Click
HERE for another forum string that I've been talking about this in.
Here's a cut n past of my info from that string (sorry some of the links may not work)
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While searching for "Sylvania silverstar halogen" on Google, I found this...
http://lighting.mbz.org/tech/info/bulbs/blue/good/ part of Stearn Lighting's (Toronto) web page. See also
http://lighting.mbz.org/tech/info/
Their web site can be hard to navigate, but it explains a lot of this tech/marketing stuff about headlights.
I'm gonna get me some Silverstars!
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I sent the guy at
http://lighting.mbz.org (Stearn Lighting in Toronto) an email asking for his opinion on the Silverstars. Here's what I got back...
"Definitely not. Sylvania SilverStar is just another blue-coated,
short-lived piece of trash. Shame on Sylvania. I guess I can't blame them
for realising that there is a lot of money to be made on high-priced,
short-lived, low-performance bulbs hyped as high-performance bulbs, and
with the "nifty kewl" blue colouration, but shame on them regardless.
They did not build their good reputation on junk products like this.
Note that this is NOT THE SAME product line as the European Osram
SilverStar, which is a super-high-performance, NON-blue-coated,
good-quality bulb. Osram SilverStar bulbs are available only in H4, H1
and H7, not in US types 9004, 9005, 9006, 9007."
I responded, asking for clarification. At the bottom of his web page
http://lighting.mbz.org/tech/info/bulbs/blue/good/ he describes his recommendations as...
"For those who want the best possible performance from their headlamps and are more concerned with their ability to see rather than the appearance of their headlamps, the major bulb companies offer optimized bulbs WITHOUT the light-stealing blue coloration. Sylvania Xtravision (in the pink-and-black package), Osram Super and SilverStar(outside North America); Philips High Visibility (North America), Premium and Vision Plus (outside North America); Narva RangePower are the ones to look for."
Looks like this guy only likes Sylvania Xtravision, Philips High Visibility and Narva RangePower.
I'm awaiting his reply as well as one from Sylvania, to whom I forwarded the same info.
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He defended his position and recommended the H4 Osram SilverStars from
www.powerbulbs.com for my 2002 V. No reply yet from Sylvania.
Unfortunately powerbulbs is in England so I have a concern about legality here in Canada. I've ask him to clarify. I've asked for the same clarification from powerbulbs and Sylvania.
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From
[email protected]
The Silverstar H4 will your CRV and shipping is free to Canada
We sell hundreds of sets to customers in Canada it is generally accepted that although the Euro version is much better designed and performs much better I am pretty sure it is designed to meet the requirements of your vehicle although I could not comment on whether it was legal in Canada
Please follow the link for more information
http://www.powerbulbs.net/products/p...id=oss&type=H4
From
[email protected]
The OSRAM SilverStar is available in H7 and H4 only. They are uncoated
lamps with Silvertop masking. The removal of the blacktop coating and
replacing it with Silver gives the lamps increased lumens, along with a
redesigned coil. The OSRAM Silverstar tends to be brighter due to its
design. The North American Silverstar lamps are available in
9003,9004,9005,9006,9007 and some standard sealed beams have just been
released in the Silverstar version as well. These bulbs are coated with
a blue enamel and silver tipped (accept for the high beam).
Check with your local regulations regarding use in Canada. We are not
in a position to interpret the Canadian regulations. Hopefully the
following links will lead you to the information you need. The links to
Transport Canada's web site leads to two documents that cover automotive
lighting for the most part. Note: read the disclaimer on the web site.
Technical Standard Document 108 (this is the US FMVSS108 as modified for
use by Canada)
http://www.tc.gc.ca/roadsafety/mvstm...1080rev3_e.pdf
Specific Canadian regulations that supplement the TSD are given here:
Motor Vehicle Safety Regulations Standard 108
http://www.tc.gc.ca/actsregs/mvsa/ja...h/mvsr108.html
I've since also asked for more info on the specific differences between the Euro and North American version from
[email protected] (Osram in the UK). No word yet on legality from STERN LIGHTING in Toronto
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