Sylvania Silverstar or the Osram Silverstar?

[Elderain]

What is the difference between the Sylvania Silverstar and the Osram Silverstar?

Osram Sylvania is one and the same company, within the US they use both Osram and Sylvania, outside the US its Osram. The Osram Silverstar is a clear bulb with Xenon gas boost to increase brightness up to 50% color is similar to standard halogen though it is slightly whiter. The Sylvania Silverstar is the same bulb but with an amethyst blue coating with 30% more light than standard halogen and 4000K light color which is comparable to Xenon/High Intensity Discharge Light Systems as seen on high end cars from Acura, Audi, BMW, Cadillac, Lexus, Mercedes Benz, Porsche to name a few.

Whos got either of these on there MSP, and do you like them? Do you see a difference over stock? Even if you dont have them, which would you pick?

Also... Osram's are $18.00 ea and the Sylvania's are $22.50 ea.

[Familia323]

I believe Osram doesnt have a blue filter on their light and has a a better look than the Silvanias(which I have). If I knew about the Osrams before, I would have bought them instead. But the Silvanias are just really bright white light. Either of the two are nice, but Osrams are more worth the money I think.

[Elderain]

Your correct about the blue filter, the osram's dont have one, while the sylvania's do. I was leaning twords the osrams, and they just happy to be cheaper too :) just waiting to see what anyone else says.

btw Familia323 nice avatar :P

[jred321]

those sound like 2 porn star names :)

[jrodhotrod]

I had Osram on my Protege5 before I traded it in and I am getting a set of Osram for my MSP. Brighter is better!

[LByellowStang]

Originally posted by Elderain
Your correct about the blue filter, the osram's dont have one, while the sylvania's do.

Interesting, I have Sylvanias and I like them but I wish they were more white. I'll have to try and find some Osrams.

[SuperSpud]

which lights do we have anyway? 9003? H4?

[jrodhotrod]

Originally posted by SuperSpud
which lights do we have anyway? 9003? H4?

Sedan is H4 (MP3, Mazdaspeed, 3rd Gen)
Protege5 is H7

[Elderain]

yes, H4 = 9003 same thing. I found the osrams for 18 a piece here http://suvlights.tripod.com/suvlightscom/html/halogen-h4-9003-hb2.htm Im going to look around some more now.

[Elderain]

quoted from http://www.hidforum.com/ayh/lumen.php ...

What is the brightest halogen bulb?
For the 55W marked segment, sorted in order of brightness:
+50%: Philips Vision Plus (achieves its extra performance by increased luminance, not lumens. See this article: http://www.eur.lighting.philips.com/press/automotive/resultsVision.shtml
+30%: Philips Premium, Osram Silverstar (European marked only - see note below)
+20%: Osram/Sylvania Xtra Vision, Osram/Sylvania Silverstar (North american market only - see note below)
+0%: Philips Bluevison, Osram/Sylvania Cool Blue, Osram/Sylvania Halogen Plus, and OEM bulbs like GE.
-10%: PIAA Superwite

Silverstar: Do not confuse the European (clear glass) Silverstar with the North american (slightly blue tinted) Silverstar. The blue tint steals light!

[Familia323]

Originally posted by Elderain

btw Familia323 nice avatar :P

Thanks :D .. So did you get the Osrams yet then?

[Elderain]

lol at least rename my files :D LOL anyhow I ordered the osrams about 3hrs after i posetd the thread. I leave for FL tommorow for a week but when I get back I'll Install them and let you guys all know the verdict and some pics if theres any diff.

[t3ase]

I have the Phillips Vision Plus H4's and BlueVision H3's. They're not THAT incredibly brigher, as I couldn't tell much of a difference and I had to tell my girlfriend (who always rides with me) that I switched them out.

The BlueVision's do not look blue at all in the foglights. I'm quite disappointed.

[SuperSpud]

damn, I saw the silverstars at walmart for $24 for a pair... I didnt see H4's, only 9003's.. I was unaware they were the same

[t3ase]

Yeah, they're marketed under both numbers but they are the same.

[Familia323]

I want to see pics of the Osrams....(lit up that is)

[FunkyBuddha]

I got the Osram bulbs. They dont' have the blue filter on them and IMO it looks brighter

[Elderain]

Damn them bitches. I ordered the Osram Silverstar bulbs and they sent me Phillips VisionPlus+ bulbs because the Osrams were out of stock. I did head that these were better, thats also what the sales rep said, but oh well. When it gets dark out I'll tell ya a verdict. I should have taken before and after pictures, but I forgot, so you will just get after pics :)

[Laser5]

I ordered my Osram Silverstars from Powerbulbs.com and I could have sworn that they had a slight blue tint but I will recheck. Powerbulbs.com is based in the UK so I would figure that I have european spec bulbs. the packaging as EEC Legal on it. IMO these bulbs are brighter than PIAAs that I usually use. I was amazed at the brightness.

[Elderain]

piaa's suck imo, there always ranked way under all the other bulbs. I just got back from a drive in the rain, at like 9pm so its pretty dark too. I noticed right away a color change in the light from that yellowish to a bright white, and It seems that I can see a bit further. They seem like decent bulbs so I cant complain.

[DaKidd]

Do they still have the "bright" feature? I have heard that some of these bulbs cant switch between dim and bright. any truth to this? What about the fog lights? H4's for the heads, so what is the # for the fogs? I think it would look a little silly with white heads and yellow fogs. If I am going to one, I might as well do both!

[Familia323]

Originally posted by Laser5
I ordered my Osram Silverstars from Powerbulbs.com and I could have sworn that they had a slight blue tint but I will recheck.

That because the Osram's DONT have the blue filter, which would leave the blue light unfiltered. So you arent crazy.

DaKidd:
Actually yellow fogs are the best lights to have, because they penetrate through fog and precipitation better than white lights... So in my opinion if you were going for functionality having white headlights and yellow fogs would be pretty bad ass.. not to mention thats what I plan on doing.. :)

[ping]

Hey - the Osram Xtra Vision (at +20% output over "stock") are available at WallyMart for ~ $18/pair. They're labelled as Sylvanias but read the bulb and it says Osram BiLux. It's a 55/60. I bought a pair and will install later this week (car is at dealer for hesitation, clunk, faceplate, alarm/parking lights issues... oh, and an oil change...

From previous experience, I won't upgrade to higher wattage without doing relays, and I'm not hacking at a wiring harness that's still under warranty.

[Laser5]

Originally posted by Familia323
That because the Osram's DONT have the blue filter, which would leave the blue light unfiltered. So you arent crazy.

DaKidd:
Actually yellow fogs are the best lights to have, because they penetrate through fog and precipitation better than white lights... So in my opinion if you were going for functionality having white headlights and yellow fogs would be pretty bad ass.. not to mention thats what I plan on doing.. :)

I think DaKidd was speaking of a different color white between the two (i.e. the fog lights being dimmer than the headlights).

[Elderain]

Fog lights may look dumb yellow, with normal white headlights but yellow light cuts through the rain better, hence, the yellow fog lights. If you want looks over functionality, get white bulbs for the fogs. If you want light and functionality, save the yellow fogs.

[Laser5]

I'm speaking of the yellowish tint of the regular white bulbs in the fog lights compared to the bright white light in the headlight bulbs if you were to use the Osrams.

[Black Majik MSP]

I want to get different bulbs...can we get a final verdict which ones are the best?

[Puckpimp71]

I was searching this at the exact same time! WEIRD... talk about bringing a thread back from the dead. Everything I've read has stated that the Osrams are about 50% brighter than stock on most cars, where the Sylvanias are about 30% brighter. The Osrams, if you can find them ( www.powerbulbs.com and www.suvlights.com ) are a little cheaper, but since Powerbulbs is in the UK it's probably going to take a little longer to get them. Their website did say, however that shipping is free (to US even?). I'm going to attempt ordering them tomorrow, I think.

[Black Majik MSP]

yes, H4 = 9003 same thing. I found the osrams for 18 a piece here http://suvlights.tripod.com/suvlightscom/html/halogen-h4-9003-hb2.htm Im going to look around some more now.
Just ordered my Osrams from this link...didn't feel like waiting for UK shipping & this site has Paypal too. :D

[pates03]

the H4 also fits in your fog lights? sry for the dumb question

[Kansei]

the H4 also fits in your fog lights? sry for the dumb question No they're H3 I think.. I haven't replaced mine though so I dunno

For all of you wanting to see the difference between sylvania and osram silverstars. Check my cardomain site (on page 3 I think)

http://members.cardomain.com/p5zverg

http://images.cardomain.com/member_images/7/web/523000-523999/523421_15_full.jpg

[Black Majik MSP]

I don't see any comparison there...it's just your P5 with what I'm assuming are the Osrams.

[redfyre]

I have the Phillips Vision Plus H4's and BlueVision H3's. They're not THAT incredibly brigher, as I couldn't tell much of a difference and I had to tell my girlfriend (who always rides with me) that I switched them out.

The BlueVision's do not look blue at all in the foglights. I'm quite disappointed.

There is really no point to changing the bulbs in the fogs. I tried that already, but the fog lens has a yellow-ish tint to them so no matter what bulb you put it, you will still get the yellow-ish tint.

[Kansei]

I don't see any comparison there...it's just your P5 with what I'm assuming are the Osrams.
Nope.. one is osram, one is Sylvania for the lowbeams. I had it like this for a week and no one noticed, I can a little though but I think it is just how the headlights are aimed (passenger side is up a little bit). Then the sylvania on the driver side burnt out so I'm rockin the setup again.

[Glowmunkey]

Just ordered my Osrams from this link...didn't feel like waiting for UK shipping & this site has Paypal too. :D
Mine came from the UK in less than a week.