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My local paper had a Pep Boys flyer in it today with a coupon for Silverstar halogen capsules at $16.88/pair and a $5 rebate. I went right up and bought a pair. The cashier initially rang up $16.88 each, but changed it to match the coupon. They felt it was a typo, but I was the first one to use a coupon there, and they were not quite certain what was going to be done about it.

...but... Silverstars are bad bulbs...

As compared to what bulb, and in what price range? What do you consider their bad qualities? I put them in my mustang and I'm very pleased with the improvement over stock 9007 bulbs and their overall performance in general.

It's been covered before; do a search on this board for "silverstar*" and read up on it. You might feel like you can see better, but you can't really. The Sylvania Xtravisions, which are actually better bulbs, should be approximately $17 for a pair at the normal price.

Also realize that you have to compare new bulbs to new bulbs; a bulb that's seen many hours of use won't be as good as a brand new bulb.

I've seen those threads. They include a lot of subjective opinion on what is brighter vs. different color. While Osram Sylvania lists lumen output for the Silverstars (910/1500 for the 9003), I can't find the output for the Xtravision on their site. I assume lumen output counts for something as an objective measurement. I like the look of the Silverstar both from inside and outside of the car. At $12, the price becomes less of an issue, and will allow me to experiment for myself. God knows, people spend a lot more and get a lot less. Here is a link to what appears to be an intelligent essay on the subject of color and lumens. http://lighting.mbz.org/tech/bulbs/blue/good/good.html Based on that, it looks like my current Xtravision bulbs were not a bad choice. As for old vs. new, the Mustang had recently-replaced headlights and the difference with the Silverstars appeared easily discernible. An interesting consequence was that pickups and SUV's occasionally flash their high-beams at me when I am running my low beams, although they have been adjusted properly.

Dave G wrote:I've seen those threads. They include a lot of subjective opinion on what is brighter vs. different color.

Yes, they do, but there are also some facts in them.

Note that "brighter" doesn't actually mean anything, since there is no scientific way to measure "brightness."

While Osram Sylvania lists lumen output for the Silverstars (910/1500 for the 9003), I can't find the output for the Xtravision on their site. I assume lumen output counts for something as an objective measurement.

Yes, the lumen output is a scientific measurement.

9003 (or H4) bulbs are actually specified to put out 1000/1650 lumens. The thing is that the law allows for a roughly 15% tolerance, so bulbs can still be legal even if they produce less. So if those numbers you pulled off their web site are correct, you can plainly see that you're not getting more lumens with Silverstars.

I don't have the numbers handy, but Xtravision 9003 bulbs actually output more than the specified 1000/1650 but are still within the 15% tolerance of the law. They also have slightly different filament geometry which slightly changes the beam pattern, giving more usable light.

Xtravisions are basically Silverstars but without the tint. Also note that the technology behind Xtravisions improves 9003 bulbs more than any of the other US bulbs.

I like the look of the Silverstar both from inside and outside of the car. At $12, the price becomes less of an issue, and will allow me to experiment for myself. God knows, people spend a lot more and get a lot less.

That's for darn sure. But if you could see better for $5 more, maybe it'd be worth it. You could keep the Silverstars in your glove box as spares in case you need them on the road. But, yes, you could do far worse even spending five times as much.

Here is a link to what appears to be an intelligent essay on the subject of color and lumens. http://lighting.mbz.org/tech/bulbs/blue/good/good.html Based on that, it looks like my current Xtravision bulbs were not a bad choice.

Yes, that's a good article by a world expert on automotive lighting. The author of that document, Daniel Stern, recommends Xtravisions actually. He also discourages people from using Silverstars.

As for old vs. new, the Mustang had recently-replaced headlights and the difference with the Silverstars appeared easily discernible.

There is certainly a difference in the color of the light, which is of course discernible. That difference actually perceptually masks other differences, like the reduced output.

An interesting consequence was that pickups and SUV's occasionally flash their high-beams at me when I am running my low beams, although they have been adjusted properly.

That's probably because the color of Silverstars induces more glare.

I say keep the Silverstars because they aggravate SUV drivers. I'm sick of them shining at me all the time. I think I'll pick up a pair and I don't care how well I'll see as long as I know I'm pissing off the guys with acondropenisia.

Steve

It's a feature/benefit that you can't easily put a price on. You have a way of keying right in on the important stuff.

Call me stupid but what is acondropenisia?

that refers to the ariginal disease which affects people's limbs..it causes a dwarf-like affect and can result in the atrophy of muscles.. now extrapolate that to a twenty-something with his brand new suburban and no girl to place in the front seat... get it?
it's okay.. not necessarily a newbie question.. but the implication was there if you looked.. are you blonde?

since i'm on a roll, offending everyone.. (that happens when i speak publicly...) I saw a middle eastern taxi driver in a very large metro van today.. coined a new term - a tuburban. Turbans and suburbans.. combine the two and viola! you have it! (that was a foreign expression, not the instrument..)

anyway, thanks for letting me take a few minutes from your life that you will probably never get back, and if you had known, would have made arrangements NOT to read this post...

It was a play on achondoplasia; a common form of dwarfism. I figure incorporating penis in there would refer to... Well, you can figure it out now. My sister's pre-med so don't feel bad for not catching the reference.

Steve

I like it....tuburban

It's actually voila not viola... are YOU blonde?