Headlight Replacement Bulbs.

I just installed a set of Sylvania SilverStar zXe headlight bulbs on my Honda Odyssey. We took a 300 mile round trip and encountered heavy rain, the stock oem bulbs provided little help and had dimmed about 10% percent per year. It was like having a set of candlesticks duct-taped to the front bumper.

Another thing I plan on doing is buying the Sylvania Headlight Restoration Kit. Cleaning headlight lenses is something that is alien to those of us unaccustomed to modern plastic lenses but needs to become a yearly habit if we wish to see the road clearly at night. Nice new bulbs and clean headlight lenses makes driving a lot safer!!

So, these bulbs have been installed and look great. They will be thoroughly tested by me during the next few weeks and I will post a review about them and some before and after pictures. I kept the receipt and will return them if not entirely happy.

Mark, not a personal attack, just a question--are they the ones that blind anybody comin in the opposite direction that some ignorant SOB thought was real safety oriented?

freetown fred wrote:Mark, not a personal attack, just a question--are they the ones that blind anybody comin in the opposite direction that some ignorant SOB thought was real safety oriented?

Fred, the bulbs that Mark mentioned are a little brighter, but they shouldn't bother oncoming traffic.

I think you are referring to the jerks that retrofit HID bulbs into housings that aren't made for it...they drive around with their ultra-bright and improperly pointed headlights and blind oncoming traffic. Usually it is some young kid or an a**hole with something to prove.

Hi Fred,

To answer your question, Yes and No.

I hesitated for nearly ten years on buying high intensity bulbs for the same reason you don't like them, the blinding of oncoming traffic. The bulbs I purchased are not the "blue" lights you see on some cars. The other minor reason was the reduced life expectancy which is about a year or so. All bulbs dim over time, more than most people realize, and need frequent replacement to optimize your night vision even if using standard oem bulbs.

But, to be honest, I made a decision that my family's safety was paramount to the safety of others. In my opinion, the few seconds of discomfort experienced by the driver of an oncoming car was not enough to cause an accident.

Luckily for you, I won't be driving through Freetown any time soon!

Funny,at least I thought so, a neighbor farmer was going home after haying all day, it was after dark, & a local kid got behind him w/ those blue blinding lights & even though the old guy pulled over & slowed down to a crawl so the kid could pass, the kid stayed right on his tail--now remember those big J D's have a real big rectangular mirror in the cab ( not real adjustable) & was really blinding the guy--the farmer got out after a few miles & had his 9 mm pistol he has on the tractor for coyotes) and shot both the kids headlights out--nothing ever came of it--I guess when ya know your being an ass, ya gotta realize there might be consiquences. Funny, I haven't seen that kid driving hell bent for leather up & down our road since then. I guess Conn's different as far as all that goes? Glad you didn't get those blue things

I look forward to your review Mark. I was not aware of the dimming issue. I always thought it wasy eyes!! I too have an Odyssey and want the best for my girls. Fred, I love your neighbors solution. How many times I have wanted to use it myself.

I've had good luck with the Silverstars in my '07 Silverado, but if you have any cars using the "old" ( can't believe that! ) sealed-beam square lights, steer clear of them. Bought a pair for our '86 Merc. & the '89 Blazer - on both cars neither set lasted even ONE YEAR. Bright, yes. But ZERO longevity. I don't drive my '07 much anymore, so I can't give a real world review on those, but they do seem to be more durable than the sealed-beam units. I've put about 20k miles on them, and even with the stupid automatic lights coming on for a second just before I shut the truck off in the dark garage, they haven't burned out yet. Surprised.

I still have the stockers in a baggie waiting for that day though. On the '07 I hardly noticed any difference, so I wouldn't waste the money on them again anyway.

freetown fred wrote: the kid stayed right on his tail--now remember those big J D's have a real big rectangular mirror in the cab ( not real adjustable) & was really blinding the guy

That's when you jack on the e brake... no tail lights.

I don’t mind those blue tinted lights. A lot of them look real bright in the distance but get dimmer looking the closer they get. The headlight aim is probably the most important thing to get right so that you don’t blind oncoming traffic.

EarthWindandFire wrote:But, to be honest, I made a decision that my family's safety was paramount to the safety of others. In my opinion, the few seconds of discomfort experienced by the driver of an oncoming car was not enough to cause an accident.

That sounds good EWF but what if the guy coming towards you had a few too many? He is already visually impaired and to further impair his vision may not be advisable. One of the first rules you learn about night time driving is not to outdrive your headlights. Following that rule you adjust your speed to how far you can see the road ahead. I am not critical of your choice, just your rational. It works best when we can ALL see well.

Drive safe.

EarthWindandFire wrote:....................Another thing I plan on doing is buying the Sylvania Headlight Restoration Kit. Cleaning headlight lenses is something that is alien to those of us unaccustomed to modern plastic lenses but needs to become a yearly habit if we wish to see the road clearly at night. Nice new bulbs and clean headlight lenses makes driving a lot safer!!

So, these bulbs have been installed and look great. They will be thoroughly tested by me during the next few weeks and I will post a review about them and some before and after pictures. I kept the receipt and will return them if not entirely happy.

My experience has been that most "kits" sold to restore the plastic lenses do not work that well. Especially if you are attempting to buff the lenses with a pad attached to an electric drill.

I use a regular electric buffer. It has the speed and power necessary to get the buffing compound to work the way it was intended. In fact, there is no need for the special kits....... go to your local automotive paint store. Get a few sheets of fine grit sandpaper. Sand them down starting anywhere from 1000 or 1500 grit and advance up through 3000 grit if possible. Then hit them with a good buffing and then polishing compound and you should be good to go.

In extreme cases, I have been forced to sand them down and reshoot a coating of urethane clear on them.

And I usually remove the headlamps and do them on a bench. Less slop on the car and easy to do the whole lens.

Of course if you come to my shop I can offer a discount for coal burners.......



Rick

Rick 386 wrote:My experience has been that most "kits" sold to restore the plastic lenses do not work that well. Especially if you are attempting to buff the lenses with a pad attached to an electric drill.

I use a regular electric buffer. It has the speed and power necessary to get the buffing compound to work the way it was intended. In fact, there is no need for the special kits....... go to your local automotive paint store. Get a few sheets of fine grit sandpaper. Sand them down starting anywhere from 1000 or 1500 grit and advance up through 3000 grit if possible. Then hit them with a good buffing and then polishing compound and you should be good to go.

In extreme cases, I have been forced to sand them down and reshoot a coating of urethane clear on them.

Rick

I've used the 3M restoration kit on my '02 Jetta headlights with good results, although the cost of the kit and how fast the consumables get consumed makes it a lousy value, but definitely easier and cheaper than a new set of headlights!

The only issue with restoring plastic lenses is that once you've sanded off the yellowed and rough outside layer, you've also taken off the UV and scratch protection "hard coat". My lenses went 8 years before I had to polish them, but now they barely go 3 or 4 months, and some automatic carwash chemicals and soaps will cloud them over instantly. Fortunately, I can hit them with some PlastX or Novus #2, using the foam buffing pad that came with the 3M kit, and bring them back again. It's a pain in the azz, but I do like to be able to see at night! I can't imagine driving some of the cars I see (mostly Dodges) with lenses that look like a set of frat-house sheets.