i am looking for some really bright lights and fog lights, but i dont want any of that blue tint stuff because ive been hearing it actually lowers the brightness. are there any high wattage clear lights out there? what brands and models?

thanks

There are overwatt 9007 bulbs out there, but they will melt your headlight wiring due to current draw over the wire's rating (I know, 'cause I've done that). If you want brighter headlamps, your best bet is a relay kit ala:

http://lighting.mbz.org/tech/relays/relays.html

Once the kit is in, pick up a set of Sylvania XtraVision 9007 bulbs. The big plus here is that they're $14.95/pair, compared to the outrageous prices of the PIAA crap. I did this 18 months ago and have been happy ever since. I must note, though, that I rate changes to my car for their improvement to driving rather than the bling factor.

I believe you can use the Xtravisions without playing with the wiring.

Also another bulb to check out is the Phillips Hi Visibility.

Originally posted by kami333
I believe you can use the Xtravisions without playing with the wiring.

You're right. The Xtravisions are direct replacements. I have a set myself. To be completely honest, there's only so much they can do with the stock wattage and the basic halogen design. I didn't notice a huge difference.

how would you guys rate the improvement over stock lights? big or small difference? also what can i replace the fog lights with xtravisions too?

thanks for all your help everyone

I'm quite impressed with the Sylvania SilverStars...you know the ones that use the WRXs in their commercials. I picked a set up for high beams at Advance Auto and they are pretty nice.

And since they are basically the same model as the stock bulb, only upgraded, you won't have any mis-match issues.

What I've heard is that the Xtravisions are basically the same thing as the Silverstars, just without the tint.

I started off changing the stock headlight bulbs out with the Sylvania Silverstar 9007ST for approx. $40.00. BIG improvement. This of course made the fog lamps look a bit dull. So I replaced the stock fog lamps with Nokya Artic White Pro Halogens (Part Number 7215) for H3 for about $25.00. AWESOME. Then the low beams turned out to be brighter than the high beams (due to the fog lamps turning off when the brights were turned on) so I did the fog lamp mod which worked flawlessly. So now my running lights were brownish looking... The stock, 194 blade type CRAP bulbs (heh) were replaced with APC Super White Bulbs (Super Street Series). Those only cost me like $3.00 at AutoZone. While at AutoZone I ran into a friend who hooked me up with a pair of the Nokya Artic White Pro Halogens (Part Number 7214) for like $20.00. So that is ultimately where I am at now... the Nokya's and the APC running lights. I am very satisfied... I mean they aren't HID's - But I suppose its as close as I am going to get. Very bright and very ( <- surprisingly) crisp. Hope this helps!

http://www.neaners.com/lights/headlight_side.jpg
http://www.neaners.com/lights/front_fogs_no_beams.JPG

I think it looks sharp. I shopped around a bit and tried the inexpensive Philips ones I think at first (the $15 Kmart jobbers). I had one in one lamp and the stock in the other. Light output was better, but not much, and it still looked brown/yellow, like the stock ones.

I ended up putting in PIAA's in the 9007's and the fog lights. One are the Xtreme white and the other are the Super white or somehthing like that...alot brighter, and barely any noticable blue color.

That left the wedge bulbs in the corners, which basically looked dirt brown after I changed out the others. I tried some cheapo LED pieces and they looked basically blue, and didn't do anything for lighting...

So, in all my widsom, I ordered the PIAA wedges, for like $11 I think. I believe I got the Xtreme whites, because thats what the headlights where...not even close in color...it looks very ricey, just a blue glow...I can't stand it. I think I will look for a place that sells APC stuff and try to find the wedges you are using. Do you have a part number? In the photos they look really white, not blue at all...is that just the photo? or are they like that always?

-s

Originally posted by Neaners
I started off changing the stock headlight bulbs out with the Sylvania Silverstar 9007ST for approx. $40.00. BIG improvement. This of course made the fog lamps look a bit dull. So I replaced the stock fog lamps with Nokya Artic White Pro Halogens (Part Number 7215) for H3 for about $25.00. AWESOME. Then the low beams turned out to be brighter than the high beams (due to the fog lamps turning off when the brights were turned on) so I did the fog lamp mod which worked flawlessly. So now my running lights were brownish looking... The stock, 194 blade type CRAP bulbs (heh) were replaced with APC Super White Bulbs (Super Street Series). Those only cost me like $3.00 at AutoZone. While at AutoZone I ran into a friend who hooked me up with a pair of the Nokya Artic White Pro Halogens (Part Number 7214) for like $20.00. So that is ultimately where I am at now... the Nokya's and the APC running lights. I am very satisfied... I mean they aren't HID's - But I suppose its as close as I am going to get. Very bright and very ( <- surprisingly) crisp. Hope this helps!

http://www.neaners.com/lights/headlight_side.jpg
http://www.neaners.com/lights/front_fogs_no_beams.JPG

Originally posted by scotter
I think it looks sharp. I shopped around a bit and tried the inexpensive Philips ones I think at first (the $15 Kmart jobbers). I had one in one lamp and the stock in the other. Light output was better, but not much, and it still looked brown/yellow, like the stock ones.

I ended up putting in PIAA's in the 9007's and the fog lights. One are the Xtreme white and the other are the Super white or somehthing like that...alot brighter, and barely any noticable blue color.

That left the wedge bulbs in the corners, which basically looked dirt brown after I changed out the others. I tried some cheapo LED pieces and they looked basically blue, and didn't do anything for lighting...

So, in all my widsom, I ordered the PIAA wedges, for like $11 I think. I believe I got the Xtreme whites, because thats what the headlights where...not even close in color...it looks very ricey, just a blue glow...I can't stand it. I think I will look for a place that sells APC stuff and try to find the wedges you are using. Do you have a part number? In the photos they look really white, not blue at all...is that just the photo? or are they like that always?

-s




I have the PIAA Xtreme Whites in my low(H1), high(9005), and fog(H3) lights. They are very white and bright. I also originally bought the Xtreme White wedge bulbs for the parking lights. They were definitely too blue and ricey. So I ordered PIAA's Super White wedge bulbs and they match perfectly. :)

Originally posted by applesauce683



I have the PIAA Xtreme Whites in my low(H1), high(9005), and fog(H3) lights. They are very white and bright. I also originally bought the Xtreme White wedge bulbs for the parking lights. They were definitely too blue and ricey. So I ordered PIAA's Super White wedge bulbs and they match perfectly. :)

Even with the blue tint on them the Super White wedges work ok? I was looking at www.ttstuff.com and they sell them there, but they all had a blue tint...the Xtremes are definetely too blue - really ricey.

-sean

Originally posted by scotter


Even with the blue tint on them the Super White wedges work ok? I was looking at www.ttstuff.com and they sell them there, but they all had a blue tint...the Xtremes are definetely too blue - really ricey.

-sean


Yeah, they have a blue tint but it is pretty light. They light up white with a slight tint of blue, just enough to match the headlights perfectly. I hate rice and those blue bulbs, so trust me, this doesn't look ricey at all. And make sure you get the Super White, not Platinum Super White.

Thanks! I will order some up today..-S

Before buying any type of tinted or "white" bulb you may want to look at the below links. There have been many discussions regarding tinted bulbs and the myth that they are somehow "brighter" & "whiter":

http://lighting.mbz.org/tech/bulbs/superwhite/superwhite.html

http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=390181&highlight=silverstar

- Kean

Originally posted by Kean
Before buying any type of tinted or "white" bulb you may want to look at the below links. There have been many discussions regarding tinted bulbs and the myth that they are somehow "brighter" & "whiter":

http://lighting.mbz.org/tech/bulbs/superwhite/superwhite.html

http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=390181&highlight=silverstar

- Kean

Short of going HID this is about all you can do. I do agree with some of the facts in the two links but when it comes down to it, my headlamps are brighter AND whiter then what was in there...and unless I am an idiot I can see alot farther down the road with this in then with the stock bulbs - on some back roads that I sometimes have to drive at night, with the PIAA's on bright its like daylight. I spent less then $100 fooling around with different bulbs and ended up getting a better look at NO COST of effectiveness.

My particular issue, is with the wedge bulbs, which are blue sitting in the package and really blue plugged in :) I don't like that look and I am not sure they work all that well for output either (I don't think anybody is driving around at night with just thier wedges on). I just want it to match, so it looks natural. My setup looks like the pics above, as far as color and brightness go minus the neon blue thing I got going on in the corners. :)


Thanks for the links.

-Sean-

also, the bulbs I ended up going with, the PIAA's didn't have much of a tint to them at all...they were just whiter and brighter.

Be careful not to confuse "bright" with "white". The Silverstars are pretty white, and when their output is reflected off of light objects (signs, silver cars), it will appear really bright. This fools many, including myself, into thinking that they are brighter than they are.

However, when illuminating dark objects (such as pavement) its performance suffers compared to a similar quality bulb with no tint (in this case it's the Xtravisions).

There was a thread on NASOIC way back that listed the output in lumens of Silvania's bulbs. Just as you would expect, the brightness went like this: Xtravisions > Silverstars > stock bulbs

http://lighting.mbz.org/tech/bulbs/blue/good/good.html

Hi, I have philips hi vis in my stock headlihts (9007) and I have PIAA xtreme whites in the front parking light and my clear corners/parking light. To me, they look white when just hte parking lights are on, but almost blue when the headlights adjacent are on. Over the past couple months tho, the blueness has faded and they are not so bad.

However, I need to get my headlights to match. My question is, do the silverstars match the color of the xtreme white wedge bulbs, or do I have to go with piaa xtreme whites to match the xtreme white wedges?

The silverstars are less than half price, and if its close enough, I woudl love to get em and save like 30 bucks.

thanks,

dan

Originally posted by applesauce683



Yeah, they have a blue tint but it is pretty light. They light up white with a slight tint of blue, just enough to match the headlights perfectly. I hate rice and those blue bulbs, so trust me, this doesn't look ricey at all. And make sure you get the Super White, not Platinum Super White.

Ok, I got the Super White PIAA wedges today..they do have a blue tint on them, but not nearly as blue as the Xtremes...now, I had to take the headlights off to install them the first time, but I have an aftermarket grill, which means removing alot of stuff to get at the headlights...is it possible at all to reach in there and replace the bulbs without taking out the assembly? Maybe a girl or a little kid with tiny hands? My giant mitts won't cut it...

-sean
dreading having to install these lights... :(

Originally posted by scotter


Ok, I got the Super White PIAA wedges today..they do have a blue tint on them, but not nearly as blue as the Xtremes...now, I had to take the headlights off to install them the first time, but I have an aftermarket grill, which means removing alot of stuff to get at the headlights...is it possible at all to reach in there and replace the bulbs without taking out the assembly? Maybe a girl or a little kid with tiny hands? My giant mitts won't cut it...

-sean
dreading having to install these lights... :(

Hate to break it to you man... the headlights MUST be removed. Even a child hands cannot read all the way back around there... But hey .. Dont forget the pics when you are done!! ;)

Got it done...looks really good. Matches perfectly. They are PIAA's, so they are more expensive then other ones...but honestly...its the only way to go for me...the packages have Japanese on them! they must be good!

I got it lowered now, new Omori boost gauge, headlights all match, different grill....I will post some pics.

Neaners: I like the alternating blinkers at night...I caught myself looking at my own reflection in a building window downtown...looked damn fine. Then I got into my car and looked at the car too...its pretty fine too. :) jk
l8ter

I got a noob question here. Which PIA wedges are the ones I need?? The 168s??

I have a Subaru-specific relay harness from SUVlights.com for sale if anyone is interested (http://suvlights.tripod.com/suvlightscom/).

It works great with stock lamps, but I have aftermarket lights (Prodrive headlamps) and they didn't work quite the way I needed them to.

Originally posted by Rally Punx
I got a noob question here. Which PIA wedges are the ones I need?? The 168s??

Yah, 'wedge bulbs' is what they are called...168, 194 i think its all the same. www.ttstuff.com and goto the lighting section. For 'white' light, not blue or dirt yellow (stock) get the PIAA Super White. They have a blue tint on them in the pic, and and in person, but when they light up its just white.

For the wedges, avoid anything Xtreme White or Platinum White, etc...there isn't enough power going throw there to get through the blue coating on those, so you just have a pale blue glow that barely has any 'light' to it all.

Originally posted by Orson
I have a Subaru-specific relay harness from SUVlights.com for sale if anyone is interested (http://suvlights.tripod.com/suvlightscom/).

It works great with stock lamps, but I have aftermarket lights (Prodrive headlamps) and they didn't work quite the way I needed them to.

Does that provide more constant power to the lights? What about melting the harnesses? On thier site I couldn't find anything specific to what you described...do you have a direct link?

Originally posted by scotter


Does that provide more constant power to the lights? What about melting the harnesses? On thier site I couldn't find anything specific to what you described...do you have a direct link?

Yeah, Orson is absolutely correct (and I would definitely check out what kind of deal he will make you on that harness!).

"Heavy Duty Headlight Wiring Harness increases voltage over stock wiring making your headlights brighter and whiter.

A must for high wattage bulbs. Will dramatically improve performance over thin stock wiring by giving your headlights maximum power. Increases light output of both stock factory bulbs and high wattage bulbs. Fully "street legal" and DOT compliant.

Prevents costly damage such as melted headlight sockets and burnt wiring. Replacement parts available to repair damaged terminals, sockets, wiring, relays. "

Improving the voltage of course is going to increase output. And generally these harness's are made out of some heat resistant type of material (so they wont melt from the higher wattage). That harness in particular is really nice because it is one harness, has relays so it can be hooked directly to the battery, and best part is, NO SPLICING. "Plug and Play" if you would... Anyway, I never recommend altering your stock components (ESPECIALLY WIRING!!) if at all possible. I myself had to remove the stock connector anyway since mine had already melted so it wasn't so much of an issue.

~ Janene

Neaners, you got me straight - trippin'

Yah, I should check it out.

Funny thing is, with my stock lights, I noticed that as the engine idled the lights dimmed a tiny bit, and got brighter as I got the motor running. Something I noticed in almost all the cars I have had before. They don't seem to do that with the PIAA's...but the harness is probably a good idea.



Originally posted by Neaners


Yeah, Orson is absolutely correct (and I would definitely check out what kind of deal he will make you on that harness!).

"Heavy Duty Headlight Wiring Harness increases voltage over stock wiring making your headlights brighter and whiter.

A must for high wattage bulbs. Will dramatically improve performance over thin stock wiring by giving your headlights maximum power. Increases light output of both stock factory bulbs and high wattage bulbs. Fully "street legal" and DOT compliant.

Prevents costly damage such as melted headlight sockets and burnt wiring. Replacement parts available to repair damaged terminals, sockets, wiring, relays. "

Improving the voltage of course is going to increase output. And generally these harness's are made out of some heat resistant type of material (so they wont melt from the higher wattage). That harness in particular is really nice because it is one harness, has relays so it can be hooked directly to the battery, and best part is, NO SPLICING. "Plug and Play" if you would... Anyway, I never recommend altering your stock components (ESPECIALLY WIRING!!) if at all possible. I myself had to remove the stock connector anyway since mine had already melted so it wasn't so much of an issue.

~ Janene

Originally posted by scotter
Neaners, you got me straight - trippin'

Yah, I should check it out.

Funny thing is, with my stock lights, I noticed that as the engine idled the lights dimmed a tiny bit, and got brighter as I got the motor running. Something I noticed in almost all the cars I have had before. They don't seem to do that with the PIAA's...but the harness is probably a good idea.





Here's a direct link:
http://suvlights.tripod.com/suvlightscom/html/wire-harness.htm

If you want the technical justification, here's a direct link to the article on Daniel Stern's site:
http://lighting.mbz.org/tech/relays/relays.html

Yes, with the harness, you avoid the problem of light dimming at idle. Basically, with the OEM set-up, you have power going from the battery, up towards the dash where the relays are, and then back to the front of the car where the headlights are, all using 18 gauge or thinner wire.

A harness uses your current wires as merely "trigger" wires to activate some new relays. These new relays are at the front of the vehicle and use thick 12 gauge wire. Thus, the power goes from the battery to the headlights in a short path.

If you are inclined, you can make the harness yourself. Or, if you are lazy (like me) you can buy one. SUVlights.com is the only place that I know of that makes a Subaru-specific one (we have ground switched circuits).