Blue Xenon headlights

[Blakers]

Does anyone have any experience with the new Xenon super white / blue headlight bulbs? Lots of folks are selling them on ebay and promise better visability. What do you think?



Thanks,



Blake

 

[bigkavr]

Blake

I've been using the blue Xenon bulbs for about 8 months now.

I got the 100W through JC Whitney for about $10. 00 per bulb.

I've been very pleased with them so far. Light output is better/brighter than stock, but the biggest thing I noticed is that people seem to notice the truck more. i. e. the blue attracts their attention and the idiots are less inclined to pull out in front of me... . There were a few postings a year or so ago about JCW

bulbs blowing out after only a few months but I've had no such

experiences. As a side note, I also got the 100W bulbs for my 4" driving lights, WOW!! That really made a difference... ...

Have fun. .

 

[Blakers]

Thanks bigkavr,



Have you ever had any problems with the cops because of the higher wattage? I figure there's so many new kinds of lights out there that they can't keep up with them. I wonder if anyone has had a cop pull the bulbs out to look at the wattage?



Blake

 

[bigkavr]

Blake,



These bulbs are nothing compared to the HID systems used in the expensive cars. I don't really see a problem with higher wattage as long as the lights are aimed correctly. If law enforcement wants to check my bulbs, no problem, maybe they can get to the drivers side easier than I can... ... ... . : )

 

[vc]

Blake,

search the forums for posts on this about 6-8 months back I think it was. There was good info on this and basically it was that these blue bulbs only look like they are brighter due to the glare they put out, but the actual lumens of light was less than a comparable clear bulb of equal wattage. I would personally stay clear of the designer blue bulbs, especially the higher wattage ones you are looking at because of even more glare.



vc

 

[JGK]

Blue bulb info

Before you spend a bunch of $ on bulbs, check out this site:



http://lighting.mbz.org/



Click on Tech, then Info, then Bulbs and read what you find there. You may be surprised.



Jay.

 

[TowPro]

I agree with VC on the glare part. I have tested some of these bulbs, I found that wattage is a messurement of power consumed, not light output. They did not seem that much brighter, plus our headlights switches already are a weak link, no need to start a fire!



I have switched to Sylvania XV lights in some of my vehicials, you can notice a difference, there cheap, Pepboys has them, and they are DOT approved.



Around my parts of PA, the local police look for cars with those purple/blue lights and give them fines much higher then the lights cost!

Originally posted by vc

Blake,

search the forums for posts on this about 6-8 months back I think it was. There was good info on this and basically it was that these blue bulbs only look like they are brighter due to the glare they put out, but the actual lumens of light was less than a comparable clear bulb of equal wattage. I would personally stay clear of the designer blue bulbs, especially the higher wattage ones you are looking at because of even more glare.



vc

 

[tgbol]

I love mine. I have a sport so I use 4 bulbs. I put 55/100 iin the low beam and 80/100 in the high. I also bought them for the fog lights. Got them from www.autostockinc.com ordered them late sunday night delivered 10am Tuesday.

 

[bigkavr]

Hey guys,



What's the glare your talking about?: ) My Xenons don't seem to have any more glare than the stock ones did. I do agree that there are some bulbs out there that will cause excessive glare and very obnoxus. (ie PIAA (sp) their bulbs are a different length which changes the focus) The PIAA bulbs were the Worst Produst I ever bought!!! The JCW bulbs are same physical size as original but just more wattage. I must be one of the lucky ones, my light switch runs cool and at 100K miles is still going strong. (I'm knocking on my head right now to simulate knocking on wood!!)

 

[Archive]

Brighter is not always better! I put 100w lights in the rear for backups. I had changed from 35w lights. After a few times of using them, I went back to the 35w ones.



Bright lights irritate a lot of other drivers. Especially in high population areas.

 

[EMDDIESEL]

I have the PIAA "SUPER WHITE" bulbs in my headlights. They are a little brighter then stock, but all in all, i would not do it again. I have seen the blue version too. I dont see the difference in light output though.

 

[Valkyrie99]

I agree with the irritation to on comming traffic as I am one of them. A lot of "Rice Boys" here have the blue lights and they are almost blinding.

 

[Deezal Man]

Blaker,



As stated directed, read the articles attached by JGK.



Just ask me... . the idiot. I read the article a year ago and still went out and wasted money on overpriced blue "zenon" bulbs.



Worse still, I knew they were illegal in my area... DUH!!!



What a waste of money. Don't get me wrong, they look pretty cool, but the light output is less than the same size halogen.



OK, let me refraise that... . the light output is less in the spectrum HUMANS eyes use. Sorta like having a 200W infra-red lamp... Lotta good it will do ya in the truck... .



Additionally, some have been fooled into thinking they are brighter because they swapped a halogen 55W bulb for a blue 85W or 100W. . Ahhhh..... self explanatory.



Or, some must think because they spend a bunch of money... . its gotta be better... . Trust me... I tried that the night I installed them.

The glare of the blue bulb is only seen by on-coming traffic. Ever notice the high beam flashes from on-coming traffic??



True HID and Zenon are excellent lights. Unfortunately neither allow you to simply pull out a $4. 00 halogen bulb and replace it with a blue bulb containing 4% zenon gas. . and charging $50.

Both cost MEGA money for the gain.



Best light upgrade is to install "slightly" higher wattage halogen lamps. Or better still. Add a good set of driving lights.



My PIAA 1200's and stock headlight bulbs outshine the heck out of a set of 100W headlamps. And I can turn them off.

 

[EMDDIESEL]

Check out www.suvlights.com He carries True Xenon kits specifically for the Ram with or without Sport Headlights. He also has Xenon driving lights and wiring kits to use higher wattage bulb without burning up your stock harness. Give them a call, they guy there is super helpful.

 

[Blakers]

Thanks guys! There's some really good links there.



Well I tried the lights I ordered the other day and I have to say they were very disapointing. Everything looked blue and visibility was no better than with standard lights.



If you guys who like these bulbs want mine, I'll make you a great deal



I think I'll go with my old standard that I've used for years on my other vehicles: aircraft landing lights. They are 100W sealed beams available from NAPA and other auto parts. They really get out there and are especially good when it's raining and gloomy out. I don't think they're exactly legal for highway use, but in all the years I've had them no one has ever bothered me - of course I immediately turn them off when someone comes toward me.



Blake

 

[Koa Man]

The REAL HID lights will cost several hundred dollars. It is a $500 option for my wife's car. I don't believe it is legal to install them in a vehicle that did not come from the manufacturer with them installed. The cheapie imitations only add glare and appear to be brighter when you are looking AT them. When you are BEHIND the lights, driving the vehicle, the actually brightness and what you can see is not as good as stock. Sometimes the cops will ticket vehicles with the fakes. Easy to spot, if the vehicle is not a high end car..... M-B, Porsche, BWM, Lexus, etc. , you found the fakes, as currently, only the high end vehicles have them factory installed.

 

[Evan A. Beck]

I got the HID's in mine, and combined with the Sport headlights, the visibility at night is amazing. Light output is three times that of halogen, and uses 20 less watts. They are really bright, and do annoy some drivers... Oh well... They look factory, as the beam pattern is virtually perfect. Well worth the $520.