Exterior Semi-Tech General discussion of exterior for the Ford Ranger.

Opinions on Sylvania Silverstars?

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Old 12-19-2005
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Opinions on Sylvania Silverstars?

So I'm thinking I'll replace my headlamps - any maybe foglamps - with Silverstars, not because I need to, but because I just feel like it. My question is, are they really that much brighter than stock lamps? Any difference in the beam pattern? (I've had that happen before.) And the color... how "blue" are they? Slightly blue, or rice-rocket blue? Any opinions are appreciated!
 
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Old 12-19-2005
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I love mine. If you do change be prepared for people flashing you thinking you have your brights on. Light is whiter than stock they are not blue at all unless you go for the blue "model" which I didn't like. They are definately brighter than stock, no doubt about it. Beam pattern...I didn't pay much attn really. I didn't notice anything and if it was drastically different I would have noticed "something doesn't look right.."
 
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Old 12-19-2005
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I replaced my stock headlamps with the silverstar designed for my headlamp unit, but I also have factory fogs on my truck. For a while I didn't know and couldn't find silverstar bulbs for my fogs. So, driving around with factory fog bulbs and silverstar headlamps you could see the difference. The bulbs, as mentioned, are not blue. They are whiter and don't seem to cast that yellow tone. You could REALLY see this when I was running my factory fog bulbs. They, IMO, seem to illuminate a little farther and wider. With my fogs on I pretty much don't even need to use my high beams or flash-to-pass while on back roads out road cruising for snakes. Short of going HID I think they are worth the money.
 
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Old 12-19-2005
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I just did mine and what a difference you can not go wrong!!!!
 
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Old 12-19-2005
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Except: they have thinner filaments to increase the temperature. They are not as "long life" as regular headlights and my be more susceptible to vibration based failure. Even Sylvania tells you they are not rated for as long a life.

You don't get something for nothing, and that's the price you pay: potentially shorter lifespan. Most don't seem to find them a problem however. It's not like they burn out in a month or anything, lol.
 
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Old 12-19-2005
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No they definately don't and they can handle a good bit of thrashing. I've gone offroad a few times with mine and never had a problem. Personally the safety of seeing more/better is worth it.
 
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Old 12-19-2005
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Unless you're broke all the time, lol.

Hey Bryan, have I just not been running the same topics, or don't you post so much anymore? It just seems like I haven't see much from you for awhile?
 
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Old 12-19-2005
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I haven't been posting for a few months. Not really "in the scene" anymore. I"ll elaborate in PM. This just isn't the same place I used to love to visit. *shrug* stuff happens.
Hope all is well with you!
 
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Old 12-19-2005
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Well, do tell me. I get a little wiggy here sometimes myself, and I sure hope I'm not part of the reason you're more inactive.

Definitely let me know.
 
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Old 12-19-2005
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Oh goodness definitely not you. And it's not any one person and may also be just my overall lack of interest anymore. Just sent the PM. Going AFK for a few minutes. Down to the cafe to get lunch.

Sorry about hijacking the thread but I think you got your answer :)
 
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Old 12-19-2005
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lol! Thanks, Bryan, PM'd you back.
 
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Old 12-19-2005
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Originally Posted by Shalafi49
Sorry about hijacking the thread but I think you got your answer :)

Oh, I got my answer allright! Thanks to all for your opinions. Once my credit recovers after the holidays, I'm putting in the Silverstars...
 
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Old 12-19-2005
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I'm sure you wont regret it. Due to the sensitive nature of them it's a good idea to keep your factory lights in your truck in the unlikely event that a Silverstar goes out on you. But then that really is decent advice for anything like that *shrug* Enjoy!
 
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I've had XtraVisions (same thing but without the tinting) for about 3 years. Love 'em.
 
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Old 12-19-2005
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My contour se had silverstars, loved them, then i got my SVT focus, and the stock fog light burned out so i replaced them w/ silver stars. I think I was better off driving with just my fogs and not my headlamps at night because the silverstars were so much better. However, if you want something that looks white/blue all the time, you might want something else. If you turn silverstars on during the day, they look as bad if not worse than stock "yellow-wise". At night however, they turn into crystals! I'm getting some for my truck for x-mas. As long as you dont touch the bulb, and use some die-electric grease, they will last a LOOONNNGGG time. My contour had them for 3 years without any problems.
 
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Old 12-19-2005
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i've had my silverstars in for at least 3 years. i love them. so bright.

9007 - headlights (had em for at least 3 years)
9005 - foglights (just changed them. old ones broke)
 
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Old 12-19-2005
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And that's the thing: you will hear stories of people who had them and they lasted 6 months, and others like here who have had them for 3 years. The thinner filaments are only MORE likely to age poorly, not REAL likely to age poorly -- just to clarify.
 
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Old 12-19-2005
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Originally Posted by FireRanger
I've had XtraVisions (same thing but without the tinting) for about 3 years. Love 'em.
Actually they aren't, if you follow the chart in this topic:

https://www.ranger-forums.com/forum2...ead.php?t=4078

Note the "Rated life" indicator and you'll see that Silverstars are considered by Sylvania to be a short lived bulb, relatively speaking.

The reason the Xtravision are NOT the same also is that the filament is not as hot. The Xtravision and Silverstar ARE rated for the same light output -- BUT the Silverstar has a tint which absorbs some of the energy. What's it mean? The Silverstar is running hotter and putting more light out BEFORE the tint. This is why, even though they put out the same "quantity" of light, the Silverstar doesn't last as long as the Xtravision -- the Xtravision is "cooler".

Here's the chart for reference:

 
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Old 12-19-2005
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Wow, I didn't know so many people were running these lamps. If so many people have them, with nothing bad to say, I'm going to get a pair.
 
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Old 12-19-2005
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i have been thinking about getting these too and since i have one bulb thats burned out at the moment now seems like a good time... hey bryan good to see you are still alive and kicking... hows florida... i miss it
 
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Old 12-19-2005
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silverstars are the ish.
 
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Old 12-19-2005
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I had them and they were brighter than stock but they arnt as 'blue' as i liked... so i changed them out...
 
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Old 12-19-2005
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Originally Posted by mkoenig
Opinions on Sylvania Silverstars?
they're great, it's the only bulb i use. used them on the last three vehicles i've had.
 
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Old 12-19-2005
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did you order them yet? dont wait.. i love mine i buy them for every car i own...

theres actually anought bulb, made by Osram called silver stars next time your wasting time on ebay do a search... they dont make a size to fit our rangers.. anyhow they are evan whiter than the US silverstars... the sell differnt %s of xenon gas... anyhow just a little tid bit of info...
 


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