I've been looking at the PIAA H1 Xtreme White Lights, but I've noticed they come in different styles ranging from Plasma Spark Blue to Super Plasma. The difference is in the light color temperature. How high can you go before it's illegal. The Plasma Spart Blue's color temp is 7500k. Does anyone have this in their RSX? How does it look? Does it really brighten up the road? Also, how long do they last? I've been using CATZ which only lasted me a couple of months so I've been searching for something with better quality. I heard PIAA's were the best. Does anyone know of anything better?

Thanks for your help,
SixSigma

I heard PIAA's were the best. Does anyone know of anything better?

Thanks for your help,
SixSigma

Most definitely. First off, hyperwhites are played IMO. :uhoh:

I'd highly suggest a set of Sylvania SilverStars. They are 100% street legal, even here in CA. They still have a resemblence to HIDs, but are more pure white than anything, with a slightly bluer look when the highbeam is on. Also they are only about $20-$25 per bulb depending on where you get them from. And oh yes, they are stock wattage, so they WILL last unlike high wattage bulbs that the stock wiring can't even handle which is why any bulb rated over stock wattage WILL burnout way prematurely, and almost certainly within a year if not sooner. Best of all you can get SilverStars from Kragen, Pep Boys or any major automotive store. :cool: I have a set I'm using in my JDM CTR headlights, and they look pimp on them.

How long does the Sylvania SilverStars last? I usually buy the PIAA headlights, but they are too damn expensive...i was buying the ($149.00 per pair) They lasted only like 1 year or so. I had to buy new ones. then they burnt out in about 1 year too. I thought lights are supposed to last at least 3 years or 2???



Most definitely. First off, hyperwhites are played IMO. :uhoh:

I'd highly suggest a set of Sylvania SilverStars. They are 100% street legal, even here in CA. They still have a resemblence to HIDs, but are more pure white than anything, with a slightly bluer look when the highbeam is on. Also they are only about $20-$25 per bulb depending on where you get them from. And oh yes, they are stock wattage, so they WILL last unlike high wattage bulbs that the stock wiring can't even handle which is why any bulb rated over stock wattage WILL burnout way prematurely, and almost certainly within a year if not sooner. Best of all you can get SilverStars from Kragen, Pep Boys or any major automotive store. :cool: I have a set I'm using in my JDM CTR headlights, and they look pimp on them.

How long does the Sylvania SilverStars last? I usually buy the PIAA headlights, but they are too damn expensive...i was buying the ($149.00 per pair) They lasted only like 1 year or so. I had to buy new ones. then they burnt out in about 1 year too. I thought lights are supposed to last at least 3 years or 2???

It depends with PIAAs. If you were running ones that are higher than stock wattage, then that's your answer right there. otherwise, I'd take them back to PIAA since they have a 1 year warranty on their bulbs unlike most companies. SilverStars should last as long as any other normal OE halogen headlight bulb since that's what they are for the most part. Also if I remember right, SilverStars have a limited lifetime warranty on them. I'll have to check up on that though.

Most definitely. First off, hyperwhites are played IMO. :uhoh:

I'd highly suggest a set of Sylvania SilverStars. They are 100% street legal, even here in CA. They still have a resemblence to HIDs, but are more pure white than anything, with a slightly bluer look when the highbeam is on. Also they are only about $20-$25 per bulb depending on where you get them from. And oh yes, they are stock wattage, so they WILL last unlike high wattage bulbs that the stock wiring can't even handle which is why any bulb rated over stock wattage WILL burnout way prematurely, and almost certainly within a year if not sooner. Best of all you can get SilverStars from Kragen, Pep Boys or any major automotive store. :cool: I have a set I'm using in my JDM CTR headlights, and they look pimp on them.

Here is my situation. When I purchased the CATZ they looked great, but once my left bulb went out on the RSX I didn't want to purchase another CATZ bulb because I didn't want it going out again after 2 months. So I opted for the Sylvania Silverstar because its cheap and a good temporary replacement. What I did was keep one CATZ bulb on the left side and one Sylvania bulb on the right. The difference is pretty clear. Sylvania is NOT as bright as CATZ. And PIAA is supposed to be brighter than CATZ. So I'm leaning toward purchasing PIAA bulbs on the next round. Also you said that Sylvania is stock wattage. Do you what the exact wattage is for the lowbeam on the RSX? All the PIAA's are 55W but are able to produce over 100W of power due to the Xenon filleb bulbs which cool the bulb better and allow for more extreme color temperature. IMO a bulbs a bulb but the brighter the better. And its a cheaper alternative to buying a HID kit. Thanks for your help.

Six

i have the silver star bulbs and they are brighter than stock bulbs and whiter in color but it won't give you the HID look. the only way to get the HID look is to get a real HID kit. I was a little dissapointed because of all the hype, but they look okay and people will know that it's not the OEM bulb in your car.

Here is my situation. When I purchased the CATZ they looked great, but once my left bulb went out on the RSX I didn't want to purchase another CATZ bulb because I didn't want it going out again after 2 months. So I opted for the Sylvania Silverstar because its cheap and a good temporary replacement. What I did was keep one CATZ bulb on the left side and one Sylvania bulb on the right. The difference is pretty clear. Sylvania is NOT as bright as CATZ. And PIAA is supposed to be brighter than CATZ. So I'm leaning toward purchasing PIAA bulbs on the next round. Also you said that Sylvania is stock wattage. Do you what the exact wattage is for the lowbeam on the RSX? All the PIAA's are 55W but are able to produce over 100W of power due to the Xenon filleb bulbs which cool the bulb better and allow for more extreme color temperature. IMO a bulbs a bulb but the brighter the better. And its a cheaper alternative to buying a HID kit. Thanks for your help.

Six

Well if the brightness is what you are after, then stick with the high wattage bolbs like the Catz, but just know they WILL blow out within a year or sooner. SilverStars are the brightest stock wattage halogen bulb you can buy, period! PIAAs are excellent as well, but I'm talking best performance for price, you can't beat the Sylvanias. A 100 watt bulb WILL outpower them, but that's because it's twice the wattage power. If you get PIAA, I'd suggest either the standard Platnium series bulbs, or the Super Plasma GT's or GT-X's.

PIAA's have a one year warranty and look really good imo. If they burn out, take them back to the store you bought them from, in the box with the receipt and they'll give you a fresh new pair. Mine cost $80 for the H4's I had in my stock headlights but now I have angel eyes and H1's go in them. I bought the CATZ H1's and good lord they suck ass.

I don't understand why you guys are still messing with the Halogens. After I switched over to McCulloch 8000K HIDs three years ago, I had get them for all my cars. Can't see a damn thing with those halogens. Another thing, HID last forever. I use to have the white halogen, and it last for 3 month tops, and need install a new pair because the color dont really match if I just put one in. I think HID is the best investment by far, and for only $300 dollars, I feel so much safer driving at night and the blusih tint 8000k are sweet.

I don't understand why you guys are still messing with the Halogens. After I switched over to McCulloch 8000K HIDs three years ago, I had get them for all my cars. Can't see a damn thing with those halogens. Another thing, HID last forever. I use to have the white halogen, and it last for 3 month tops, and need install a new pair because the color dont really match if I just put one in. I think HID is the best investment by far, and for only $300 dollars, I feel so much safer driving at night and the blusih tint 8000k are sweet.

If you lived in CA, you'd understand why. Any HID's other than factory stock ones that come IN the car from the factory are now illegal to have operating or even to be sold due to retarded legislative practices. I prefer the Philips kits myself, more like the BWM and S2000 HIDs. On another note, with my JDM CTR Stanley housings, my Silver Star H4 bulbs along with my 85w driving/fog lights put out almost as much light as any aftermarket HID add-on kit I've seen. And best of all they are LEGAL, not annoying or blinding to most drivers (that I know of :p ) and they will outshine ANY halogen or hyperwhite/"xenon" setup I've ever come across yet to date. Pure white light is the only way to go.

i didn't know HID were illegal in CA, too bad, cause I wanted to add one.

has anyone heard of hypergrounds? they claim to increase the brightness of the headlight by better grounding.

i didn't know HID were illegal in CA, too bad, cause I wanted to add one.

has anyone heard of hypergrounds? they claim to increase the brightness of the headlight by better grounding.

Yup, it's a just recent thing with CA and HIDs.

I haven't heard of a better ground system, but Catz makes a system called the "Catz Zeta" which is like an amplifire/power booster unit that's basically like having HID with halogen bulbs. It boosts power and light output by 150%, almost to the level of true HID supposedly. I've never seen the system working in person before though.

i thought philips only make the bulbs and not the ballest? i've heard mcculloch's a very good company, if i had the cash i would definitely get a kit (except for the people in cali). i heard wa also banned aftermarket hid's also but never heard of anyone being pulled over.

anyways, i agree with silvery2kcivic. silverstars are by far the best bang for the buck. i used to have 9005 silverstar conversions but i got rid of those cause it was blinding me everytime the light hits a reflection from the back of another car. i had them for 4 months and they ran like a champ. sold the bulbs to a friend and haven't heard of it being burnt out yet. i'm kinda regretting selling it cause i can't see anything with stock 9006's. i just bought a 4 pack of 9005 silverstars off ebay :). can't wait to see at night again

ps. ricochet, i've seen your angel eyes on cardomain. they look hella sweet and your car is sweet overall :sunglasse

there's also a $5 mail in rebate if you buy a set of silverstars at shucks auto supply. other stores might have that also?

i thought philips only make the bulbs and not the ballest? i've heard mcculloch's a very good company, if i had the cash i would definitely get a kit (except for the people in cali). i heard wa also banned aftermarket hid's also but never heard of anyone being pulled over.

anyways, i agree with silvery2kcivic. silverstars are by far the best bang for the buck. i used to have 9005 silverstar conversions but i got rid of those cause it was blinding me everytime the light hits a reflection from the back of another car. i had them for 4 months and they ran like a champ. sold the bulbs to a friend and haven't heard of it being burnt out yet. i'm kinda regretting selling it cause i can't see anything with stock 9006's. i just bought a 4 pack of 9005 silverstars off ebay :). can't wait to see at night again

ps. ricochet, i've seen your angel eyes on cardomain. they look hella sweet and your car is sweet overall :sunglasse

The only option for CA peeps now is to harvest out the HIDs from wrecked luxory cars. Many of the people I know with HID have done this. Like they will use 3-Series BMW or Nissan Maxima ballasts and run them to Philips or H4 style HID bulbs. This one guy I know with a new Celica GT-S, swapped out his OEM fogs for a pair of the current model BMW M3 HID fogs, and they fit the Celica bumper just like stock as if they came with the car. They look tight as heck! Another guy I know who had an HID kit was constantly getting pulled over. That's what caused him to sell them, he was tired of cop harassment for having them.

SilverY2KCivic, you got me thinking. Now, I know I don't live in cali, but I am still curious. Since you can only have an OEM HID system, not an aftermarket one, if you pulled an audi or BMW ballist, ignitor (sp), etc..like you said, and then hooked it up to the correct bulb for your car...would than be legal, since it is techincally an OEM HID system, just not OEM to your car. Second, what if someone actually spent the money to do a custom headlight conversion, and had a pair of, say, JDM Honda Integra Type-R HID Headlamps or BMW 3 series HID headlamps installed (complete with the HID's). Now, since that is a full OEM HID system and headlamp (just not OEM for your specific car or model), is that legal? After reading your post, I got curious to this, since techincally, those are indeed OEM HID systems you would have put on the car.

The only option for CA peeps now is to harvest out the HIDs from wrecked luxory cars. Many of the people I know with HID have done this. Like they will use 3-Series BMW or Nissan Maxima ballasts and run them to Philips or H4 style HID bulbs. This one guy I know with a new Celica GT-S, swapped out his OEM fogs for a pair of the current model BMW M3 HID fogs, and they fit the Celica bumper just like stock as if they came with the car. They look tight as heck! Another guy I know who had an HID kit was constantly getting pulled over. That's what caused him to sell them, he was tired of cop harassment for having them.
...or you can take em out of saturns :redface:

someone should invent a fake ballast cover for the aftermarket ballasts. how would they tell it's not oem otherwise? how much did your friend paid for the m3 hid fogs?

Damn that sucks, and I was planning on transferring to UC Berkeley too =/ Now I have to decide between school and HID...

Damn that sucks, and I was planning on transferring to UC Berkeley too =/ Now I have to decide between school and HID...

Well, correct me if I am wrong here SilverY2KCivic, but I believe that as long as you register your car in your home state, where it is legal, and not in Cali, you should be fine. Your Drivers license would show your home state too. I know for the most part, a Officer in Cali, for example, couldn't ticket you for having a 35% tint on the front windows and HIDS if my the car is registered in oregon legally with oregon plates, and my Drivers license if from oregon too. Since both my car, and my license would be from here in this senerio, and not in cali, I don't beilive you would be ticketed for being in violation of Cali vehcile code, since neither you nor your car are registered, and licensed there. It's the same thing. I go visit my aunt and uncle in LA for a month, I can't be ticketed for having a CAI and Header that's not CARB exempt if both I and the Car are registered and from a another state. These laws wouldn't apply there. It's like someone is Washington can have 30% tint on all windows, and Cali 70% on the front sides and as dark as you want on the back sides and rear. If either of these ppl are in oregon, with their cars, and their drivers license (or the person the car is registered to) lives in the state on the plate, they can't be ticketed for the extra dark tint like a resident could. This is because they are not an oregon resident. This princple should follow from state to state for the most part, the only expection being federal law (which would take presidence over any state laws). I hope that clears up your situation about Cal-Berkley a bit.

can't go lower than 35% on the front windows in wa. there i corrected you :p

Eckoman,

I wish CA cops were that understanding. :rolleyes: Unless you really were hear for just a short stay, I don't think that would fly well with them. They would probably say "well you have to abide by CA rules when driving here, blah blah blah..."

As for scavengering HID equipment from wrecked luxory cars, that's about the only option we have left now. But they would still be illegal in a Honda by technicality since they didn't come with the Honda originally, even if they are an OEM HID system from another car. As for the ballasts... If hidden correctly, a cop will either think they are an ignition box, or just not see them. A guy I know who was pulled over often for his HID lights convinced a cop one time that they came with the car from the factory like that, LMAO! He had the wiring tapped and loomed up in black to make it look like it's OEM, and the ballasts were hidden out of sight.

I DID see a vendor in the aftermarket section at the LA Auto Show selling aftermarket HID kits just a few days ago! :eek7: I was tempted to pick up an H4 kit, but I haven't seen ANY HID kit that looks right (refering to light output and dispersment) from OEM Civic headlight housings. You need projectors for them... =\

Eckoman,

I wish CA cops were that understanding. :rolleyes: Unless you really were hear for just a short stay, I don't think that would fly well with them. They would probably say "well you have to abide by CA rules when driving here, blah blah blah..."

As for scavengering HID equipment from wrecked luxory cars, that's about the only option we have left now. But they would still be illegal in a Honda by technicality since they didn't come with the Honda originally, even if they are an OEM HID system from another car. As for the ballasts... If hidden correctly, a cop will either think they are an ignition box, or just not see them. A guy I know who was pulled over often for his HID lights convinced a cop one time that they came with the car from the factory like that, LMAO! He had the wiring tapped and loomed up in black to make it look like it's OEM, and the ballasts were hidden out of sight.

I DID see a vendor in the aftermarket section at the LA Auto Show selling aftermarket HID kits just a few days ago! :eek7: I was tempted to pick up an H4 kit, but I haven't seen ANY HID kit that looks right (refering to light output and dispersment) from OEM Civic headlight housings. You need projectors for them... =\

Well, I know they can't subject my vehicle to cali vehilce code if I am not a resident. It's like that with every state I do believe. They may TRY to ticket you thinking he's an out of staters...but since I am not a cali resident and my car is not registered there, but is instead registered in my state of residence, I need to abide by my home states' vehilce code on my car, not the place I was visiting. He he tried to nail me for having "none carb approved products, 35% tint on the front windows and HID's, it would get throw out of court. I'd galdly pay the attonery fee and fly back done to win. It's princlple. My car is not reigstered in cali, and I am not a residnet. The car is registered at my home address in my state of residence, since I would be complying with my states laws in this senerio, they legelly couldn't fine me for this, since I would just be there visiting on vacation or something. Since the car doesn't go through CARB insecption....cuz it's not from cali, like you...they can't nail you for non-carb exempt parts. Now if you lived there for like 2 years but played that game, then year, it may be a differetn story in that case.

On a side note, hmm...I have projecotr headlights...that being the case with HID's and projectors, I may have to look into that I think.

can't go lower than 35% on the front windows in wa. there i corrected you

I checked it out, you are correct. I checked a list of all 50-state tint laws revised in Nov 2003. It must have been changed with-in the last 2 years, because I know that a year and a half ago, 2 years ago (last time I checked), 30% was the limit Up in WA (I tned to try and compare OR and WA laws sometimes, to see who different they are, since pdx and vancouver are only separated by a river, lol.

didnt read this entire thread, so someone may have already posted this but.....

eurodesignz bulbs are pretty good. and if they ever blow out, you can send them to eurodesigz with 5 bux and they will ship a new pair back to you. go on ebay to get your first set... it will be about 10 dollars.

Which model is best for the silver stars?

I have PIAA Extreme white 4150 K and they look nice, deff a plus for driving back to college at night on the highway

I did a 9005 conversion recently and I love it. I'm running APC super whites and they're bright as hell. Although, since I broke a bulb during installation, I've spent about $80 on the entire project. Better than spending $400 for HIDs, but that doesn't mean I don't still want them =)

IntegraBoy2003: How can people say you're racist towards retards? Don't they realize that mental retardation isn't a race? It's a syndrom!

I noticed a lot of people with posts asking questions about aftermarket bulbs and lighting. Check this sticky thread out and read it. It should help a bit.

http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=177538

IntegraBoy2003: How can people say you're racist towards retards? Don't they realize that mental retardation isn't a race? It's a syndrom!

beats me, I get hate mail all the time, from different people, saying " I will get the internet police after you" and shit like that, fuck people like that if they cannot take a joke they should not look at the site :) I guess the people that say " I am a rasist towards retards", are retards cause youor right it is a syndrom tahnx for poitning that out