Which is the best H1 bulb?

[1991 525i Novs]

Just finished installing some m5 hella euro smiley projectors and I need more light, i dont want to do an HID kit because now my engine bay is full of wires and is just terrible.

Anyways, what is the best H1 bulb out there without going the HID route. I searched and all I could find was threads on 9005/9006. So sorry if this is a repeat.

Thanks for any input

[jgardia]

I've been seeing various lamps, and I think I'll buy the Osram SilverStar. White light and with 30% more light. I saw this lights in the trucks we have to work, and they look very good. I think I'll buy this in a couple of days, today I'm ending my shift and I'll return to the civilization, so I'll have time to play with that.

Cheers,

Jose

Just finished installing some m5 hella euro smiley projectors and I need more light, i dont want to do an HID kit because now my engine bay is full of wires and is just terrible.

Anyways, what is the best H1 bulb out there without going the HID route. I searched and all I could find was threads on 9005/9006. So sorry if this is a repeat.

Thanks for any input

[JohnC]

yea the osrams, you can get them from powerbulbs.uk or something similar to that, if the link doesnt work just google powerbulb and im sure it will come up.

[1991 525i Novs]

yea the osrams, you can get them from powerbulbs.uk or something similar to that, if the link doesnt work just google powerbulb and im sure it will come up.

Are they sold in the US and also are they similar to the silverstars?

[BigKriss]

danielsternlighting.com - Osram Silverstars +50

Are they sold in the US and also are they similar to the silverstars?

[Chris'91'525i]

Quote:
Originally Posted by JohnC
yea the osrams, you can get them from powerbulbs.uk or something similar to that, if the link doesnt work just google powerbulb and im sure it will come up.

Are they sold in the US and also are they similar to the silverstars?

The Osram Silverstars are hard to find in the USA.
As JohnC suggests, http://www.powerbulbs.co.uk/ is a good source for them. Shipping is free too, which helps.

I have ordered the Osram Silverstar's in H-4 for my motorcycle from them and had a noticeable increase in light over the Sylvania Silverstar version, they last longer in my motorcycle too, so the quality of the Osram SS's is obvious a higher quality over the Sylvania SS's.
I read the reports in other forums about this, and I'm now a believer.

Osram owns Sylvania which markets their version of Silverstars . IMO, the Sylvania SS's are sub-standard compared to the Osram's. You would think they are equal, but their not....

[Gayle]

This is the best thread I have seen on the subject in the last year and I have copied to the two posts from it that were the most informative IMHO. Everyone loves the choice they make so you tend to get a lot of testimonials. What makes one persons testimonial better than anothers? Use this information to make your own decision.

http://www.bimmer.info/forum/showthread.php?t=21511

3 pages and no one has answered your question.

I shot over to the sylvania webpage to have a look.


These are the standard buld line
bulb kelvin lumens msrp
9005 3200 1700 $16.00
6006 3200 1000 $16.00


The silverstar line
Bulb kelvin lumens msrp
9005 4000 1700 $50.00
9006 4000 1000 $50.00


Philips 4100k(HID)
kelvin lumens
4100 3200


As you can see, the 9005 bulb provides 70% more light for the same cost, upgrading to the silverstar provides a 25% increase in kelvin for a 300% increase in cost.

Upgrading to HID provides a very small improvement in color over the premium bulb, but almost 2 times the lumens of the 9005 and over 3 times that of the 9006.

there are HID lights that go all the way up to 7000k.

My opinion for what its worth, doing the mod to the 9005 bulb is worth the effort. upgrading to Silverstars approachs diminishing returns when you consider it is $100.00 for both headlamps. Upgrading to HID is worth the money if you have it to spend, other wise use the Ultravision(30% more lumens than standard. $25.00) modified 9005.

Kelvin relates to the color of the light.
Lumens relates to the amount of light output.

The higher the kelvin, the more blue and less red the light is. the lower the kelvin, the higher the red and the lower the blue.
daylight is aprox 5000kelvin
white light(studio reference) is 3200k
incadescent household bulbs are about 2800kelvin

kelvin has nothing to do with how much light is emited or how bright it is. It does however affect the eyes ability to pick out detail. Our eyes work best in daylight, so we will see better with 5000k bulbs even if there is no gain in lumens.

You have all heard of infra-red and ultra-violet light?

[Airborne001]

As JohnC suggests, http://www.powerbulbs.co.uk/ is a good source for them. Shipping is free too, which helps.

Ex Tax (for cust. outside EU) Inc Tax (for customers in EU)
£ 13.57 £ 15.95

They have them alright, but I'll be damned if I am going to pay the eu almost the total price of the item in taxes again, are they insane?

[Chris'91'525i]

They have them alright, but I'll be damned if I am going to pay the eu almost the total price of the item in taxes again, are they insane?

Don't know where you got the info that buyers in the USA get charged "Taxes" or VAT fee's, but there are no additonal fee's with your light bulb order from http://www.powerbulbs.co.uk/

I double checked and made a mock order, since it's been about a year since my last order.
I was just charged just for the bulbs !!

I know the UK taxes it's citizens to near death on everything imaginable. But they have not found a way to tax us again in the USA like they did in the 'old' days, before our Independance from them

Their FREE shipping is real quick too. I think my order came 4-5 days after my order was placed.

[1991 525i Novs]

Thanks alot, so im think im going to order them tonight then.

Another question, anyone have the auto leveling motor on there euro smiley headlights? if so do u know how to mod them to a us spec bmw?