PIAA spark Blue H1

Attention troops, I just installed the PIAA spark blue H1 in the low beams of my RSX about 6 weeks ago. Have not yet changed the high beam bulbs but at $100.00 a set I wanted to make sure there were no problems.
Anyway so far so good. I have been monitoring the wiring harness into the bulb connector and so far there's been no overheating.
Regarding the performance, well they are very bright and mimic the output of my buddy's 2004 BMW M3 that sport a true HID lighting system! On long night drives fatigue is way down for me and even my wife says she's not as tired after 4 hours plus at night. They do seem to put off a little more heat on the front of the light assembly, but I can't detect any heat build up at the connection end. I would recommend them for all you hard core types if you can justify the coin.
I'll probably order the high beam set this week. I found them from a Japanese site on e-bay for about $20.00 less than the onshore dealers. Never-the-less be prepared to shell out close to $100.00 when shipping is added.
They shipped registered mail and I had them in Atlanta 6 business days after the order went through. Try em you'll like em!!

Have fun changing them a few weeks from now. Almost every bulb has blown on the RSX after a few weeks, at most months.

Seeing as how hit or miss it is i'd:
A) Save up for a real HID kit, fake bulbs will never be as good as a true HID
B) This is the best one - retrofit HID's off another car like a BMW or Benz or Audi.

Otherwise you'll doing:
C) Banging your head on the wall having to change your bulbs everylittle while and not getting as bright as an HID.

Well we will see. I have a set of H4 PIAA extreme white's in my wifes 2002 accord V6 coupe that have been working fine for over 2 years. Besides there are countless testimonials from PIAA users all over the web that attest to their reliability. The biggest problem with aftermarket bulbs is that most draw more current than their vehicles were designed to use.
Technology is changing and getting better. If you read the spec's of many HID systems including those made by BMW and Hella you will notice that the current draw is about doubled or even higher over standard bulbs. when you see bulbs that are using 100 watts and the cars OEM says use 55 watts then somthing is gonna give, you know it and so do I. But if you can produce a bulb that is rated at the OEM spec but can still burn close to the HID kelvin range than you have solved a problem. I'm not saying that the PIAA spark blue will produce the same lumen discharge as true HID but it is a big improvement over stock lamps. HID is expensive and auto makers know it. The market is just to big for the after market bulb makers to ignore..........
ah.........progress.

I'm not sure if you know, but yes, some bulbs are effective on some cars. However every bulb tested so far on the RSX has had at least 70% of their owners complain about them blowing after a month or two.

And even if you can get the lighting around the same as an HID kit, you still have to look at the fact that RSX's reflector headlight housing was not made to be for HID's, which is why a retrofit would be the best.

At least 70% you say. Interesting, are you actually keeping stats? Regarding the headlight housing that you say is not made for HID; well it doesn't have to be because H1 bulbs used in the RSX are not HID. Sylvania makes H1 sliverstar bulbs for the RSX. they only burn at 4000 K but if you don't think they will work perfectly fine in any appliccation that they makes bulbs for,then you haven't done your homework. Do you really think that an international manufacturer like Sylvania Osram would risk the mass liability of the market they seek? Don't be naive. I'll bet you that most all of your 70% (where ever that percentage comes from) were using bulbs that were drawing more current than specified by the cars manufacturer. In Europe the bulbs you say burn out in a short time are used in cheap cars like the Ford focus and several Renalt models to name just a few. They use the same polycarbonate light assemblies that are common to the auto industry.
Have you tried any high end H1 bulbs in your car?
Which one's? what was the wattage? Just curious.

Ok, 70 was just a random figure. In fact its everyone (at least 100) but maybe one or two who haven't had problems.

Don't be Naive? Uh-huh. Post this on www.clubrsx.com (Exterior/Interior/Lighting) and watch how many people will say aftermarket bulbs are a waste of time. Very few people are happy with it which is why I don't even bother getting aftermarket bulbs. You're one of the maybe 4 who have been satisfied with bulbs.

And i'm not talking about low end bulbs, i'm talking about Sylvania Silverstars, PIAA, Nokya and many others.

Ok so we have had different experiences with the aftermarket bulbs. I will keep the forum informed of my findings and if they fail I'm not afraid to share the knowledge. But to my logic the RSX should have no inherant reason why upgraded bulbs should fail. In fact since the RSX has seperate bulbs for both high and low beams there should be a reduced current draw on the connectors. At any rate we will see.

Ok. Search ClubRSX, almost no one is happy with aftermarket (and I mean dozens and hundreds of people).

http://forums.clubrsx.com/showthread.php?t=135583&highlight=bulb+blown

http://forums.clubrsx.com/showthread.php?t=104104&highlight=bulb+blown

http://forums.clubrsx.com/showthread.php?t=130101&highlight=piaa+bulbs

Seems like the only ones worth it are Phillips Blue Vision and some of the PIAA (half of the people dislike have love it).

I don't feel like more searching.

I love the PIAA Spark Blue Bulb. I have a PIAA Spark Blue HB4 on my 2001 Honda Accord v6 for about 2 yrs already, the bulbs still good, not burned out yet. PIAA have the best rating on the lighting system. They last forever.......

A Honda Accord isn't an Acura RSX.

I can see why you call yourself "Crazy" " a Honda accord isn't an Acura RSX" Do you think the wiring harnesses in our RSX's are built by the aerospace industry and therefore cannot work with high quality lights from PIAA. In fact you are quite wrong. The Honda Accord wiring harness is very similar to that of the RSX. I have Factory service manuels for both my RSX and my wifes 2002 Accord V6. And,after careful comparison of the two I have found that they are virtually identical.
Here are the facts. The OEM H1 bulbs for the RSX are rated at 55 watts,the PIAA Spark blue is a 55 watt bulb. It does not draw anything more than OEM current which was designed for the RSX. It works just fine and cost's about $1200.00 less than HID. So get educated or stop the lame replies. :screwy:

I'm coming with the lame replies?

Wow.

First of all, you can get HID's/retrofits starting at about 300 dollars. Second, i'm going by actual results, and so far there are few people who've used aftermarket bulbs and have had them last for longer than a month. And i'm not talking about APC bulbs, i'm talking about Sylvania, PIAA, Nokya and many others.

And compared to HID's these aren't going to be as good.


Not to mention a few of the local dealers have warned against them.

I can see why you call yourself "Crazy" " a Honda accord isn't an Acura RSX"
All he's trying to say here is that a Honda Accord might be able to handle the current flow to the bulbs where the RSX might not be able to regulate it as well and blow the bulb. Just because an RSX is made by the Honda motor company, doesn't mean it's going to respond the same way as an Accord. They do have different engines/wiring/suspension etc. etc. It's like comparing a Dodge Omni to a Dodge Viper(sarcasm). Just because they're made by the same company doesn't mean they are going to respond the same way! :rolleyes:

Also, just because a bulb is rated a certain Wattage, doesn't mean that the bulb is drawing more current on one car vs. another. Just remember that P = iR. If the resistance is lower on the RSX, then the current it needs to draw from is higher to maintain the 55W.

At least you say that the wiring is similar, but you also have to take into account the whole car as well. Are the batteries the same? Are they regulated the same way? Does the RSX/Accord have the same electrical accessories? ... These are all questions you have to answer before you can say with 100% certainty that the RSX can maintain the HID's. Of course the easiest way is for you to try it out and let us know if you don't have any problems.

BTW, there have been many recalls of cars that were manufactured from one date and the others that are manufactured at a later date that are OK. There can be differences in cars even in the same model.

Just do a search on clubrsx like he suggested and figure out if you want to do it. Whatever you experience, just post it up and let us know. There's no need to get miffed over the subject. :eek7:

Thank ya :)