
 
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Old Feb 7, 2019 | 03:29 PM
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Originally Posted by 67nukeford
And that's a good question. How hard is it to change these out? Do you have to remove the light fixture?
I'm not 100% sure but I believe you have to go in thru the inner fender well lining by removing some fasteners. I haven't had to replace one yet...
 
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Old Feb 7, 2019 | 03:30 PM
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Yeah, just YouTube'd it. Not too awful hard.
 
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Old Feb 7, 2019 | 08:09 PM
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Originally Posted by Kingofwylietx
Wiggums, where did you get that information? It is patently wrong.
Why do Xenon light beams show a very sharp cut-off on the top? That's not to disturb oncoming vehicles. Also, all of my previous cars had Xenon and I can see it regularly adjusting up and down as I drive up and down hills. My truck doesn't do that because it doesn't have Xenon.
 
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