GE Nighthawks

[Mike S]

I got tired of inadequate low beams, and can't light up the Hellas on the highway for fear of burning the paint off passing vehicles. I just installed a pair of 9006 GE Nighthawk bulbs in the outers if the 80.

No results known unitl the sun goes down, but they do light up when I turn the switch.

Anybody else try these?

M

 

[Elijah]

Why didn't you get the HIR's?????

 

[cary]

I got tired of inadequate low beams, and can't light up the Hellas on the highway for fear of burning the paint off passing vehicles. I just installed a pair of 9006 GE Nighthawk bulbs in the outers if the 80.

No results known unitl the sun goes down, but they do light up when I turn the switch.

Anybody else try these?

M

No need to because they are the same as every other 9006 bulb, 1000 lumens of output.

http://genet.gelighting.com/LightPr...ST=CONSUMERSPECPAGE&PRODUCTCODE=97701&TABID=2

Take them back and buy some HIR's from John Deere. They will cost the same or less and put out 1700+ Lumens.

 

[Bear80]

FYI, I found some 65watt, 9005 german made phillips bulbs. The usual 9005 bulbs are 60watts. The 65watt phillips are sold in NAPA part stores as some off-brand with the label, "xenon bright" (I take it as xenon gas filled) These are not in anyway the crap blue filtered xenon bulbs sold else where. Pretty cheap too and they are noticeably brighter, even more than the crap 100watt Hellas I had last a day.

--I'll just leave this since it's IMO a good little tid bit, even though I misread and got my bulb number confused--

 

[Bear80]

Acutallly I too want more light out the of the low beams, expecially after using the highs for even a short period. -- Its like "who turned off the lights?!" when the high beam are turned off. I wanted the brightes "whitest" low beams that didn't blind on comming traffic. Anyway, I know the HIR are probably the best bang for the buck but I don't like the dull yellow-ish color of standar halogens. Even the HIR's for standard low beam use are yellow, I know I tried a set from John Deere. As for the high beams, I just want bright unfiltered light and probably will upgrade to HIRs when the phillips bulbs go bad.

So after someone here put a set of 9005 HIR bulbs in the low beams I got this idea. I took a set of 9005 Silver Start Ultra high beam bulbs(pricey but I got them on sale), trimed the tabs and put them in my low beams. I also painted the tops of the bulb with silver paint like 9006 bulbs have, assuming it is to keep down the direct glare from the filament. I've been leary to say anything but so far after several multi-hour night trips the bulbs have been fine (the paint has not effected the glass), but I need to keep an eye on them. The high temps probably will burn off the paint. Anyway, these bulbs put out the light that IMO the low beams should be putting out. Also the sliver star ultras are nice and white, no blue or ricy s*** like that. -- Much easier on the eyes at night than the dull yellow color of standar bulbs. As for on comming traffic, no flashes, but I would assume not since they are adjusted properly so only brightness changed not beam pattern. I know people in small cars seem to move outta my way more offten -- atleast then I don't have to flash them for going slow in the left lane I know some of you guys may not like this idea but to each his own and I think this has been the best light upgrade I've done.

 

[mnwolftrack]

I just put the Knighthawks in my '96 2 weeks ago (low beam only). They definately helped. I have also used Silverstars in other vehicles, and those helped too. However, I don't like the fact that the Silverstars are only expected to last 12 months (per Sylvania), and they are a bit pricey. The GE's are cheaper, so if they only last a year too, then I won't feel so bad (I lost muliple Sylvania's).

Granted, the bulbs I removed from the low beam sockets were the useless "cool blue" bulbs that are actually dimmer than stock headlights (the blue tint on the glass blocks light output). But still, I think they are an improvement over stock type bulbs.

As much as I'd like to get the JD bulbs, I'm assuming they are not DOT legal since they are not meant to fit in 9005 or 9006 sockets? If I need extra lighting, I will put on a single pair of accessory lights (which are legal with low beams here in MN).

I'm also coming from the world of 1st generation Toyota pickup and 4Runner 6x8 headlights, and the LandCruiser's stock lights with cool blue bulbs spank what I'm used to. I was thoroughly impressed with the 4crawler headlight harness I installed in my '85 pickup though, and I will eventually put a harness in the 80 too.

 

[Elijah]

I just put the Knighthawks in my '96 2 weeks ago (low beam only). They definately helped. I have also used Silverstars in other vehicles, and those helped too. However, I don't like the fact that the Silverstars are only expected to last 12 months (per Sylvania), and they are a bit pricey. The GE's are cheaper, so if they only last a year too, then I won't feel so bad (I lost muliple Sylvania's).

Granted, the bulbs I removed from the low beam sockets were the useless "cool blue" bulbs that are actually dimmer than stock headlights (the blue tint on the glass blocks light output). But still, I think they are an improvement over stock type bulbs.

As much as I'd like to get the JD bulbs, I'm assuming they are not DOT legal smeant to fiince they are not meant to fit in 9005 or 9006 sockets. If I need extra lighting, I will put on a single pair of accessory lights (which are legal with low beams).

I'm also coming from the world of 1st generation Toyota pickup and 4Runner 6x8 headlights, and the LandCruiser's stock lights with cool blue bulbs spank what I'm used to. I was thoroughly impressed with the 4crawler headlight harness I installed in my '85 pickup though, and I will eventually put a harness in the 80 too.

Actually the HIR's are DOT legal. There are various vehicles which use them as the 'stock' bulb from the factory.

 

[IdahoDoug]

There are HIRs, and there's everything else below them IMO. I've used them all, though never the cruddy blue tint boy racer HID imitator bulbs. With prices for HIRs so low, I can't see other bulbs even being considered if you want a true improvement in usable lumens.

DougM

 

[kennyv0826]

My brother just got a steal on a set of HID's for $150 and they are friggin amazing!!!

I think he got such a good deal because he bought both highs and lows, but even his normal price was only around $170 I think. I hate my low beams and I wanna upgrade to sumpin better. Even though it's not cheap. HID's for $150 seems the way to go for me.

 

[kennyv0826]

FYI, I found some 65watt, 9005 german made phillips bulbs. The usual 9005 bulbs are 60watts. The 65watt phillips are sold in NAPA part stores as some off-brand with the label, "xenon bright" (I take it as xenon gas filled) These are not in anyway the crap blue filtered xenon bulbs sold else where. Pretty cheap too and they are noticeably brighter, even more than the crap 100watt Hellas I had last a day.

--I'll just leave this since it's IMO a good little tid bit, even though I misread and got my bulb number confused--

Just out of curiosity, do you have a part number and price???

 

[firetruck41]

My brother just got a steal on a set of HID's for $150 and they are friggin amazing!!!

I think he got such a good deal because he bought both highs and lows, but even his normal price was only around $170 I think. I hate my low beams and I wanna upgrade to sumpin better. Even though it's not cheap. HID's for $150 seems the way to go for me.

I'd like to know where you get a set of high and low beam HIDs for $150. HIDs have a ballast that must be installed and the associated harness, etc.. did he get a complete kit for that price?

 

[Tentsontop]

I'd like to see pics of that set up...

 

[cary]

My brother just got a steal on a set of HID's for $150 and they are friggin amazing!!!

I think he got such a good deal because he bought both highs and lows, but even his normal price was only around $170 I think. I hate my low beams and I wanna upgrade to sumpin better. Even though it's not cheap. HID's for $150 seems the way to go for me.

Did he get the entire lamp assembly? Putting HID lamps in a Halogen housing is a recipie for disaster. The focal point and the length of the arc will be completely different than the incadecent bulbs. What you end up with is 2800-3200 lumens of scattered light output, bad for driving, bad for oncomming drivers. I had some bozo with one of those setups behind me the other night, I wanted to shoot him.

 

[fzj80kidpen]

I can't imagine spending $150 and any light buld or kit.
All this light talk lately I just do not understand.
My 96 has the original bulbs that the previous owner put in.
I have had the truck for almost 4 years and I have always thought the lights were plenty bright, especially the high beams.
Perhaps they were upgraded and I should check.
At any rate if and when they die I will be going JD.

 

[cary]

I can't imagine spending $150 and any light buld or kit.
All this light talk lately I just do not understand.
My 96 has the original bulbs that the previous owner put in.
I have had the truck for almost 4 years and I have always thought the lights were plenty bright, especially the high beams.
Perhaps they were upgraded and I should check.
At any rate if and when they die I will be going JD.

How old are you? As you age, your eyes will need more and more light to see. A 40 year old needs 4x as much light to see the same as a 19 year old, a 60 year old, as much as 10x.

 

[Bear80]

Using a HID "retro" fit kit in a stock housing is a very bad idea. Cary and I may diagree about the usfulness of filtered halogen bulbs but there is no question HID's should not be fitted in a standard or even free form light housings. The point of light is not in the same position with a HID which leads to a horrible light pattern and is severely scattered. For on comming traffic it is absoultly unacceptable, not to mention they are illegal for that exact reason.

 

[pappy]

How old are you? As you age, your eyes will need more and more light to see. A 40 year old needs 4x as much light to see the same as a 19 year old, a 60 year old, as much as 10x.

So that explains why the headlights on everything I drive sucks.

 

[Ting]

All...

What about adding IPF driving light?

 

[cary]

All...

What about adding IPF driving light?

Driving lights can only be used in conjunction with the high beams. Running them with the low beams is both illegal and will blind on-coming drivers. Also, if you want driving lamps, skip the IPF ones and get Hella 4000 lamps.

 

[mot]

Also, if you want driving lamps, skip the IPF ones and get Hella 4000 lamps.

Unless you get the 930's (Super Rally/available in fog as well as driving/spot).