PIAA Light Bulbs

[joandjo]

I've been using Sylvania Silver Star 9006ST so far, and was very happy with it. But one of them was just out after 2 years. Now I'm thinking of switch to PIAA Platinum Super White (PIAA-19606). My Camry is '92 Gen3.

I have questions:
1) Will PIAA be much better (brighter) than Silver Star?
2) Will it melt my wiring harness?
3) Any good place to buy?

Thanks in advance.

[BLUEMEANIE]

PIAAs are expensive and will prolly have similar light output to a modded 9005 SilverStar. The only way you risk melting anything is if you use a higher wattage bulb... normal is 55/65, the 85/100 types will require a full harness upgrade.
Just google PIAA and you'll have no trouble finding several places to purchase them.

[alex86]

PIAA are good compared to Silverstars but my car is an 88 camry which has bad headlights. They are pricey but they are good. to my knowledge they can work on stock harness. call them up ask them. wouldnt hurt

[BLUEMEANIE]

they will work on a stock harness so long as you buy the 55/65w bulbs.

[Adam Housley]

What gauge is the headlight wiring on a gen 3?

[ralfp]

Contrary to PIAA's claims, you will get LESS light, but at a higher color temperature (ie more bluish). Plus you will be paying a bunch of $$$ for it. PIAA's claims of 100W of light from a 55W bulb are total BS.

In response to the original poster's questions:

1. No
2. No
3. Nowhere.

Your best bet for the most light is the Sylvania XtraVision or Philips VisionPlus. No legal 9006 will give you more light. Other bulbs might look whiter, cost more, and last much less time, but they won't be brighter.

If you want blue headlights because they look cool, ignore me.

Check out:
http://www.danielsternlighting.com/t...good/good.html

I'm now waiting for my check from Sylvania.

[xpeed]

Why PIAAs are expensive:

1.) Made in Japan
2.) Highest Quality for aftermarket Bulbs
3.) Longer Life.

Conclusion? It's worth it. It depends what type you get, but some have higher watts, so it isn't all that great. I bought a PIAA Platinum Superwhite 9000 for 9005 for my old van a year ago. I had to, because the regular lights barely lit the road. After I got that, it lit the road like I was in Vegas. Now I regret not taking it out after I traded it in for my new camry. I could of put that into my camry for the high beams.

To your question:

1.) Yes
2.) No
3.) Any good auto stores. Not Pepboys. If you life in California, try Super Autobacs. If not, eBay,

[alex86]

i got mine from Tweeters(tv and audio store more of an audio) dont noe y they sell them there cause they are more of installing subs and amps nd those good jazz. but just go onto PIAAs site nd look for who sells them thats how i found them. always good to ask them directly.

*edit* wat im wondering is y my left side headlight beam is brighter than the passenger side but then again the passenger side did get dmg'd(pushed in from an accident but got pulled bak out from body shop) would it b a good idea to replace it or would replacing harness fix it? sorry to get a little bit off topic.

[eviltwin67]

I had 9005 Silverstars in all 4 lights. I recently replaced them with the Sylvania Cool Blues b/c they were out of they were out of the 9005 SS. I am impressed with the output of the CBs considering they were less than $10 USD each. I had one brand new SS that I put in one side to compare against the CB. THere was no obvious difference in brightness. I held both SS & CB up to the light and they seemed to have the identical shade of light blue tint. I still had a pair of 80watt "5000k" bulbs that had a dark blue tint that I had before I upgraded to the SS. I compared the blue bulb against the CB and looking at the lights from the front, the blue bulb "looked" brighter. I drove to an unlit 2 lane road to check the actual light output. The side with the blue bulb almost looked light the bulb was out from the driver's seat compared to the output from the side with the CB. I swapped out the bulbs to the opposite side and got the same results. It started raining on the way home and the blue bulb was even worse for light output compared to the CB side. I can't believe I drove with those bulbs for 2 weeks before I got the SS. I am even happier with the CBs especially for the price.

[p@nda]

Has anybody else tried the Cool Blues? eviltwin67, just to be sure, don't you mean the 9005ST instead of 9005SS? Also, I don't have to upgrade the wiring for these bulbs, do I?

[BLUEMEANIE]

I have and the CB's are terible in bad weather.

no harness upgrade required

[joandjo]

Thanks all for the info. I did some research. And it seems like PIAA is the best (or almost the best) performer, but it's also the most expensive. Sylvania XtraVision is the most bang-for-the-buck, not it's not cool at all. And Sylvania SilverStar is just in-between; good performer and moderate price.

I found some other bulbs that are not DOT approved (4500K ~ 5000K). Do you know why? Because they are too bright? or too blue? If I have one installed, will the local cop stop me? -Thanks!

[joandjo]

Today, I bought and installed Sylvania XtraVision. I didn't go for Cool Blue since it's not bright, nor for Silverstar since its life is short, and nor for PIAA since it's expensive.

Well... I don't like XtraVision. I cannot tell much difference between regular halogen and XtraVision. I want to try PIAA or Koito next time.

[p@nda]

I installed XtraVision on my gen 3 Camry and the difference is noticable.....when you're compainrg them to the stock bulbs.....

[karugs]

Try installing one standard bulb and the other one Xtra Vision or whatever you're comparing. That way you'll compare them side by side, literally.