I've had 2 blow out on the right, 1 on the left, last nght another one on the left blew out...that is 4 in one year...is this abnormal?

my other set on my old car lasted 3.5 years and 3 different cars.

nope the HL's have more vibration than the older cars.

My silverstars that were in my 93 for 5 years are still burning in my 03 (knock on wood)

I put some in our 2k right after we got it and the left side blew out about a month ago. Less than a year on the set.

I put ultras in my wife's grand am several months ago. Both dim filaments went out simultaneously a couple weeks ago. I'm putting PIAA's in to replace them. I've had PIAA's in my 92 for several years now, and none (dim or bright) have burnt out.

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WHITE WHINE - 1992 SSE Supercharged 236.26 ci (.040 Over) 15.090 at 90.2 MPH on old engine w/ slipping trans & melted O2 sensor - Gen 3 M62 and matching TB, Gen 2 Pully, Zillamotorsports Ported LIM, YT 1.72 Roller Rockers, SII FPR & Injectors, Hypertech Thermomaster chip w/ 160 Thermo, TransGo Shift Kit, Infinity/Pioneer Speakers & a 10" Alpine Type R Sub, all the watts, 140 amp Alternator, Ricepipe CAI w/ heatshield, Pilot Angel Eye Foglights, Clear Corners, '02 17" Chrome Bent 5's, Magnaflow F-Body Muffler and Hi-flo Cat, Ceramic Coated Ported Exhaust Manifolds, Fan Override, Monroe Reflex struts, red calipers
2009 G8 GT - Sport Red Metallic, loaded, SOLO Axlebacks, Rotofab Intake, Tuned, autodim mirror, removed intake manifold cover, HSV GTS triple gauge pod, two tone red-hot shifter and HSV SuperSport steering wheel, GXP rear sway bar and diffuser, 3.45 diff and various Camaro suspension bits, LED Taillights

did you change the fuse's for the lights i think those bulbs pull a stronger amp than the factory bulbs?

Silverstars are well known to last a lot shorter timethan standard bulbs. Theyre slightly overdriven and fairly fragile.

_________________
02 SSEi-Turning money into tire smoke, very efficiently.

The first set that I had lasted right about a year. The second set about 2.5 years.

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*Gone, but not forgotten* - Black 2000 SSEi, HIR Headlights, Angel Eyes fogs, 3rd brake light overlay, hi-flo cat, 180 degree thermostat, HS 1.9 rockers, LSx yellow springs, Intense FWI, PCM, shift kit, push rods, and 3.4 Pulley. ZZP Power Log.

Hans,
Go get yourself this light, get the 80w light in the 9006 series

http://www.rallylights.com/detail.aspx?ID=285

If you want a really bright light get this one(with 100w) in the 9005 series and put them in the high side and modify them to fit the low beam side.

http://www.rallylights.com/detail.aspx?ID=2318
or this one
http://www.rallylights.com/detail.aspx?ID=464

I have an 130/90w light in my motorcycle that still has the stock wiring, and I don't think that an 80w or even an 100w light bulb will hurt your car. When one of the lights burn out I'm going with the 100w lights in Cindy's car. If you want more light you need to up the wattage of the bulb. The light I have in my bike produces about 2400/1750 lumens and that is way more than stock(I need all the light I can get on the bike).LOL

ROD

_________________
2000 SSEI (SOLD)
rods789 at comcast.net
PB 14.474 @ 96.248 PB 60' 2.168
180 therm AEM DRYFLOW Air Filters
3.33 pulley 3" cat back exhaust
custom solid front motor mount
custom 6" (BIG) intake
__WCBF '06, '07, '08, '11 survivor__

I am replaced both sides since I bought the car in Feb., I was thinking about doing a HID conversion, has any one done this?

_________________
2001 Black Bonneville SSEI with the following mods:
3.4 pulley, autolite 104's, 8.8mm wire set, FWI, throttle body spacer

I don't recomend over watting because as wattage goes up, efficiancy usually goes down. If you really want high output with stock wattage, go for HIR bulbs from toshiba.

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02 SSEi-Turning money into tire smoke, very efficiently.

The HIR is a damm good light bulb but at $30 a bulb(on line) and hard to find on the street for under $50 each, I would put the 80 or 100 watt bulb in. The stock wiring will take the 80w bulb with no problems and I would check the resistance with the 100w bulb but I don't think it would be to much for the stock wiring. And at $10 a bulb you will get way more light than any SSU bulb.


http://www.rallylights.com/detail.aspx?ID=1414

ROD

_________________
2000 SSEI (SOLD)
rods789 at comcast.net
PB 14.474 @ 96.248 PB 60' 2.168
180 therm AEM DRYFLOW Air Filters
3.33 pulley 3" cat back exhaust
custom solid front motor mount
custom 6" (BIG) intake
__WCBF '06, '07, '08, '11 survivor__

www.finemotoring.com has them for 25 each. I just ordered a pair for the brights, as I'm doing an HID retro and don't need lows.

_________________
02 SSEi-Turning money into tire smoke, very efficiently.

Ok Hans,

Will you be the one to test the HIR bulb ?
I mean putting the high beam HIR into the low beam side.
If you do, we would like to see before and after pic's.
Also keep one of the good old bulbs in the car so if you burn out
an light you have an spare, just in case the other one goes out too.
Come on Hans "Get ur Done"

ROD

_________________
2000 SSEI (SOLD)
rods789 at comcast.net
PB 14.474 @ 96.248 PB 60' 2.168
180 therm AEM DRYFLOW Air Filters
3.33 pulley 3" cat back exhaust
custom solid front motor mount
custom 6" (BIG) intake
__WCBF '06, '07, '08, '11 survivor__

Hans,
I used to use the SilverStar Ultras....I got less than a year out of 2 different sets. The second time they went, I contacted Sylvania and they replied that these were designed for high light output, not life longer than 6 months or so. At that point I decided to trash the ultras. I can't afford $30+ every 6 months. I found another post here where you can modify a set of high beam bulbs to fit in the low beam sockets. I did it and I'm glad I did. I'll never use another low beam bulb again. I have NOT gotten high beams from any oncoming drivers as the beam is designed to hit the road, and it does with lots more light. I'm very pleased with this 15 minute mod to the bulbs to make them fit. No mod needed at all to the wiring or housing.

Details of the mod here
http://pontiacbonnevilleclub.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=6042
Dan

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Dan McCann
2000 SSEi

FWIW, the 92-95 headlamp assemblies work great with the SS. The Zilla is on it's original set almost 5 years old. The SLE has had them for over 2 years.

The 96 and newer headlamps don't have as much vibration damping in the assembly mounts. That's been my theory on the early failures for some time considering the life expectancies are so unique for each generation.

_________________

Click here for mod list for both cars
93 SSEi, 95 SLE (supercharged) 97 Buick LeSabre Limited
PontiacDad at WCBF '04: Cruise control? That's like surrendering!
Comprehensive guide to troubleshooting, rebuilding, and modifying Eaton Superchargers

It's funny that Hans started this post on Nov 10 and he has not responded to any of the replies.
Fix your lights yet ? I want pic's.

ROD

_________________
2000 SSEI (SOLD)
rods789 at comcast.net
PB 14.474 @ 96.248 PB 60' 2.168
180 therm AEM DRYFLOW Air Filters
3.33 pulley 3" cat back exhaust
custom solid front motor mount
custom 6" (BIG) intake
__WCBF '06, '07, '08, '11 survivor__

agreed... I have the same set of silverstars I bought over 4 years ago on the 95 Bonnie.. The 91 Had Cool Blues that were still great but a lamp got crushed in the accident..

It does seem that the newer bonnies, especially the 00+ the silverstars will not last.. I also agree it has to do with mounting design..

Another possibility is that the 00+s run higher voltage from the alternator. It would be interesting to see if anyone running the alternator sense wire mod on the previous generation has shortened bulb life.

_________________
*Gone, but not forgotten* - Black 2000 SSEi, HIR Headlights, Angel Eyes fogs, 3rd brake light overlay, hi-flo cat, 180 degree thermostat, HS 1.9 rockers, LSx yellow springs, Intense FWI, PCM, shift kit, push rods, and 3.4 Pulley. ZZP Power Log.

But the 96-99's with the plastic headlamp assemblies also suffer short lifetimes on the SS. It's the glass 92-95 lights that don't have the problem. More mass, less road vibration. (lower frequency)

_________________

Click here for mod list for both cars
93 SSEi, 95 SLE (supercharged) 97 Buick LeSabre Limited
PontiacDad at WCBF '04: Cruise control? That's like surrendering!
Comprehensive guide to troubleshooting, rebuilding, and modifying Eaton Superchargers

I have had the SS on my car for 2 years and have had no trouble at all. I upgraded to the heavy duty sockets and thicker wires. Maybe that has helped but I can't confirm it.

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2007 Grand Prix GT L32
Poly endlinks, swaybar bushings and dogbone bushings. Drop in high flow air filter. Its a start!

2009 Mitsubishi Eclipse GS (project BlackSheep) Bone stock for now, 5 spd and fun as hell! (Gf's Ride)
1996 Pontiac Bonneville SE Gone but not forgotten
1997 Dodge Ram Sport 4x4 5.9L The Beast!