philpoe

iTrader: (4)

I've searched through the posts, and I've seen the following repeatedly mentioned:
Narva Rangepower
Phillips Blue Vision
PIAA Plasma Super White

Any comments from users of these three, or where to get them for the best price?

Are these lights DOT certified (I live in PA, one of those stickler states)?

any help appreciated

Nine7Max

i'd look into the blue visions or the PIAA's. The Blue Visions are alot cheaper and are extremely similar to PIAA's. Both DOT Approved. BV's can be purchased at your local kmart for $9 each.

clee130

I use Philip BlueVision myself. Before that, some imitation ricer HID-fakes. And before that, stock.

The Philips BV are a much better improvement.

I say go with those... besides, why would you pay $70 for some lights?

And there are no such things as "DOT certified".

Found out about that in here: http://lighting.mbz.org/tech/info/

bill99gxe

iTrader: (1)

I applaud your use of the search feature.

A light I don't see mentioned in your list is Sylvania Cool Blues, which are available at Pep Boys for about $15/each. They are comparable to PIAAs and Phillips Blue Visions from what I've gathered.

As far as personal experience, I have PIAAs on my 99 Maxima and Phillips Blue Visions on my 94 Maxima. There is no discernable difference between brightness and clarity between these bulbs. Both perform well and are good replacements.

The PIAAs cost me $72 after shipping, while the Blue Visions cost me $28 after tax at K-mart. However much money you want to spend for the same performance is up to you.....

Empz

I've tried Over 10 brands of lights ... PIAA Platinum SuperWhite, Philips Blue Vision and Cool Blues are NOT the same!

YES they are Very Similar ... but PIAA's are the Most WHITE!

When I compare lights (one in each side) ... I look at them at various angles and distances THEN I goto certain PLAZA's (I goto about 5) that have SPOTs in front of "certain" stores that I use!

I look at the Refection of the Lights in the GLASS (all 5 have different TINTS)

YES I am aware of ANGLE I'm parked in ... but I do it a few times to make sure I'm parked MOST parallel!!! I also SWAP the lights so I get a view of BOTH in the same SIDE!!!!

philpoe

iTrader: (4)

OK, it was compliant, not certified
In any case, PA is such a stickler state, so I think that I'll be looking for some Blue Visions at the local Pep Boys tomorrow...

thanks for the info!
[Edited by philpoe on 02-06-2001 at 08:48 PM]

bill99gxe

iTrader: (1)

To further clarify my comments, I am saying this from a light performance standpoint. Sure, every maker has their own slight tint to their lights, but it's the performance I am interested in, not a color variation. This post originally struck me as perforance oriented, not "What color looks the whitest/blueist/etc" post.....

Shingles

DOT, Department of Transportation, does not "Certify" anything. They set standards that manufacturers have to follow for the item, in this case, light bulbs, to be considered legal for use in the US of A.

As for the comments about they are not the same. Again my question is "do you want to see or be seen"? There is a huge difference in those two. If you want to see, buy some Blue Visions over the PIAAs. I've had PIAAs for the longest time and after switching over to BV I can honestly say they are better. Even my passanger, ie my girlfriend, can notice the actual different in *useable* light output of the BV as compared to PIAAs. But PIAA and BV are DOT compliant, thus legal for use in most states. There something about how some local/state laws can override DOTs regulations....

Let me submit the following pictures for you to compare:

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

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

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

It's hard to capture the differences in the picture. The fact is that BV is as good as if not better than the PIAAs. So if spending the extra $30-$45 is worth it to you for the name, then go for it.

-Shing

philpoe

iTrader: (4)

Pep Boys was local, the Cool Blues were cheap enough, so I did it. Maybe it's me, but they weren't noticeably brighter than what was in there (I'm not the 1st owner, so I don't know that they're stock, they weren't a "name" brand).
I put the pair of Cool Blues in and pulled the remaining bulb as a spare.