I have had HIDs installed in my headlights for about 2 years. Had HID fogs too but never used them. I knew they were bright, but I had aimed them down a ton and thought it would be fine. I did get people flashing me occasionally, but because I had bixenon HID I could flash back.

I noticed that I would get flashed a lot more in the rain. Never really understood it....until a couple months ago a huge lifted f250 went by in the rain with blinding blue HIDs....I couldn't see anything and actually lost vision for a minute. Slammed on the brakes and kept it straight until I regained vision. After this incident, I realized I was probably blinding a lot of other people with my lifted truck too. So the next night I had my buddy drive at me with my truck in the rain while I drove his car in the other direction out on a country road. Hell yes it was bright as hell, the scattered light just lights up all the water on the windshield and creates a wall of light. My own truck which I thought was properly aimed...

I was strongly considering taking them out until a few weeks ago when the icing was put on the cake. I was driving out to go hunting one morning, still pitch dark out. A pickup truck coming at me, maybe 400 yds away...flashes me...I flash back. He flicks on his brights again, pulls into my lane and drives straight at me (we are both doing ~60). I frantically flashed back but he keeps coming so I slam on the brakes and swerve off the road. He never switched lanes. Luckily it was a country road with really wide shoulder/field to the side. The mother effer ran me right off the road!!! Coulda killed me. I couldn't believe it. Scared the hell outa me, I was in utter shock for a while. My HIDs are now out and gone. Forever.

Anyways, ran stock bulbs for a couple weeks then tossed in Silverstars last night with the 9005 in the fogs. VERY impressed. Not nearly as 'bright" as HID, but it lights up the ROAD really well, not everything in all directions. Nice white light with a clean cutoff. I'll post some pictures tomorrow night.

Sorry for the essay, just wanted to post this story for anyone using illegal HID conversion kits. I know many of you use them and maybe haven't had issues yet. But I'll state my opinion: Its a risk people. Have some common courtesy for fellow motorists. HIDs really can blind people and scatter light.

 

Hello & Good Morning to you sir!

Thanks for posting that!

I do hope a few of our youngin' 'Tommy B. Testosterone' members who actually think it's cool to look like a 747 on final approach will wake up and reconsider. I doubt it though.

Sadly - it'll take an experience similar to yours to trigger a rational response. One can keep hoping though.

I have a neighbourhood full of these fellas - HID & LED-festooned vehicles that look like they came off the "Close Encounters of a Third Kind" movie set. Rolling product display cases with FartMasters!

I might add - HID's in correctly designed projectors ( not stock reflectors meant for standard halogens only) can perform very well & safely if properly set up. I have not yet seen any that don't look fugly on these trucks though, without looking ultra Rice-a-roni-ish.

I am very proud of you, sir!

Regards;


MGD v4.2

 

I don't know if I'd ever try out HIDs, but I'm perfectly happy with my Silverstars.

 

I commend you on your decision. Though I do not bright oncoming vehicles that have illegal HID's, I do share with them an obscene gesture.

 

I think the Silverstars were the correct decision too. I keep hoping to hear about the police cracking down on the lamebrains that run 8000K HIDs in their OEM housings. You'd think they'd be able to figure out that they can't see things as well at that wavelength, but no, "blue is cool"!

- Jack

 

I want to do the silverstars in my heads soon... but isn't the life reduced?

 

Hello Mr. Truckguy24 sir!

Yes - unfortunately that has been a lot of folks' experience.

I have, however, had very good luck with GE Nighthawks (in an H1, H7, 9007, mind you - no H13's yet, AFAIK), and I have also heard that the native OSRAM H13's are stouter than the Sylvania variant - both of those also have Clear bulbs - no 'blue' tinge whatsoever.... so have a bit more useable output.

No joy and no ETA on The SilverStar Ultra's in H13 ... no idea why, since they are available in just about every other form factor....

I look for sales and buy a few double-bubble packs for spares - in garage & in the trucks ...

Good Luck sir! And have yerself a real good day!

Cheers!

MGD v4.2

 

I have been running silverstars in my heads and fogs since August of 2008 and I have not had one problem out of them.

 

Good writeup, but my experience with HIDS have been different. I have 8k 55w in lightning heads, aimed down. Not very blue, and not blinding people. Ive only been flashed twice in about 5 months, and that was when i had my stock heads with no glare cover. I had my truck drivin by one of my buddies comin at me and it looked perfect. Lifted trucks are different though. Keep that in mind.

 

Same here except I used 4300k both in my lights as well as my sister's Mustang. And yes, lifted does make a difference.

If you're going to get Silverstars, get the euro ones, not the tinted US ones...

 

lifted makes all the difference in the world. i have 8000K HIDs in my truck as well, don't ever get flashed. i also have bi-xenons so i'd just flash back. and sounds like the other driver was just being a ****. apparently he could see good enough to hold it straight in your lane..? there's a lifted f250 with HIDs around here that always shines right in my windshield when he comes at me, but all my friends have HIDs most of them not in a projector housing and we have no problems with oncoming glare/vision.

but silverstars are good bulbs, had some before my HIDs. not very bright at all compared to my HIDs tho imo

and before anyone comments on my sig, that picture was edited in photobucket and also diminished in size & quality to fit in my sig

 

AMEN!!!!! I noticed the same thing in my little Ranger. Thats the exact reason why I'm running silverstars in my 150. Whoever says they aren't blinding people with illegal HIDs is full of BS, I don't care if your lifted or not. Been there, seen it.

 

yep, my friend has a lifted f250 with 12000k HIDs(not sure) but i noticed people were flashing ALOT when i rode with him. but even i get blinded by slammed trucks with em on

 

I have to agree. My college is 40% asian population, there are rice-mobiles all over town that are VERY low to the ground (far lower than your lowered trucks guys) and their HID conversions are still stupid bright and glaring. There is no excuse, its illegal for a reason. I too hope the police start cracking down on it. You can tell from miles away which ones are illegal.

And yes I got the Euro Silverstars.

 

I have had silverstars in the past. they are a gimmick and so is any other halogen bulb that claims to be brighter with THE SAME WATTAGE. Im sorry its just not possible. They may be WHITER due to the blue paint offsetting the yellow but they are not brighter.