What are some good replacement headlights for Civics?

I have a 2002 Civic EX, and the headlights are getting dim now, so I want to
replace them with something other than Honda bulbs. I went to a store called
AutoZone near my home and found these bulbs priced at $7.00 each (reg.
$10.00). They are called Wagner Brite Lites. I was told by the store clerk
that they are much brighter than regular halogen and don't have that
annoying fake blue look. Does anyone have any other recommendations? They
guy at AutoZone tried to sell me $20.00 bulbs called the Sylvania Silver
Star, but when I went online I found the Kelvin light measures to be the
same as the Brite Lites. The Honda bulbs that I had stock were okay, but not
bright enough especially for New England roads which are in many cases pitch
black.

Thanks,

Tom

 

The Sylvania Silverstars are another blue-scam bulb, unlike the Osrams of
the same name. I can recommend the Sylvania Xtravisions or Philips
Hi-Visibility - used both - but the Wagner Brite Lites may be as good if
they're also a partial Xenon gas fill. I know the Xtravision and
Hi-Visibility will not draw enough current to damage your wiring.
Unfortunately we're limited by regulations in the U.S., on power, beam
pattern and light output which are arcane. Check out the tech stuff at
http://www.danielsternlighting.com/

Rgds, George Macdonald

"Just because they're paranoid doesn't mean you're not psychotic" - Who, me??

 

According to the manufacturers site, the *only* difference is the blue
coating.
http://www.sylvania.com/auto/sstar_faq.htm
(Q#3.)

 

Well the ones I bought called the Wagner Brite Lites are Xenon gas filled
and they are just regular clear lights, not the fake blue lights, so I
suppose they should be as bright as Sylvania then. I am hoping that they
will last as long as honda bulbs also.

me??

 

I guess it must be true then. There are other opinions though: last
sub-heading here:
http://www.danielsternlighting.com/tech/bulbs/blue/good/good.html Common
sense would indicate that if the only difference is the blue coating then
they must be putting out less light, or the filament is being overdriven.
Then again, I guess they figure N.Americans are too stupid to realize that
nobody is fooled into thinking that their blue bulbs are HIDs. The "they"
is the marketroids at Sylvania of course - once again the (expected)
intelligence of the U.S. consumer has been dragged down to the level of a
salesman's estimate of how to best increase the jingle in his pockets.

Rgds, George Macdonald

"Just because they're paranoid doesn't mean you're not psychotic" - Who, me??

 

Sounds like the real deal then - every mfr, including GE, is selling
partial Xenon fill (in addition to the halogen) which does provide some
improvement over regular halogen. As for lifetime, the reason your old
bulbs were dimming is the build up of metal vapor deposition on the inside
of the glass. The old halogen bulbs would often last 10 years without
actually failing completely; I understand that the newer higher output
bulbs, as well as some Xenon and a higher pressure, also have a tighter
wound filament and may fail earlier - I've had one fail after 4years but
that could be a freak. It's always a good idea to keep a spare, in its
original package, in the car just in case.

Rgds, George Macdonald

"Just because they're paranoid doesn't mean you're not psychotic" - Who, me??

 

George, I agree that they will be brighter being xenon filled and I don't
like the fake blue either, as they look stupid. I did at one time buy the
fake blue bulbs and they blew out in 6 months! I would keep a spare, but I
am not really sure if they are hard to install so I am having a mechanic do
it. I heard that you have to unplug it and then take some rubber piece off
the back and then there is some wire that has to be moved? Sounds like a
lot! Plus the steering reserv. has to be moved on one side.

 

The Sylvania SilverStar bulbs do have a slight blue tint that the Osrams
are missing, and the Osrams are
putting out more light. Osrams are advertised as +50% vs. standard, the
Sylvania is rated +30%.

 

I had a pair. They are whiter, not blueish. I don't know about being
+30% brighter. Unfortunately, they only lasted about about a year. I do
use them 40min 5-6 days a week.

I think Xtra-Vision is the best value.

They just came out with the Silverstar side signal lights at $20 a pair.
They looked blue but produce an amber color light. I don't see much
value in those.

 

And the battery had to be moved back in the current models.

 

IOW the Silverstars, at $22. a pop are waste of money compared to the
XtraVisions, with the same +30%, at $11.95.... unless you just like the
blue look.

Rgds, George Macdonald

"Just because they're paranoid doesn't mean you're not psychotic" - Who, me??

 

That is a big difference. That blue coating removes light.

 

Spend about $40 for a relay kit first.
You may see more improvement from that than from new bulbs.
If you get hotter bulbs, you will need relays anyway.


|I have a 2002 Civic EX, and the headlights are getting dim now, so I want to
|replace them with something other than Honda bulbs. I went to a store called
|AutoZone near my home and found these bulbs priced at $7.00 each (reg.
|$10.00). They are called Wagner Brite Lites. I was told by the store clerk
|that they are much brighter than regular halogen and don't have that
|annoying fake blue look. Does anyone have any other recommendations? They
|guy at AutoZone tried to sell me $20.00 bulbs called the Sylvania Silver
|Star, but when I went online I found the Kelvin light measures to be the
|same as the Brite Lites. The Honda bulbs that I had stock were okay, but not
|bright enough especially for New England roads which are in many cases pitch
|black.
|
|Thanks,
|
|Tom
|
|

Rex in Fort Worth