Lighting mods
03-23-09, 01:53 AM
#737
I was curious, anyone try Sylvania SilverStar Ultras 9005 for DRL/HiBeams. Is there a noticeable difference?
Updated:
I just bit the bullet and bought these too. Spent $105 on 4 bulbs this weekend!
It is noticeably whiter up close, but probably from far away not so much. High Beams are definitely brighter and whiter, so that is good. Just hoping now that I can get DRL's disabled somehow and keep high beams.
Updated:
I just bit the bullet and bought these too. Spent $105 on 4 bulbs this weekend!
It is noticeably whiter up close, but probably from far away not so much. High Beams are definitely brighter and whiter, so that is good. Just hoping now that I can get DRL's disabled somehow and keep high beams.
03-23-09, 08:27 PM
#740
Rookie
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: ny
Posts: 62
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
So where is best place to buy? How many pairs I need? For how long each pair can I use? Thnx
03-25-09, 11:17 AM
#742
Lead Lap
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: CA
Posts: 477
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
So my LEDs and PIAAs came in... finished installing everything last night. V-LEDs for the interior domes and parking lights, PIAA Intense White for the DRL/highbeams.
OMG the install for the DRLs and parking lights was painful!
The tight space between the air filter and the bulbs on the left side was almost as bad as the windshield washer filler neck tube on the right. The directions in the owners' manual says you can unbolt the tube which I did, but don't think anybody mentioned you can just yank on the tube and pull it off, that gives you more space to work with and then it pops back on pretty easy. For me the hardest parts were working in the tight space, to get leverage on the bulbs to twist them in and out, and then making sure the back covers were put back on right. I wore thin rubber gloves to work on the car, glad I did because otherwise my hands would probably be all cut and scratched up after all the struggling around in there.
Anyways the LEDs look really good.
Unforunately as llamaboiz predicted, the PIAAs weren't much improvement if any for the DRLs running at low wattage.
The bulbs are barely tinted blue at all, so they output and look pretty much like the stockers. They still look yellowish and if it was easier to change the bulbs out I'd probably take them back out and return them, but man it was such a pain, not worth my time to swap them again. The old DRL bulbs were dingy and stained brown like some other people have mentioned so it was good time for a replacement/upgrade anyways. If it bothers me enough I might someday get the DRL LEDs and say byebye to the highbeam function, but for now I'll just stick with it or drive around in the daytime with the parking lights on ... those are a pretty good match to the stock 4300K HIDs.
OMG the install for the DRLs and parking lights was painful!
The tight space between the air filter and the bulbs on the left side was almost as bad as the windshield washer filler neck tube on the right. The directions in the owners' manual says you can unbolt the tube which I did, but don't think anybody mentioned you can just yank on the tube and pull it off, that gives you more space to work with and then it pops back on pretty easy. For me the hardest parts were working in the tight space, to get leverage on the bulbs to twist them in and out, and then making sure the back covers were put back on right. I wore thin rubber gloves to work on the car, glad I did because otherwise my hands would probably be all cut and scratched up after all the struggling around in there.Anyways the LEDs look really good.
Unforunately as llamaboiz predicted, the PIAAs weren't much improvement if any for the DRLs running at low wattage.
The bulbs are barely tinted blue at all, so they output and look pretty much like the stockers. They still look yellowish and if it was easier to change the bulbs out I'd probably take them back out and return them, but man it was such a pain, not worth my time to swap them again. The old DRL bulbs were dingy and stained brown like some other people have mentioned so it was good time for a replacement/upgrade anyways. If it bothers me enough I might someday get the DRL LEDs and say byebye to the highbeam function, but for now I'll just stick with it or drive around in the daytime with the parking lights on ... those are a pretty good match to the stock 4300K HIDs.
03-25-09, 04:30 PM
#743
Lexus Fanatic
03-25-09, 05:05 PM
#744
PMok, do you have big hands?
I was able to do the install fairly easy, but I have small hands. Hardest part was getting the back cover back on. The Sylvania Silverstar Ultras are probably best bulb to get DRL because they are slightly whiter, barely noticeable though above stock, and then Hi-Beam def noticeable.
I was able to do the install fairly easy, but I have small hands. Hardest part was getting the back cover back on. The Sylvania Silverstar Ultras are probably best bulb to get DRL because they are slightly whiter, barely noticeable though above stock, and then Hi-Beam def noticeable.
03-25-09, 07:41 PM
#745
Lead Lap
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: CA
Posts: 477
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
PMok, do you have big hands?
I was able to do the install fairly easy, but I have small hands. Hardest part was getting the back cover back on. The Sylvania Silverstar Ultras are probably best bulb to get DRL because they are slightly whiter, barely noticeable though above stock, and then Hi-Beam def noticeable.
I was able to do the install fairly easy, but I have small hands. Hardest part was getting the back cover back on. The Sylvania Silverstar Ultras are probably best bulb to get DRL because they are slightly whiter, barely noticeable though above stock, and then Hi-Beam def noticeable.
I've heard mixed reviews of the Silverstars, especially wrt their bulb life so I went with what I trust, I have had good experience in the past with PIAA. I haven't really had a chance to see the highbeam in action yet, I'm about to get off work so I will get to see it soon...
03-27-09, 05:04 PM
#746
Driver School Candidate
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: AZ
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
anyone has pics on how to change the parking light bulb and fog light bulbs.
I don't want to mess up any wires and was finding it hard to figure out how to change them. thanks in advance
I don't want to mess up any wires and was finding it hard to figure out how to change them. thanks in advance
03-27-09, 05:08 PM
#747
For Parking Lights, I'll try to post some pictures/tomorrow early morning of doing it. It's the bulb next to DRL's/HiBeams. Like ace said, you just turn it while it's in the wire, don't disconnect it.
Turn it then pull out.
Last edited by JDKane527; 03-27-09 at 06:33 PM.
03-27-09, 05:08 PM
#748
Lexus Champion
iTrader: (20)
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: IN
Posts: 3,347
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
the parking light is straightforward just take off the plastic cover then take out the parking bulb by twisting it to the left and pull the bulb thats all... for the fog lights u can go check the DIY use the search and it's on the FAQ as well
03-27-09, 06:56 PM
#749
Lead Lap
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: CA
Posts: 477
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
newbie tip: for the parking lights if you replace the bulb with an LED make sure you test it and it works before you put all the covers back on. For some of the LEDs they are polarity sensitive so they won't turn on if it's wrong, and you have to flip them the other way... would suck to realize that after you put everything back together. 
03-28-09, 12:12 AM
#750
Lead Lap
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: CA
Posts: 477
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
thought I'd update with some pics I took tonight, so people can see what the PIAA Intense White looks like, along with the LED parking lights and stock HID.
stock HIDs + fogs
stock HIDs + PIAA Intense White highbeam
stock HIDs + PIAA Intense White highbeam - looks much more intense IRL but this dark shot gives you a sense of the color (mis)match:
same, closeup
same, top view
HID + V-LEDs parking light + stock fogs
stock HIDs + fogs
stock HIDs + PIAA Intense White highbeam
stock HIDs + PIAA Intense White highbeam - looks much more intense IRL but this dark shot gives you a sense of the color (mis)match:
same, closeup
same, top view
HID + V-LEDs parking light + stock fogs