Let there be (head)light!

"RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars" (rallydarkstrike)
10/03/2016 at 19:59 • Filed to: headlights

Hi fellow Oppos!

I noticed on my way home from work last night that the left side of the road was markedly less bright than usual, finding out when I get home that my left side DRL/high beam filament is burnt out in that bulb. Luckily, I kept my two old factory, OEM bulbs from the Accent as spares, popped one of those in, and all is good now....

That being said....the reason I upgraded to Sylvania bulbs in the first place was that I found the stock bulbs somewhat dim compared to the Sylvania SilverStars I upgraded to. (The lights are currently a bit lopsided now- dimmer OEM bulb on the left, brighter remaining SilverStar on the right). The Sylvanias lasted two years until this one died (and yes, I was careful not to touch the bulb with my fingers when I’d installed it). I’d bought them at Crappy Tire for something like $40-ish, $50-ish bucks if memory serves.

I could go for the Sylvanias again, as they were a decent bulb, but, before I am so repetitive, I thought I’d ask your Oppo-inions (SEE WHAT I DID THERE!? :P)!

What aftermarket halogen replacement bulbs do you recommend fellow Opponauts? My ‘09 Accent, ‘Humdrum’, takes H4s. Hopefully something in the same price range, or cheaper. I don’t mind buying online (especially as it’s often cheaper!). I’ve thought of giving LED bulbs a whirl...good brightness, but Andrew Collins’ Jalopnik LED bulb review from last year makes me leery as the throw distance on LED bulbs seems less than halogens. I’m not interested in HID retrofits as I’ve heard bad things, especially when using them in ‘normal’ reflector housings vs. projector housings.

Thanks for the suggestions! :)

DISCUSSION (6)

FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars
10/03/2016 at 20:15

I switched back from Silverstars to the standard Sylvanias. Got sick of paying more and only getting a year out of them. My understanding is that all of the “brighter” halogens suffer the same reduced lifespan. I’d be interested as well to hear if anyone has a recommended one. I’d be fine with replacing every year still if I got Silverstar brightness for more like $25/pair than 50.

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com
10/03/2016 at 20:33

Amen brother! I got my Accent in April 2013 used, and upgraded to the Silverstars a few months after that...so I got about 2.5-ish years out of mine. Coincidentally, there is a small crack in the headlight casing of the side with the SilverStar that died that I’ve known about for awhile (looking for a cheap replacement headlight assembly as we speak)...wondering if moisture got in and killed it as the other SilverStar is still going strong?

FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars
10/03/2016 at 20:38

Could be. But I’m thinking 2.5 years is about all you’ll get out of. Of course it all depends how much night driving you do, but I never got much more than a year.

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com
10/03/2016 at 21:07

I drive home about 4-5 nights a week in the dark for about a 15 min drive at the moment...I’ll see what other folks have to say. I’ll stick with the current lights for now, but still will prob end up getting something brighter...

Phatboyphil > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars
10/03/2016 at 21:29

No! Stay with stock bulbs so you won’t blind the shit out of other drivers :p

Although I don’t think it’d be so bad in a small car. Trucks are the worst about it.

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > Phatboyphil
10/03/2016 at 22:54

Well, the stock bulbs really are not very bright. Doubt I am blinding anybody with the SilverStars.