Are SilverStars too blue?

[87coupe]

Was looking at the SilverStar bulbs the other day, but don't want a bulb that looks too blue. Just don't think it looks right on a car from the 70's or 80's. Anyone tried them?

Edit: Crap, meant this to be in technical. If a moderator sees this could you please move or delete it. My apologies.

[Tonyd]

I put the Silverstars in my wifes Audi. Not really blue at all. Gives off a bit whiter hue is all. It is the H7 size, but I doubt bulb type makes any difference.

I have the Silverstar turn signals in my 993 clear corners, and they look blue while off behind the clear lens, but turn amber when on.

[kenikh]

Nope.

[Par911]

They aren't blue when you turn the lights on.

[}{arlequin]

don't bother w/ silver stars..... google "daniel stern" and order Narva bulbs, cheaper/better/more powerful than any autozone brand.

[Rod.911S]

Not blue at all. Been using them for 2+ years on my Saab and like them very much except that I have DRL and they only last 6 - 8 months

[masraum]

here
http://www.danielsternlighting.com/tech/tech.html
and more specifically here
http://www.danielsternlighting.com/tech/bulbs/blue/good/good.html

Sylvania Xtravision (in the pink-and-black package), Osram Super and SilverStar(outside North America only!); Philips High Visibility (North America), Premium and Vision Plus (outside North America); Narva RangePower are the ones to look for.

Why do you specify "Outside North America only" on the SilverStar bulbs?

Osram, the well-established German lampmaker, sells a line of automotive bulbs they call "SilverStar". These are Osram's top-of-the-range headlamp bulbs, equivalent to Philips VisionPlus and Tungsram Megalight Premium. They produce the maximum legal amount of light while staying within legal power consumption limits. They have clear glass.

Osram bought the well-established American lampmaker Sylvania in the early 1990s, so Osram is now Sylvania's parent company. Sylvania also sells a line of automotive bulbs they call "SilverStar", but it's not the same product at all. These bulbs have a blue coating on them. Light output is of legal levels, but as with all blue-filtered bulbs, you do not get more light from them. The Sylvania SilverStar bulbs have a very short lifetime, because the filament is selected so as to be overdriven. This is necessary because the blue filtration coating "steals" so much light that only an overdriven filament can push enough light through the filter to be legal. The Sylvania SilverStar bulbs are also priced quite high. This is not because they cost a lot to make, and not because they're based on some exotic new technology. It's because the goal with this product is to take market share away from other overpriced bulbs like the PIAA line.

For best headlamp performance and best value, choose only bulbs with clear glass.

[donstevens]

I have a great deal of respect for what Daniel Stern does and I have no basis to dispute his facts, but my personal experience with both Sylvania Xtravision and Silver Star bulbs does not jive with his facts. I have had both in my Crown Victorias and I like the Silver Star bulb better. Not only do I like the whiter looking light, they seem, and I stress "seem", to put more usable light on the road. I might add I drive accross the sate of Florida several times per month and some of the back roads I drive are DARK with a capital D. The Silver Star seems to work better out there in the boonies. I like them in the rain too.

Let me qualify by saying the Xtravisions were in my older 99 car and the Silver Stars are in my current 2002 car. Perhaps the 99 mirror was not as good. Perhaps the 99 lens was mis-colored enough to affect the light. Perhaps the 02 lights are aimed better.
I recognize they are all factors, I just like the Silver Stars better.

What does this have to do with a bulb you might put in an H4 or H5? Probably nothing. But if you want a blue white look without investing all the $$$ for true HID lights, the Silver Star works pretty good and at the $22 or so per pair that I paid (it was rebate coupon deal) they are not significantly more expensive than ordering a $9.00 bulb from a catalog.

Don