Luder[PAK9]

Currently I'm running Sylvannia Xtravision on my lows. They are supposed to be better than stock halogens, but I still can't see $h!t with them. I was thinking of picking up some Sylvannia Silverstars for the Camaro.

I've searched the boards, and the consensus is that the silverstars are great. However, I've read 2 comments that they suck in the rain. Exactly how bad are they though? I definately don't want to be driving blind.

Any comments on the silverstars in general or how they perform in the rain?

(P.S. I don't have fog lamps to help me out)

StevenK

iTrader: (1)

You will be happy with Silverstars.

Timz2882

iTrader: (1)

get the silverstars for high's and low beams, ull love them, they are the closest things to HID's with out being HID's

87F383

I have never had any problems w/ mine in the rain...even w/o using my fog lights. Get them, you'll love them.

Hg

I love my silverstars.... alot easier then going through the hassle of those headlight conversions.

Luder[PAK9]

Well, I just got done putting them in a few hours ago. Man, they look cool. I can't wait to see them at night.

As usual, the Camaro again pointed out that working on a 12 year old car isn't easy. After I put in my lows I tested them out and they worked fine. Then, on a whim, I decided to make sure my high beams worked--they didn't. So I jiggled the connectors. Then the highs didn't works AND the driver low would only work when the highs were switched on. Jiggled some more and then none of them worked. Finally I got the connectors in just the right place and now it's all good. I'm sure this is a sign that it's time to replace all the connectors, but that's a project for a (much) later time.

MrDude_1

while you're messing with the connectors, run some relays and make the old wiring just turn on the relays


then have the relays connect a nice thick cable between the lights and the batt.... you'll get much brighter lights this way... puts less stress on the old wiring too.

firebirdpl

got them on my 89 formula love them you wont be dissapointed

JamesC

iTrader: (5)

You drive in the rain!!!!

JamesC

Dustin Imports

bird lights the same price? or more than 'maros? since it only takes 2 rather than 4.

87F383

they are slightly more...just a few dollars...

ghettocruiser

iTrader: (4)

I know everyone likes silverstars...and im probably gonna get yelled at for saying something not so positive about them..but here it goes anyway. First of all I have a TA so I dont need 4 headlights...but $20 is expensive for a bulb. I put them in, and I didnt like them that much. The light was much whiter, but it didnt seem to project as far or provide as much light as stock even. So...I got the 6054 conversion kit that makes the sealed beam set up into a composite beam setup. I threw some of the simulated 100watt bulbs in them from autozone..the Ultra White bulbs from the import isle... They are bright as anything. White light..and they project really far. No one flashes me either.
However there is even one better. APC makes what they call ultra white plasma xenon bulbs. They are $30 for a pair. 85 watt low, 105 watt high or something like that. You can order an upgrad harness which does what was suggested...plugs into one of your original harness plugs, and sets your headlights up on relays connected directly to the battery. These lights are the closest lights to HID... THey start off really blue until they heat up then they are as white as daylight and will project as far as you want them too... Sorry for the short story about headlights... I just thought Ide share my .02 cents.
Justin

CaptPicardsZ28

I love my Silverstars both low and high.

Meatikis

can someone post a pic of the headlights in the dark?

llvll4l2c91350

silverstars. they are worth the money IMO. i'm very happy with 'em.

BTW this is the low beam

tpiroc

The Silverstar bubs is a good series from Sylvania. However for about the same price you could get a full set of sealed-beam conversion enclosures giving you the freedom to install any aftermarket bulb capsule you desire (including Silverstars). The Silverstars operate at about 4000k, while true HID systems operate at 6000k to 13,000k, and you can get aftermarket bulbs that operate anywhere from 4000k like the Sylvania's, up to 5200k or higher I'm sure. I am pretty happy with my conversion.

85TransAm406

iTrader: (1)

Well, i wouldn't recommend the APC bulbs to anyone, personally. Mine lasted an entire week and a half, then one blew. They were supposed to be 4000*K color temp, and they were hard to tell from stock. Then i bought the silverstars, around 4100* color temp, it was a night and day difference, literally. The light was so much whiter and brighter. Of course, if you get the 85W bulbs and an upgraded harness, they are gonna be brighter, but my silverstars are outstanding. I can't even tell when my fog lights are on, and i have 100W bulbs in them with an upgraded harness.

ghettocruiser

iTrader: (4)

85TransAm406

Good point on them blowing out. I had someone come in and tell me the same thing happened to them. I looked at the bulb and it was clear they fingered the glass all up. Not sayin thats what you did. The APC bulbs I got were the 85 watt lows, 105 watt highs and there is a definete diff. between them and silverstars. I have silverstars in my jeep and they work well. But they arent close to the APC bulbs. I think someone mentioned about setting up the relays and going directly to the battery. that really makes a big diff...

You said you had 100 watt bulbs in your fog lights? I tried to do that with some 100 watt H3 bulbs and mine keep blowing out... I cant figure out why. Is it because Im not using an upgrade harness or because it gets too hot in the small enclosure?? Any ideas?

Justin

85TransAm406

iTrader: (1)

It does get VERY hot in that fog light housing, but i have had a lot less problems since i wired them directly to the battery and used a relay. I have been through quite a few sets of bulbs. I've been thinking about converting them to 9004/H4 bulbs like in the tech article and seeing how that goes.
I made sure not to "finger up" the bulbs putting them in. And all of my r*ce friends with the APC bulbs have had the same experience, but they just use them to get the 85W bulbs, the 55W bulbs are crap. I have silverstars in my TA (currently outta commission) and my 1999 sierra. They are oustanding IMO. I haven't converted the TA to composite housings, i haven't really met anyone who is happy with theirs. I've known a few who have melted theirs with the 85W bulbs (what i want to run).

ghettocruiser

iTrader: (4)

I love my conversions. At first the beam pattern was alittle wierd to me. THey are more like pencil beams with a wide flood close to the front of the car. But after alittle adjusting I have them close to perfect. The lows are nice. The highs are awsome. The beam completly changes with the highs. All light. No bright spots, no dark spots. The APC bulbs are kinda wierd at first too. WHen you first flick them on they are really blue. REALLY blue. I was pissed at first. After about 3 or 4 minutes they heated up and turned pure white. Ive been running the APC 85/105watt bulbs for awhile now...I even left them on with the car sitting for about 20 minutes to see about the temp. No problems so far with melting or burning out. Part of the advantage to working at autozone is if they burn out or melt or whatever...I can swap them
If you look at some of the newer cars, their housings are plastic too. I know this guy's 02 grand am has plastic for the lens and the reflector. The conversions have glass on the front so that might help dissipate some heat.

Hey if you do the fog light conversion, let me know how it goes. I hate having 55w bulbs in them with my bright head lights...but I cant keep putting bulbs in them either. Ide be willing to chop into the fogs if the conversion is worth it.

JC83Z

i love silverstars on my 91z


JC

llvll4l2c91350

they're trying to get rid of 'em at the auto zone by my house. i got what looked like the last pair for $1 each

j'sirocz

ok first i have to ask every one not to abuse me to much for asking this...lol....but what are you guys talking bout the relays for the headlights? what is it, what does it do, and how does it wire up, ive never seen that or heard of it, please after laughing at me for asking, help me out, i want to make my head lights brighter and change them some way or onother, either the sealed or composits, not sure yet, but maybe the relay stuff might help me figure out what i want to do, i want as much light as possible with out custom doing a projector beam set up, thanks guys

85TransAm406

iTrader: (1)

https://www.thirdgen.org/newdesign/t...tupgrade.shtml

That's the tech article on it, but basically, you are wiring the headlights straight to the battery and using a relay, controlled by your headlight switch, to turn them off and on, as opposed to the power for the headlights running through the switch, which creates a voltage drop, thereby dimmer headlights.

j'sirocz

hey, thanks for the info, i understand it all now, but why cant you instead of going and buying new connectors, just remove the stock ones and use them in the new harness? just so it is all new parts?

slammnmini

where and how much can i get these bad mamajammas for?

ThirdGenFire

They are 29.95 for 1. Both the Camaro and firebirds are the same price. I work at Checker Auto or Shucks to you Northwest guys or Kragen for the West Coast fellas/gals. I have them on my Rock and I love them. I was gonna do the converstion but screw it. This works just fine. I know that the true HID look better but for the price you can't go wrong.

ThirdGenFire

Cool car there Slam but what happened to the Carb? Either way nice.

slammnmini

its carbed still..thats an old pic..car was dirty n stuff..i'll get a newer one soon..the car is stored so i cant get any pics really

ScrapMaker

So you guys have to upgrade the headlamp wiring harness to use the conversions, or just to put in 55watt+ bulbs?

Also what is the main concern if I were to put in 100watt fog lamp bulbs... my bird has stock fog lamps and I can hear a relay click everytime I activate them. Just wondering if I would still need to wire them straight to the battery with another relay... Is it the plastic casing on the fog lamps that melts... or is it the wiring, or fuse panel, or what?

Thanks.

ScrapMaker

also, when you guys speak of the sylvannia silverstars... are you guys referring to the sealed-beam versions, or the h4 bulbs in the conversion kits? Are there any brightness differences?

llvll4l2c91350

i have sealed beams on mine.

Droptop_Z

I have a problem with my headlights and was wondering if anyone here knows whats going on. Heres the problem- when I turn on the low beams, the low beams dim a little and the highs come on slightly leaving a amber glow in them. When I turn on the high beams the passenger side dims all lights and the drivers side comes on really bright. My right turn blinker signal is always lit also. Thanks in advance for any solutions

Droptop_Z

I have a problem with my headlights and was wondering if anyone here knows whats going on. Heres the problem- when I turn on the low beams, the low beams dim a little and the highs come on slightly leaving a amber glow in them. When I turn on the high beams the passenger side dims all lights and the drivers side comes on really bright. My right turn blinker signal is always lit also. Thanks in advance for any solutions

j'sirocz

the answer to your q about your lights dimming and stuff, not possitive on what it would be but id say id bet that its a short or a brake in one of the wires in that sercuit. id get a wireing diagram for your light system and trace all the wires and make sure they all look good and are in tact

Kandied91z

iTrader: (7)

anyone have a picture with the lights off from a couple feet back? are there any wiring problems with these lights as far as pulling to much current and melting the harness?

383backinblack

the silverstars are just like all the other lights.....they have part numbers for everything, the sealed beams for camaros, and if you need and h4 bulb they make those too

i have silverstar highs and lows in my camaro, and the difference is amazing......i had them in my 89 GMC truck first, and loved them, so i put them in the camaro....for 25 bucks each, its about the best bang for the buck lighting upgrade you could ask for.....

clean, bright white lite

Red WS6 Ram Air

my buddy has silverstars. there awsome!

ScrapMaker

I've heard before that the sealed-beam bulbs can gather moisture inside because the filament degrades as a bi-product of electricty flowing through it. Has anyone else had this problem? I'm just trying to see if I should just get the sealed-beam, or the conversion kit with the component bulbs... is it necessary to re-wire the connection at the new coversion kit? it wouldn't be so difficult as long as it came with new connetors...

Sonar_un

Here is a silverstar comparison I did between my Camaro and my T/A.

<img src="http://elite-fraggers.org/sonarun/My%20Car/halogenvssilverstar.jpg">

ScrapMaker

do camaros use all four bulbs at the same time? it seems like you could use 4 silverstar high/low bulbs and then have them all switch at the same time.... damn that would be sweet....

Sonar_un

No, two are used for normal, and the other two are brights.

ScrapMaker

about the headlight problem Cmeb4ubuy... I had a similar problem, one of the wires came out of my headlight connector... caused all sorts of problems... but then it also turned out that my turn signal **** had problems... it could be a bad connection there...

bytal

i just installed my silverstars last night. Havn't gotten to really test em out yet because my car is parked until may. But they are much nicer. not the slightest hint of yellow and super bright

Red WS6 Ram Air

Where can you get these Silverstars?

ScrapMaker

they are about 20 dollars per bulb at autozone... (The ones that are direct fit) - Sealed Beam... or you could get the conversion kit and the separate bulbs.... but the tiny little separate bulbs are 20 dollars anyways, so might as well get the sealed beam...

AM Racer

Silverstars are a great bulb if you have modular lamps. If you're converting from conventional sealed beams, look into Cibie E (european)code lamps. The light pattern is sharp and direct, not like the domestic lamps in the states. Only drawback is if you're in a state with lighting inspections since they don't say "DOT" on them.
A good unbiased site on lighting information is daniel stern lighting.

jocww

how much is a conversion kit for sealed beams or where i only have to change the housing and not the whole glass case. im going from a 84

AM Racer

http://www.danielsternlighting.com/p.../products.html

You can check this guy out and look at the price on the particular size you need.
All of these use the replaceable bulbs.

jocww

thanks