My vehicle takes 9006 low beam bulbs and im getting older and am not happy with the yellowish low lumens that my 9006 bulbs emit. I do a fair amount of night driving and I have to use my high beams almost constantly due to deer and other animals that are constantly crossing plus lately i have to dodge potholes and that is better suited with further vision down the roadway.
I have watched youtube videos and read reviews from the corvette forums (they use the same bulbs).
The corvette guys seem to be more on top of things as they cruise and are driving enthusiasts..and its a mixed bag of changing the bulb to the 9012 Philips HIR2 and using LED bulbs.
I dont want this to be a discussion about me blinding people, because i get blinded constantly by the new SUVs with their LED headlights.. i just want to be able to see and drive safely without constantly using my highbeams for driving lights.
From what I can tell the lifespan of both the 9012 (with trimming) and the LEDs are about the same..and price is about the same as well give or take $5-10 for a set.
This technology wasnt around 15 years ago when my luxury suv was sold...so im wanting to bring my night driving up to current.
Upgrading 15 year old headlight bulbs
- Thread starter krismoriah72
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i do not think any upgrades will be worth it.
Have you just tried a new set of 9006 lights
If your vehicle really is 15years old, your money is better spent towards just cutting losses and swapping for a vehicle that has at least HID lights.
HID definitely was around 15years ago, my 1998 Lexus had them. If you have a 2003 luxury suv, HID should've def. beem an available option.
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Before you install new bulbs, make sure that your headlights are aimed properly. This alone has often gotten me better nighttime driving all by itself.
Then if you're still not happy, move up one grade of light over what you have now. But, if you go to the other lights that claim even brighter lighting, these lights seem to burn out much faster(every 6 months)and cost a lot more.
I always stay with the standard lighting that my vehicles came with & aimed properly(or even tweaked upward a bit). And being in my 60's with eyes aren't what they used to be, I'm happy with that!
Also keep a nice clean windshield inside & out and maybe with some Aquapel or Rain-X on the glass and clean the fog off the headlight housings. Some mild rubbing compound or even toothpaste with work for now. And don't forget to use your favorite wiper blades, all of which help greatly in nighttime foul weather driving.
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9012 Sylvania Silverstars,
https://www.autozone.com/collision-body-...odel=&year=
There are slightly (read legally) overdriven 9006 bulbs. I remember I installed a pair of 9006 GE Nighthawks in my parents' Camry. There are also ones from Phillips and Sylvania.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00U1OLM1Q/ref=psdc_15730151_t1_B002UX7INM
https://www.amazon.com/SYLVANIA-XtraVision-Halogen-Headlight-Contains/dp/B0031HEIDY
"From what I can tell the lifespan of both the 9012 (with trimming) and the LEDs are about the same..and price is about the same as well give or take $5-10 for a set."
First off, I disagree. I installed the 9012's (ensuring to wear gloves and not touch the bulbs) trimmed and installed in my Corolla 2007. They lasted 1 year before a bulb burnt out. They did provide better light output but still not impressive. I was hoping they would last a few years at least. After many negative experiences with those wanabe bright bulbs.. Sylvania Silverstar, Philips, etc etc.. all burnt out within 6-8 months, 1 year for the 9012 install. I am already past 1 year with my LED bulbs and am very satisfied with the light output. Especially at night. The light is a bright white LED lighting that really lights up the road far better than those fading halogen bulbs..
Also, if your headlights are even slightly faded I suggest using the RainX product called Xtreme Clean. Available at your local Walmart for 4.99$. I applied it to one of my headlights using a paper towel and was impressed at how clear it made my bulb with minimal effort and scrubbing. If you give your lenses a good cleaning, polishing and coating and swap to LED headlights, you will be quite happy. I would also recommend if you can install fog lights to go with some that are more yellowish so when it rains out, it will reduce the glare of your whiter headlights.
These are the ones I bought: https://www.amazon.com/YUMSEEN-Headlight...&dpSrc=srch
Same price as Silverstar, better light and Im betting they will last longer. Just my 0.02 cents 
PS. Forgot to mention what others have said, make sure you correctly adjust how the bulbs are aimed! Good LED bulbs, Clean and clear headlight housings and properly aimed lights.
PS. Forgot to mention what others have said, make sure you correctly adjust how the bulbs are aimed! Good LED bulbs, Clean and clear headlight housings and properly aimed lights.
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I ordered two sets of osram silverstar bulbs for my sonata.
They are aimed at the euro market.
I noticed no difference in light performance, however light color went from off yellow to white.
Would not say its a huge upgrade, or worthwhile over stock.
The 9012 is the best upgrade to a 9006 if you have a full bulb shield since the 9012 doesn't have an opaque painted tip to prevent glare like a 9006.
If your headlight housings are foggy or hazy you won't be able to put all the light on the road anyways and it would be wise to replace the housings with new OEM not aftermarket housings, all the aftermarket stuff is inferior in optics and quality.
I would not install any led bulbs in the headlights, they will not be correct in any way for a driving light.
For comparison sake. 9012's (yellow) vs LEDs (white)
Originally Posted By: Rolla07
"From what I can tell the lifespan of both the 9012 (with trimming) and the LEDs are about the same..and price is about the same as well give or take $5-10 for a set."
First off, I disagree. I installed the 9012's (ensuring to wear gloves and not touch the bulbs) trimmed and installed in my Corolla 2007. They lasted 1 year before a bulb burnt out. They did provide better light output but still not impressive. I was hoping they would last a few years at least. After many negative experiences with those wanabe bright bulbs.. Sylvania Silverstar, Philips, etc etc.. all burnt out within 6-8 months, 1 year for the 9012 install. I am already past 1 year with my LED bulbs and am very satisfied with the light output. Especially at night. The light is a bright white LED lighting that really lights up the road far better than those fading halogen bulbs..
Also, if your headlights are even slightly faded I suggest using the RainX product called Xtreme Clean. Available at your local Walmart for 4.99$. I applied it to one of my headlights using a paper towel and was impressed at how clear it made my bulb with minimal effort and scrubbing. If you give your lenses a good cleaning, polishing and coating and swap to LED headlights, you will be quite happy. I would also recommend if you can install fog lights to go with some that are more yellowish so when it rains out, it will reduce the glare of your whiter headlights.
These are the ones I bought: https://www.amazon.com/YUMSEEN-Headlight...&dpSrc=srch
Same price as Silverstar, better light and Im betting they will last longer. Just my 0.02 cents
PS. Forgot to mention what others have said, make sure you correctly adjust how the bulbs are aimed! Good LED bulbs, Clean and clear headlight housings and properly aimed lights.
PS. Forgot to mention what others have said, make sure you correctly adjust how the bulbs are aimed! Good LED bulbs, Clean and clear headlight housings and properly aimed lights. 
Would i benefit any from a clear housing?
Originally Posted By: krismoriah72
My vehicle takes 9006 low beam bulbs and im getting older and am not happy with the yellowish low lumens that my 9006 bulbs emit.
Originally Posted By: krismoriah72
Originally Posted By: Rolla07
"From what I can tell the lifespan of both the 9012 (with trimming) and the LEDs are about the same..and price is about the same as well give or take $5-10 for a set."
First off, I disagree. I installed the 9012's (ensuring to wear gloves and not touch the bulbs) trimmed and installed in my Corolla 2007. They lasted 1 year before a bulb burnt out. They did provide better light output but still not impressive. I was hoping they would last a few years at least. After many negative experiences with those wanabe bright bulbs.. Sylvania Silverstar, Philips, etc etc.. all burnt out within 6-8 months, 1 year for the 9012 install. I am already past 1 year with my LED bulbs and am very satisfied with the light output. Especially at night. The light is a bright white LED lighting that really lights up the road far better than those fading halogen bulbs..
Also, if your headlights are even slightly faded I suggest using the RainX product called Xtreme Clean. Available at your local Walmart for 4.99$. I applied it to one of my headlights using a paper towel and was impressed at how clear it made my bulb with minimal effort and scrubbing. If you give your lenses a good cleaning, polishing and coating and swap to LED headlights, you will be quite happy. I would also recommend if you can install fog lights to go with some that are more yellowish so when it rains out, it will reduce the glare of your whiter headlights.
These are the ones I bought: https://www.amazon.com/YUMSEEN-Headlight...&dpSrc=srch
Same price as Silverstar, better light and Im betting they will last longer. Just my 0.02 cents
PS. Forgot to mention what others have said, make sure you correctly adjust how the bulbs are aimed! Good LED bulbs, Clean and clear headlight housings and properly aimed lights.
PS. Forgot to mention what others have said, make sure you correctly adjust how the bulbs are aimed! Good LED bulbs, Clean and clear headlight housings and properly aimed lights.
Would i benefit any from a clear housing?
Originally Posted By: Rolla07
Originally Posted By: krismoriah72
Originally Posted By: Rolla07
"From what I can tell the lifespan of both the 9012 (with trimming) and the LEDs are about the same..and price is about the same as well give or take $5-10 for a set."
First off, I disagree. I installed the 9012's (ensuring to wear gloves and not touch the bulbs) trimmed and installed in my Corolla 2007. They lasted 1 year before a bulb burnt out. They did provide better light output but still not impressive. I was hoping they would last a few years at least. After many negative experiences with those wanabe bright bulbs.. Sylvania Silverstar, Philips, etc etc.. all burnt out within 6-8 months, 1 year for the 9012 install. I am already past 1 year with my LED bulbs and am very satisfied with the light output. Especially at night. The light is a bright white LED lighting that really lights up the road far better than those fading halogen bulbs..
Also, if your headlights are even slightly faded I suggest using the RainX product called Xtreme Clean. Available at your local Walmart for 4.99$. I applied it to one of my headlights using a paper towel and was impressed at how clear it made my bulb with minimal effort and scrubbing. If you give your lenses a good cleaning, polishing and coating and swap to LED headlights, you will be quite happy. I would also recommend if you can install fog lights to go with some that are more yellowish so when it rains out, it will reduce the glare of your whiter headlights.
These are the ones I bought: https://www.amazon.com/YUMSEEN-Headlight...&dpSrc=srch
Same price as Silverstar, better light and Im betting they will last longer. Just my 0.02 cents
PS. Forgot to mention what others have said, make sure you correctly adjust how the bulbs are aimed! Good LED bulbs, Clean and clear headlight housings and properly aimed lights.
PS. Forgot to mention what others have said, make sure you correctly adjust how the bulbs are aimed! Good LED bulbs, Clean and clear headlight housings and properly aimed lights.
Would i benefit any from a clear housing?
So because you feel others are blinding you, it is OK for you to blind others?
LED drop ins are junk. You eyes are actually very poor at judging how good lighting is.
People think PnP LED's are brighter, but all they do is give more foreground light (light closer to the car), which is the opposite of what you want. Plus the blinding of other drivers.
There are some nights I want to just crash into those with chitty PNP HID or LED that blind everyone else and gives worse lighting.
If you really want better lighting, look into a HID retrofit (NOT a PnP bulb, but a complete projector housing within you current (or should I say new, clear lens) housings).
Originally Posted By: krismoriah72
No..LEDs as low beams..if i get flashed i guess i will high beam them with the yellowish high beams.
I think u are right with the Yumseens being identical and cheaper.
See what you think about these if you have time.. Ebay Link to MostPlus
3900 sold and its the one that the corvette guys are crazy about.
from this forum https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums/c5-...-or-ebay-3.html
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No DRL..either headlights are off or on. I pulled the trigger on yours.. technology changes every week and i didnt want to spend hours educating myself on chipsets etc. As long as i can see better im game.
FWIW if i have a headlamp go out and i walk into advance its going to cost me $25 for a set of bulbs. Yumseens $34 so its not really a big gamble to try them.
And thanks for the picture comparisons.
Yes. My truck did.
Originally Posted By: Reddy45
If laws are not an issue then use yellow lights. Much better night visibility because our eyes work better with that spectrum.
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