"Standard" headlight help

[GregBiz]

Hello all - I'm looking for some help on some "standard" headlight options. I did some searches and didn't find the answers I was looking for.
First off I'm confused as to when I put the truck into the advanced auto parts website it comes back with H-11 bulb size OR 9005 size. Can you help me understand this?

Also, I'm trying to see if anyone has opinions (or examples) on upgrading to any of the standard style brighter bulbs. At this point I'm not interested in any HID style conversions, but I would like a brighter bulb that is still affordable.
In the past I've had sylvania silver stars but its been a bunch of years since I had them. I see now that there are many options even in the silver star category. ie - silverstar halogen, silverstar zxe gold halogen, Zevo LED.
I'm planning to buy the matching fog lights as well.

Thanks in advance!

 

[quietpeen]

do you have the quad headlights or the projector headlights

 

[TatertotScott]

Presuming you have H11 (halogen) quads, the H9 conversions have been getting great reviews.

I personally really like my DDM Tuning LED replacement bulbs.

Vanquish (vendor on this site) also sells some well regarded options.

Common sense isn't...nor is common decency.

 

[GregBiz]

do you have the quad headlights or the projector headlights

They look like standard headlights which I assume you're calling quad.
Why do they call them quad's?

 

[GregBiz]

Presuming you have H11 (halogen) quads, the H9 conversions have been getting great reviews.

I personally really like my DDM Tuning LED replacement bulbs.

Vanquish (vendor on this site) also sells some well regarded options.

Common sense isn't...nor is common decency.

Thank you. I'd rather not get into extensive rewiring or housing swaps. Is what you did for the DDM either of those?

 

[TatertotScott]

Quads refers to having 4 separated headlight lenses two high, two low beams.

No rewiring or swaps of anything. Just replace the bulbs with LEDs, which do come with more wire, and a box or two attached in line.

Very simple. A youtube search will reveal all.

Common sense isn't...nor is common decency.

 

[GregBiz]

Quads refers to having 4 separated headlight lenses two high, two low beams.

No rewiring or swaps of anything. Just replace the bulbs with LEDs, which do come with more wire, and a box or two attached in line.

Very simple. A youtube search will reveal all.

Common sense isn't...nor is common decency.

Thanks for your feedback.

I welcome any more opinions please. Especially on the silverstar options.

Thanks again

 

[OC455]

Two different style OEM headlights for the halogen bulbs, as described in the picture.



OEM projector headlight.

 

[GregBiz]

Two different style OEM headlights for the halogen bulbs, as described in the picture.



OEM projector headlight.

Very helpful thank you! Quad is correct then.

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[OC455]

Not going to get into what is better for you. I don't know what your budget is like. I'm going to retrofit HID projectors in a set of quads I bought.

If you go LED placement bulbs, make sure you have quality LEDs. Around here, I've seen some vehicles and trucks with LED bulbs, they're blinding. Also it doesn't appear that they throw light down the road very well.

If I remember right, few have said that the Silverstars do not last very long.

 

[TatertotScott]

I have nevrr seen silverstars last more than a year. I sold them as part of my daily duties in the retail automotive industry for 3 years.

Silverstars are quite possibly the single most overrated garbage you can put on a vehicle.....worse than stick on chrome vents....

Common sense isn't...nor is common decency.

 

[bigred90gt]

I have nevrr seen silverstars last more than a year. I sold them as part of my daily duties in the retail automotive industry for 3 years.

Silverstars are quite possibly the single most overrated garbage you can put on a vehicle.....worse than stick on chrome vents....

Common sense isn't...nor is common decency.

I’m not sure why people seem to have problems with silverstars. I had a set in my 04 F150 for the full 3 years I owned it with no issues.

If you decide on silver star bulbs, spend the few extra dollars and get the ultra. Less blue tint on the bulb.

 

[chrisbh17]

Not going to get into what is better for you. I don't know what your budget is like. I'm going to retrofit HID projectors in a set of quads I bought.

If you go LED placement bulbs, make sure you have quality LEDs. Around here, I've seen some vehicles and trucks with LED bulbs, they're blinding. Also it doesn't appear that they throw light down the road very well.

If I remember right, few have said that the Silverstars do not last very long.

I think the blinding from an led in the quad housing isn't from lack of quality but rather because the quads and their reflectors are not made for LED.

IMHO there are two ways to do it right with the quads: H9 conversion or retrofit projectors into the quad housings.

Other option is getting a set of stock projectors and swapping them onto the truck but you would still need an hid conversion to gain a large improvement over stock quads.


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[bigred90gt]

Other option is getting a set of stock projectors and swapping them onto the truck but you would still need an hid conversion to gain a large improvement over stock quads.


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I disagree with that statement. Well, let me clarify, I have the TYC projectors, which are OEM replacement. I have HiD in them, and when I was having a problem with my ballasts, I had to pull the HIDs and put the stock halogen bulbs in. The output even with halogen is far better from the projectors than from the quads. I originally had quads in my truck, so have personally seen the before/after for comparison.

I have been in my buddy’s Laramie with the Ram OeM projectors/halogens and they have a far better output as well.

I believe the TYC lenses are clear while the OEM are fresnel, so there is a slight difference in output between them.

 

[chrisbh17]

I disagree with that statement. Well, let me clarify, I have the TYC projectors, which are OEM replacement. I have HiD in them, and when I was having a problem with my ballasts, I had to pull the HIDs and put the stock halogen bulbs in. The output even with halogen is far better from the projectors than from the quads.

I have been in my buddy’s Laramie with the Ram OeM projectors/halogens and they have a far better output as well.

I believe the TYC lenses are clear while the OEM are fresnel, so there is a slight difference in output between them.

I defer to experience, then!

If OEM (or OEM-type) projectors even with halogens are better, thats another good option. Can probably get them fairly inexpensively off a junk truck if you look hard enough.

I would personally still stay away from putting LED or HID bulbs in unmodified quad halogen housings, though.

I see so many lighting threads here where people say they are fine, but I can pick out vehicles that "just threw in bulbs" from a mile away on the highway, they are blinding and annoying.

 

[bigred90gt]

I defer to experience, then!

If OEM (or OEM-type) projectors even with halogens are better, thats another good option. Can probably get them fairly inexpensively off a junk truck if you look hard enough.

I would personally still stay away from putting LED or HID bulbs in unmodified quad halogen housings, though.

I see so many lighting threads here where people say they are fine, but I can pick out vehicles that "just threw in bulbs" from a mile away on the highway, they are blinding and annoying.

I don’t know what kind of budget is available, but I picked up the TUC projectors brand new for $500/pair and they already had oem type bulbs. I think the adaptor harness is another$30ish (maybe, I bought it as part of my HID setup, so don’t quote me on that price).

 

[TatertotScott]

I’m not sure why people seem to have problems with silverstars. I had a set in my 04 F150 for the full 3 years I owned it with no issues.

If you decide on silver star bulbs, spend the few extra dollars and get the ultra. Less blue tint on the bulb.

I don't seem, I DO have problems with them because they are just like Nike in the sense that thry are all hype, very little substance.

Thry butn out far more often, burn bluer, causing issues actually seeing any better.

It has been proven time and time again that bluer light makes it harder to see clearly in pretty much all circumstances, even when more light is put out.

Find some 3500k color bulbs, and they will look "yellow" but in almost every situation, they will be easier for the driver to see from the same lumen and focus.

Aiming your headlights to JUST below level, using your fogs, adding better output bulbs such as LED or HID (as long as they get the right beam pattern and no scatter), turning down interior lights, cleaning your windshield are all useful in seeing better at night.

Having sold them (and subsequently returning a ridiculous number of them due to burn outs or crap output), I feel I am qualified to make a statement on their quality and performance....Silverstars are worthless. The Ultras are OK, but still have longevity issues.

Common sense isn't...nor is common decency.

 

[GregBiz]

I really appreciate the feedback and information. $500 is out of the current budget at this point but it's all great things to consider.

 

[chrisbh17]

I havent done it yet but I planned on just doing the H11 to H9 conversion (and the equivalent for the fogs). Cheapest way to get better performance.

Maybe someday down the road Ill change to HIDs or LEDs.

 

[LabRatt]

Vanquish Auto is a vendor here and offers plug-n-play LED bulbs that several members appear to be happy with. They are on my budget-conscience list to improve my quads.