97 ES 300 replacement bulbs
12-14-06, 05:17 PM
#1
97 ES 300 replacement bulbs
I'll try to make this short..
Just wondering what you guys are using to replace your headlight and fog light bulbs with. I just want a replacement with same wattage but more light output.. something that wont brake the bank either.. i haven't modded the 97 in anyway but i would like to try to get brighter headlights like my GS with just replacing the bulbs.. thanks
Tony
Just wondering what you guys are using to replace your headlight and fog light bulbs with. I just want a replacement with same wattage but more light output.. something that wont brake the bank either.. i haven't modded the 97 in anyway but i would like to try to get brighter headlights like my GS with just replacing the bulbs.. thanks
Tony
12-14-06, 08:38 PM
#3
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H7 for the lowbeams. If you are not looking at switching to HID, then your best bet is Silverstars. A little brighter over stock and they are less than $50.00.
12-15-06, 04:42 AM
#5
Thanks guys... I saw some H7's on the silverstar website and the bulb looked funny? It had to prongs on the end and it didn't look like a regular plug and twist type of bulb.. 
Anyway i think the silverstars maybe the way to go...
Tony
Anyway i think the silverstars maybe the way to go...
Tony
12-15-06, 06:13 AM
#6
Lexus Fanatic
For the low beams, Sylvania Silverstars (reasonable price) or PIAA Xtreme Whites (more pricey) are a good choice.
Other than the corner light bulb, there is no city/parking light on the '97 ES. However, people here have modded the corner light by installing clear corner lamps (some of them can be readily found on Ebay), which gives the car a more Euro-look from the front
Other than the corner light bulb, there is no city/parking light on the '97 ES. However, people here have modded the corner light by installing clear corner lamps (some of them can be readily found on Ebay), which gives the car a more Euro-look from the front
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12-15-06, 10:53 AM
#8
HIR lifespan is quite relatively short. Tho they are brighter than normal bulbs.
Silverstars / PIAA's are a waste. The tint on them has them output less light than a generic, untinted bulb from a good manufacturer.
To quote myself from like 1 day ago somewhere else LoL!
I started with the 9006/9005 silverstar swap in mine, then went HID's & moved them to the high beams. Mine still work after like 3-4 years. On a side note, Silverstar & PIAA's are complete bull. They don't put as much light on the road as a $7 Sylvania bulb.
I no longer recommend them. It's obvious why they put less light out; they're tinted. Just like a lame ricer xenons... They just didn't take it as far.
VS your typical ricer, high output xenon:
9011 HIR (9005 high beam equivilent):
The problem with HIR's is the lifespan. The published specifications on the lifespan are quite short. I forget offhand but it's around 200-250hours for the 9011 high-beam & like 800 hours for the 9012 low-beam. And like any halogen, they're signifigantly dimming the entire lifespan too so....
For example, Phillips 6000K Ultinon HID low beam VS 9005 Silver Star highbeam on my ES:
To refferance what a 9006 to 9005 swap would equate too. Here's a 9006 bulb to compair too.
PLEASE keep in mind these were tested in their respective housings. So the 9006 light spread is less than it would be in the high-beam housing. (Or vice-versa for the 9005 high-beam in a lowbeam housing)
You can see that the 9005 VS 9006 get's abit more light thrown out. It's not huge signifigant, but it is noticeable. Where it becomes increasingly noticeable is when you have old bulbs. Remember that they dim over their lifetime - signifigantly. So any descent NEW bulb is better than any old halogen bulb. Regardless of what type it is (9005 / 9006 etc)
Silverstars / PIAA's are a waste. The tint on them has them output less light than a generic, untinted bulb from a good manufacturer.
To quote myself from like 1 day ago somewhere else LoL!
I started with the 9006/9005 silverstar swap in mine, then went HID's & moved them to the high beams. Mine still work after like 3-4 years. On a side note, Silverstar & PIAA's are complete bull. They don't put as much light on the road as a $7 Sylvania bulb.
I no longer recommend them. It's obvious why they put less light out; they're tinted. Just like a lame ricer xenons... They just didn't take it as far.
VS your typical ricer, high output xenon:
9011 HIR (9005 high beam equivilent):
The problem with HIR's is the lifespan. The published specifications on the lifespan are quite short. I forget offhand but it's around 200-250hours for the 9011 high-beam & like 800 hours for the 9012 low-beam. And like any halogen, they're signifigantly dimming the entire lifespan too so....
For example, Phillips 6000K Ultinon HID low beam VS 9005 Silver Star highbeam on my ES:
To refferance what a 9006 to 9005 swap would equate too. Here's a 9006 bulb to compair too.
PLEASE keep in mind these were tested in their respective housings. So the 9006 light spread is less than it would be in the high-beam housing. (Or vice-versa for the 9005 high-beam in a lowbeam housing)
You can see that the 9005 VS 9006 get's abit more light thrown out. It's not huge signifigant, but it is noticeable. Where it becomes increasingly noticeable is when you have old bulbs. Remember that they dim over their lifetime - signifigantly. So any descent NEW bulb is better than any old halogen bulb. Regardless of what type it is (9005 / 9006 etc)
12-15-06, 03:14 PM
#11
I still don't get it if the factory setting for the bulb is for the low beam a H7 how are you supposed to convert int to a 9006-9005 i know the high beam is 9005 i belive but the plug is on an angle and locks into the housing different then the lowbeam
12-15-06, 04:08 PM
#13
2 Remove the rubber boot
3 There will be a metal pin you will have to release
4 Remove the bulb from the headlight
5 Remove plastic piece attached to bulb
6 Attach plastic piece you just removed to new bulb
7 Reinsert bulb with the notch on the bulb facing up
8 Reattach pin
9 Put back on the boot
10 Reattach harness
12-15-06, 05:58 PM
#14
1 Pull off the wire harness
2 Remove the rubber boot
3 There will be a metal pin you will have to release
4 Remove the bulb from the headlight
5 Remove plastic piece attached to bulb
6 Attach plastic piece you just removed to new bulb
7 Reinsert bulb with the notch on the bulb facing up
8 Reattach pin
9 Put back on the boot
10 Reattach harness
2 Remove the rubber boot
3 There will be a metal pin you will have to release
4 Remove the bulb from the headlight
5 Remove plastic piece attached to bulb
6 Attach plastic piece you just removed to new bulb
7 Reinsert bulb with the notch on the bulb facing up
8 Reattach pin
9 Put back on the boot
10 Reattach harness
thanks for the tip... BTW what types of bulbs are u using?