low beam bulb,replaced three times in one year?

[alexcited]

this cannot be normal,i've NEVER had to replace a bulb as often as i have been on my protege5. anyone else have this problem?

[gimpo2]

what sort of bulbs are going in? i had some Sylvania Silver Stars that didn't last very long. They sucked too.

[alexcited]

http://www.autozone.com/selectedZip,01469/initialAction,partProductDetail/initialpartType,00044/initialR,1025650/initialvehicleId,2872701/shopping/selectZip.htm

these,i believe.

[gimpo2]

yeah its probably the bulb. With the silver stars i noticed that they're bright when you first put them in but they quickly lose their brightness and the usable light sucks.


I use these now. hahah a bit pricey, i've had them in for a year or more but i don't drive much now.
http://www.rallylights.com/hella/H7.asp
<table width="640" border="1"><tbody><tr><td align="center">
CP64217
</td> <td> H7 Bulb, 12V, 65W, Hyper by Osram, 2100 Lumens, each </td> <td align="center">
</td></tr></tbody></table>

[alexcited]

do you know if any stores around here carry them?

[gimpo2]

nope, i just ordered them off that site awhile back. just so you know they're not any special color or anything. I think they're are an H9 filament in an H7 package. So like OEM lighting just brighter

[alexcited]

yeah,but i cant exactly wait for them to come in the mail. since im stuck with no headlight and such. which sucks

[gimpo2]

ouch, i dunno then. throw some cheap H7's in there i guess

[wiprotege5]

Personally, I would just buy OEM Mazda bulbs. Had to replace one a few years ago and never a problem. They seem to be bright enough and are reasonably priced.

[mx-p5]

i had that issue till i ordered an HID kit from Apexcone.

No problems since

[protojason]

I'm with you. I've replaced my headlights with those bulbs several times.

Why stay with them if they keep burning out? They have a year warrantee. I've saved my receipt and they've swapped 'em out at the store no question asked.

Though, I keep telling myself next ones that go I convert to the HID's like some others here have done. Just need to read up on them, and the kelvin that i want. Saw a guy with purple, (not a tinge---flat out purple) headlights the other day on the highway. Was not 'cool'. Looked awful.

I know HID's color shifts as it ages.., need to make sure it 'shifts' towards white/slight blue, not purple. (crazy)

-Jason

[mx-p5]

Best color to go with if you want most usable light is between 4oooK and 6000K

4000K is going to be super pure white. I've got 4000K TechOne kit sold by Protophile for $99 and haven't had a single problem

I personally am running a 4300K kit which is just a tinge less white than the 4000K kit, but still pure white non the less.

5000K kit will give a tinge of blue, and the 6000K a little more blue with a TINY tinge of purple.

But, if you want the most usable light, go with a 4000K

[alexcited]

i dont have the funds for HID's.

[protojason]

Best color to go with if you want most usable light is between 4oooK and 6000K

4000K is going to be super pure white. I've got 4000K TechOne kit sold by Protophile for $99 and haven't had a single problem

I personally am running a 4300K kit which is just a tinge less white than the 4000K kit, but still pure white non the less.

5000K kit will give a tinge of blue, and the 6000K a little more blue with a TINY tinge of purple.

But, if you want the most usable light, go with a 4000K


Good feedback/info. Thanks!

-Jason

[dxaveP5]

this cannot be normal,i've NEVER had to replace a bulb as often as i have been on my protege5. anyone else have this problem?

I love my 6K DDM Hid's
they look amazing, and the usable light is great as well.
the 5K are great too.

But hey alexcited, ive seen a thread on this b4 and it appears to be a very common problem amoung some forum members.

[mx-p5]

Good feedback/info. Thanks!

-Jason

No problem. Lemme know if you have any other questions.

And, there is always a debate as to which light is best. Honostyl, it's all personal preference. But as long as you stay within the 4000K to 6000K range, you'll be good

[SEA_P5]

I said the same thing for HID, no funds...but after realizing that i am spending around 40+ bucks a set, i opted for HID. The DDM are pretty reliable and inexpensive for the amount you pay for bulbs. Just remember, that HID's last way longer then bulbs...basically it is the convenience of not swapping out bulbs every few months that i justified the cost...3 sets of silver stars can pretty much cover 1 set of HIDs.

[mx-p5]

You just missed out on Protophile's Group buy of $99 and it woulda got you a lowbeam set of HID's, which is all you need in the Pro5.

If not, I think Apexcone is still selling thier DDM(thin ballast) kit with lifetime warranty for $110

And after 2 sets of Silverstars going out, i opted to just get my money back rather than constantly replace bulbs and used that towards the HID kit.

But be warned. HID bug bites hard. I've got a custom set of headlights being built by Chicoloco on this forum. He is putting Acura TL projectors into Protege sedan housings. I should have em done at the end of the month

Why you may ask? Easy. Better light distribution, better light focus, and no glare at oncoming drivers

[02Silver2.0]

I know that some P5's are burdened with this issue. It has been explained by some as voltage spikes in the harness or a grounding issue. Either way I never took the time to fix it as I installed HID's. No real problems ever since.

[kboutsider]

i had some Sylvania Silver Stars that didn't last very long. They sucked too.


I've had no issues with silver stars. they are plenty bright and i'm on the same bulbs i put in over a year ago. I did disable my DRL's so i'm sure that would extend the life a bit.

[StealthWyvern]

I swear its the seal of that stupid ass little boot is what makes or breaks the lights lasting. Also if you have that little metal clip on good.

[i12drivemyMP5]

^^^^Maybe that & a good grnd wire kit. I've been running silverstars the whole time I had my car(since Jan 04 new from dlr) & am only on the 2nd set. Plenty bright, same brightness as new, no probelms whatsoever. (dunno)

[StealthWyvern]

^^^^Maybe that & a good grnd wire kit. I've been running silverstars the whole time I had my car(since Jan 04 new from dlr) & am only on the 2nd set. Plenty bright, same brightness as new, no probelms whatsoever. (dunno)

I went through 3 bulbs on my passenger side on my p5 tell i broke that little clip. I ended up buying new lights and installing the lights before the headlights where installed. After that i hadn't had a issue with the lights on my old p5.

[Demoniam]

Hell, last year, I bought the Osram Silverstars, as everyone here said that they usually last much longer. They lasted like 13 months, but the light output was phenomenal!

[mx-p5]

Hell, last year, I bought the Osram Silverstars, as everyone here said that they usually last much longer. They lasted like 13 months, but the light output was phenomenal!

I'm sorry, I can't see your phenomenal output over the HID's. lol

From left to right

Stock-Silverstar Ultras-HIDs

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y13/cbrjeeper/DSC00359.jpg

[alexcited]

i've got no real interest in going HID's right now,if ever to be honest. ill probably just pick up another bulb and replace it. blahghh

[BadKarma]

Go OEM. Plenty bright, never replaced one in 3.5 years...

[alexcited]

that's my plan. atleast my paycheck this week is comin' in with some overtime as well.

[Astral]

I'm going all out on my bulbs and ordered a set of Phillips X-treme Power H7's. They are rated "80% +". The filament is even shorter than the SilverStars. I expect a short life, but heck, it was either that or XtraVision (which is 30%+, better than OEM fo' sho' and lasts a good while).

No interest in HIDs.

[maxchao]

I'm gonna just put HID in there since it is like $99 now. Why not? The worst thing is get pulled over by the cops right?

Josh

[mx-p5]

as long as you aim your headlights down when you install the HID's, you shouldn't have a problem.


As long as you get a color that is OEM looking(4000K to 6000K). You get purple headlights and I can promise you the cops will be bothering you

[SEA_P5]

4000-4500K are pure white. I have 4500K from xenonexpert.com. I also reaimed my lights down and they are good...not blinding to oncoming traffic. If you want to make sure, you can also put in some of those p5 eyelids, they seem to help from blocking out light from coming out of the top as well. I have had this set up for the last several years and they have been very good. (had some 6K raybrigs before they went out and replaced them with the xenonexpert slim DDM).

[mx-p5]

i almost ordered eyelids, but i decided to put projectors in instead. lol

I might still pickup eyelids for the wife's car though, but I heard they didn't really help with the glare

[KronixKid22]

i had that issue till i ordered an HID kit from Apexcone.

No problems since

Ditto! HID's would be the way to go. :)

[YelPro03]

We had the same issue with bulbs burning out too quickly on my wife's P5. So a few months I put HIDs in and no problems yet. I made sure I aimed low to minimize blinding on coming traffic.

[thestone11]

purple HID is the 12000K, they looks cool with yellow fog...

[mx-p5]

but they do hurt the eyes after a while. At least they did me. I had a set of 8000K in my CBR which were over a year or so old used by someone else and they were very purple.

The only things that lit up were road signs and reflectors. Other than that, they sucked.

[Rockin03mp5]

My car has burnt out was too many lights to remember.

Both headlights at least twice. Each fog once. I have had the car 2 years now. I'm pretty sure it is a grounding problem. Voltage spikes from a bad alternator killed a couple of mine in a day. I'm thinking of HIDs since I drive at night a lot.

[mx-p5]

Just do it. You know you want to. lol

And JC is taking my setup, so, you missed out on a stellar deal

[CTt3P5]

Hell, last year, I bought the Osram Silverstars, as everyone here said that they usually last much longer. They lasted like 13 months, but the light output was phenomenal!

Wow...my Osram's lasted 6 months! That was my breaking point. I spent just as much money for two sets of Silverstar's and one set of Osram's as I did for my HID's.


i've got no real interest in going HID's right now,if ever to be honest. ill probably just pick up another bulb and replace it. blahghh

If you do, stay with the OEM. From what I have read and first hand experience they last much longer than the 'upgrade' bulbs you can buy and are cheaper.


i almost ordered eyelids, but i decided to put projectors in instead. lol

I might still pickup eyelids for the wife's car though, but I heard they didn't really help with the glare

I have heard the same.


My car has burnt out was too many lights to remember.

Both headlights at least twice. Each fog once. I have had the car 2 years now. I'm pretty sure it is a grounding problem. Voltage spikes from a bad alternator killed a couple of mine in a day. I'm thinking of HIDs since I drive at night a lot.

I would recommend 4K or 5K. I also do a lot of night driving (early morning) and the 5K works rather well.

[CTt3P5]

Just do it. You know you want to. lol

And JC is taking my setup, so, you missed out on a stellar deal

He could always get in on Pat's deal

http://www.mazdas247.com/forum/showthread.php?t=123721133

[mx-p5]

i am selling mine to Josh for $50, plus i'ma install em for em. lol

[Rockin03mp5]

Just do it. You know you want to. lol

And JC is taking my setup, so, you missed out on a stellar deal

Yeah. I'm thinking about it more now.

What is a good deal. Who to trust. What size?(H4, H7?) I want 4000K - 5000K for sure.

[Rockin03mp5]

i am selling mine to Josh for $50, plus i'ma install em for em. lol

I doubt you would come up here to install mine.

[mx-p5]

you would be correct. lol

And for low beams in both the Pro5 and the 5 it's an H7 bulb

Protophile's kits are nice too. Callie's running the Techone from him.

[Rockin03mp5]

I want's bright fogs too.

[mx-p5]

then get new fogs. Stock fogs just flat out suck. lol

Even with HID kit, stock fogs suck.

I will soon be projector fogs. WEWT!

[Rockin03mp5]

u are a projector whore.

i like the big fogs though. i just need better bulbs.

[mx-p5]

I am keeping the big fogs, just putting a projector in them. You ain't seen the pics?

And I'm running PIAA Plasma Ion 2300K halogen bulbs right now and they work much better than stock bulbs. But new they cost ya $80 at your local ricer ship. Got mine off Ebay for $30

[alexcited]

i would consider going HID's but currently i make very little/have many bills. as soon as all those stupid hospital bills go away(don't crash a motorcycle without insurance) im going to start doing stuff. i want fog overlays too. as well as brighter fogs.

[mnkyboy]

I know that some P5's are burdened with this issue. It has been explained by some as voltage spikes in the harness or a grounding issue. Either way I never took the time to fix it as I installed HID's. No real problems ever since.

Is this documented anywhere? Was there a service bulletin released and a fix made available?