Just put in Slyvania Cool Blues in my 97 SE Max.
Total tranformation from the orignal stock halogen.
Much whiter - you can easily tell a difference.
Everything on the road is clearer, cleaner, noticably whiter -you can see road signs, turn or curves in the road much sooner than with the stock bulbs. The brights are unreal. There is no real "blue" color or tint to the light.
They are just pure white.
Compared to the Philips Blue Visions I put in my wifes 95 GXE last week there is little difference if any.
Both upgrades are great.
My recommendation would be to buy whichever you can find cheaper.
Autozone - Slyvania's were $14 ea.
Kmart - Philips were $1 ea.

 

Do you lose any visibility during weather conditions?

 

the "yellower" the bulb the better it is in rain/snow, the whiter the light the more it reflects off the rain, the white bulb however is a vast improvement in dry conditions and works fine for me in the rain/snow. They're nowhere near "BLUE", The bulbs are not painted BLUE either like some other "HID Lookalike" bulbs, it is like 99% clear with an extremely light sky-blue tint to make the light whiter. I love them, shingles has pics comparing them to the PIAA's and they look almost identical.

Stock left, Philips Right:
<img src=http://www.geocities.com/maxedout97/philips2.jpg>

[Edited by Nine7Max on 02-03-2001 at 03:32 PM]

 

I just bought the Wagner Lazerblue lights, they also seem much better than stock lights. They only cost $7.50 a piece, so I was not sure if they were going to work or not. But, so far I'm happy with them for the money I paid for them.

 

I don't know what you guys are smoking, but those cheap Phillips and Sylvania bulbs are nowhere near as bright as PIAAs, nor as white, the PIAAs are. I currently have both PIAA headlights and driving lights (some people wrongly call them fog lights, including nissan) and they are over 100% brighter than stock....it's no comparison to those cheap aftermarkets.


_______________________________________
'97 Super Black SE 5-speed
JWT Popcharger, PIAA SW Headlights and fogs, Clear Corners, Grant Carbon and Chrome shift ****, Custom stereo, mostly Rockford.
Cattman S/S Y-pipe in the mail!

 

I used to have the PIAAs in my car and didn't have good results considering the price. I really couldn't tell any real difference and actually thought that light output was worse even though the light was definately whiter. Also I had to replace the bulbs twice because they kept burning out. From what I hear though is that the higher wattage bulbs with the upgraded wire harness is the real way to improve the lights.

 

Unfortinutly I'm sorry, but you're wrong. Shingles has pics of PIAA's next to the Philips in his car and you cant even tell. Do you understand how light bulbs work? The piaa's and the philips both give off identical wattage, so how in the hell can one be brighter? I owned PIAA's and now own Philips. To be honest if you held both of them up to the light you couldnt even tell the difference in the color of the bulb. So hmm, same color.. same wattage... I dont see how they're "nowhere near as bright". Goto KMart, pick them up for $9 and see for yourself. Call them "CHEAP" but we're not the ones who payed 7x as much as we needed to for bulbs. And I have PIAA H3 "Driving"(fog) lights in my car too and love them.

 

You can talk trash all day about cheap bulbs, but the fact remains - They are every bit as good at a fraction of the price.
Think about it -Philips and Slyvania are huge international companies with billions of $ in R&D and experience.
This is not to say the PIAA's are no good -just more expensive.
If it makes you feel better to pay more or whatever, then do it. - more power to you.
For instance -I paid $100 extra bucks for the "steallin" rear sway bar instead of the Addco. Because I thought it looked "cleaner" and more sturdy even though there really is no difference.

 

where can I get Sylvania Cool Blue or Philips Blue Visions
in canada?

 

First of all, don't tell me that I'm wrong, because it is all a matter of opinion. Second, only idiots would actually put two different bulbs in each headlight in their car. Do you know how bad that it for the electrical balance....not even close to a way to compare bulbs. It makes them look almost the same...no matter what....because the electrical system is keeping them balanced. Plus it's bad for the bulbs themselves, no wonder you guys have them burning out on you. Finally, The PIAAs put out a "SIMULATED" high wattage, which means you don't have to upgrade your wire harnesses, but you still get the brightness of a true high wattage bulb, that's why they are so expensive, it's called XTRA technology. That's why they are brighter and whiter than the Sylvania's. I don't mean this to sound bad, I don't want to offend anyone, I'm just presenting the facts, pure and simple. oh...and yes the PIAA H3 driving lights are amazing.

_______________________________________
'97 Super Black SE 5-speed
JWT Popcharger, PIAA SW Headlights and fogs, Clear Corners, Grant Carbon and Chrome shift ****, Custom stereo, mostly Rockford.
Cattman S/S Y-pipe in the mail!

 

Welcome to reality everyone...

http://www.overboost.com/story.asp?id=102

Whatever XTRA technology is, it doesn't seem to fool a photometer. PIAAs are your normal blue-tinted bulb, jsut made a bit better.

 

XTRA technology for the XTRA gullible.

 

<img src="http://users.ev1.net/~shinglin/cars/maxima/bv/piaa_bv.jpg">

Kind sir, what are *you* smoking? At $50 a pair vs $24 for the BV, the one that buys the piaa is the one smoking something.


Two more for your viewing pleasure:

PIAA with fogs on:
<img src="http://users.ev1.net/~shinglin/cars/maxima/bv/piaa_with_fog.jpg">

Blue Vision with fogs on:
<img src="http://users.ev1.net/~shinglin/cars/maxima/bv/bv_with_fog.jpg">

Do you REALLY see the difference? No.

With regards to your comment about Philips and Osram Sylvania "cheap aftermarkets"... you are incorrect. PIAA is nothing compare to the size of Philips and Osram. Heck I bet Osram and Philips R&D dollar is enough to buy PIAA.

-Shing

 

Facts are below... two pictures taken from the same location at the same night 5 minutes apart. Those are facts... what you said is well like you said, opinion. As for you statment about electrical systems, nice try... 9004 bulbs all have to follow the same guide lines set by DOT. it has to be 45 watts for low beams and 55 watts for high beams. It has to draw xxx voltage etc. Did yuo know that no two bulbs will ever be the same? Even from the same plant produced in the same hour? That's why there are tolerances. According to your statement, it's not even valid really to compare two bulbs of the same brand!

-Shing

 

For arguments sake let's say that it did matter to use two different bulbs on the same car.
I've compared PIAA's to the "cheap" bulbs on two seperate maxima's side by side. Then I switched bulbs on both cars for accuracy and margin of error.
The Philips are avery bit as bright as the PIAA's. Both are substantial improvement over stock Halogens.
But PIAA's XTRA technology is really just XTRA marketing.
They might be better designed - but it's not 5 times as technologically advanced and definately not worth the extra dough unless it makes you feel better.
Everyone is ignorant, just on different subjects.
And we really don't expect any of this to sink in - We've figured out you work for the company. - It's cool.

 

"It's all a matter of opinion"
-ok so It's ok for you to trash the philips but I cant say anything negative about the almighty PIAA's?

"Second, only idiots would actually put two different bulbs in each headlight in their car."
-well actually, half of this BBS has done it to compare bulbs for other people. Only "Idiots" (like yourself) would think its harmful and does not understand the term EQUAL WATTAGE.

"Plus it's bad for the bulbs themselves, no wonder you guys have them burning out on you."
-Actually, none of my bulbs have ever burned out, but when your PIAA's burn out (all bulbs die sometime) have fun spending another $65 on them.

"The PIAAs put out a "SIMULATED" high wattage, which means you don't have to upgrade your wire harnesses, but you still get the brightness of a true high wattage bulb, that's why they are so expensive, it's called XTRA technology."
-It's called XTRA BS and XTRA Expensive. Get it through your thick skull PIAA's AND PHILIPS HAVE THE SAAAAAME WATTAGE. NONE REQUIRE UPGRADED HARNESS!!

"I'm just presenting the facts, pure and simple."
-your facts are backed by your opinion.. hardly a fact. Me and shingles have both PIAA's and Philips, so who's the ones with more facts?

"oh...and yes the PIAA H3 driving lights are amazing."
-Yes I agree

 

I've said this before and I'll say it again.. color temperature is completely different then actual brightness or lumens/candle power of light output. Many bulbs are that have high color temp are often confused to be brighter.

BTW 45w=85 doesn't mean anything... for one thing there are 85w bulbs that are not worth a damn. PIAAs ratings are based on probably one of two things:

1) they are comparing it to a 85 watt "sealed beam" lamp, you know the stuff from 1970s?

2) Depending on what housing they use, there are hot spots in the light output... sure in these hotspots it's possible that it's actually equal to 85 watts of halogen output... but it's useless...

-Shing

 

shing when u become a moderator? nice

 

Dude, it's high school physics...if you put 45W of power into a bulb...you'll get that much light output. PIAA's marketing division is talking trash...and unfortunately you fell for it. Philips and Sylvania are known for their lighting systems all around the world, responsible for many OEM lighting applications. In this case, PIAA is an aftermarket manufacturer. You got it all backwards.

And by the way, the OEM aux lamps on the 4th and 5th Gen Maximas are FOGLAMPS...not driving lamps...just look at the pattern they emit and you'll see.

 

I don't know where you got this theory from, because if it were true, every light in a city would be the same brightness...if the "electrical system" of the city kept everything balanced. My suggestion to you is that you relax, go find a physics book and spend some time reading up on electricity and circuit analysis.

 

I have the Piaa's and I like to say that for 70 a pair of bulbs--they are no better than what Sylvania and Phillips has to offer. The reason that Piaa has a mark up is for two reasons:
1. they have a brand name--and it doesn't matter if it costs them 3 cents to make the damn bulb, they will charge you $70 a pop becauseit is a recognized name and there is a "name brand" association with Piaa. It would be ridiculous if it was $5 a pair--where it wouldn't be "Piaa"

2. They have a huge bunch of marketers working for them which adds onto the cost...not quality--just the costs. They have been promoting this as "piaa"--so you gotta have a bunch of people to spread the word!!

If I could do it over again--smarter now, after SHing and the others have made their studies--I would have save myself with some money and gone with either one of those OTHER than PIAA.

 

Which kind of PIAA H3 lights are you guys talking about. How much do they go for as well?

 

The plasma H3s. I have to say they do reflect off of the signs better. But that's due mostly to the fact that it's got a higher color temp.

-Shing

 

Do you think its worth it to get them? Cause my lights are stock now, and I guess I'm satisfied with them, but I could go for something a little better. After this discussion topic, I was thinking of getting the Phillips lights. But not too sure yet

 

Try again Shings, the high beam wattage for 9004 bulbs is 65 not 55. Hey, maybe I'm a sucker for price = quality, but it's worked for me in the past.....Cattman y-pipe vs. Stillen....and no I don't work for PIAA, I just like their bulbs, I'm actually a college student studying aviation. Sorry guys, but assumptions aren't your forte.

P.S - BTW I'm just making these posts too see how worked up you guys will get about light bulbs, and the results are in..........VERY worked up.

just messin'

Vogz

 

just trying to keep the facts straight

 

It's very easy to say "I was just seeing how worked up you guys get... " when you are proved to be wrong with actual facts. frankly, for calling someone names, proved wrong, the best you can come up with is I got the wrong wattage for high beam? nice try... had you not called people names, we wouldn't be having this discussion.. but since you wanted to call names, hey, I too can play at that game.



good luck,
-Shing

 

According to AutoOptiks, Philips makes the BlueVisions in H3 too:

http://www.autooptiks.com/matrix.html

 

Bologna! Describe "electrical balance"

[/quote][/i]
..not even close to a way to compare bulbs. It makes them look almost the same...no matter what....because the electrical system is keeping them balanced. Plus it's bad for the bulbs themselves,
[/quote][/i]

Bologna! Thats some crap thats peddled by BULB MAKERS.

[/quote][/i]
no wonder you guys have them burning out on you. Finally, The PIAAs put out a "SIMULATED" high wattage, which means you don't have to upgrade your wire harnesses, but you still get the brightness of a true high wattage bulb, that's why they are so expensive, it's called XTRA technology. That's why they are brighter and whiter than the Sylvania's. I don't mean this to sound bad, I don't want to offend anyone, I'm just presenting the facts,
[/quote][/i]

Facts? Sounds more like unimformed hogwash to me. Care to discuss OHMS LAW in a in the given curcuit? How *ARE* the headlights wired in a car to *balance* them anyway?

Jack

 

ROFLMAO!! Only an idiot would say something like that.
Please tell me how my car's electrical system will balance out two light bulbs on two completely seperate circuits, both going straight to the battery. 12V is 12V..
No wonder I never leave the 3rd gen board and main forums.. there's enough BS on them..

 

Sorry BriGuyMan,

First, this is my opinions. Second, I am not sure his purpose of putting two bulbs, but I do appreciate that because we can compare. Third, maybe my EE knowledge has been fading after three years in IT, but I don't recall any electrical circuit balance requirements. You can have one component burning at 30W and another at 40W.



[QUOTE]Originally posted by BriGuyMax
[I]First of all, don't tell me that I'm wrong, because it is all a matter of opinion. Second, only idiots would actually put two different bulbs in each headlight in their car. Do you know how bad that it for the electrical balance....not even close to a way to compare bulbs. It makes them look almost the same...no matter what....because the electrical system is keeping them balanced.

 

OK guys....jeez I admit I was wrong about the lights....whatever, just drop it already, I don't need 50 different people telling me the EXACT same thing. Anyway, I've made up my mind...I'm replacing my PIAAs (When one burns out) with Showoff Krypton 100W/80W, for about 30 bucks for the pair.....they look almost EXACTLY like HID lamps...pretty amazing I must say. Plus brighter than anything else I've seen. Now 30 bucks is a deal for something that looks and PROJECTS the same color light as a true HID.

 

Dont' come crying to us when you burn out both your light sockets and your headlights don't work. (Hint: 80/100 watt bulbs will burn up your headlight sockets. maybe not in the first few months, but they will. it took mine 6 months before they went bad.)

and btw.. how do you get that "true HID visibility" without using a true HID system?

 

nm