Headlight Bulb Upgrade?

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Accessories and Modifications' started by 13Prius3, Jan 8, 2013.

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  1. 13Prius3

    13Prius3 Junior Member

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    after tinting my wife's windshield on her new Prius 3 i find myself wanting more output from the factory headlights. can someone "recommend" a good quality "better" bulb than the factory ones? i am looking to replace the low and high beam bulbs. i'm not interested in upgrading to full on HID's or a conversion, i just want a better bulb. post up your opinions...
     
    #1 13Prius3, Jan 8, 2013
  2. ahmeow

    ahmeow Prius Lover

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    Search ebay for same spec. PIAA bulb,US design,made in japan, but highter intensity, say 4000-5000K. will make you happy.
     
    #2 ahmeow, Jan 8, 2013
  3. somebody7

    somebody7 Member

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    I bought these Philips H11 CrystalVision Ultra's and I'm pretty happy with them.
     
    #3 somebody7, Jan 8, 2013
  4. xliderider

    xliderider Senior Member

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    My opinion is that the windshield should not have been tinted. ;)
     
    #4 xliderider, Jan 8, 2013
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  5. 13Prius3

    13Prius3 Junior Member

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    If you knew how much heat came thru the windshield and how many UV rays come thru you'd change your opinion...
     
    #5 13Prius3, Jan 8, 2013
  6. 32kcolors

    32kcolors Senior Member

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    Perhaps it's your opinion that should be changed. The factory windshield already has a 100% UV cut rate along with 55% solar heat rejection.

    It's not bad if you stick with Llumar Air Blue or equivalent to cut down on the heat even further, but applying anything darker to the windshield is downright moronic.
     
    #6 32kcolors, Jan 9, 2013
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  7. 13Prius3

    13Prius3 Junior Member

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    So I'm a moron because I like something different than you? Thought this forum would be different than all the others? Seems like there are just as many kindergartners here as the others.
     
    #7 13Prius3, Jan 9, 2013
  8. stream

    stream Senior Member

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    I replaced my fogs (the same size as your low beams) with PIAA bulbs--see post below for details:
    Replaced Turn Signals, Fog Lights, High Beams, Parking Lights & Rear License Plate Bulbs | PriusChat
     
    #8 stream, Jan 9, 2013
  9. Air_Boss

    Air_Boss Senior Member

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    Yuuup.
     
    #9 Air_Boss, Jan 9, 2013
  10. 13Prius3

    13Prius3 Junior Member

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    Good thing i didnt ask your opinion on whether or not i should have tinted my windshield. If yall dont want to tint yours thats your choice. I tint windows for a living and i prefer all my stuff to be tinted. Thanks to the guys who actually commented on what the post was about. I will look into the PIAAs.
     
    #10 13Prius3, Jan 9, 2013
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  11. Air_Boss

    Air_Boss Senior Member

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    To the guy with a hammer, everything looks like a nail...
     
    #11 Air_Boss, Jan 9, 2013
  12. 32kcolors

    32kcolors Senior Member

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    It's not a matter of liking something different. You're putting yourself at risk and endangering others. A forum member had dark tints on his windshield and admitted that he almost ran someone over. Fortunately, he was a few states away from me.

    It is, however, your choice if you want to spend quality time with Bubba and his bad breath.
     
    #12 32kcolors, Jan 9, 2013
  13. 13Prius3

    13Prius3 Junior Member

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    Ours isnt dark at all. At least not to us. We can see just fine at night even with the stock headlights. I was just wanting something a little better. Having tint on my windshield is no more unsafe than all the jackasses who drive and talk on a cell phone or worse, have ear buds in their ears listening to their ipods instead of the car stereo. I didnt ask for opinions on tint. I asked for opinions on bulbs. If you dont have anything knowledgeable to contribute, stay out of this thread. Simple as that. Have a nice day
     
    #13 13Prius3, Jan 9, 2013
  14. Ragin Cajun

    Ragin Cajun Junior Member

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    In most states its illegal to tint the windshield unless you have a medical need. To each his own. I bought the Philips Ultra vision for the low beams. I have them in all my cars. The light it slightly whiter with a hint of Blue.
     
    #14 Ragin Cajun, Jan 9, 2013
  15. 13Prius3

    13Prius3 Junior Member

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    it is illegal in our state too. but you hit the nail on the head. unless there is a medical exemption. my wife in fact has that exemption because of how her eyes dilate with oncoming headlights. yes, there are lighter tint shades out there that will help with this issue for her. but for her actual problem, we have found, thru many years of trial and error, that the 45% range is perfect for her. it is not too dark, and yet it reduces the glare a whole lot. while 45% may be too dark for some people. it is perfect in this particular situation. fortunately for us, with me tinting windows for a living, it doesn't cost me anything to test different shades with the exception of the film cost itself. which is minimal to say the least.
     
    #15 13Prius3, Jan 9, 2013
  16. 32kcolors

    32kcolors Senior Member

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    I haven't found a significant difference using the aforementioned PIAAs over stock bulbs so HIDs are pretty much the only way to go if you want better lightning.
     
    #16 32kcolors, Jan 9, 2013
  17. xliderider

    xliderider Senior Member

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    There is a pending legal case here in Hawaii where a guy driving a BMW late one night hit and killed a young college student in a marked crosswalk. To make matters much worse, the driver failed to stop and render aid to the young woman. They apprehended the driver eventually. Later, I saw a news clip of the vehicle being towed into police evidence and noticed that the vehicle had dark tinted headlights. Uh oh.

    Tinted headlights, tinted windshields, similar problem, reduced visibility for the driver. Something to think about. Or, in your case, probably not.

    You mentioned a medical problem your wife has, after initially stating only the heat and UV benefits of tinting windshields. Your wife may be ok if she has some kind of medical clearance, but you would not. Your wife could also wear a pair of lightly tinted cosmetic sunglasses at night to help her with the glare issue.
     
    #17 xliderider, Jan 9, 2013
  18. Air_Boss

    Air_Boss Senior Member

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    And the OP could tint 'em!
     
    #18 Air_Boss, Jan 9, 2013
  19. ny_rob

    ny_rob Senior Member

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    Decent HID's (complete kit including (2) ballasts, (2) bulbs, etc..) are under $150 now- and will take 30min or less to install.
    Problem solved...
     
    #19 ny_rob, Jan 9, 2013
  20. 13Prius3

    13Prius3 Junior Member

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    thanks for the opinions on what i should do to OUR car. i appreciate all the concerns regarding my window tint. the good thing about AMERICA, at least for the time being, is that i have a right to do what I want to do to my vehicles. yes, i could potentially get a ticket for having a windshield tinted. not likely though, seeing how every car i have owned in the last 10 years has had the windshield tinted. but nonetheless, my windshield being tinted is not that uncommon here where we live. i appreciate the safety concern as well. but no one is in anymore danger by my windshield being tinted than they are if they simply walk out the door of their home. thanks for showing me that most of you guys are just like the posters on other forums and just want to hate on someone. i will spend very limited on this site because of you. maybe that's what you guys were going for? if so, Congratulations!
     
    #20 13Prius3, Jan 9, 2013
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