The best Headlight bulb on the market today.
- Thread starter 2001LC
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No, as an owner of several series I'm buying in
On another note, I'm running the Phillips HIR's in my Hundy (yup my Hundy Series
). They were a slight improvement over stock, far more when I installed the Pirhana headlight harness.
[STRIKE]From what I've found it does sound like HIR as referenced in GE's patent using the IR reflective technology is no longer a part of HIR automotive bulbs so all of the high output replacement lamps currently available are again running an over driven reduced life filament.
Some info here: http://store.candlepower.com/hirlighting.html and in the forum on same site.
So I guess at the end of the day it's a simpler world again. However it still seems that the HIR style bulb has the best output for conventional bulbs (non HID).[/STRIKE]
EDIT: HIR still has the IR reflective coating as of Philips Gen3:
http://store.candlepower.com/ph3rdge90h.html
HIR still wins the NON-HID contest in my book. Great life and output.
Some info here: http://store.candlepower.com/hirlighting.html and in the forum on same site.
So I guess at the end of the day it's a simpler world again. However it still seems that the HIR style bulb has the best output for conventional bulbs (non HID).[/STRIKE]
EDIT: HIR still has the IR reflective coating as of Philips Gen3:
http://store.candlepower.com/ph3rdge90h.html
HIR still wins the NON-HID contest in my book. Great life and output.
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- Thread starter
- #164
This thread is not about me saving a few bucks. The point of the thread is a place for those wishing to post what is working best for them & what is new on the market in light bulbs and minor modification for/to our reflective housing headlight's.
Very nice and thanks for the link to your thread. Hopefully we'll see some of the other contenders soon.
So i guess you consider the harness a minor mod, what bulb did you use with this new harness?No, as an owner of several series I'm buying in
On another note, I'm running the Phillips HIR's in my Hundy (yup my Hundy Series
Interesting, I've come up with lots of dead ends on these Philips bulbs. I even emailed Philips USA sales asking for info & spec on 9011 & 9012 this is the response:
"I will not be able to answer questions about the bulbs 9011 , 9012. We do not sell these bulbs through Philips Automotive Lighting North America.
Best Regards,
Philips Automotive Lighting North America"
Bottom line is the data on lumen's and Kelvin Color temp that is general accepted as true "here" looks better than any other bulb that has yet been discussed in this thread. The Philips 9011 & 9012 are the most popular bulb by far so far in this thread. If reflective IR design is indeed being used I find that a plus, and I'll use regardless in low beams. I did see this CP web page on HIR and have spoken to Kenny at CP. My email to Philips last week was trying to VET this info.
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My apologies. The title of the thread is "the BEST headlight bulb on the market". You may want to direct your question here than. https://forum.ih8mud.com/lighting/
The entire thread is dedicated to what you are looking for.
My comment wasn't about saving money, but rather to say that bulbs alone will be very subjective as to what's the best. Even the "best" bulbs are still relatively cheap at $25-30. Try a few out and report your findings here or in the lighting thread like others have done. If you do a little digging on this site alone, you'll see independent testing in the real world, done by MUD members, on Series 100's, that will point to what bulb performed the best during their tests.
Like all the other threads about HIR bulbs, some people found them to be an upgrade, some did not. I thought they improved my lighting as much as I expected.......just a little, but not enough to change my life. Again, they're just bulbs. For a true upgrade, look at going full HID or buy a LED lightbar. A full retro fit and best reply to your statement above about "minor modification for/to our reflective housing headlights" can be found here....
https://forum.ih8mud.com/100-series-cruisers/491657-how-hid-projector-retrofit-100-series.html
I've seen this mod done in real life, at night. Coupled with a lightbar or two from https://www.expeditionlighting.org/ and it just may change your life. IMO, that produces the BEST headlight bulb on the market today. JMHO, though.
Hope this helps.
Sure, minor in that it only takes an hour or so to mount unless you built a bracket like I did and then you might be a few hours. I am running the same bulbs as before. I had stock, they were dismal. Replaced with the Phillips HIR, better. Installed the harness, even better. Not night and day difference but I'd estimate that the improvement with the harness & HIR was every bit as improved as the stock to HIR bulbs.
- Thread starter
- #167
No apology necessary and your right on with the title of this thread, that is to say BULB's is primary. No need to direct me to the lighting page. I found it fascinating and I did spend quite a bit of time reading through it (although a daunting task) prior to starting this thread. Many great threads like the one you pointed too: How To: HID+Projector Retrofit on a 100 Series, started by 2000UZJ in 2011. Which is referenced in post #1 and a number of other times herein. For those dealing with HID retro & mods that is one of the best threads IMHO to start with.
Yes specific bulbs are discussed in various threads, but they're tied to specific bulb of that day. Like the Philips Crystal Vision Ultra also started by 2000UZJ in 2009. Additionally most thread dealt with modification or are started with a specific bulb and went into something different outside the scope of the title. I read many initial impression on bulbs, but not much in the way of follow-up impression.
What I did not see, was a central thread dedicated just to bulbs either direct replace or bulbs requiring a minor mod as with the HIR's. Nor did I see a devoted thread to showcase opinions "on any and all bulbs", other than titles tied to specific bulb, retro or add-on lights.
I totally agree bulbs illumination is subjective and depends on ones desires along with intended use. In the case with 2000UZJ it appears in was not satisfied with Philips CV U which run at 4000K. I gather his intended use or desires changed, since he later did the retro HID which is a very very cool retrofit, and recent read this has now been done with less mod to the housing.
However this thread is not about retro, it is about bulbs for the stock reflective headlight housing of the LC which a picture of is posted in post #1. Reflective housing also applies to the high beam of some series 100 models, that also have projector low beams in them.
If the contributors herein wish, they/we can certainly add the bulb's for stock low beam projector lens housing found in some models. But 2000UZJ asked we not get into HID and I agreed, his page is the place for that, but his is dealing with retro more-so than bulbs.
I'll make ever effort to keep post #1 up dated with the top pick(s) in bulbs both now for for years to come. This way it will not be necessary for the someone looking today or 10 years from now to go through 100's of threads and 1,000's of post when just looking to get the most illuminating and simplest installation bulb of the day.
I hope others will also up-date the first page or two of postings in this threat with their findings, pictures & links over the years.
So please don't concern yourself with me, let instead keep the discussion about bulb's and let see what develops.
I did look at your harness that was pointed out by SmoothLC in post #4 herein. I saw the harness, bracket, relays, fuse & extra leads for additionally lighting solution. IMHO this when outside the scope of this thread. But I have to ask; why did it improve the illumination of the HIR bulb, does the harness deliver more power than stock or what?
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Well got the high's swapped out. No I wonder where I can find the brightest H1 bulb to replace my lows...Sometimes it's the little things that piss me off about this truck.
well, my Osram Nightbreaker Unlimiteds arrived from Jolly Olde England today. Boy did they ever! They sent me two sets (twice what I ordered!) so I may have a set for sale soon!
When I get around to replacing I"ll try to take pics and post up.
When I get around to replacing I"ll try to take pics and post up.
I like the brightest headlight as much as the next guy does. However I do have one question...
Have any of you taken a IR gun and measured the temperature at the reflector? These headlights are not polished chrome, they are plated and baked. The larger the bulb, the hotter it runs. Halogen generally runs very, very hot. I have seen a few headlights where people put high wattage, high output bulbs and within a year the chrome on the reflector has deteriorated severely. Before any of you suggest the next bulb, I strongly recommend taking the temperature. This is a major issue with HID's in projectors. However, it's not limited to halogen multi-point reflectors. You can, and will burn these headlights if you are not careful.
Have any of you taken a IR gun and measured the temperature at the reflector? These headlights are not polished chrome, they are plated and baked. The larger the bulb, the hotter it runs. Halogen generally runs very, very hot. I have seen a few headlights where people put high wattage, high output bulbs and within a year the chrome on the reflector has deteriorated severely. Before any of you suggest the next bulb, I strongly recommend taking the temperature. This is a major issue with HID's in projectors. However, it's not limited to halogen multi-point reflectors. You can, and will burn these headlights if you are not careful.
- Thread starter
- #171
Alright I've been waiting to see these pupies, do they have caps on bulb tip?
Totally, I'd like to see IR gun results, of various brands. The Philips HIR if indeed true IR reflecting design should run cool for their output wouldn't you think?
It depends on wattage and the quality. I can't say for sure. OEM HID bulbs run 50-100*F cooler than aftermarket HID bulbs. That should give you a pretty good idea of cheap halogen vs quality halogen.
Halogen bulbs run hotter in all areas than HID's.
Halogen bulbs run hotter in all areas than HID's.
- Thread starter
- #174
Osram 9005 & 9006 NBU
Our stock (OEM) have cap on lows 9006 see post 58.
Difficult to see in these pictures below from Osram, but it looks like the 9006 NBU have caps.
Interesting Osram has both with silver cap, could be error from marketing boiler-plate error?
Sources Osram web page:
Product features
The strongest OSRAM halogen automotive lamp
Eye-catching design with partial blue coating and silver cap
Product benefits
Up to 110 % more light on the road (compared to standard halogen lamps)
Up to 40 m longer beam of light (compared to standard halogen lamps)
Up to 20 % whiter light (compared to standard halogen lamps)
Drivers spot obstacles and dangerous situations much sooner
Optimum light for more reaction time
Patented blue ring coating for less reflected glare
More efficient light production thanks to optimized inert filling gas formula
Higher resilience due to robust coil design
Osram 9005 NBU 60W, 1860Lm, 3600K.
cat. HB3, base P20d, lifespan 110 - 210h
9006 NBU 51W, 1095Lm, 3750K.
cat. HB4, base P22d, lifespan 270 - 500h
Very cool, I'd guess that's your high beam with the cap. Assuming your going stock configuration with two set of 9006 NBU (low & fog), and one set 9006 NBU (high).
Our stock (OEM) have cap on lows 9006 see post 58.
Difficult to see in these pictures below from Osram, but it looks like the 9006 NBU have caps.
Interesting Osram has both with silver cap, could be error from marketing boiler-plate error?
Sources Osram web page:
Product features
The strongest OSRAM halogen automotive lamp
Eye-catching design with partial blue coating and silver cap
Product benefits
Up to 110 % more light on the road (compared to standard halogen lamps)
Up to 40 m longer beam of light (compared to standard halogen lamps)
Up to 20 % whiter light (compared to standard halogen lamps)
Drivers spot obstacles and dangerous situations much sooner
Optimum light for more reaction time
Patented blue ring coating for less reflected glare
More efficient light production thanks to optimized inert filling gas formula
Higher resilience due to robust coil design
Osram 9005 NBU 60W, 1860Lm, 3600K.
cat. HB3, base P20d, lifespan 110 - 210h
9006 NBU 51W, 1095Lm, 3750K.
cat. HB4, base P22d, lifespan 270 - 500h
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- Thread starter
- #175
I added to above^^^ post mfg data & pictures of Osram 9005 & 9006 NBU bulbs.
I posted some concern earlier with heat after reading other threads you contributed too here in mud. IIRC Eijiah was not concerned and had run low & high with the higher wattage 9011 65w in his 80 series. That said, the heat conversation ended with some concern with fogs due to small inclosures see post #41
I'm very interested in heat output, new reflector (headlight housing) or good used are hard to come by. I'll pick up a IR heat gun and start with my stocks, but not sure it will be good baseline heat point reading; as my DS bulbs are 13 years old and PS is (new to me) reconditioned housing came with bulbs age unknown.
For these Osram's they data from mfg state same nominal wattage as OEM so one would assume same heat output. If Philips are true HIR bulbs, heat should be very close to stock.
Thanks for info.
I posted some concern earlier with heat after reading other threads you contributed too here in mud. IIRC Eijiah was not concerned and had run low & high with the higher wattage 9011 65w in his 80 series. That said, the heat conversation ended with some concern with fogs due to small inclosures see post #41
I'm very interested in heat output, new reflector (headlight housing) or good used are hard to come by. I'll pick up a IR heat gun and start with my stocks, but not sure it will be good baseline heat point reading; as my DS bulbs are 13 years old and PS is (new to me) reconditioned housing came with bulbs age unknown.
For these Osram's they data from mfg state same nominal wattage as OEM so one would assume same heat output. If Philips are true HIR bulbs, heat should be very close to stock.
I'm very interested in which bulb has cap. Although I don't see need in our low beams as we have internal cap in headlight housing (see post # 1 picture) and high's are turned-off for oncoming. But, the fogs I do see a value in having cap too help keep light in tight which is how our low & fog's 9006 OEM are set-up: see pictures post #58
Please excuse me if I'm muddying up this very informational thread. If so, mods feel free to delete. I've been following this with interest with eventual plans to convert to HID's in proper HID projector lenses and housings, but until then, better light output is always nice. I know these are not to be compared to HIR but just as an informational data point I installed Sylvania zxe bulbs in my passenger side low beam and passenger side fog as well today since the fog burnt out. Having run these in my Camry, I'm impressed with them considering I'm really not impressed by aftermarket lighting at the auto parts stores normally. Side note, I also installed the Sylvania LED 168's in my parking lamps and license plate lights. HUGE difference. My parking lamps now light up road signs. I know pfran has LED kits and it's on my list to order them but this was easy and convenient:
- Thread starter
- #177
Very nice, I enjoyed the pictures. That PS side looks easier on the eyes, than the DS for sure on garage door. I see you did a high beam w/fog mod, way cool.
Yes, very much enjoy the extra light output from fog w/high beam mod. It's very dark in rural Michigan at night and I'm frequently driving late at night with abundant suicidal deer.
Muddy Bean,
Thanks for the pics. They really do highlight the differences. I am particularly interested in the fog upgrade. And, I can completely identify with those suicidal deer as I grew up in rural GA. thanks again.
Jeff
Thanks for the pics. They really do highlight the differences. I am particularly interested in the fog upgrade. And, I can completely identify with those suicidal deer as I grew up in rural GA. thanks again.
Jeff