I just ordered a replacement headlight that was badly chipped by a rock. The place I got it from (http://www.autopartsplanet.bizland.com/) had it for $73.25 at my door! Nissan quoted me $190 (not including tax and installation). So if anyone ever need a headlight, thats the place to get it from...I saved over $100. They have lots of O.E.M. style lights (corners, signals, taillights, headlights) for all cars really cheap, so if you want to do a front end conversion, thats the place to get them from.
ANYWAYS, when I get the light replaced, I want to change the bulbs. I want to know what the most powerful bulbs I can get put in without getting a harness put in as well are. I don't care if they are super-white, white-blue, or whatever, but they have to be very bright. I know the PIAAs are bright, but what else? I really don't care about that blue-Xenon tint, as long as the bulbs are bright. But I wouldn't want yellow bulbs all over again . Any other good types? If you could just post whatever bulbs you think are best and where I could get them, that would be great.
Thanks,
Cyrus

 

PIAA Superwhites

 

This is probly a dumb question but the PIAA superwhites have both a high and a low beam right????

 

Yeah, the low power ones have high beams. But where should I get them from and how much do they cost?
thanks,
Cyrus

 

Phillips Blue Visions are "technically" better beam-pattern wise, just as bright, just as white, and are also $20 plus tax at your local K-mart ($10 per bulb).

With the Blue Visions available, PIAAs aren't worth the $$$ as they offer no advantages.....

9004 headlights are all the same....they have a low and high beam by nature of their design.

 

Thanks for the info Bill99GXE, I might go with those if they are really as good and that cheap - I'll go check them out. You've got a good point - if I'm not going to upgrade to higher wattages and harnesses, are the PIAAs going to actually be any brighter than the K-Marts ones? Also, Does anyone know what wattage I need? Its 45/65 right?
thanks

 

Phillips makes the bulb, it's just sold at K-Mart. Compared to stock, the Phillips bulb offers the best beam pattern and brightness (white, not blue). It's an excellent stock replacement for $20 plus sales tax.....

All 9004 "standard" wattage bulbs are 45/65W. Phillips doesn't make a higher wattage version. Anything you see at K-Mart is not going to be a higher wattage.......

 

So are the Blue Visions still white (or like the BMW/lux cars)? Thanks.

 

My bolbs are bluish, but an illigal version. PIAA don't make 9004 in Plasma White(more bluish), and the Super Whites cost $100 a set. Mine cost $50 and look great. Not too bright.

 

Piaas arent brighter , they reflect all the white stuff and reflective surfaces better...... thats all....

if someone would just start making a projector kit that converted from 9004 to anything else ....

9004 HID's Suck for the Cost .....

 

Try Sylvania ExtraVision. I have them and they are great.

 

One would come from guys who want to improve their lighting situation. The other would come from those who want to make their cars look good to others.

My recommendations:
Philips BlueVisions (white light), WeatherVisions (yellow light)

Sylvania CoolBlues (white light), XtraVision (standard clear)

Steer clear of any bulb that claims 85 Watts of light from only 45 Watts or that has the word "Xenon" in the bulb name and you'll be fine.

 

i have 3A Racing Hyperwhite driving lamps installed in my lower grill, would they be the same as Superwhite and bluevision ??

 

I have the Piaa superwhites 9004. They aren't worth the normal price of $55-65. They are whiter than stock, but that's it. Save your cash.

The Piaa Xtreme fog lights are a different story, they are bright and whiter than stock. They are whiter than the 9004 superwhite headlights too. These are worth the money.

 

I just ordered my bulbs. Naxos Xenon Blues in 100/80 watt. The guy told me that if I wanted looks to go for the Nokya and if I wanted bright light to go for the Naxos so I bought them. Pretty cheap too - $28 at my door. He said that if they burned my socket he would buy me new sockets, bulbs, AND harnesses. Now that's a good guarentee!

 

where did you order them from ?? are you sure that 100/80 watt bulbs are good for the max ?

 

Did you research Naxos bulbs?

Search results for "naxos":

http://forums.maxima.org/search.php?...der=descending

You may want to particularly look at this thread:

http://forums.maxima.org/showthread....xos#post356667

I hope you got that "guarantee" in writing and that "the guy" has deep pockets......


Research is valuable, try doing it in the future.

 

I've found out that no matter how bright the bulb can get. The reflective pattern is always the same. Not any farther than stock 9004's. Remember the light bounces off the reflective headlight assembly. You run the risk of melting something with extremely bright bulbs.

 

What do you think of the Vision Laser Whites? I was told that they are illigal buy more bluish then PIAA Super Whites.

 

The 80/100 watt fake HIDs will melt your plastic harness. Whether it takes 2 months or 2 years, it should soon happen. Too bad the Maxima doesnt employ the use of H4 assemblies, the PIAA Super Plasmas and Plasma Blue bulbs look quite nice.

Otherwise, I seem to be able to see fine with my stock fogs/headlights on. I had the fog lights rewired so that they remain on with the high beams. That helped a lot. I pulled my fake Nokya bulbs because they began to melt the harness. Sure I miss the unique look, but I would rather have functioning bulbs at night rather than having it blow by chance on a dark road.

 

In this case. If you buy any of those riceboy blue crystal xenon ion this HID lookalike that bulbs you're going to either make your usable light amount decrease or melt a connector.

 

Two points:

(1) You have a 96 Maxima and replaced the headlight with the 96 light. If you haven't installed it yet, send it back and get two 97-99 headlamps at $109/each. The 95-96 lamp was upgraded by the factory to correct the car's poor lumination. The 97-99 headlamp really lets light out and improves the pattern considerably. Looks a lot nicer on the car too. When combined with a better bulb, a noticeable difference will result. Do a search using "headlights AND 1997". Check out the photo of the 95 blue max with 97-99 lights.

(2) You're gonna burn out the stock harness with a 100 watt bulb. Verbal guarantees carry no weight from a vendor. You're gonna need one at some point if you install these. Do a search and see what people have learned the hard way. Salespeople are salespeople. Check out www.suvlight.com and talk to Jen (A guy who is really knowledgable). Send the 100/80 watt bulbs back and go with the Xtravisions if you don't want to mess with a wiring harness.

 

Two points:

(1) You have a 96 Maxima and replaced the headlight with the 96 light. If you haven't installed it yet, send it back and get two 97-99 headlamps at $109/each. The 95-96 lamp was upgraded by the factory to correct the car's poor lumination. The 97-99 headlamp really lets light out and improves the pattern considerably. Looks a lot nicer on the car too. When combined witgh a better bulb, a noticeable difference will result. Do a search using "headlights AND 1997". Check out the photo of the 95 blue max with 97-99 lights.

(2) You're gonna burn out the stock harness with a 100 watt bulb. Verbal guarantees carry no weight from a vendor. You're gonna need one at some point. Do a search and see what people have learned the hard way. Salespeople are salespeople. Check out www.suvlight.com and talk to Jen (A guy who is really knowledgable). Send the 100/80 watts back and go with the bluevisions.

 

Two points:

(1) You have a 96 Maxima and replaced the headlight with the 96 light. If you haven't installed it yet, send it back and get two 97-99 headlamps at $109/each. The 95-96 lamp was upgraded by the factory to correct the car's poor lumination. The 97-99 headlamp really lets light out and improves the pattern considerably. Looks a lot nicer on the car too. When combined witgh a better bulb, a noticeable difference will result. Do a search using "headlights AND 1997". Check out the photo of the 95 blue max with 97-99 lights.

(2) You're gonna burn out the stock harness with a 100 watt bulb. Verbal guarantees carry no weight from a vendor. You're gonna need one at some point. Do a search and see what people have learned the hard way. Salespeople are salespeople. Check out www.suvlight.com and talk to Jen (A guy who is really knowledgable). Send the 100/80 watts back and go with the bluevisions.

 

How about if I ground the light individually? Currently there is only one ground for both the lights... And where can I get the harnesses from cheap?

 

How do they work, and where did u snag them from? If anyone has the Phillips please post how u like them. ThX

 

I haven't installed them yet, but I hear many good and bad things about them. I was told the following by their representative: "THESE LIGHTS ARE 100% Safe. They do not burn anything out, thats just a myth. I use them, along with all my family and friends; they are a must have...". True they will probably do anything to sell them, but like I said they gave me a good gaurentee that they won't burn out. The place is www.autodirectsave.com . They are $27.99 at your door and they have good eMail reponse so you can ask them questions and get them back the next day. The also sell body kits and spoilers, but not too many for the
Maxima. Just trying to help.

 

I had the Phillips in my Diamante. They didnt look much different from stock, nor did I notice any level of performance higher than stock. The glass had a very light blue tint to them. Others would probably disagree, as I have read many posters highly regarding these bulbs.

 

Hold on a second there. The 97-99 Headlights only look better, and they do look way cool. They don't function better. The reflector design of the 9004 housing for any year just plain sucks. To fix a problem, go after the source. It's not the bulb, it's the reflectors/housing. Getting a brighter bulb helps, but it is not the major fix.

That being said, when comparing 95-96 lights to 97-99s, the 95-96es are better. Why?? Because they are made of glass. They can stand up to higher wattage better than the 97-99s plastic everything. Also, the beam on a 95-96 headlight is focused from the glass, whereas on the 97-99s it is focused from the internal reflector. The glass system is better. Nissan (as well as most every other auto maker) switched to the 97-99 styles to save money.

Premium automakers like Mercedes Benz also use plastic headlights, but the beam is still focused from the "glass" so to speak, not the reflector.

If you want to look cool, get the 97-99 lights. If you ultimately want better function, the 95-96 is better.

About the only thing better about the 97-99 reflector design is the abrupt cut-off of the beam, so you don't blind on-coming traffic. You can also aim your lights up a little without causing major headaches for your fellow drivers.

At one point I was about ready to put 95-96 lights on my car but eventually just re-aimed my lights. The factory aiming was way off. It was good if I wanted to see stuff 5 feet in front of me very clearly

DW

 

What do you guys think about the Xenon bulbs as long as they are stock 45/65Watt and not 80/100? Will those be o.k. for wiring harness?

 

I respectfully disagree. Having had both 95 and 97 headlamps in my car, the 97 lamps are superior. There is universal agreement that they look better, but they perform better as well. I noticed improved lighting when I converted my lights. I question your conclusion that Nissan made the change simply to save money. According to Car and Driver Magazine (1997 New Car Issue - September 1996) Nissan made this modification to "improve" the vehicle's lighting. Second, I think your apprehension that higher wattage bulbs will melt the headlamp housing is misplaced. I have not seen any posts on this website, or any others for that matter, where this concern has been reported. The plastic, although it may appear to the untrained eye to be flimsier than glass, is "aerocomposite plastic" -- developed by commercial airlplane manufacturers for use in jet airplane windshields. It is more resistant to breakage. All Japanese car maufacturers, as are most domestic manufacturers, are using this material. Source: 1999 Honda Vehicle Product Information Guide. Not only is it lighter in weight, but the housing will not break or chip from stones or other debris on the road that a driver might encounter. It is by no means a less durable material. I invite you to pound on one of your headlamps with a closed fist to discover its strength and resiliency to breakage. Lastly, I question whether they were less expensive for Nissan as 97-99 headlamps sell for more than 95-96 lights ($110-125 vs. $75-85 aftermarket parts pricing)

We, however, do agree that the 9004 bulb's design is considered by automotive lighting professionals to be a poor design. Unfortunately, 4th generation Maxima drivers are stuck using this bulb. We also agree that proper aiming may also improve the lighting.

 

I have heard stuff on the Phillips Blue Visions..what about these Phillips Weather Visions...Have any of you heard of them? What's the difference between the two?

 

Phillips Blue Visions are a bright white light with a bluish tint. They are the commonly seen Xenon imitiations, without the higher wattage. Phillips Weather Visions are a normal yellowish-halogen, which is proven to be a very effective tint in many weather conditions. The Weather Visions are very similar to the Maxima's stock lights, however the Blue Visions are quite different. Neither will be considerably brighter, but the Blue Visions are more ideal for show, and the Weather Visions for rainy, harsh climates (supposedly). Just trying to help.

 

OK. I guess you had a better experience. I wonder, when you changed from 95 lights to 97, did you keep the same bulbs, or did you upgrade the bulb as well?? I hate the abrupt cut-off of my lights, and the hotspots. They could use a much better spread. and I still think the 95 lights are better . . .more so because the beam is focused from the lense, not the reflector.

I have. Some people upgraded to hi wattage bulbs and reported that their reflectors melted . . . .in 97 lights. I have never heard of any problem like that from 95-96 lights. So, the plastic lense may be hard enough, but the reflector apparently isn't. also, even though the parts price may be lower, thats probably more due to old obsolete inventory verses new inventory. If you were to manufacture a brand new 96 light and a brand new 99 light, which would cost more to make?? That's where the manufacturers saved money.




I concede that your've backed up your assesrtions with references, but in this day and age, you can find info to backup any assertion, whether it is wrong or right. My observations are just hearsay,threads picked up here and there, etc. But I'm pretty good at weeding out the good info. The internet has made it easy to publish alot of fluff talk, but if you read regularly, you can pick out good info and forget the suspect stuff.

DW

 

I have to take issue here on Blue Visions. THEY ARE NOT even remotely close to stock Max lights. They are much brighter and clearer. They are not blue at all......

If you're going to claim that, then PIAAs are no better than stock either.

PIAA brightness = Blue Vision brightness = $40 difference; you decide

 

i am not experts on lighting, i just compared the piaas and the phillips and couldn't really tell a $40 difference...so i am sticking with the phillips blues

 

The Phillips blues it is. Where can you get them? Do Kmart and walmart really carry them or do u have to go somewhere special and hold ure ankles on the price??

 

All K-Marts have the 9004 series Blue Visions for $10 each......

If you want H-series headlights (H4 lights are std. on Y2k Maximas, and all Maxima foglights are H3), then you have to order online through autooptiks.com.......

 

Had you read my quote fully, you would have seen that I said the Weather Visions are the ones closely remsembling the stock halogens. The Blue Visions are commonly seen Xenon imitations, which are brighter and clearer that stock. And if the PIAAs are in the normal wattage, you are correct there is minimal difference between them and the Blue Visions. However PIAAs are available in wattages as high as 120/110, which are a considerable difference brighter than the 65/45. That's all I am saying - I am not saying the Blue Visions are bad, and I definitely did not say they were like stock. Maybe you should re-read above = no hard feelings. Just trying to help.

 

You could also try your local auto parts store. I bought mine at AutoZone.