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Hi everyone-
I am looking at replacing the OEM headlight bulbs (low-beam 51W, high-beam 60W) on my 2007 HCHII, with the goal of better visibility at night. Upon doing a little investigation, I am considering one of the Sylvania Silverstar products vs. a HID kit.

Silverstar (4,000K color temp, I think ~65/55 watts for high/low beam)
high-beam 9005 ST...$19.99 each; low-beam 9006 ST $19.99 each--$80 total minus $5 coupon from Sylvania website.

Silverstar Ultra (4,100 color temp, I think ~65/55 watts for high/low beam)
high-beam 9005 SU...$21.99 each; low-beam 9006 SU $27.99 each)--$100 total minus $10 coupon from Sylvania website.

HID kits-
There are may out there, with a wide color temp range (I think I'd get 4,300K), and pricing. I like that these are lower wattage (~35W) than the OEM and Silverstar headlights (~55-65W). I've seen people post online that the light quality is not good if you don't replace the projectors too, to something made for HID bulbs.

Does anyone have experience in making this decision for their HCHII? What did you go with and why? If you went with an HID kit, any specific (and affordable) suggestions?

Thanks!
Mark

Hi Mark;

As I had mentioned before, I would avoid the Silverstars mainly on the account on the extra power they use up. They work well and beautifully but they can also be very expensive over the long haul.

That leaves us with a narrower set of solutions to work with. This is what I would do:
Use an HID kit for the the outboard lights (9006)
Use LED bulbs for the inner lights which commonly do DRL duty (9005)I already use LED lighting for my DRLs and I thoroughly enjoy them. here's a prior CleanMPG review followed by an ebay link:

http://www.cleanmpg.com/forums/showthread.php?t=6282

http://cgi.ebay.ca/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&item=110331856873


A viable HID kit can be very affordable. Here are a few I would get in a heartbeat !!

http://cgi.ebay.ca/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&item=220334723992

http://cgi.ebay.ca/HID-XX-Conversion-Kit-06-09-Honda-Civic-LX-EX-SI-HYBRID_W0QQitemZ370137519755QQcmdZViewItemQQptZMotors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories?hash=item370137519755&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=66%3A2|65%3A2|39%3A1|240%3A1318 (http://cgi.ebay.ca/HID-XX-Conversion-Kit-06-09-Honda-Civic-LX-EX-SI-HYBRID_W0QQitemZ370137519755QQcmdZViewItemQQptZMotors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories?hash=item370137519755&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=66%3A2%7C65%3A2%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318)


Cheers;

MSantos

Hello Mark,
I can add that I have used the silverstar bulbs. Very good illumination over OEM bulbs.
The down side is that they don'y last as long as the price should justify.

I lost the low beams on the set I installed over the last few months......I checked my records and the bulbs lasted only a little over 2 years.

2 years isn't bad for Siverstars. I've read of failure in as little as 3 months.

I have read some very positive reports regarding Halogen Infrared (HIR) bulbs to replace the standard 9005 and 9006 bulbs.

For some very informative reading on the myths regarding the various aftermarket lights check out "Daniel Stern Lighting" and http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/showthread.php?t=954736

A proper HID system requires reflectors designed specifically for them. A simple 'HID bulb' replacement in a light designed for halogen bulbs is a waste of money and illegal.

Hope this helps!

Cheers,

Roger

Hi Roger;

That is a very nice piece and it does go into a good bit of detail. Good stuff indeed.

I have to admit that I have long considered the potential pitfalls of such kits... and as a result I have not yet installed one of those kits for myself yet.

However, lately I have seen quite a few local setups that work very well and do as fine a job as the OEM spec bulbs with the stand out benefit of better illumination. It has to be seen to be believed and nowhere is it more comforting than to see the headlight pattern and adjustment test. These tests have convinced me to regard a proper HID as a possible upgrade in the not too distant future. On some of the ones I seen, the positioning of the focal point is as close to the original specifications as possible and this makes all the difference requiring little to no additional tweaking.

Of course, the keyword is "proper" as in "DOT approved". There are local specialty houses that sell these and after some investigating such retrofits can be considered street legal. No joke. As I said, I am now a believer and I will probably be fetching a set for testing and evaluation.

Cheers;

MSantos

If you decide to go the HID route, please take the time to aim them properly. Dropping in bulbs with different light output characteristics can completely throw off the optics in your headlights and adjustment may be necessary. I see too many people who just drop in HID bulbs and drive, with the result being that as much light ends up hitting signs 20 feet in the air as there is on the road. Not only does that blind other drivers, but it throws light up into the air where it will never be useful. A well set up system can usually avoid those problems.

After reviewing the information provided and getting feedback from Manuel and Daniel Stern, I think that I may go with the Toshiba 9011 (HIR1) and 9012 (HIR2) to replace my OEM 9005 and 9006 bulbs. Here's my thought process:

Sylvania Silverstar line- feedback was that they provide great brightness, but have relatively short life and suspect quality.

HID kits- If I could be confident I could get these installed correctly/legally , I think I'd love these... seem like a win-win- great brightness, less power. (But I'm not, so I won't).

LED bulbs- I like Manuel's idea to put in LED bulbs in place of the DRL / high-beam bulbs (9005) to reduce power requirements, but I don't like losing my high-beams (good for flashing IOTD's and for spotting Michigan whitetail deer in the road).

Toshiba 9011/9012 HIR- Same power requirements, relatively long-life, much brighter. Will need to file them to make fit, but feedback is that it isn't too hard, and instructions can be found pretty easily online.

Thank you everyone!
Mark

You can also modify the 9005 bulbs to fit in the 9006 socket. You get an extra 9 watts of power out of them, but it won't fry you wiring harness. They're easier to find than the toshiba's and the modification is relatively simples (a sharp chisle or dremel tool needed). Just google "9005 conversion", or something similar.

I remember seeing specs on the regulat sylvania headlights and the 9005 put out 1700 lumens vs. 1000 lumens for the 9006 bulbs. That's a 70% increase. However, this won't give you 70% more light. It's probably closer to 10-15% due to light scattering.

Isn't modifying 9005 bulbs to fit in the 9006 socket analogous to what is being addressed and not recommended in the technical bulletin titled, "Are 9004 and 9007 bulbs interchangeable?" here: http://candlepowerinc.com/products.tib.html

Another vote against the Silverstars. I've tried a number of different "super white" bulbs including the Silverstars, and my experience is that they only last a few months, at best, and the extra light output is marginal, at best. Total waste of money IME.

As for HIDs, I'll say this: if you can't see where you're going with the 2000-3000 lumens provided by conventional bulbs, then IMO you should slow down. Most automotive HIDs exist in their current form because of a stupid loophole in federal laws that limits headlight brightness based on watts rather than lumens. A 55w HID bulb puts out more than twice what a 55W halogen bulb does -- IMO that's excessive and irresponsible for low beam use. Sure the light mostly hits the pavement when you're on flat ground, but all too often HIDs end up blinding people when you're on hills, going over bumps, carrying a load or simply out of adjustment. I'd love to see a 1500 lumen (each) maximum law for low beams.

Which is about exactly what you'd get if automotive HIDs used the 13W bulbs common in HID bike lights. Any idea if there's any way these could be fitted to a car? If so, that'd be great and I'd consider them myself due to the lower power consumption.

...

As for HIDs, I'll say this: if you can't see where you're going with the 2000-3000 lumens provided by conventional bulbs, then IMO you should slow down. Most automotive HIDs exist in their current form because of a stupid loophole in federal laws that limits headlight brightness based on watts rather than lumens. A 55w HID bulb puts out more than twice what a 55W halogen bulb does -- IMO that's excessive and irresponsible for low beam use. ...

I totally agree. But basically, that is the main dilemma for some us. While the OEM bulbs lose brightness as they age, the main problem was never really the "insufficient" light they generate. Instead, their power signature is what we seek to abate and on this front the options are very limited.
Adding to this limitation you still must consider a setup that is neither road unsafe under operation, nor "illegal". This last one is still very murky. Talk about narrowing it even further, eh?

Anyhow, on this front we're not left with much to choose from:
LED - The best for low power but so far the absolute worst for night driving.
HID - At a nominal 35W for most models, it is measurably better than the 55W for the 9005 halogens. That difference may make such kits more conforming in terms of light produced. Don't you think?

Anyhow, this is one area where much progress still remains.

Cheers;

MSantos

9005 and 9006 bulbs are almost identical except for 5 things.

1) The base pattern is slightly different requiring grinding of one of the tabs opposite of the socktet.
2) The socket patterns are keyed requiring you to grind down the "fins" inside to socket.
3) The base diameter of the 9005 bulb is slightly smaller than the 9006, but you can take the o-ring from the 9006 bulb and place it on the 9005 bulb.
4) 9005 bulbs use 60watts instead of 51w.
5) 9006 bulbs have a coating on the top of the glass

Here's a link to another forum (http://cl.acurazine.com/forums/showthread.php?t=470654) or two (http://www.8thcivic.com/forums/lighting/65531-diy-convert-9005-bulb-fit-9006-harness-increase-visibility.html)
Everything else in terms of construction and desing are identical including the filament position. you can also check out the physical dimensions of the bulbs on the sylvania website.