Best Halogen Headlight Bulb?

[Snagglefoot]

Anything that's brighter is probably going to be overdriven to the limits. There's really no magic to getting more light from incandescent bulbs other than more power.

I remember buying some GE Nighthawk 9004 years ago at Walmart. They weren't that expensive. I don't think GE actually made them (they were made in Germany) but obtained them from a supplier. They're still available, but I'm not sure who is actually selling/making them after GE sold off its lighting division. I could just be some random licensing agreement to use the brand name.

If you want something that lasts longer, there are long life bulbs that actually produce less light. I've even heard of longer life bulbs meant for use with daytime running lights.

Speaking of daytime running lights, I have the system on my 2008 Burb ( up in Canada). The lights are on when the sensor figures out it’s daytime and the transmission is in drive. The trouble is, there is no indicator to say there’s a problem. Since the lights only come on with the transmission in drive, you pretty much need an observer to look at the lights while you sit in the vehicle, holding the brake. If you are a bit crazy you can can park uphill in drive and get out and look at them. Putting the park brake on turns them off. You can also pull up to a glass storefront and check with the transmission in drive and the park brake off.

Mine are 3157 and require pulling the headlight assembly and undoing the holder in the back. These lights are on all day they burn out much earlier than any other bulb in the assembly.

You can’t tell they are burned out from the driver position. Both of mine were burned out but since I’m OK with the concept, I changed them out. Check yours!

 

[y_p_w]

Speaking of daytime running lights, I have the system on my 2008 Burb ( up in Canada). The lights are on when the sensor figures out it’s daytime and the transmission is in drive. The trouble is, there is no indicator to say there’s a problem. Since the lights only come on with the transmission in drive, you pretty much need an observer to look at the lights while you sit in the vehicle, holding the brake. If you are a bit crazy you can can park uphill in drive and get out and look at them. Putting the park brake on turns them off. You can also pull up to a glass storefront and check with the transmission in drive and the park brake off.

Mine are 3157 and require pulling the headlight assembly and undoing the holder in the back. These lights are on all day they burn out much earlier than any other bulb in the assembly.

You can’t tell they are burned out from the driver position. Both of mine were burned out but since I’m OK with the concept, I changed them out.

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The DRLs on my 2004 WRX lit up the H1 headlamps, but at a lower voltage. The stocks were Phillips long life made in Germany, even though pretty much almost every part of the car was made in Japan.