brighter headlights?

[LUCKY GENE]

I have a 2003 A, would like to install brighter headlights. It was suggested to use Silver Star headlamps. Is this a good upgrade?
thanks
drive safe
:help:

[bawazir]

HID'S CHECK THIS OUT:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HeJ25pRJCv8

[DOOM]

Yes! :2thumbs:

[Egon Spengler]

I have the silver stars... I think of myself still being a kid at 27 and I had the HID's in my car and they only lasted about a month before I took them out and sold them to someone else. HID's are bright, but in my opinion TOO BRIGHT. The silver stars are all you need... You can always use the high beams as needed... with the HID's I didn't need the high beams at all and I am sure that pissed off oncoming traffic, and yes, my headlights were adjusted with the HID's

[jeffrt]

I just installed some Silver Star Ultra's, and I'm happy with them. Brighter than stock for sure.

[SC Cheesehead]

I got a set of Silver Stars from 03mmmonroe when he installed his HIDs. The Silver Stars aren't as bright as the HIDs, but they're definitely better than OEMs, IMO, they're a worthwhile upgrade.

[juno]

Silverstars are definitely worth it. I notice I get the 'flash' from oncoming drivers with just my low beams on now.
My FSVT came with HIDS and they are a much whiter light, but the SS's are noticeably better then stock.

[prchrman]

Tried some Nokya Artic whites in my Sport trac, they do great, and $20.
http://www.nokyausa.com/headlights.html

[Egon Spengler]

Last time I used high output headlights like those in my ranger, they fried the socket twice! I tried some, fixed the socket once and used a different pair and friend them again... I am affraid to use those types of bulbs

Tried some Nokya Artic whites in my Sport trac, they do great, and $20.
http://www.nokyausa.com/headlights.html

[2,4shofast]

I had the silverstars installed in my Marauder before I put in the HID's, they are a very good upgrade and I would recommend them.

[GetMeMyStogie]

Silver stars are better than stock, but there are other bulbs that are far superior in output and beam pattern. The Phillips X-treme Power is one of the best 9007 bulbs available right now.
I used Sylvania XtraVision for a while, a +30% bulb, and it was a bit better than stock. I switched to the Phillips XP this winter, and I'm still amazed by how much farther I can see (on low beam, mind you) and by the sharpness of the cutoff they produce. The XP is a +80% bulb (meaning 80% brighter than stock. The tradeoff with any +30, +50, +80 or +90 bulb is shorter lifespan.

In general, for maximum lumen output, you want a bulb with an uncoated capsule. The blue coating you see on many bulbs claiming "whiter" light filters out some of the light that would otherwise make it onto the road in front of you.

[fastblackmerc]

IMHO.... the Silverstars are OK. The way to go is with HIDs.

http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u133/fastblackmerc/MM%20Mods/Headlights/DSCN0272.jpg

[Motorhead350]

I wish I could get HIDs, but it wouldn't be as easy to hide if you stand out like that. ;)

[DJCV]

OEM Panther headlights suck. Either go with HIDs or, almost as good, go with headlight relays. The relays regain the drop in power which you lose in the stock design going all the way from the headlight switch to the lamp socket. The relay acts as a remote switch, while full power to the lamp socket is drawn directly from your battery. Voila: even with stock bulbs, your beam pattern is at almost twice as bright as OEM.

[RF Overlord]

OEM Panther headlights suck. Agreed. The lights on my work van, an '01 GMC Safari (The Tonka Toy), are WAY better than the Marauder...it's sad.

I have regular SilverStars in The Blackbird but put the Ultras in Phoebe...when the Ultras go, I'll put regular SilverStars back in. Ultras are NOT worth the extra money.

[GetMeMyStogie]

Silverstars are rated at +30%, but they have a useless bluish coating (and cost about $50 a pair here in Toronto). The Silverstar ultras are +50% and go for about $56 a pair.
By contrast, the Sylvania XtraVision (I misprinted earlier - this is the one I used earlier) is a +30% bulb without the bluish coating, and costs $16 less per pair than the Silverstars, while the GE Nighthawk Platinum is a +90% bulb for $4 more than the SS Ultras. The GE NHP has a mostly colourless capsule, but it does have a thin blue band near the tip - but for about the same price as the SS ultras, they claim nearly twice the increase in output.
Btw, you can also get the XtremePower bulbs here (http://store.candlepower.com/bfcopo90hbpo1.html)

[Mr. Man]

I think strapping a couple of flashlights over top of the OEM lites would be a dramatic improvement.

[GetMeMyStogie]

IMHO.... the Silverstars are OK. The way to go is with HIDs.

http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u133/fastblackmerc/MM%20Mods/Headlights/DSCN0272.jpg

That's some awful looking glare right there. Stoop down one or two feet and you'll have an idea what oncoming drivers see as they pass you.:puke:

[fastblackmerc]

That's some awful looking glare right there. Stoop down one or two feet and you'll have an idea what oncoming drivers see as they pass you.:puke:

:bs::bs:

Never had oncoming drivers flash their lights at me.....

[GetMeMyStogie]

Never had oncoming drivers flash their lights at me.....

Is that the right test for excessive glare?
Justify it any way you want - the picture you posted shows that the bluish headlights produce way more glare than the other headlights. Both foglights look like they produce a lot of glare, but that's what foglights do (they sure don't light up the road beyond 20 feet very much).

I'm sure the local populations tolerance for glaring headlights varies from place to place - others with HID kits may not be as 'lucky' as you are.

[SC Cheesehead]

Is that the right test for excessive glare?
Justify it any way you want - the picture you posted shows that the bluish headlights produce way more glare than the other headlights. Both foglights look like they produce a lot of glare, but that's what foglights do (they sure don't light up the road beyond 20 feet very much).

I'm sure the local populations tolerance for glaring headlights varies from place to place - others with HID kits may not be as 'lucky' as you are.

HIDs have a bluish cast? Never noticed. :dunno:

Also, FWIW, I've driven in front of, around, toward Jim, and haven't found his headlights to give an excessive glare.

[fastblackmerc]

HIDs have a bluish cast? Never noticed. :dunno:

Also, FWIW, I've driven in front of, around, toward Jim, and haven't found his headlights to give an excessive glare.

Thanks Rex.

The HIDs I installed are 6k, that is the closest to pure white as you can get.

[Granite]

Thanks Rex.

The HIDs I installed are 6k, that is the closest to pure white as you can get.

Jim, where did you get your set? were they plug and play, i want to get rid of the blueish tint that my HIDs give

[fastblackmerc]

Jim, where did you get your set? were they plug and play, i want to get rid of the blueish tint that my HIDs give

I got them on eBay. After getting burned once, I only buy from someone that is in the US. I'll see if I can find the company. They were plug and play. The hardest thing is to find a place for the ballasts. BTW, I have the set that are HID lo beam & HID hi beam. A little more expensive since you need 4 ballasts.

[juno]

OEM Panther headlights suck. Either go with HIDs or, almost as good, go with headlight relays. The relays regain the drop in power which you lose in the stock design going all the way from the headlight switch to the lamp socket. The relay acts as a remote switch, while full power to the lamp socket is drawn directly from your battery. Voila: even with stock bulbs, your beam pattern is at almost twice as bright as OEM.

Yes, I did the relay, LCM fix and SS's at the same time.

[LUCKY GENE]

thanks for all the great information!

[ctrlraven]

If you want to get rid of the blue then you need to get another set of HID bulbs that are 5000k to 4300k. Vehicles with factory HIDs are about 4300k.

[fastblackmerc]

Anything over 6K and you'll get a blueish tint... the higher you go the bluer it gets. 12K is purple. 3K is yellow.

[kmastl]

Here is a pic of my apexcone Hids from ddm tuning. The headlights are 4500K 55 watt with hi/lows, and the fogs are 35 watt 3000K. I have not had anyone flash their lights at me.

http://i804.photobucket.com/albums/yy325/kmastl/03%20Mercury/4500Khid.jpg (http://s804.photobucket.com/albums/yy325/kmastl/03%20Mercury/?action=view&current=4500Khid.jpg)

hope this helps,
Ken

[50marauder]

i retrofitted some lexus es300 low beam projectors with a 9006 xenon kit i had left over from my truck to replace my fog lights. passenger side lens shattered; ford wanted $95 for a new one, glare isn't too bad and it has very nice light output. my camera took a dump, but i'll post pics as soon as i get a new one

[CBT]

I don't know what Silversurfer has but they are bright, I could see him flying up behind me on the Interstate from waaaaaaaaaaaay back, and it was during the day.

[TooManyFords]

Here is a pic of my apexcone Hids from ddm tuning. The headlights are 4500K 55 watt with hi/lows, and the fogs are 35 watt 3000K. I have not had anyone flash their lights at me.

DDM is having a sale right now. I just ordered the 5000K hi/lo's with the digital starters for the Marauder, and the same for the Expedition.

For a reference, here is the chart :
http://www.mcculloch-hid.com/ebay/Color%20chart.jpg

[Midnight]

HID's are absolutely the way to go! i have 6000K tone on fog lights and headlights, with the "bixenon" magnet deal, so you dont loose highbeam capability..

i bought both my kits online from a company "ultrabrightlights" i know the owner personally (had a small issue) lives in miami. the guy is GREAT and the product is nothing less then flawless (minus a small ballast issue, but was resolved in no time flat)

i definitely recommend.

i will post some pictures. but, if you want headlights... go the real deal and get the 6000k NSSC Bi-Xenon.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/search/ref=sr_nr_p_6_2?rh=n:15684181, k:hid+6000k,p_6:ATE9PH25YQWX9&bbn=15684181&keywords=hid+6000k&ie=UTF8&qid=1271210912&rnid=331541011

[fastblackmerc]

IMHO... if your going to go with Hi & LO HIDs the ONLY way is with a Hi & Lo HID kit with 4 ballasts.

[Midnight]

HID'S CHECK THIS OUT:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HeJ25pRJCv8

completely agree, nice video. but cameras never show the justice of these lights... their just too bright.

[bawazir]

TAbdaPDUwfE

[bawazir]

FOG LIGHTS with 60watt quad blaster on the hid only, there freaking brighter than the headlight :D
E8iYD4REAos&feature=related

[Midnight]

IMHO... if your going to go with Hi & LO HIDs the ONLY way is with a Hi & Lo HID kit with 4 ballasts.

personally, i thought that made sense too.... no moving parts.. but... heres the kicker... the whole "flash to pass" cant happen... the bulb needs to "heat up" or whatever.. so "blink blink" to get the ******* out of the left lane... is more like "hold... hold" to let it charge up, or heatup... whatever the hell the terminology is.

but the magnetic setup is quite good, instant "flash to pass" quite effective. (flash to pass is a personal favorite driving a marauder ) ;:lol::)

[fastblackmerc]

personally, i thought that made sense too.... no moving parts.. but... heres the kicker... the whole "flash to pass" cant happen... the bulb needs to "heat up" or whatever.. so "blink blink" to get the ******* out of the left lane... is more like "hold... hold" to let it charge up, or heatup... whatever the hell the terminology is.

but the magnetic setup is quite good, instant "flash to pass" quite effective. (flash to pass is a personal favorite driving a marauder ) ;:lol::)
I never have to use the flash to pass....... I use the "Crown Vic effect" Works everytime.