New Headlight Bulb Time

[Subtle_Cynicism]

My mom (who hates buying new things for her cars) told me today that my GT's headlights look very dim, and quite honestly, I am inclined to agree with her.

When I'm highway driving, my brights are dimmer than my lows are it seems, and for being as bright as some Grand Am headlights I've seen stock (blinding), they suck a lot.

I need new bulbs, but I'm too stupid about wattage and what not to figure it out.

I want bright bulbs, but I want them to be legal.

Part number, purchase place, cost, please :)

I live in Michigan, and the police hate us, fyi.

[AznGA]

We have 9007 bulbs. You can get a pair of Sylvania Silverstar headlight bulbs for $40 a pair. They are very reliable. If you want to spend more, get PIAA extreme white bulbs for about $69 a pair. PIAA's are the best ones you can get.

Walmart carries Silverstars and I just ordered a pair of PIAA's on pfyc.com.

[3 DeeJay]

^ Agrees.. I have silverstars..

[TimG]

I live in Michigan. The cops hate us? No probs around here. Guess that's what I get for only turning on my neons on when I'm parked and turning my bass down when I go into neighboorhoods.

Anyway..anyone have a compareson pic of Silverstars and stock bulbs?

[Subtle_Cynicism]

I loathe bass systems, my music is always a very decent level, and I believe Neon's are satan's toys :D.

[GTLUVA]

Silverstars all the way:) I had them in since May 1st on my car and their still running strong even when I still have my DRLS running all the time in my car:D

[T3rry]

SILVERSTARS they are the brighest street legal bulb you can get and they're not retardedly priced like the PIAA's

i have silverstars in both my vehicles and thye improve dmy visability in both my cats AT LEAST 100% at night.

[RocketFast321]

coolblues are cheaper and just as good
I have silverstars in my GA and coolblues in the malibu. They look the same. Only difference in the $40 missing from wallet.

[Subtle_Cynicism]

So...which are better in terms of quality, appearence, and such?

Silverstars or Piaa? I've always been told you get what you pay for ?

[highflyer]

My vote is silverstars....they're great and fair priced, last a long time....your decision if you wanna spend the bucks and get pretty much the same, I suppose....

[Subtle_Cynicism]

And as not mentioned, my Firebird is apparently jealous of the attention my GT has been getting, as one of it's headlights decided to go out on me tonight.

A friend and I were going out ot eat, and the police officer turned his lights on AS WE PARKED, and embarassed us in front of everyone just to tell us we had a burnt out headlight.

I really think he pulled us over because I was smoking (I turned eighteen a few days ago), and he allegedly said he saw a Firebird with the SAME light out running from the cops a few days ago, and that most CERTIANLY was not I.

Mer...Ugh...Kahn.

What bulbs can Firebird (99, specifically, take)?

[Dave C]

Originally posted by RocketFast321
coolblues are cheaper and just as good
I have silverstars in my GA and coolblues in the malibu. They look the same. Only difference in the $40 missing from wallet.


Ugh, coolblues... Had them in my Alero (high beams/DRL) for a while, the blue coating was sagging majorly by the time they burned out. Also, they didn't seem to last that long (it was a while, but maybe seems shorter because I was actually paying attention). Pay the few extra bucks and get silverstars.

[Silver99SE]

I'll have to agree with the Silverstars. I've never seen the PIAA's though and you have to order them. For the price and convenience (Wal-Mart) I bought the Sylvania's. They are noticeably brighter than stock.

[Pte Socks]

Just for comparison.. Ive used the stock replacements, the cool blue HID's and the Silverstars. Now the cool blues probably looked the best, but in terms of penetrating the snow/rain, they do a very poor job adn the silverstars are still brighter. IMO, go with the silverstars and you wont be dissappointed. Expensive, but definatly worth the extra distance you can see at night.

[RocketFast321]

weird the coolblues in the malibu are still fine they been in there for about 6 months.

[RocketFast321]

Grand Am

[RocketFast321]

malibu

[Subtle_Cynicism]

Ok, I went to Walmart and found the silverstars, but I've got some questions:

They come two to a package, but how many am I going to need to upgrade my headlight system to Silverstars? One pack? Two packs?

They are part 9007, but there is an option for H/L beams on the indictor computer at Walmart, and though all my headlights work on my GAGT, I want to replace all the headlights now so I dont have to screw with it later...

How many do I need?

[Subtle_Cynicism]

I really need to know this guys.

How many packages of 2 do I need to switch all my headight bulbs for both low and high beam, and are there any difference in model numbers for the low/high beams?

[RocketFast321]

9007 you need two bulbs.

[AznGA]

You need 1 pack which has 2 bulbs.

[Subtle_Cynicism]

Ok. Thanks. That's all I needed to hear.

Upon closer inspection, I realized that I have one tiny little amber bulb burnt out on my passanger side headlight. It is the small light to the left of the headlight bulb itself (if you're looking at it from the outside) and to the right of the amber reflector.

What is the part number for this as I'd like to get an amber replacement one for it. I searched and I think its 194, but just checking..

[TimG]

Aren't those your daytime running lights?

[Peyman]

im real picky bout the brightness of our headlights....from day one, my headlights sucked, i replaced the bulbs 2-3 times, and they still werent good enough for me, until i just bought hids, sure they were kinda expensive...but soo WORTH it...

http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/5/web/281000-281999/281980_69_full.jpg

[highflyer]

Both amber markers are 194, and the furthest inside turn/park bulb is 3157.

[AznGA]

Well right now I have Silverstar signal and headlight bulbs, but I just decided to go PIAA all the way. I ordered PIAA Xtreme white signals and headlights. Sylvania's are good buy, but I want something whiter and more noticable.

[Dave C]

Originally posted by Peyman
im real picky bout the brightness of our headlights....from day one, my headlights sucked, i replaced the bulbs 2-3 times, and they still werent good enough for me, until i just bought hids, sure they were kinda expensive...but soo WORTH it...


How much were they? And how much time/effort to install?




And if you want to know how many headlights/what # for turn signals, etc.... Isn't that stuff all listed in your owner's manual?

[Peyman]

install it pretty much plug and play...super easy....pricing varies from $350-380 w/ a one year warranty....if you want a set...pm me and we can talk details

[Subtle_Cynicism]

How do I go about changing the lights after I buy the bulbs?

*is mentally handicap*

[RocketFast321]

but all you do it i can remember is twist the black think off and pull the light out.

[RocketFast321]

delete me

[Subtle_Cynicism]

It required a bit more work than that, but I got it figured out due to some nice help from people here...here are my current problems:

1.) The passanger side headlight refuses to stay centered...as if the molding won't stay to seal it, yet it will on the right. The black ring doesnt seem to want to "screw in" either.

2.) The speed clips will not go down enough to keep the headlight in place..

I am most displeased at my lack of intelligence and the amount of work it has taken me to do this...

[BiH]

Originally posted by Peyman
im real picky bout the brightness of our headlights....from day one, my headlights sucked, i replaced the bulbs 2-3 times, and they still werent good enough for me, until i just bought hids, sure they were kinda expensive...but soo WORTH it...

http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/5/web/281000-281999/281980_69_full.jpg

Agree, buying "upgraded" bulbs is a waste of money. All they are coated with blue tint or whatever and that actually hurts performance. It might look brighter and cool but in fog and rain it will deflect light and be worse! Phillips has nice bulbs, vision plus I think they are called. I cant remember the name of the place selling them but I know http://www.autolamps-online.com sells them as well and has HID kits as well!
On my Jetta for example I siwtched to european stock headlights since they use different pattern than US lights. DOT light laws are so outdated even they admit it! European lights have better light pattern, the light actually shines like this ___/ ___/ if you turn them on close to the wall! It throws extra light on the side for any pedestrians and traffic signs! It also doesnt waste light in any direction like US lights do!
Then I added a 4100K HID kit, its a plug and play kit and these days you can find them much cheaper than they where 3 years ago. I paid less than $300 for used kit. They used to run for $1,000-1,500 few years ago! I have some pics comparing my car with HIDs and e-codes and my sister car with stock lights. Same cars BTW< my 03 jetta and her 04 jetta!
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v343/zagrad/03%20Jetta%20Wolfsburg/IMG_0015.jpg
My lights with no fog lights!
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v343/zagrad/03%20Jetta%20Wolfsburg/IMG_0017.jpg
My lights with fog lights! I used Philips all wheather, thats why they are yellow! I wanted them like that, its better in fog!
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v343/zagrad/03%20Jetta%20Wolfsburg/IMG_0018.jpg
And now my sisters car and stock NA lights. You can see how poor they light up! Plus most of the new jettas now dont come with fog lights at all!
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v343/zagrad/03%20Jetta%20Wolfsburg/IMG_0016.jpg

[BiH]

http://www.hid-online.com/hidonline/home.htm

has a kit for grand ams but its kinda pricey! $500 for the plug and play kit, phillips ballasts and all the wiring!

[OneFastGT]

9007 bulbs are dual filament meaning that they serve the purpose of both high and low beams. For example, taillight bulbs are dual filament. When you have the taillights on at night the first filament is dim. The second filament is used when you apply the brakes and becomes brighter (just like when you turn on the high beams).:party2:

[AznGA]

Originally posted by Subtle_Cynicism
It required a bit more work than that, but I got it figured out due to some nice help from people here...here are my current problems:

1.) The passanger side headlight refuses to stay centered...as if the molding won't stay to seal it, yet it will on the right. The black ring doesnt seem to want to "screw in" either.

2.) The speed clips will not go down enough to keep the headlight in place..

I am most displeased at my lack of intelligence and the amount of work it has taken me to do this...
1) I think you broke the black ring. It's not hard to break it. I have done it and I had to pay $10 at the dealer for it.
2) Remember there are 3 bars behind the housing that have to go into each slot. Try pushing the housing and the clips at the same time.

[Subtle_Cynicism]

Yes, the black ring was broken, and I was very, very angry about it.

I went to the Pontiac dealership in town and they charged me 17 dollars to replace it. After I laughed in their faces and blatantly refused, I went to the dealership in a nearby town and got it for ten.

Everything is plastic, and I hate cheap parts.

[RocketFast321]

I like the plastic. When someone backed into my car and broke all of the driver side headlight holder. They replace every thing with plastic but the speedclips. The speed clips are a very thin metal. The crap bends to easy. I had to bend it back so i could lock my headlight back in place