Are we able to do this with our headlight bulbs?

16g-95GSX · Dec 4, 2002

Just curious as I came across this with my research on headlight bulbs. I will most likely be using the Sylvania Silverstars on my low beams soon, but am curious if I can do this and actually have "high" beams as my low beams AND have the Sylvanias:

http://www.bmwe34.net/e34main/upgrade/more_light.htm

Seems to me that with this I would not only get the effect of having high beams at all times, but also I would have the Sylvania higher wattage and clearer light. My low beams would actually kick the crap out of my high beams at that point from my understanding. It would be very close to 9006 HID lights at that point right? Specially for 40 dollars for the 2 bulbs as opposed to 400 for a set of 9006 HID's.

Tell me what you think

James92TSi · Dec 4, 2002

I say go for it... try a set of 9005 silverstars as low-beams. If properly aimed it should work great and give you a lot more light output. It won't be as good as a high beam because high beam reflectors are different than low beams (low beam optics have a cutoff pattern so the light isn't emitted upwards into other drivers line of sight).

I don't know how well it will compare to HID, but for $40 it's surely worth a try. I have HID on my car and love it, but $450 is a lot of money to spend on headlights. If I had to do it again, I might have tried modified 9005s first before buying the HIDs... too late now though!

The key thing (again) is to make sure you properly aim your headlights after any upgrade like this. I had to do some extensive re-aiming when I put the HIDs on, and I'm sure you will too with 9005s.

16g-95GSX · Dec 4, 2002

Im really curious whether I should try this. I need more low beam output, but I hear that the higher wattage bulbs such as the silverstars die quickly. I want a bulb that will last and dont want to have to be replacing bulbs every 3 months or so. I also want to make sure that the electrical aspects of the 9006 and 9005 are compatible. It appearst that the 9006 bulbs have a coating over the tip of the bulb so the 9005's will produce more light into oncoming traffic as well. From my understanding 9005 bulbs are 70% higher in lumens (light output) than a 9006 bulb, and that combined with the silverstars output/color would be very nice. I just want to hear others takes on it.

HID is nice, but it is illegal, and in my area they would catch you and make you remove it.

James92TSi · Dec 5, 2002

It's illegal to put anything but a 9006 bulb into a 9006 socket, but it's not stopping people from doing it.

I don't know how long the silverstars last, and I didn't know that was part of your question. If bulb longevity is a concern, get regular sylvania 9005 bulbs and try it with them. Regular halogen bulbs last a long time if you make sure to keep from touching or scratching the glass part of the bulb while installing, and they're cheap. Electrically they are compatible with the stock wiring after you perform the modifications to the 9005 bulb (from the BMW site you posted above). The stock high-beam wiring isn't any thicker than the low-beam wiring if I remember correctly. You are talking about 65 watts (9005) vs. 55 watts with the 9006.... not a big wattage increase. Silverstars run at 70 watts, and that's about as high as I'd be willing to go without rewiring everything with relays and heavier gauge wire.

You are correct that 9006s have a coated tip, and 9005s don't. If you aim your lights properly, it won't be a problem. My 9006 HIDs (obviously no coating, lol) are aimed properly and I have no problems with them. Never ONCE have I been flashed by an oncoming driver, and I've had them for quite a while now. The key issue is that the HID capsule is in the same location in the headlight housing as the 9006 bulb filament would be. The stock optics are preserved that way, so you still get the same beam pattern. If you notice, the 9005 filament is very close to being in the same place as the 9006 filament. Again, the stock optics should be preserved, so you will get a similar beam pattern to 9006s, with more intense light. Aim them correctly and have fun.

Just putting a 9005 bulb into your low-beam socket doesn't mean it's going to act like a high-beam and shoot light in everyone's face. There will still be a cutoff line because of the low-beam optics. I know I keep saying "aim them properly" but that is the key to doing it safely (not blinding other drivers) and not attracting unwanted (cop) attention. If you aim it right you'll be fine IMO.

16g-95GSX · Dec 5, 2002

Yea, I know they are illegal, but the point I was making is the silverstar I believe is a DOT approved light, and the hell if the cop is going to ask you what model bulb is in there if they were to pull you over. Ya know? Just showing that it was a DOT approved bulb would be enough to get him to back down, I doubt he would ever assume you had modified the bulb.

Ok, since you are so intent on aiming the headlights I guess you would be my best bet for asking this question. How do I go about doing this properly? How are they adjusted on 2g's? I believe I tried to do this before and it wasnt moving.

James92TSi · Dec 5, 2002

I don't know on 2Gs, I don't own one. If you have a shop manual, the aiming procedure is in there...

TNOMUD · Dec 5, 2002

On a related note, I painted my entire headlight lense "transparent yellow" (like a fog light) and they look cool as F&*K. I just did it last night, I'll get pics soon.

16g-95GSX · Dec 5, 2002

Please do show me this, as I have no idea what you are talking about.

DSMturbo2 · Dec 5, 2002

how bad does that cut down on light output, tnomud ?

16g-95GSX · Dec 5, 2002

Wait you painted your headlights to have a yellow glaze to them? I would think that would look stupid as hell?

GS-T · Dec 6, 2002

I wouldn't do it. I used to work at an install shop, and I used to do that all the time, mostly to Honda Accords. Now, I don't know if is was the bulb causing the problem or wire size, but cars used to come back all the time with burned-up sockets and headlight wires. The actual bulb would be fine, but the insulation would be melted off the wires and the socket that plugged into the bulb would be melted and crispy. So after a while, we only did that if we added relays for the bulbs with power straight from the battery. Never had a problem after that. But I don't think they were the same brand bulbs as we're talking about here.

16g-95GSX · Dec 6, 2002

Explain that to me again, I'm not too electrically inclined so say it like I was 4 years old

.

4bangin · Dec 6, 2002

LIke GS-T said make sure you add a relay or something because your gonna burn wires and plugs up like mad. I put some projector lenses on my civic that came with their own POS wiring harness. I burnt through 3 plugs and started 2 fires in the headlight housing before I got smart and added a relay and beefed up the wire.

Brandon92DSM · Dec 6, 2002

GS-T said:
I wouldn't do it. I used to work at an install shop, and I used to do that all the time, mostly to Honda Accords. Now, I don't know if is was the bulb causing the problem or wire size, but cars used to come back all the time with burned-up sockets and headlight wires. The actual bulb would be fine, but the insulation would be melted off the wires and the socket that plugged into the bulb would be melted and crispy. So after a while, we only did that if we added relays for the bulbs with power straight from the battery. Never had a problem after that. But I don't think they were the same brand bulbs as we're talking about here.

you sure you werent using way overwattage bulbs? cuz that definitley can cause electrical fires.

JK882 · Dec 6, 2002

I did this to my integra and had them in for about 6 months without any problems. i now switched the same bulbs into my spyder and have still had no problems. lighting is a lot brighter than the stock bulbs.

16g-95GSX · Dec 6, 2002

So a resistor would be needed? What resistor?

CyByte · Dec 6, 2002

I do not object to anyone performing this, but please be curtious to other drivers on the road. without the covered tips they are much brighter with the higher wattage bulbs, but remember they shine wrong. Just make sure before you drive to much at night that they are aimed correctly.

Yes this works with many types of cars.

silver stars / show offs should work for a good year or more unless damage is done to the bulbs.

Brandon92DSM · Dec 6, 2002

Phillips makes a 9005 Rally bulb rated at 100W!

muah-hahahaha

TNOMUD · Dec 6, 2002

16g-95GSX said:
Wait you painted your headlights to have a yellow glaze to them? I would think that would look stupid as hell?

I'll get some pics tonight. It looks AWESOME. With the yellow, you can run a MUCH brighter bulb and still not irritate oncoming traffic. The yellow shows contours in road surfaces much better as well. It is an old road racer trick. I did it on some of my SCCA cars in the past so I could do laps at night.......

looks like this....

16g-95GSX · Dec 6, 2002

Hmm, yea I see what you're saying. Get some pics up, I just want to see how it actually looks ON the car, keep in mind this is a street car. Yellow may be more performance oriented but I'll stick to clear if it looks like ass to me.

Are we able to do this with our headlight bulbs?

16g-95GSX

James92TSi

16g-95GSX

James92TSi

16g-95GSX

James92TSi

TNOMUD

16g-95GSX

DSMturbo2

16g-95GSX

GS-T

16g-95GSX

4bangin

Brandon92DSM

JK882

16g-95GSX

CyByte

Brandon92DSM

TNOMUD

16g-95GSX

Top Contributors this Month

Recommended Communities