4th Generation Maxima (1995-1999) Visit the 4th Generation forum to ask specific questions or find out more about the 4th Generation Maxima.

Sylvania SilverStar VS PIAA XTREME WHITE

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Apr 4, 2005 | 11:58 PM
  #1  
Reaction021's Avatar
Thread Starter
Senior Member
 
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 130
Sylvania SilverStar VS PIAA XTREME WHITE

which one u guys think is better or whiter ?
Old Apr 5, 2005 | 12:37 AM
  #2  
ilyaat's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 780
piaa!!!!!!!!
Old Apr 5, 2005 | 12:44 AM
  #3  
Maximathug's Avatar
Supporting Maxima.org Member
iTrader: (5)
 
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 120
PIAA's are nice but at $60 and up for bulbs you cant go wrong with the silverstars, not to mention u can always replace them at most automotive stores. Everyone doesn't carry PIAA and for the price you just can't get a brighter bulb that won't fry our sensitive harnesses. Good Luck!
Old Apr 5, 2005 | 01:46 AM
  #4  
Reaction021's Avatar
Thread Starter
Senior Member
 
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 130
thanks for the reply PIAA is kinda expensive for $60+ for a pair compare to Sylvania SilverStar $26 Shipped a pair from Ebay i think i'm going to go with the SilverStar since the output of both r about the same
Old Apr 5, 2005 | 02:39 AM
  #5  
97PKIMVQ's Avatar
Senior Member
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 581
From: SoCal
my Sylvania Silverstars blew out recently. After that my left corner blew out and right after that the right side blew out.

other than that Sylvania's look GREAT. They are as white as PIAA's too me.
Old Apr 5, 2005 | 04:39 AM
  #6  
passEMonTHErite's Avatar
Donating Maxima.org Member
 
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 193
I used Silverstars for the last 4-5 years.
They only last about 4 months consistantly.
I have switched back to regular $5 headlights. Sick of replacing them constantly.
Old Apr 5, 2005 | 05:21 AM
  #7  
Doc's Avatar
Doc
Supporting Maxima.org Member
 
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 1,005
I use PIAA's. I had SS's but I could not see any light on the road in any sort of wet weather. PIAA's, however, do show the road. Don't know why, don't care, but PIAA's are worth the extra money and they don't have issues like SS's as far as burning out. SS's have a tendency to burn out very quickly. Spend the extra. Dry roads, they are about the same.
Old Apr 5, 2005 | 05:41 AM
  #8  
PRPmax's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 1,342
What is the life expectance of PIAA's and Silverstar's?
Old Apr 5, 2005 | 06:01 AM
  #9  
Doc's Avatar
Doc
Supporting Maxima.org Member
 
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 1,005
Originally Posted by PRPmax
What is the life expectance of PIAA's and Silverstar's?

Wish I could tell you. I don't know.
Old Apr 5, 2005 | 06:17 AM
  #10  
passEMonTHErite's Avatar
Donating Maxima.org Member
 
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 193
Originally Posted by PRPmax
What is the life expectance of PIAA's and Silverstar's?
Like I said above, do not expect anything more than 6 months with Silverstars. Normally less. PIAA's actually last a lot longer.
Old Apr 5, 2005 | 06:20 AM
  #11  
GraveDigger611's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 112
Go for the PIAA's
Old Apr 5, 2005 | 07:23 AM
  #12  
Batxel's Avatar
blah
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 1,615
From: Philadelphia, PA
Sylvania says that the silverstars are rated for 150 hours and according to them they should last up to a year for the average headlight user. Of course most people who go for "high" performance lighting use their lights more often. According to their rating I'd be changing my bulbs more than twice a year.

Nothing beats stock/oem.
Old Apr 5, 2005 | 07:28 AM
  #13  
Doc's Avatar
Doc
Supporting Maxima.org Member
 
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 1,005
Some things beat stock/OEM.
Old Apr 5, 2005 | 09:42 AM
  #14  
BLaKtOut's Avatar
Member
 
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 97
as most people will tell u silverstars burn out fast and u will end up spending more on them then for the actuall piaas do things righ the first time and it always helps out go for piaas
Old Apr 5, 2005 | 10:05 AM
  #15  
maximaSE327's Avatar
Senior Member
iTrader: (8)
 
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 667
From: Quincy, MA
on the PIAAs ... ive had mine since last may, so almost a yr and theyre just as bright as the day i bought them... def makes a diff over OEM too... i bought the headligths and the fogs and both r awesome... lil more expensive but will last much longer... theyre worth the extra few bucks... to me spendin an extra $40 is no big deal, esp when u wont have to worry about them again for a while

also, my first set i had were in a front end collision where the whole headlights assembly was smashed and that was left was peices of plastic shards... but the bulb still worked... just shows their durability... PIAAs
Old Apr 5, 2005 | 10:12 AM
  #16  
MAXRB8's Avatar
Senior Member
iTrader: (19)
 
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 1,986
What about Nokya's how long do they last?
Old Apr 5, 2005 | 10:19 AM
  #17  
Dan's Avatar
Dan
No Longer Owns a Maxima
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 780
From: San Diego
The problem with these bulbs is that they have a blue "coating" which actually reduces light output. It makes the light whiter, but not actually brighter. My vote goes for XtraVisions along with the 9007 mod and upgraded harness. Besides, for $10 you can't lose!
Old Apr 5, 2005 | 10:20 AM
  #18  
Y2KSESteve's Avatar
Supporting Maxima.org Member
iTrader: (22)
 
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 5,308
PIAA > Silverstar

Only 1 Silverstar in this picture..
Old Apr 5, 2005 | 10:24 AM
  #19  
jblinga's Avatar
Supporting Maxima.org Member
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 358
From: Suck Luck City
Go w/PIAAs. I'm running super plasmas in both headlights & fogs. I only spent $50 on my headlights bulbs off ebay. I've had mine for about a year now.
Old Apr 5, 2005 | 12:50 PM
  #20  
lilaclucymaxima's Avatar
Team Ramrod
iTrader: (16)
 
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 2,817
piaa... the silverstars dont last as long
Old Apr 5, 2005 | 01:15 PM
  #21  
paultyler_82's Avatar
Senior Member
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 276
I got tired of the Silverstars having to be replaced constantly, got the Xtravisions, much better in the rain and I can see farther down the road in dry conditions... When I went to get these though, Advance Auto had some I hadn't heard of, anyone tried GE Nighthawks?
Old Apr 5, 2005 | 01:29 PM
  #22  
PRPmax's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 1,342
Originally Posted by Y2KSESteve
PIAA > Silverstar

Only 1 Silverstar in this picture..

The driver side headlight?
Old Apr 5, 2005 | 01:31 PM
  #23  
Y2KSESteve's Avatar
Supporting Maxima.org Member
iTrader: (22)
 
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 5,308
Originally Posted by PRPmax
The driver side headlight?
That's the one.
Old Apr 5, 2005 | 02:17 PM
  #24  
BK1's Avatar
BK1
Hello
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 679
From: NYC
It all depends whether you touched the bulb itself with your fingers.
Old Apr 5, 2005 | 02:43 PM
  #25  
Vaudeville Villain's Avatar
Supporting Maxima.org Member
 
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 639
From: Cincinnati, Ohio
Another week, another Silverstar thread.....
Old Apr 5, 2005 | 02:44 PM
  #26  
Jar's Avatar
Jar
Donating Maxima.org Member
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 329
I think i'm about to go piaa, the headlights have been pretty good but sometimes in weather its hard to see, the fogs however in the stock housing SUCK!!! i'm gettting tired of having to throw twetnys at my fogs every time i hit a good bump on the road.
Old Apr 5, 2005 | 02:50 PM
  #27  
ewuzh's Avatar
Supporting Maxima.org Member
iTrader: (20)
 
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 3,055
From: SoCal
I have used both. My PIAA's just died on me, so I replaced them with Silverstars over the weekend. They are very similar and the difference probably isn't even noticible to the average joe. The PIAA's are slightly whiter in color and MAYBE slightly brighter, if anything.
Old Apr 5, 2005 | 03:17 PM
  #28  
4GenMaxMan's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 108
Originally Posted by SolidSnake
Another week, another Silverstar thread.....
Once again I say silverstars suck suck suck.... +1 for xtravisions
Old Apr 5, 2005 | 03:21 PM
  #29  
Doc's Avatar
Doc
Supporting Maxima.org Member
 
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 1,005
I've got PIAA's in both my heads and fogs, and both have been great. Although both are packaged as Xtreme White, my fogs are whiter and brighter than my heads. I'm not saying the headlights aren't white, but the fogs actually look as close to HID as I've ever seen from a non HID light. They cast that little tint of blue, but look absolutely white from the front with just a hint of blue. Haven't had any issues with either for the two years they've been in...crossed fingers. But, I've used PIAA bulbs for many years in all my vehicles. They cost but kick ***.
Old Apr 5, 2005 | 04:47 PM
  #30  
99SEL4ME's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 1,148
My silverstars lasted 2 years before they blew one week apart from eachother. I like em. I refuse to pay $100 for frickin headlight bulbs.
Old Apr 5, 2005 | 04:54 PM
  #31  
Stealth Max's Avatar
Supporting Maxima.org Member
 
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 2,677
From: In middle of all the actions in Boston!
PIAA all the way! I used them in my head light/fogs and it lasted for over a year without any problems. I did a side by side test with all brands and the PIAA comes out whiter. The money is a little more but it should last longer. Just remember not to scratch or touch the bulb when installing.
Old Apr 5, 2005 | 07:01 PM
  #32  
G4nismo's Avatar
Senior Member
iTrader: (9)
 
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 3,683
From: Columbia, SC
yeh piaa but there pretty pricey. i would check ebay.
i have the extreme whites for the fogs but the pic don't do the justice
Old Apr 5, 2005 | 09:37 PM
  #33  
VIP Maxima
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
pic of my silverstars:

Old Apr 5, 2005 | 10:26 PM
  #34  
I30_DRIVER's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 321
put up more money and get H.I.D but id go with piaa
Old Apr 5, 2005 | 10:50 PM
  #35  
eckohb's Avatar
Senior Member
iTrader: (4)
 
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 2,468
yeah, if you dont go HID, go with the Xtreme Whites. Dont go super white, or star white or whatever it is, Xtreme whites will out perform the silverstars anyday. they are actually bright white, AND light up the road.
Old Apr 6, 2005 | 08:01 AM
  #36  
Toolrocks's Avatar
Senior Member
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 2,464
I love my SS, they have lasted over a year now. I also liked the 9007 re-wire but could never aim my lights effectively so I've gone back to 9004 SS. I've had PIAA ion-crystals in my fogs for a couple of years now but am DONE with them - they blow out all the time and are too damn expensive but work nicely - I love a yellow fog light. Now, i'm gonna try to get some fog bulbs that match the SS. My .02
Old Apr 13, 2005 | 06:34 PM
  #37  
michaelnyden's Avatar
Supporting Maxima.org Member
iTrader: (15)
 
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 3,431
From: Los Angeles, CA
good luck matching SS's with cornering lights...they are impossible I hear...I know, I haven't yet...but then again I have polarg 1157 hyper whites from CM...and they are bluer or whiter I should say then the SS 9004 headlights...what I need is piaa xtreme whites 9007 with the harness upgrade (heard they are slightly whiter at 4100K over the SS 4000K)....but what Kelvin are the polarg 1157 hyper white cornering bulbs?...I know they also sell polarg hyper white 1156 which is lower voltage and would be on the higher filament all the time (without the re-wire or cutting the nub trick) which might look whiter and would match the silverstars...due the slightly lower voltage (ie. 21w instead of 28w) they also have something called super white 1156 and 1157's which might dial the blue back a little and look more like silverstars and such...
Old Apr 13, 2005 | 06:47 PM
  #38  
mansurxk's Avatar
Supporting Maxima.org Member
iTrader: (14)
 
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 1,712
From: New Jersey
nokya stage II's, $20, decent output for a blue coated bulb. light color has a tinge of blue
Old Apr 13, 2005 | 08:07 PM
  #39  
Doc's Avatar
Doc
Supporting Maxima.org Member
 
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 1,005
PIAA...I've had both and kept the PIAA's.
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
REDinLV
7th Generation Maxima (2009-2015)
5
Aug 15, 2024 12:30 AM
Fbana41
Maximas for Sale / Wanted
3
Aug 29, 2016 12:18 PM
BobTX10
8th Generation Maxima (2016-)
14
Oct 7, 2015 08:43 AM
MaxDD
4th Generation Maxima (1995-1999)
4
Sep 24, 2015 06:40 AM
doctorpullit
8th Generation Maxima (2016-)
11
Sep 10, 2015 06:33 PM




All times are GMT -7. The time now is 04:19 PM.