After Market Headlights
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Elder User
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 805
Likes: 1
From: Small town Iowa
After Market Headlights
Anyone know whats the best aftermarket 9004 headlights are? I was Looking at some PIAAs they look preety good anyone tried them?
1994 f150 4.9L 2wd
E40D 3.55s
Heavy tow package
1994 f150 4.9L 2wd
E40D 3.55s
Heavy tow package
Hotshot
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 11,958
Likes: 228
I recently posted about this in a few threads.
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/7...headlight.html
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/7...upgrading.html
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/7...rness-mod.html
Stay away from all those colored bulbs. This includes Silverstar. They are all crap!
GE Nighthawk (NOT SPORT) and Sylvania Xtravison are a couple of the bulbs available here in North America that actually produce more light than the OEM. Wagner makes a bulb like this as well.
I have Xtravisions in my truck right now. My Dad has a 97 Cobra and it has the Nighthawks. Given they are in different cars, I think that the Nighthawk produces a bit more light.
The GE Nighthawk is available from Amazon with buy one get one free. So you can buy a pair and get a free pair or buy a single and get a free single.
There is also a headlight relay kit available from LMC that will allow your headlights to get the full voltage since the power is running through the headlight switch anymore and the headlight switch may last longer because it doesn't get hot.
If your trucks lenses are not in good shape then no matter what bulb you have the light output will be reduced.
This product works. I have seen first hand on some friends vehicles. Its available at Advance Auto and Wally World.
http://www.myheadlight.com/
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/7...headlight.html
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/7...upgrading.html
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/7...rness-mod.html
Stay away from all those colored bulbs. This includes Silverstar. They are all crap!
GE Nighthawk (NOT SPORT) and Sylvania Xtravison are a couple of the bulbs available here in North America that actually produce more light than the OEM. Wagner makes a bulb like this as well.
I have Xtravisions in my truck right now. My Dad has a 97 Cobra and it has the Nighthawks. Given they are in different cars, I think that the Nighthawk produces a bit more light.
The GE Nighthawk is available from Amazon with buy one get one free. So you can buy a pair and get a free pair or buy a single and get a free single.
There is also a headlight relay kit available from LMC that will allow your headlights to get the full voltage since the power is running through the headlight switch anymore and the headlight switch may last longer because it doesn't get hot.
If your trucks lenses are not in good shape then no matter what bulb you have the light output will be reduced.
This product works. I have seen first hand on some friends vehicles. Its available at Advance Auto and Wally World.
http://www.myheadlight.com/
Hotshot
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 11,958
Likes: 228
The Silverstar and the Xtravision are close to the same thing except the Xtravision does not have the blue / amethist tint on it. Any tint will reduce the amount of light coming out. It also makes the bulb get hotter. That is why so many have complained about the short life span. The light is more white which gives the optical illusion that they are brighter.
The silverstar is probably one of the best of the tinted bulbs though.
I had Silverstars in my truck for a couple years. They are whiter and do look nice, but in bad weather they suck. I put a pair of Xtravisions in and I can see much better. Ther periperal lighting is better as well as distance.
I have done quite a bit of research on halogen headlight bulbs and everything I have read indicates the same thing that the tinted bulbs are not actually as bright.
I read one article about a university testing different bulbs and none of the tinted ones actually put out more lumens. In most cases they put out less than the regular OEM bulbs.
Daniel Stern Lighting Consultancy and Supply
The silverstar is probably one of the best of the tinted bulbs though.
I had Silverstars in my truck for a couple years. They are whiter and do look nice, but in bad weather they suck. I put a pair of Xtravisions in and I can see much better. Ther periperal lighting is better as well as distance.
I have done quite a bit of research on halogen headlight bulbs and everything I have read indicates the same thing that the tinted bulbs are not actually as bright.
I read one article about a university testing different bulbs and none of the tinted ones actually put out more lumens. In most cases they put out less than the regular OEM bulbs.
Daniel Stern Lighting Consultancy and Supply
Hotshot
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 11,958
Likes: 228
Yes the do. That is how the get the whiter light.
It is a very light blue amethyst tint.
Look here.
OSRAM SYLVANIA - SilverStar
If you have silverstar sealed beams then the halogen bulb inside the sealed beam has the coating on it.
Silverstar is probably the only colored / tinted bulb I would consider using. If that is the look you are going for then this is probably the best choice.
It is a very light blue amethyst tint.
Look here.
OSRAM SYLVANIA - SilverStar
If you have silverstar sealed beams then the halogen bulb inside the sealed beam has the coating on it.
Silverstar is probably the only colored / tinted bulb I would consider using. If that is the look you are going for then this is probably the best choice.
Thread Starter
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Elder User
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 805
Likes: 1
From: Small town Iowa
In LMC truck they have Euro headlights that have the clear lenses do you think these would be better than OEMs
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Hotshot
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 11,958
Likes: 228
Some will say they are better.
Personally, I don't think so. I also don't like the "euro" ones because they show all the rock dings and bug stains.
If your lenses are bad try that crystal view stuff.
From what I have seen new OEM ones made by Ford work the best.
I have aftermarket replacements made by TYC and they are just about as good. I actually got them from JCW for less than 100 bucks.
My friend had a pair of cheapo ones that didn't cast the beam properly and the lighting was not good at all.
Personally, I don't think so. I also don't like the "euro" ones because they show all the rock dings and bug stains.
If your lenses are bad try that crystal view stuff.
From what I have seen new OEM ones made by Ford work the best.
I have aftermarket replacements made by TYC and they are just about as good. I actually got them from JCW for less than 100 bucks.
My friend had a pair of cheapo ones that didn't cast the beam properly and the lighting was not good at all.
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Post Fiend
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 11,289
Likes: 6
From: Lakewood, Ohio
nothing says silverstars are blue on your link.
it is 10 degrees out or i would go out and look at mine.
i know what blue lights look like and these do not look blue.
if you want to think so that is fine but you will not convince me that they are blue tinted.
it is 10 degrees out or i would go out and look at mine.
i know what blue lights look like and these do not look blue.
if you want to think so that is fine but you will not convince me that they are blue tinted.
Thread Starter
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Elder User
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 805
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From: Small town Iowa
What is your opinion on the super duty 1994-1996 OEM fog lights or would you go with aftermarkets Btw im lookin on JCW and im not findin those TYCs how long ago did you get them.
New User
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 7
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ive read before that ford wiring to the headlights arent as heavy of a guage as other manufacturers so no matter what headlight u get they wont be as bright as on another vehicle.
Anyways i have the silver stars in mine, not much different than factorys, if i could go back in time id have just saved the 40 dollars and went to the bar.
Anyways i have the silver stars in mine, not much different than factorys, if i could go back in time id have just saved the 40 dollars and went to the bar.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 848
Likes: 1
From: Bethel Park, Pa
i have nice clear (not blue) silverstar ultras in my truck, i had them in my dads car too
they are amazing but in rainy weather they kinda suck, but goin through those country roads on most nights the high beams you can see for miles
i would like to try a different kind just because these lights suck in rainy weather and i live in pittsburgh, go figure
they are amazing but in rainy weather they kinda suck, but goin through those country roads on most nights the high beams you can see for miles
i would like to try a different kind just because these lights suck in rainy weather and i live in pittsburgh, go figure
Hotshot
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 11,958
Likes: 228
Left Original Equipment Style Headlamp : JC Whitney: Auto Parts & Accessories
Right Original Equipment Style Headlamp : JC Whitney: Auto Parts & Accessories
Hotshot
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 11,958
Likes: 228
If you look at this picture you can see it.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/NIB-S...Q5fAccessories
I know that most of the blue bulbs are tinted with an darker blue that is more obvious but the silverstars have it too.