Bulb Upgrade?

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rmorin49

Bulb Upgrade?

Post by rmorin49 »

I would like to improve the performance of my headlights without upgrading to HID. I believe I need 9005 and 9006 bulbs. What brand and model have folks found to be the brightest and whitest bulbs? I do not want the boy racer blue/white look. Thanks.
val_c
Posts: 848
Joined: Thu Jul 01, 2004 11:33 pm
Location: Toronto, Canada

Post by val_c »

There is a quote I saved from Daniel Stern reply about availble headlights and bulbs:
"If you do much night driving, instead of H4s, put in the
Hella BiFocal H1 low beams ($97/ea), which were co-developed
by Hella and BMW. Use them in conjunction with parabolic H1
high beams ($74.95/ea). Use Narva Rangepower+50 H1 bulbs all
around ($15). These will give vastly better performance than
the sealed-beam junk _and_ vastly better performance than
any H4 conversion (much more efficient optics; entire
optical area used to form the low beam). Illumination is
broad, long-reaching, and very well focused, with no upward
stray light and significantly less glare to oncoming drivers
(because the light is focused where you need it) -- a
substantial upgrade from the sealed beam lamps' dim, narrow
tunnel of light with no side spread and excessive upward
throw that causes backglare in bad weather, and likewise a
substantial upgrade from the H4 lamps' relatively meager
beam performance.

The BiFocal low beams incorporate a European-style "city
light" parking lamp. This is a small 5w bulb ($4.24/ea) that
sticks through the lamp's reflector into the lamp itself, a
couple of inches away from the main headlight bulb, via a
socket and grommet. "City light" is a common casual term for
this. The official European/international term is "front
position lamp". North American terminology calls them
"parking lamps". It is _only_ a parking lamp, not capable of
producing an effective or legal daytime running light or
turn signal function no matter what bulb is installed.
Electrical connection is by two standard 1/4" spade
terminals. Ground one, and run the other to the vehicle's
parking lamp feed. The city light illuminates the whole
headlamp in a "pilot light" sort of fashion; this makes for
large-area parking lamps, and if a headlight bulb ever burns
out, oncoming traffic still sees you as a double-track
vehicle. Outside North America, parking lamps must emit
white light, the North American style amber ones are not
allowed. In North America, parking lamps may emit white or
amber light, and these white ones built into the headlamp
are a legal form of parking lamp in the USA and Canada. This
type of parking lamp is not used on vehicles with hidden or
pop-up headlamps.The brake lights and turn signals can be made 40% to 50%
brighter, but I can't sell you those bulbs. You can get the
required bulbs (which have nice nickel-plate bases that will
not corrode and seize in the sockets) from your local Honda
dealer. Part number for the single-filament variety
(replacing 1141, 1156, 1073, 7508, or P21W) is
34903-SF1-A01. Part number for the dual-filament variety
(replacing 1016, 1034, 1157, 2057, 2357, 7528, or P21/5W in
brake/tail or park/turn lights) is 34906-SL0-A01. Don't try
to buy these bulbs in the aftermarket, and don't let the
dealer sell you anything but a genuine Stanley-made Honda
bulb; everything but the genuine Honda product is junk.
These are ultrapremium bulbs with very long lifespan,
corrosionproof nickelplate base, etc."
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markh
Posts: 587
Joined: Sun May 22, 2011 8:47 pm
Location: Scottsdale, AZ

Post by markh »

The brake lights and turn signals can be made 40% to 50%
brighter, but I can't sell you those bulbs. You can get the
required bulbs (which have nice nickel-plate bases that will
not corrode and seize in the sockets) from your local Honda
dealer. Part number for the single-filament variety
(replacing 1141, 1156, 1073, 7508, or P21W) is
34903-SF1-A01. Part number for the dual-filament variety
(replacing 1016, 1034, 1157, 2057, 2357, 7528, or P21/5W in
brake/tail or park/turn lights) is 34906-SL0-A01. Don't try
to buy these bulbs in the aftermarket, and don't let the
dealer sell you anything but a genuine Stanley-made Honda
bulb; everything but the genuine Honda product is junk.
These are ultrapremium bulbs with very long lifespan,
corrosionproof nickelplate base, etc."
Could this be Mr. Fixit's secret sauce?
1988 ///M Zinno/Lotus 70K miles
rmorin49

Post by rmorin49 »

I'm looking for a simple plug in replacement bulbs for the headlights. The Stanley bulbs sold by Honda dealers sound like a good chice for the rear lights.
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wjtesquire
Posts: 95
Joined: Thu Sep 03, 2009 12:49 am
Location: Charleston, SC

Honda bulbs

Post by wjtesquire »

I just installed some of these Honda bulbs in my M635. I put them in the brake lights, rear fog lights, and blinkers. They are noticeably brighter than the 1157 bulbs they replaced. Also, I checked them after an hour and they do not get hot. This is a terrific upgrade, highly recommended!
Chris Wright

Re: Honda bulbs

Post by Chris Wright »

wjtesquire wrote:I just installed some of these Honda bulbs in my M635. I put them in the brake lights, rear fog lights, and blinkers. They are noticeably brighter than the 1157 bulbs they replaced. Also, I checked them after an hour and they do not get hot. This is a terrific upgrade, highly recommended!
Sounds great! How much do they cost?
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mojocoggo
Posts: 350
Joined: Sat Apr 20, 2013 11:47 pm
Location: Temecula, CA
Contact:

Post by mojocoggo »

If you're looking for headlights, just get the Euro lights and some good bulbs.

Image

The beam pattern is a huge improvement over the US-spec pencil beams, which are flat-out unsafe.
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wjtesquire
Posts: 95
Joined: Thu Sep 03, 2009 12:49 am
Location: Charleston, SC

Bulbs

Post by wjtesquire »

HondaPartsNetwork.com had them for $4.01 apiece. They are very high quality, much heavier than 1157s from the auto parts store.
Chris Wright

Re: Bulbs

Post by Chris Wright »

wjtesquire wrote:HondaPartsNetwork.com had them for $4.01 apiece. They are very high quality, much heavier than 1157s from the auto parts store.
Thanks! :mrgreen:
GripGreg
Posts: 2938
Joined: Wed Dec 14, 2011 3:13 am
Location: Long Beach, Ca.

Post by GripGreg »

In Long Beach the price is $5.50 as of today. Dealer price.
So, of course it depends on location.
Hit the apex
in Long Beach, Cal
Buster/'82Euro6 Build Date 9/81
Rosallina/'80 528i Build Date 4/80
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MisterFixit
Posts: 205
Joined: Thu Jan 22, 2009 9:07 pm
Location: USA, Colorado, Golden

'Honda' tail light high output lamps

Post by MisterFixit »

GripGreg wrote:In Long Beach the price is $5.50 as of today. Dealer price. So, of course it depends on location.
Headlight high output lamps -
Replace 9005 and 9006 with 9011 and 9012, a third generation Philips HIR based on Toshiba's design from years ago. They are roughly double the output at the same watts as the stock lamps, nominally the same lifespan too. HIR - Halogen Infrared Reflector - have a 'special coating' inside the envelope to reflect infrared (heat) energy back onto the filament and increase output without drawing more watts... they are INCREDIBLY BRIGHT.

markh wrote:Could this be Mr. Fixit's secret sauce?
Secret Sauce - really??? And yes, I sell them.

Brake/Tail/Turn high output lamps
These are the same type no. bulbs Daniel Stern sold me ten years ago for $7.15 each when I revamped my lights. As Daniel tells it, they were developed by Stanley for Honda and were used in many of their cars for years, but have been discontinued except for spare parts.

They have Nickel plated base shell (as BMW requires), are high output (45 cp versus 32, about 1/3 more light) and are pressure filled with Krypton gas (from Planet Krypton, I suppose? :-k ), and last for years and years.

They come in two versions- one filament is the 'brake' (or rear turn, or reverse) bulb, the other is the two filament (front turn) which makes 43/3 cp. They draw a tad more than the stock lamps, but don't have a sensitive-enough ammeter to measure current accurately. I think it's 5 or 6 watts higher.

I am happy to send whatever you need- I also have the 10W tail bulbs in a high output version (10W, 10cp). And I agree, they make lots more light, especially with shiny (restored) reflectors. I think of them as the least expensive safety improvement for any vintage beemer... I mean, who wants a lexus parking in your trunk?

I had this happen, thankfully I wasn't hurt, but the car suffered front and rear end damage. AFTER I upgraded the rear lights, never got rear ended again.

Magic? Luck? No, apparently it was using plenty of 'secret sauce' and adding a center brake light - from Hella, naturally.

(Thanks for the chuckle, Mark)

"Be Seen, and Not Hurt"
"Be Seen, and Not Hurt!"
Lighting Upgrades for 2002, E3, E12, E21, E23, E24, E28, E30, E32, E36, E39 - front & back
Headlight and Tail Light upgrades for maximum visibility. Headlight protection to keep lights intact.
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MisterFixit
Posts: 205
Joined: Thu Jan 22, 2009 9:07 pm
Location: USA, Colorado, Golden

Re: Bulb Upgrade?

Post by MisterFixit »

rmorin49 wrote:I would like to improve the performance of my headlights without upgrading to HID. I believe I need 9005 and 9006 bulbs. What brand and model have folks found to be the brightest and whitest bulbs? I do not want the boy racer blue/white look. Thanks.
Has anyone recommended the new "HIR" or Halogen Infrared Reflective bulbs? They are nearly a direct replacement for 9005 and 9006. Philips does these very nicely, and they are SUPER bright, almost double the output for highs, nearly so for lows. The base flange is a tad different than 9005/9006 lamps, but not a problem. I have adapted several sets. I have the relevant lights here, and test-fit bulbs after modification and before shipping.

I have sold several sets of them, they are universally praised for being incredibly bright, totally white (and no, they are not blue tinted 'Hyper-white', they have perfectly clear glass).

Have you chosen a bulb yet? If not, I would consider these, let me know and I'll cut you a deal. Retail is around $50 each lamp, I sell for $120 a set of four and will modify the flanges to fit your lights.

Andy
"Be Seen, and Not Hurt!"
Lighting Upgrades for 2002, E3, E12, E21, E23, E24, E28, E30, E32, E36, E39 - front & back
Headlight and Tail Light upgrades for maximum visibility. Headlight protection to keep lights intact.
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Super Coop
Posts: 362
Joined: Fri Mar 03, 2006 5:24 am
Location: Spokane Washington

Post by Super Coop »

I picked up Sylvania ultra-whites for the 89 “bulbs onlyâ€
SprCpe

1989 635csi # 3268410

Ostatecznym maszyny jazdy BMW
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