I've had all three (OEM, Silverstars, HID's) in my truck since I purchased it in March. Yes, the SS are better than the OEM and I was mostly satisfied with them. I've since added the HID conversion kit from ddmtuning (cost me $75 for the 55w high/low kit, but it's even cheaper if you go w/ 35w w/ single low beam) and I am blown away at the difference. I've since bought a kit for my mom's car because she has a hard time seeing at night....and she couldnt be happier w/ the results. My wifes car (Camry) already has extremely bright lights....otherwise I'm sure I'd be installing a HID kit in her car as well.
There's plenty of pics and threads on here regarding the HID's and the Silverstars.......it's what helped me make my decision.
55w, 8k bulbs

 

Just done be that jackhole who runs HIDs without adjusting their head lights. Ideally you'd want to find a good projector setup to get a nice clean cutoff.

Nobody wants to be blinded by HIDs, in a reflector, on a tall vehicle to begin with.

- NCSU

 

^ this.

HID's sure do "look" cool and produce more light, but after seeing more than one *** on the road with obnoxious blaring HIDS, i'll gladly not be that guy.

 

decided to just go with the silver stars. just swapped them out so dont know the difference yet but i leave around 130am to go to work so will find out soon enough. i know there is someone with the 04 model with fog lights mounted in the bumpergap would like to find what type and how he mounted them there i think his truck is silver and it was lifted now lowered

 

I adjusted/aligned mine after install. They were actually aiming pretty low initially. I raised them up a bit but not all the way up to my reference line (about 2" below). I've had them for a few weeks now and havent had anybody flash me yet.

 

HID's look brighter in clear conditions but how are they in rainy/foggy/misty conditions when you need better vision the most? Is the brighter and whiter light worse in poorer conditions, kinda like having high beams on in the fog? HID's seem to cast that blue glow, I always thought that blue was about the worst color in the spectrum for illumination. Lastly, aren't HID's designed to work with specialized optics? Isn't using aftermarket HID lamps in reflectors that weren't designed for them just imitating the "look" of HID?

 

I find no problem with mine in the rain/fog. As I said in my earlier post, I actually find them a lot more beneficial than the SS Ultras I was running. Rain makes the road darker. With HIDs I can actually see the road and the lines, not like the Ultras where I could only see the lines of the road (some of which are almost none existent here in Orlando.)

As for fog, the reason you don't run high beams in fog is because the higher beam that shoots up just reflects back into your eyes. This shouldn't happen with low beams, regardless of how bright (unless you have some crazy glare that reflects back, in which case you shouldn't be driving...)

It also helps if you have 4300k-5000k as they provide the most white light and what is the color OEM setups use. Try to stay away from the +8000k kits, as the blue just makes your eyes strain at night and in the rain. The "blue" you see from OEM HIDs is just you seeing the edge of the projected beam (I can't remember the name of the effect.) As I said before, the light they use is usually 4300k.

As for the optics part, yes, technically. HIDs work best when paired to a good set of projectors that project the light forward and have a nice, sharp cut off. But, I don't think sticking HIDs in non-HID reflector lights (because there are HID-specific reflector housings) is really imitating the "look" of HID. Aftermarket HIDs do increase the amount of light, though it doesn't compare to an HID and projector retrofit setup. Imitating the "look" would be more like the people who buy blue halogen/HID kits thinking that OEM HIDs use those colors and wish to imitate them.

The problem most have with aftermarkit kits is the amount of glare the HID bulb gives off in a non HID housing. Most usually somewhat remedy this by slightly lowering the aim of the headlights. Granted, properly aim headlights is a must, even with halogens, as a misaligned halogen is more annoying than a properly aligned aftermarket HID kit.

Sorry for the long post.

 

i have silverstars too..i like em! but i will get HID's one of these days

 

on the contrary, thanks for such an informative post. That cleared up a few misconceptions that I had about aftermarket HID's.

 

why is it some folks say to insatll 9005's into the fog lights and the parts store/websites tell me that 9145's are the right replacement???
Is there a difference in light output or wattage???
I have read where people tried to put brighter/hotter bulbs in the fog and it melted!!!

let me know because I am just waiting for the thaw to install new bulbs...

 

I also looked at the sylvania site and the silverstarbulbs are rated at 4000...
most hid's (at least the white/light blue ones are between 5000-6000)
not much different IMO...
or at least not worth the $$$...or the hassle from the cops and blinding others

I spent $90 at Advance auto parts for the silverstars...
I found Phillips HID's for $360!!!
sorry...I don't buy cheap aftermarket parts made in some third world country
and live by the rule you get what you pay for...
I read many members have problems with cheap HID's...
-bad wires
-flickering lights
-popping bulbs
-balasts going bad after a few months

 

The Kelvin rating doesn't directly reflect brightness. For example, the brightest HIDs are supposedly 4300k. That's just the light temperature, which makes it change color.

 

Yep, the Kelvin rating is the color at which the light burns. If anything, SS would be dimmer than a normal halogen since they use a blue filter (read reduction in light) in order to get the white light. If you want brighter halogens that are around the same wattage, you'll have to research (I can't remember the good ones.) My friend ordered some from Europe for his high beams that were +15 or +30...can't remember. Think they were 50-60 dollars shipped.

As for the fog lights, yes, 9140/9145 are what is normally used in your fogs. They use 40/45 watts and have a dark tip to prevent glare. 9005 bulbs use 65W and don't have the glare tip. They burn brighter, but also produce more heat, which is why some people (mostly people with the smaller, round fogs) get melted lens.

As for HID kits, not sure if you know, but a lot of HID kits are made in China. In fact, the company who makes VVME kits is also the one who make Philips kits in China. http://www.hid-china.com.cn/UserFile...6135057890.jpg Just FYI

 

well...after all your input I just bundled up and spent about 30 minutes installing my new silverstar H13/9145'S...

Maybe post some pics 2 night...

FYI...for install you will need
-10mm socket/reversable ratchet wrench(loosen/tighten top headlight bolt)
-10mm nut driver(remove/install 3 headlight bolts)
-phillips screwdriver(remove plastic screw to expose inner headlight bolt)
-slotted screwdriver(slowly pry clip off fog bulbs once removed from housing)
-8in adjustable wrench(used to twist old H13 bulbs out...mine were frozen)
-mechanic work gloves when it is below freezing!!!

Hope this helps

Tony

 

I replaced my oe's with silverstars and noticed a bit more brightness, definetely a whiter light not so yellowey. My next pair, I'd go with Silverstar Ultra's, I think the output is alot more than oem vs just a bit. Depends on your driving, lots of night city, hell you don't need really anything but lots of back roads and lots of night driving, get a good bulb or HID's as mentioned.