Headlights?

[thatchickk]

I've been looking to replace the bulbs in my headlights on my sonic, and have found Sylvania 9006XS SZ SilverStar zXe High Performance Halogen Headlight Bulb (high beams) but the low beams don't work with my car. Any suggestions on really bright bulbs?

Thanks!

 

[Black Turbo LTZ]

I've been looking to replace the bulbs in my headlights on my sonic, and have found Sylvania 9006XS SZ SilverStar zXe High Performance Halogen Headlight Bulb (high beams) but the low beams don't work with my car. Any suggestions on really bright bulbs?

Thanks!

We run H11s for lows and 9005 for Hi beams..PIAA makes great bulbs that will give you the brightness you seek. Some of us are running HID's (35W is fine) and adjust the beams down as not to blind others...Some other members will say its a waste unless its in a retrofit projector but it all depends on you and how you set them up.Whatever you do don't go cheap bulbs, the look bright but have no beam of light.

 

[BKamp613]

I've never owned a set of SilverStars that lasted more than 6 months, so I can't personally recommend those.

Halogen and "really bright" don't go together. Most times brighter = higher wattage = melted harness. Stock is 55w. Stay away from "Xenon", "HID," etc... descriptons for halogen bulbs. That's BS.

I'm eventually going to have my headlights retrofitted with projectors (as I did on my old car). While relatively expensive ($400+) I consider it a performance mod, and will gladly pay that price for sharp cut-off and brightness. I messed with cheap "Super Bright" halogens in the past and they were all crap.

Edit*Response to Black Turbo LTZ*

Installing HIDs in reflector housings and aiming them down is pointless IMO. You state that cheap halogens are bright with no beam...I can say the same about HIDs in reflectors. All that potentially usable light is now hitting the pavement instead of being properly directed outward. As I've said around here, I'm a headlight nut. Others can do what they want, but I'm not going to half-azz. Either leave them alone entirely (stick with stock halogens) or do it properly (retrofit + HID). Spending $50+ every few months-year for halogens is a waste. My $.02. Sorry for the rant. Good day.

TL/DR
"Xenon", "Super Bright", "HID Look" Halogens = Junk Food
HIDs in properly retrofitted headlights = Fine Wine

 

[Maddmatts]

Xenon gas does help halogen bulbs burn hotter (therefore brighter) without added wattage. The problem is that the word "xenon" is thrown around too much as marketing as a synonym for HID's. It's hard to distinguish between what uses actual xenon gas and what is "xenon-like". Although it's a safe bet that any bulbs that have tinted glass fall under the latter category.

 

[BKamp613]

Xenon gas does help halogen bulbs burn hotter (therefore brighter) without added wattage. The problem is that the word "xenon" is thrown around too much as marketing as a synonym for HID's. It's hard to distinguish between what uses actual xenon gas and what is "xenon-like". Although it's a safe bet that any bulbs that have tinted glass fall under the latter category.

Thus shortening the life of the bulb...

 

[$ub$onic]

I run the Zxe bulbs and love them. I have ran them in vehicles for 4 years now and have only ever had one bulb fail due to a fault of mine. In my sonic I get flashed all the time with people thinking my high beams are on.

 

[BKamp613]

I run the Zxe bulbs and love them. I have ran them in vehicles for 4 years now and have only ever had one bulb fail due to a fault of mine. In my sonic I get flashed all the time with people thinking my high beams are on.

I've had Ultras in other cars. They never lasted very long.

 

[$ub$onic]

Really? I've never had a problem with them

 

[2THEXTRM]

I've been running zxe's in my Dakota for over a year with nothing but bright light!

Plan on ordering a full set for my sonic this weekend

Sent from my DROID BIONIC using Xparent Skyblue Tapatalk 2

 

[thatchickk]

I've been running zxe's in my Dakota for over a year with nothing but bright light!

Plan on ordering a full set for my sonic this weekend

Sent from my DROID BIONIC using Xparent Skyblue Tapatalk 2

Would you mind letting me know which ones you get for low beams? I've been searching for a few days now and everything I come up with says that it doesn't fit my sonic.


Thanks everyone for the help!

 

[2THEXTRM]

Yeah advance auto has high beams-9004 and fogs-H4 only in there system... $120 for the 2 pair, think I'll wait for a 25% off website sale they have every few months, stock lighting is very bright to start with so I'll survive for now lol

Sent from my DROID BIONIC using Xparent Skyblue Tapatalk 2

 

[EzekeiL]

Gonna be honest here...I get why people want super bright lights...the reason is obvious, but I CAN NOT STAND being blinded by ever dip#@$! that has lights as bright as the sun. There is no reason I should be getting blinded by your low beams at night, unless maybe you are driving a truck and then its kinda unavoidable at certain angles. If people are flashing their lights at you because they think you have your high beams on that isn't a good thing. But Who gives a *&^% if other people cant see anything veer off the road and crash into some $#@&? right? xD hahaha or even more morbid, hit someone they can't see crossing the street?

Installing HIDs in reflector housings and aiming them down is pointless IMO.

So thank you BKamp613

In my sonic I get flashed all the time with people thinking my high beams are on.

and thank you subsonic!

You are both obviously the people that blind me and everybody else on the road when you are driving xD I am glad you can see whats in front of you tho!

Case in point, there is no reason you need lights that are brighter then stock low beams for normal highway or through town driving. If you live in the woods, then just use your high beams. If you can't see anything at night without super bright lights, stop driving at night or just stop driving period because your vision is impaired and you are likely to get yourself hurt, hurt somebody else, or worse, get yourself or someone else killed.

...ok...that was a rant...I apologize xD

 

[2THEXTRM]

Being blinded by oncoming drivers is at the top of my peeve list too. The upgraded zxe bulbs do not include a low beam bulb, likely for safety of others.

I adjusted all my lifted truck lights to near spec except long throw off road lighting

Sent from my DROID BIONIC using Xparent Skyblue Tapatalk 2

 

[thatchickk]

The reason I want brighter lights are so I can see better at night. My high beams in my car are horrible and it's still hard to see with them on.. I live in the middle of nowhere lol. I've almost hit numerous deer because I couldn't see them until last minute, and I would rather not wreck my Sonic.

 

[$ub$onic]

I adjusted mine up a little for enter visibility.

 

[Palmaris]

I find the high beams in the Sonic to be just fine. It is basically just as bright as my Subaru with extra lights. There is no reason to get extra lighting unless you are outdriving them at about 100 mph.

 

[EzekeiL]

The reason I want brighter lights are so I can see better at night. My high beams in my car are horrible and it's still hard to see with them on.. I live in the middle of nowhere lol. I've almost hit numerous deer because I couldn't see them until last minute, and I would rather not wreck my Sonic.

I could see replacing your high beams with brighter lights if you live out in the middle of no where...but a quick fix? drive slower...and to be a smart @#$...if you have a full minute to avoid a deer I really hope your able to xD

 

[thatchickk]

Yeah, I'm getting new high beams, ordered some today. Thanks for everyone's input! Haha and you know what I mean EzekiL.

 

[ahtoxa]

Some of us are running HID's (35W is fine) and adjust the beams down as not to blind others...Some other members will say its a waste unless its in a retrofit projector but it all depends on you and how you set them up.

It doesn't matter how you set them up. Glare is glare and light scatter is light scatter. A small degree of adjustment does nothing, plus it's counteractive to the goal anyway.

Majority of those who run HID's in halogen housings and say that "it's fine" are doing it just for looks anyway. Those who want actual increased performance from their lights understand the basics of the matter.

 

[BKamp613]

Gonna be honest here...I get why people want super bright lights...the reason is obvious, but I CAN NOT STAND being blinded by ever dip#@$! that has lights as bright as the sun. There is no reason I should be getting blinded by your low beams at night, unless maybe you are driving a truck and then its kinda unavoidable at certain angles. If people are flashing their lights at you because they think you have your high beams on that isn't a good thing. But Who gives a *&^% if other people cant see anything veer off the road and crash into some $#@&? right? xD hahaha or even more morbid, hit someone they can't see crossing the street?



So thank you BKamp613


and thank you subsonic!

You are both obviously the people that blind me and everybody else on the road when you are driving xD I am glad you can see whats in front of you tho!

Case in point, there is no reason you need lights that are brighter then stock low beams for normal highway or through town driving. If you live in the woods, then just use your high beams. If you can't see anything at night without super bright lights, stop driving at night or just stop driving period because your vision is impaired and you are likely to get yourself hurt, hurt somebody else, or worse, get yourself or someone else killed.

...ok...that was a rant...I apologize xD

Go back and re-read my post and every other lighting post I've made on the forum, as well as my build thread. I was stating that installing HIDs in reflector housings and aiming them down negates the point of HIDs. Never said I have HIDs and refuse to aim them down. I'm running stock halogens.