PIAA vs CATZ. I'm looking for headlights. Help!!

[SixSigma]

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

[SilverY2KCivic]

Originally Posted by 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.

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. I have a set I'm using in my JDM CTR headlights, and they look pimp on them.

[dj2 wBody LS-R]

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???

Originally Posted by SilverY2KCivic

Most definitely. First off, hyperwhites are played IMO.

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. I have a set I'm using in my JDM CTR headlights, and they look pimp on them.

[SilverY2KCivic]

Originally Posted by dj2 wBody LS-R

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.

[SixSigma]

Originally Posted by SilverY2KCivic

Most definitely. First off, hyperwhites are played IMO.

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. 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

[integrasedan]

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.

[SilverY2KCivic]

Originally Posted by SixSigma

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.

[Ricochet]

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.

[ZGperformance]

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.

[SilverY2KCivic]

Originally Posted by ZGperformance

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 ) 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.

[integrasedan]

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.

[SilverY2KCivic]

Originally Posted by integrasedan

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.

[gnushit]

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

[gnushit]

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?

[SilverY2KCivic]

Originally Posted by gnushit

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

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.