Upgrade H5 Headlight- Feedback, Please

[RMK]

I have a 1980 911SC that I bought with the headlights already upgraded(?) to H5's. I would like to replace the bulb so it gives as much of a blue tinted light as possible, while still being street legal and not having to change it to a whole new lighting system. Any feedback out there would be greatly appreciated.

[masraum]

H5's take a 9004 bulb. THere are lots and lots of 9004 bulbs available because that's what most cars took in the late 80's and 90's. Any "blue" bulb that you get will not put out more light than a non tinted bulb because the tint will block some of the light.

A more common upgrade for cars pre '87 is the H4 upgrade. I don't know how many blue bulbs will be available for those as they weren't originally offered in the states, I believe, but the bulbs must be out there.

The really bright blue lights that cars have are HID lights. You can get a kit to run those in an SC, but it's not just a bulb.

Most people here aren't likely to be very understanding of the blue bulbs because it doesn't enhance your lighting and is only for looks, so you are likely to catch a bunch of (hopefully) good natured crap for this request.

Personally I wouldn't use blue bulbs if you paid me unless they were the real thing, but I don't think anyone makes a kit for H5's or 9004's.

Just head on down to your local pep boys or autozone and grab the bluest bulb you can find.

Happy motoring

[RMK]

Steve...thanks for the feedback. I hope all the Pelican heads out there don't misunderstand what I'm asking. I'm looking for the closest thing to an HID light as possible, only in the 9004 type bulb.

[targa911man]

You might want to take a look at this thread before you make that conversion:

http://www.dorkiphus.com/viewtopic.php?t=460

[jmohn]

Originally posted by RMK
Steve...thanks for the feedback. I hope all the Pelican heads out there don't misunderstand what I'm asking. I'm looking for the closest thing to an HID light as possible, only in the 9004 type bulb.

There is no 9004 that is "close to" HID's (regardless of what some vendor's marketing says), the differences between these lighting types is much more than brightness and color. There are sophisticated design, focus, shielding, etc. differences between 9004's, H-1's, H-4's, H-5's, HID's, etc. BTW, IMHO, HID's are a joke, for the price; they make obects down the road "look" brighter so you "think" you can see farther. Worst of all, they've become the ultimate "poser" symbol. If I presently had them on any of my vehicles, I'd seriously consider removing them for just that reason. For a true up-grade install H-4's, failing that, just leave them alone.

Good luck,

Jerry M
'78 SC

[RMK]

Targa911Man...good point. I dated a girl for awhile up there and fortunately, thus far, they don't seem to be as "over the edge" down here, yet! I actually got pulled over a couple of weeks ago for doing 60 in a 35, and he let me go! More concerned I wasn't drinking and admired the car! For a split second I hit 60 while showing a friend the ole 0-60 move and then let off the gas. At that exact time, I was nailed with the radar...Hakuna Matatah!

[RMK]

Does anywone know what the PIAA bulbs are, do, etc.? Also, how are those Silverstars...I saw them in the store.

[jmohn]

Originally posted by RMK
Does anywone know what the PIAA bulbs are, do, etc.? Also, how are those Silverstars...I saw them in the store.

You may want to take a look at this site: http://lighting.mbz.org/ . Stern has some good info on automotive lighting.

Good luck,

Jerry M
'78 SC

[Rick Lee]

RMK, if you're gonna drop the cash on H5's, get H4's instead. They are soooo much better. I didn't get much of a bargain at $250 for the whole kit. But I swear that was the best bang for the buck I've gotten with my Carrera. H4's rock!

[RMK]

Richard...thanks for the reply, but the car already has the H5's in it...I'm just looking at different bulb options.

[RickC]

H4's are way better than H5's. They have a tighter cut off and more focused beam pattern. For a pre-86 car they make way more sense.

Having said that, my 87 still has it's original H5's 'cause there are a number of things I'd rather spend a few hundred dollars on first.

I did get PIAA super white bulbs though, and am very pleased with the results. A higher wattage doesn't help as much with less focused lights, so I stuck to the regular 55/60's. With H4's, I might have gotten a relay and gone for more power.

PIAA makes a number of bulbs. I wanted the most light power I could get and so went for the super whites. But they have a number of blueish bulbs that have the look you want. Remember, the darker the tint, the less light though, so you may want to get a higher wattage tinted bulb to get enough of a light improvement.

[masraum]

RMK, you won't likely get much help in picking a blue bulb here as they are not an "upgrade", and are really only for people who want to look like they have HID.

I'm not trying to be a Smart@zz, but you would likely get more help picking a blue bulb on a different forum, something more "ricey". We don't want to run you off, but this just isn't the type of change most of the people on this board would make (some do, but probably not many).

I would like to replace the bulb so it gives as much of a blue tinted light as possible,

I agree with Steve. That's really cheesy .

[ruf-porsche]

It's only "Cheesy" if you drive the Porsche in Wisconsin.

[Randy Webb]

The "blue" bulbs actuallyput out less light -- the longer wavelengths are filetred out.

Be tru to your Pooschey and do a real upgrade -- i.e. something functional. Get the Litronic type aftermarket lights. Or go to H1s or even the Euro H4s.

[toolman]

I used the Sylvania super white bulbs with a 4000 Kelven rating. These were about $20 each but put out a whiter light than the halogen. Bright white is not ricey but blue would be. I also installed headlight relays too for the security of not burning out the light circuit.

[RMK]

Man, have you guys taught me alot already! The main reason I even referenced the blue was because I thought something with blue was as close to white light or super white or true white or whatever...that's really where my train of thought was. I agree about the rice burners, and that's not the extent I'm looking for...just the true, super white. I don't know why I thought blue was somehow involved in that equation. I appreciate everything you guys have shared thus far.

[RickC]

Confusion stems from the "real" blue lights you see. There are two kinds of "blue" lights out there.

1. Upscale new cars with $800-$1,500 High Intensity Discharge headlights (sort of like arc-lights - instead of a glowing hot wire/filament, you have electrcity jumping a gap and giving off light - not unlike a sparkplug). You'll probably see a number of newer BMW's, etc. with these. They are "better" and "brighter" than halogen (a good thing from the driver's point of view), and kind of blueish.

2. Kids who use blue bulbs too make it look like their $3,500 used Civics have $800-$1,500 HID lighting systems. All for show, performance is worse than the bulbs they replaced. Kind of like the smoked plastic panels that kids put over their lights in the 1980's. For people who want to be seen more than they want to see.

For those of us with older lights, the best you can do is get more powerful, white bulbs......Unless you want to retrofit some $$$ Litronic lights to your 911.

Originally posted by RMK
Man, have you guys taught me alot already! The main reason I even referenced the blue was because I thought something with blue was as close to white light or super white or true white or whatever...that's really where my train of thought was. I agree about the rice burners, and that's not the extent I'm looking for...just the true, super white. I don't know why I thought blue was somehow involved in that equation. I appreciate everything you guys have shared thus far.

You've made me proud.

[pwd72s]

Originally posted by jmohn
You may want to take a look at this site: http://lighting.mbz.org/ . Stern has some good info on automotive lighting.

Good luck,

Jerry M
'78 SC

RMK? DO visit this site...especailly of you plan on going to higher output bulbs...the tech piece on relays could be invaluable to you...