Ok...I just got done installing my new 9004 Philips BlueVision bulbs that I got from K-Mart for $26 (pair) about 45 minutes ago. It's still light out, so I haven't had a chance to drive the car in the dark and see if there's any difference that way. I've only been able to look at the way the light looks from the outside. My initial impressions of the bulbs are as follows (unfortunately -- no digicam):

While the light is certainly whiter than stock, it's only just noticeable, unfortunately. With no point of reference, I think I would say the bulbs were stock. They do look nice (not like those terrible ricer-blue bulbs) even though they aren't very white, and I think they would be great for someone mostly looking to improve visibility and not looks.

However, I think I'm going to need something whiter with perhaps only the very slightest hint of blue. While visibility is certainly very important to me, I would also like to improve the looks of the car with a perfectly white light with just a tiny bit of blue. Any suggestions in that regard would be appreciated. (By the way, I saw some APC headlight bulbs on Max4Speed's car -- REALLY nice light setup, by the way -- and I liked those a lot. Anyone know where to get the appropriate kind?)

I'll post back in a few hours with more after the sun sets and I get a better feel for how the lights look and the improvement in visibility.

 

I was talking to my cousin the other day and I believe he picked up 9004 APC bulbs at the local GI Joe's (Issaquah WA).

 

I found that the Blue Vision did not give good light output on the road so I took them back. Now I have Eurolites in my I30. Stock wattage, not blue , and very white. Much better than stock and better than the BV.

 

i have them, that are not so good, they give off too mcuh blue therefor you cant see

 

I drove around with one BV bulb and one stock for a while. The BV is definetely whiter, and produces better more focused light. I was able to tell that from the road infront of me, and the backs of other vehicles. If you look at them both from up top up close, you will see how much better BV is.

 

Good to know. I'll ask my cousin how he likes em (if he's even had time to install them yet).

 

They get yellower as time go on, the blue tint that came with the bulb completely melted off, now it looks kinda yellowish after ~8months. They last pretty long

 

If you can wait a little I'll give you better advice.

I just ordered three different pairs of bulbs from JC whitney. They're all higher wattage bulbs, and I'm going to do a review of these three sets of bulbs, my Piaa superwhites, Philips BV, and the stock lights. I should get the bulbs by Wednesday at the latest.

 

Excellent -- sounds great. I'm looking forward to the info.

Ok, here's what I think of the BlueVisions after driving: they are definitely whiter than stock, and you can see that on the road and on the cars around you. The difference in color is also apparent when looking at the lights on the car at night.

Visibility with these new bulbs has DEFINITELY increased noticeably. The light is brighter, more focused, and further down the road -- plus it's whiter, too, so I can see better. The high beams are also much improved with the same sort of increases in visibility.

Overall, I would say these bulbs are definitely worth the $26 spent on them, and if you're primarily looking for improvement in visibility and looks second, pick up a set. I'm going to keep mine in for the time being because I'm poor and don't want to spend any more money on bulbs and because I'm pretty satisfied with output of the BV's even though I'm not totally satisfied with the looks.

 

the next time we hang out tell me what you think if my bulbs, around the same price but its got the looks your looking for.

 

Shingles already did a comparison: http://forums.maxima.org/showthread.php?threadid=12641

But, by all means, do another one. We always welcome more proof that $60 bulbs does not equal more lighting than $26 bulbs.

 

Cool, man. Sounds good to me!