I like the hid look but dont want to spend or should i say don't have the money to spend $600 just of lights. I have invested in some piaa extreme white h4, h3, and 168 bulbs for the front of my car.(Cost 62+45+10 = $117) I have had the bulbs for about a year and some change and they have not blown out. BUT it does seem like the coating on the bulbs is wearing off. I checked my 168 corner bulb yesturday and the bulb coating had melted off. AND i could never get my corner lights to match my headlights even though i have the same colored bulbs. The worst part about the extreme whites is that i can't see 5ft in the rain.

I just found something called a CATZ Zeta ballast which is supposed to boost your headlights output by 170%. Does anyone have this or know how well it works? It seems that that extra boost would be equal to having your high beams on.

I am wondering if anyone has had good luck with other piaa bulbs ( super white, sparks, plasma), other brands of bulbs, or HID kits that they would recommend.

Thanks for your input

 

You can get better performance by installing a better harness. The Catz Zeta are a waste of money. Catz HIDs are good though. Also know as Bellof. I know alot of people don't like spending a few hundred on HIDs. But, in the long run you have spent almost the same considering you have to replace "colored" bulbs more often and they still do not perform as well as true HIDs. I payed $450 for my Philips HIDs and couldn't go back to halogens.

www.suvlights.com is where I purchased my HIDs. They also sell upgraded harness', bulbs and some good info.

Paul

 

install a heavy duty headlight wiring harness (two relays per headlight) and then get some philips vision plus bulbs. my lights light up the road. an unbelievable difference!

 

I always thought it was pretty stupid that even among Piaa's own products that are named the same, they couldn't get the bulbs to match in color :pat:

I used to have the Catz Zetas. They sure look pretty when they first turn on, but after a couple minutes, I'm pretty sure the voltage drops back down. With the Catz Zetas, you get the "dissapearing headlights in rain" syndrome, too.

I have Bellofs now. No HID-look bulb can come close to the output of HIDs. I'd recommend just getting an HID kit, or doing a retrofit the first time and not have to mess with it again. I've tried a bunch of options and nothing comes close. The only thing I'd do different now is go with a retrofit instead of a kit like the Bellofs or Catz HIDs.

Speaking of which, I have a heavy duty light harness for a H4 setup that I got for $40+shipping that I'm not using anymore. Anyone want it? PM me w/ an offer.

 

Get the super whites from Sylvania, they are supposed to be the best in the price range and won't burn out like the piaas.

 

actually the philips vision plus bulbs are better. i have had both. the philips really puts the sylvania silver stars to shame! plus, the philips are cheaper!!!!

 

I agree with rjm. I've been stating for awhile about the Philips vision plus. I use the H7s in my Hella driving lights as my high beams with my Philips HIDs and they are awesome.

 

But, how would you get the Philips to fit ? I've searched and they don't make the Vision Plus in the 900x sizes.

 

Sorry...Vision Plus are for H4, H7 and H1 only. 3rd gens use H4.

Philips do make "Premium" for the 9000 series.

 

Is the premium better than the Sylvania Silver Stars ?

 

They are comparable. The Silverstars and the Philips Premium both offer 30% better usable light. Check www.powerbulbs.com for details about the premiums.

Also www.suvlights.com for the Sylvania Silverstars. The Osram Silverstars are better but again...only offered in H4, H7 and H1

Paul

 

Thanks for the link.

 

I can vouge for Paul's (Pfdaxe) set-up. Dang, that was awesome to ride/drive his 4Runner with those genuine HID's lighting the road. Made getting back into my stock headlight 4Runner, well, crappy.

 

thanks for all your input fellas

I agree that the HID kits are the best. I want to get one that is purely plug and play so i don't have to modify my stock headlight fixture. I don't have the money yet so i am going to upgrade my wiring harness if everything works out. This should get me by. Hopefully summer will get here soon and all of this rain will stop so i dont have to worry bout driving at night in the rain.

Thank again

 

Here's a link for a good price for H4 and 9006 "real" HIDs. All Philips components:

http://groupbuycenter.com/buy.aspx?id=10475

 

Another for Philips vision plus !!

 

So, the ONLY place to buy these is ONLINE? Does anyone know of a retailer anywhere? It seems weird that the only place I can buy these is on the internet...

Not having any luck finding a local retailer. The Philips website only mentions online retailers as well.

Any help appreciated.
Dr. Z

 

Z:

On-line only. The Philips Vision Plus are marketed for the Europeon market.

 

Thanks Paul.

Bastards...
Dr. Z