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  #1  
Old 04-22-2002, 08:38 PM
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svxjoe svxjoe is offline
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Exclamation Headlight bulb upgrades.... Go with PIAA

If anyone is thinking about upgrading thier headlight bulbs go with PIAA. Compared to the factory lights... these light are 3 times a bright. Not only are they brighter, they have a better look (Super white/tinted blue) than the ugly yellow stock color. They are so bright that I get people flashing me on the road thinking they are my High Beams, but I just flash them right back.
Don't be fooled by those Hyper White Xenon Gas bulbs on EBay....they are crap.....they may be the "pretty color" but they are just as bright (maybe less) as the stock bulbs. I had them and one burnt out 4 months later, but it was bitter sweet because it put me in the market for new bulbs and I came across the PIAA's.

These lights are awesome! They carry a hefty price (Somewhere around $70), but they are totally worth it to me. I hope this info helps any inquiring minds!
Joe
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  #2  
Old 04-22-2002, 08:55 PM
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PIAA Crystal Ions are great! I have them in my foglight. They are bright yellow.
The rest of PIAAs (HID Look alikes) are crap IMHO. It's all in science. The HIDs runs at 4300k. Regular lights around 3200 ish (or is it 3600)? If you put a blue filter for 4300 range on a 3200k light bulb, your output will be a hell of a lot dimmer. I think the actual output is around 30-35% of wattage. So, if you have a 85W HID look alike light, you are only getting about 30W ish. Beware of what you are getting.

Lwin (learnt from experience)
If I were you, I'd pay a little extra and get a philips HID kit. They are only running around 500 bucks now.
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  #3  
Old 04-22-2002, 08:57 PM
Green1995SVX
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Joe

Regarding lighting... have you researched using a true HID conversion kit? I plan on doing this once I recover from all the repair bills my car has been sticking me with of late.

-Mike
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  #4  
Old 04-22-2002, 09:01 PM
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just by luck and suggestions

No I didn't do any research on anything....just happen to walk into a performance accessories store with ym blown bulb and said "I need something a hell of alot better than this piece'o'shi#" and the guy suggested PIAA.....so I have known about PIAA being reall good stuff.....so after a long discussion I was finally persuaded and bought the things. I got lucky and I love them!

Joe
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  #5  
Old 04-22-2002, 09:03 PM
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Quote:
Originally posted by Green1995SVX
Joe

Regarding lighting... have you researched using a true HID conversion kit? I plan on doing this once I recover from all the repair bills my car has been sticking me with of late.

-Mike
I plan on getting the HID kit hopefully within the next two weeks.

Lwin

ps. where is doug?
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Lwin M. Maung (Member # 147)
Current SVX: • NONE
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  #6  
Old 04-22-2002, 09:43 PM
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I am sorry to say that I have the same old Ebay lights you had. I have had my car about 4 months, and the ligts 3. They shipping package says they came from South Korea. I must say that the lights (even though they are nothing next to PIAA or the other full conversion kit) don't perform badly at all so far. I have the same problem with people high beaming me but I think that's a natural reaction to on-coming cars when driving the SVX with the fogs on. The kit I bought was only about 60 bucks but it came wih all 6 lights. (Blue Xenon gas charged I believe) They are bright with the blue tint to them. So far no problems (knock on wood). Hopefully it will stay that way for a while but no bulb lasts forever. Did the PIAA's come will all 6 lights or just 2?
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  #7  
Old 04-22-2002, 09:57 PM
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Quote:
Originally posted by BoominSVX
I am sorry to say that I have the same old Ebay lights you had. I have had my car about 4 months, and the ligts 3. They shipping package says they came from South Korea. I must say that the lights (even though they are nothing next to PIAA or the other full conversion kit) don't perform badly at all so far. I have the same problem with people high beaming me but I think that's a natural reaction to on-coming cars when driving the SVX with the fogs on. The kit I bought was only about 60 bucks but it came wih all 6 lights. (Blue Xenon gas charged I believe) They are bright with the blue tint to them. So far no problems (knock on wood). Hopefully it will stay that way for a while but no bulb lasts forever. Did the PIAA's come will all 6 lights or just 2?
6 lights for 60bucks? That's 10 a piece. Are you sure? PIAAs will only come in a set of 2s and most HID look alike kits will come with a set of 2.

Lwin
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Current SVX: • NONE
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  #8  
Old 04-22-2002, 10:06 PM
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Check out this link:

Link # 1

Link # 2 : Super Whites?
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Lwin M. Maung (Member # 147)
Current SVX: • NONE
Previous SVXes: •1994 LE Barcelona Red 107k • 1992 LS-L Pearl White 143k • 1994 LSi Bordeaux Pearl 220k • 1992 LS-L Ebony Pearl 184k • 1992 LS-L Liquid Silver 145k • 1992 LS-L Liquid Silver 102k • 1992 LS-L Ebony Pearl 123k
Other current cars:•2001 Jeep Grand Cherokee Black
If at first you don't succeed, CHEAT!

Last edited by Seraph; 04-22-2002 at 10:22 PM.
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  #9  
Old 04-22-2002, 10:28 PM
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yep, it's true, it's true

Yes, after extensive and brain racking thought, I too have come to the conclusion that it is indeed 10 bucks a piece. I tried to find that Ebay item number to show you after I won them, but it was to long ago. I checked my credit card statement and it came back that I paid 66 bucks for the bulbs (6 for shipping) from South Korea. I read that page you linked above also. It makes perfect sense. It was also just prooven to me when I went to my girlfriends house in the rain, and noticed that I couldn't see the road at all. Only the dunkin donuts cups and street signs that reflect the light back to me. The road itself seemed to suck up all the light rather that glare the yellowish color my old headlights gave me to see the potholes. But hey, 10 bucks a bulb for a nice looking clean blueish white. I think I'll do it for a temporary solution to get away from the normalities of regular headlights. (Something i'd rather not be)

Last edited by BoominSVX; 04-22-2002 at 10:35 PM.
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  #10  
Old 04-22-2002, 11:05 PM
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Re: yep, it's true, it's true

Quote:
Originally posted by BoominSVX
I think I'll do it for a temporary solution to get away from the normalities of regular headlights. (Something i'd rather not be)

I have them in my car as well. They are a POS but until I put in my HIDs, they stay for now. I use both FOG and my lowbeam to give me all the lights I need.

Lwin
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Lwin M. Maung (Member # 147)
Current SVX: • NONE
Previous SVXes: •1994 LE Barcelona Red 107k • 1992 LS-L Pearl White 143k • 1994 LSi Bordeaux Pearl 220k • 1992 LS-L Ebony Pearl 184k • 1992 LS-L Liquid Silver 145k • 1992 LS-L Liquid Silver 102k • 1992 LS-L Ebony Pearl 123k
Other current cars:•2001 Jeep Grand Cherokee Black
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  #11  
Old 04-23-2002, 12:15 AM
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Yeah, soon enough I will be out of the cheapo light setup but for now they are serving their purpose and until death they shall continue their claim to fame in such a beautiful car
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  #12  
Old 04-23-2002, 05:58 AM
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<<I plan on getting the HID kit hopefully within the next two weeks.

Lwin

ps. where is doug?>>

I've been busy doing this thing called "work".

I'm still waiting for you to bring that HID kit and your two SVXs up here so we can work on them. I want you to do a photo-documnentary of the lens removal, cleaning and reassembly for everyone to see how its done.

Pretty much everything I have to say on the bulb subject has been said. The HID look alikes are crap. The PIAAs are a good bulb. They truely push the physical limits of a filiment bulb. But the best cost effective improvement you can make to your lighting is a clean headlight lens inside and out.

Oh, and the SVX projector low beam design screams for true HID conversion.

Doug
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  #13  
Old 04-23-2002, 08:53 AM
RRX
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Yea the hyperwhite piaa's are good, mines were super bright and lasted long. Stay away from those ebay lights. I bought some for my prelude and they lasted about 2 or 3 weeks before one blew. I was pissed.
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  #14  
Old 04-23-2002, 09:36 AM
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Quote:
Originally posted by RRX
Yea the hyperwhite piaa's are good, mines were super bright and lasted long. Stay away from those ebay lights. I bought some for my prelude and they lasted about 2 or 3 weeks before one blew. I was pissed.
That's why I don't buy stuff from EBAY. I got mine from a local ricer store and they give out 1 year warranty. Anything happens within a year, they replace the bulb. No questions ask.

Lwin
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Current SVX: • NONE
Previous SVXes: •1994 LE Barcelona Red 107k • 1992 LS-L Pearl White 143k • 1994 LSi Bordeaux Pearl 220k • 1992 LS-L Ebony Pearl 184k • 1992 LS-L Liquid Silver 145k • 1992 LS-L Liquid Silver 102k • 1992 LS-L Ebony Pearl 123k
Other current cars:•2001 Jeep Grand Cherokee Black
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  #15  
Old 04-23-2002, 11:24 AM
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<<I plan on getting the HID kit hopefully within the next two weeks.

Lwin

Do you have a link that shows what the HID Kit consists of and the prices? I would like to see it if you can post a link. Thanks
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