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What's the best headlight bulb?

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Accessories and Modifications' started by mediahound, Jan 21, 2014.

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  1. mediahound

    mediahound Active Member

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    What's the best and brightest h11 headlight bulbs to get?

    I don't want to go HID and also would like something that is a pure white and not yellowish.

    Any recommendations?
     
    #1 mediahound, Jan 21, 2014
  2. A.Reyes

    A.Reyes Active Member

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    #2 A.Reyes, Jan 21, 2014
  3. bino

    bino JDM ZVW30

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    #3 bino, Jan 21, 2014
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  4. zhenya

    zhenya Active Member

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    The best quality (and hence brightest) H11 bulbs available are the Philips xtreme vision and the Osram Nightbreaker.

    All of these bulbs are still Halogen so they will, by definition, have approximately the same color output as that is fixed by the technology and can only be changed by placing a filter over the bulb. The Osram Nightbreaker Unlimited has a blue tint over portions of the bulb (but notably NOT over the filament) which will give some color change off-axis, which is a nod towards market demands while still trying to maintain maximum light output.

    Note that bulbs like this will have significantly less lifetime than your OEM bulbs - as short as 100 hours. I still think the H9 conversion is a far better idea and will get you on average 250 hours with a whole lot more light.
     
    #4 zhenya, Jan 21, 2014
  5. xliderider

    xliderider Senior Member

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    +1 for H9 conversion.

    The premium H11 bulbs are overpriced, the H9 are around $8 each.
     
    #5 xliderider, Jan 21, 2014
  6. mediahound

    mediahound Active Member

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    It just seems like such a PITA to do the H9 conversion though.
     
    #6 mediahound, Jan 21, 2014
  7. mrbigh

    mrbigh Prius Absolutum Dominium

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    But still, H9 are the best choice for the money and they are brighter!!!
     
    #7 mrbigh, Jan 21, 2014
  8. xliderider

    xliderider Senior Member

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    This is a list of your mods in your signature:

    "TRD Prius Plus: 17" wheels, Toyo Proxes 4 Plus tires, Lowering Springs, Rear Sway Bar"


    And you are moaning about a 10 minute conversion of two bulb bases with some simple tools? I just don't get it.
     
    #8 xliderider, Jan 21, 2014
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  9. mediahound

    mediahound Active Member

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    I don't think there is anyone who would say it's not a PITA except you.
     
    #9 mediahound, Jan 21, 2014
  10. lizardskin

    lizardskin Junior Member

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    don't buy these.

    Philips H11 CrystalVision Ultra Headlight Bulb

    Not only dimmer (but slightly whiter) than my OEMs but I'm on my second one (first one lasted less than 6 months!!). Right side headlight still works after 3.5+ years!
     
    #10 lizardskin, Jan 21, 2014
  11. xliderider

    xliderider Senior Member

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    Ok, sticking to the thread... Sylvania Silverstar zXe H11 bulbs are pretty good, but shop around for the best price.

    SCH-I535
     
    #11 xliderider, Jan 21, 2014
  12. lizardskin

    lizardskin Junior Member

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    anyone know what is the OEM brand and model bulb??
     
    #12 lizardskin, Jan 21, 2014
  13. xliderider

    xliderider Senior Member

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    I believe they are marked H11 Osram, made in Germany.

    SCH-I535
     
    #13 xliderider, Jan 21, 2014
  14. zhenya

    zhenya Active Member

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    It's not a PITA. 5 minutes per side is being really generous.
     
    #14 zhenya, Jan 21, 2014
  15. xliderider

    xliderider Senior Member

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    Yeah, that argument makes no sense. It is much harder to access and change the passenger side lowbeam bulbs on the Prius than it is to modify both H9 bulbs.

    Yet, the OP doesn't seem to mind replacing the OEM bulbs with something plug and play.

    SCH-I535
     
    #15 xliderider, Jan 21, 2014
  16. mrbigh

    mrbigh Prius Absolutum Dominium

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    Agree....(y)
     
    #16 mrbigh, Jan 21, 2014
  17. burstaneurysm

    burstaneurysm Active Member

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    What's the reasoning behind not wanting to go HID? Output is far superior and you can get kits that cost less than high output halogens that (in my experience) burn out in less than a year.
     
    #17 burstaneurysm, Jan 21, 2014
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  18. GasperG

    GasperG Senior Member

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    Reason for not going HID? It's not legal, maybe I would get away with 4500K, but definitly not with 6000K, maybe next time.
    Now I have ordered H11 Osram Nightbraker Unlimited, they were just a few euros more, I just hope they will last more than a year, they are supposed to last much longer than the first version of Nigthbrakers.

    First OEM bulb went out after 4 years, the second is still working, I will post some before after pictures with camera in manual mode, when I change them.
     
    #18 GasperG, Jan 21, 2014
  19. mediahound

    mediahound Active Member

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    HIDs are great but do have some negatives.

    As mentioned, they are not legal in many states although here in California, as long as they are not super blue, you generally are fine.

    The mounting of the ballasts can be a pain, the HID bulbs don't last that long (although a bright H11 or H9 doesn't either). Cheapy HID ballasts can go bad quickly too, although good quality ones should last years.
     
    #19 mediahound, Jan 21, 2014
  20. mediahound

    mediahound Active Member

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    A true 6000k is not really blue, it looks more white. The issue is if the HID ballast is a cheapy one, those tend to make the bulbs bluer than they should be.

    There's some YouTube video where the guy swaps the same bulb between 2 different brand ballasts and the color goes from a blueish to what looks like a pure white, same bulb!
     
    #20 mediahound, Jan 21, 2014
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