About to install a Silverstar H4 Blub.

[Guest]

Just curious, those of you that have switched from the old Halogen blub to any of the better Silverstars, what has been your life expectancy on them compared to the regular Halogens. I do run my headlite (mostly on high beam) on all the time. I got the Silverstar ~4000k. Standard Halogen is ~3100K

[dorkburger]

not Silverstar but......

Several years ago I put in a plasma bulb made by PIAA i think. No problems yet, but I dont get a whole lot of seat time. I also generally keep the hi beam on in the day.
The light is noticeably brighter and whiter. Please let us know how the Silverstar shines.

[bwringer]

There's no difference in life.

[Steve]

Did you manage to find a CLEAR Silverstar or is it tinted light blue?

ANY tinting of the bulb toward the blue spectrum will reduce overall visibilty, so be careful.

.

[Guest]

Did you manage to find a CLEAR Silverstar or is it tinted light blue?

ANY tinting of the bulb toward the blue spectrum will reduce overall visibilty, so be careful.

.

Yeah I got the clear. I just installed it and turned the light out in the shop to check it, very bright white light. It is one step below the Ultra Silverstar which seems like it may have a blue tint.

[Grimly]

I've been using Osram Silverstars in cars, vans and bikes for around a decade and can't honestly say they seem to last any less time than an ordinary one. There were real benefits to using them, without a doubt.

[JEEPRUSTY]

CNN keeps running ads about a class action lawsuit settlement from sylvania
you fill in a form and get ten bucks

[76_Mike_82]

I have never used them on a bike but I do notice a shorter life in my cars. I deal with the shorter life for the brighter bulb. I am going to try them in the 850 soon.

[83GS850L]

CNN keeps running ads about a class action lawsuit settlement from sylvania
you fill in a form and get ten bucks

Yeah its on a few stations, i even got a flyer about it in the mail, since i had bought silverstars in the past.
I think the lawsuit is BS, sure output levels may not have been on par with what they said they had, but i havent once put in a silverstar and went.... Huh they lied about it brightness. Every silverstar i have installed has had better light spread and output than the bulb they have replaced.

Several years ago I put in a plasma bulb made by PIAA i think.

I put H4 PIAA's in my old 82 Mustang GT, and they were great as well, i didnt compare vs. the silverstars but in a 82 mustang with sealed beams, converting to H4 with a relay setup was a HUGE step up lol

[dorkburger]

FYI..found the box for the PIAA bulb....3800/5000k

[Guest]

Well, gonna try the Silver Star and see what happens. I carry a spare halogen with me all the time as it is.

[Steve]

I have never used them on a bike but I do notice a shorter life in my cars. I deal with the shorter life for the brighter bulb. I am going to try them in the 850 soon.

Sorry, but I can not agree with "shorter life for brighter bulb".

I don't have Silverstars in my van, as they only provide "legal" lights. I have 80 watt low-beam bulbs and 100 watt high-beam bulbs, and have had them in there since not long after I got the van four years ago. During those four years (and close to 100,000 miles), I have had exactly ONE bulb burn out.

Note that I am not just using "brighter" bulbs because of some hyped-up rating system, I am using bulbs that actually produce more light because they are sucking more power from the vehicle, yet I still have what I consider to be "decent life".

.

[Guest]

Sorry, but I can not agree with "shorter life for brighter bulb".

I don't have Silverstars in my van, as they only provide "legal" lights. I have 80 watt low-beam bulbs and 100 watt high-beam bulbs, and have had them in there since not long after I got the van four years ago. During those four years (and close to 100,000 miles), I have had exactly ONE bulb burn out.

Note that I am not just using "brighter" bulbs because of some hyped-up rating system, I am using bulbs that actually produce more light because they are sucking more power from the vehicle, yet I still have what I consider to be "decent life".

.

Ah the 80/100 blub, thought about those once, I'm assuming the charging system would handle it okay.

[jeffgs]

There is a reduced life expectancy, it says it right on the back of the packaging.

[76_Mike_82]

Everyone will experience a different life of the bulb based on driving habits. I've had my jeep 10 years and have put just over 200000miles on it. In recent years much of that driving is at night or early morning so my lights tend to be on while driving. In the 10 years I've put 4 or 5 sets in it. So for me with the driving I do I only get around 2 years per set. I do change them in sets as I'm of the mindset if one goes the other is close. I still think they're a good bulb just shorter life then a halogen and as i said I'll be upgrading my 850 soon. Just my experience.