Foggy headlights + 3M kit (PICS)

[TrueWildMan]

So I decided to stop fooling around and do it right. But I will say this: even with the 3M kit, a very good first step was to use the Magic Eraser to get the yellowing and surface oxidation off first, so that the sandpaper doesn't gum up.

Anyhoo, here's before:





This was after the first 500-grit. Looks pretty much the same after the 800-grit, so I didn't snap a shot:





And here's the final product:





This is the 3M kit I bought from Wal-Mart for $18. For the size of our headlights, I'd recommend getting 2 if it's really bad:





Then, I installed Silverstar highs and lows. Looks great back on the car! I'll snap some pics with 'em back on the car when the sun comes back around tomorrow.

[00Beast]

Looks great!! Expect to replace those Silverstars in the next few months, though. Don't last very long.

[TrueWildMan]

Looks great!! Expect to replace those Silverstars in the next few months, though. Don't last very long.

The last set lasted me years. I've found that if you touch the bulbs when you install them, you basically kill them. Be extra careful to never touch the bulbs, and they're one of the best out there.

[00Beast]

I know I never touched my bulbs, and they still only lasted me 3 months. Just personal experience.

[rrounds]

And don't forget to put the 9005 bulb in the lowbeam side. You get much more light(about 70% more) when on the lowbeams when you do this.

ROD

[Hans]

I'm on my 6th silverstar in my 2001 SSEi, I have never touched the bulbs other than the base. I had 2 fail on me last month. Different sides. I get around 6 months out of them but I do a lot of night driving.

[rrounds]

I'm on my 6th silverstar in my 2001 SSEi, I have never touched the bulbs other than the base. I had 2 fail on me last month. Different sides. I get around 6 months out of them but I do a lot of night driving.

Hans,
Put a standard high beam(cheap GE bulb) bulb in the low beam side and it will put out more light than any low beam SilverStar bulb will ever put out and last for years.

ROD

[TrueWildMan]

I'm on my 6th silverstar in my 2001 SSEi, I have never touched the bulbs other than the base. I had 2 fail on me last month. Different sides. I get around 6 months out of them but I do a lot of night driving.

That's strange. And you guys aren't getting any moisture in there at all?

[92BonneSE]

It seems like people either have great luck or horrible luck with Silverstars. Ive had mine in my headlights for over a year and I do a fair amount of night driving and they are still going. I tried using Silverstars when I had my stock fogs and my car would eat up those fog light bulbs, I replaced them every week for 2-3 weeks then gave up

[zuper8]

i have silverstars and silverstar ultras in many cars... never had a problem. i always slop dielectric grease on the connectors to help seal out any moisture. and i wear gloves while installing them just to be sure. but i also remember something about the 00+ having more vibration in the headlights...?

and those headlights turned out fantastic!

[LeSabre in Buffalo]

SilverStars with the Sylvania label are blue-tinted and short-lived. They get more light by driving the filament harder. This reduces the lifespan of the bulb considerably.

Here are some Sylvania websites explaining the difference in lifespan between their regular halogen bulbs and the SilverStar bulbs. 320 hours for the regular 9005, 60 hours for the SilverStar.

SS 9005
http://www.sylvaniaautocatalog.com/sylv ... T,%20%20ST

Comparison of regular, Cool Blue (CB), long life (LL) and SilverStar (ST) 9005 bulbs.
http://www.sylvaniaautocatalog.com/sylv ... Number=126

Here's the website I got that bulb life information from:
http://www.sylvania.com/ConsumerProduct ... nProducts/

[willwren]

TWM, your previous silverstar experience was on the 92-95 headlight design, where they seem to last FAR longer. 5 years and counting on the Zilla, 3 years and counting on the SLEeper.

[Bugsi]

I used Silverstar bulbs in the driving lights in my SE. I wear medical rubber gloves when installing them, and they always die within a year.

But "x2" on the high beam bulb in the low position. That works.

[TrueWildMan]

TWM, your previous silverstar experience was on the 92-95 headlight design, where they seem to last FAR longer. 5 years and counting on the Zilla, 3 years and counting on the SLEeper.

I got two years out of them on my '00...

[Peterg22000]

I was at close to 3 years when I stopped driving the Bonneville.. and they're still working (after sitting a year and a half ontop of that)

[rrounds]

But "x2" on the high beam bulb in the low position. That works.

Yes, but it's hard to convince people that you can get 70% more light from a cheap 9005 bulb in the 9006 bulb side than a $30 9006 SilverStar bulb in the low beam side.

ROD

[SAMzGXP]

can you please post pics of what you used?
im very interested
mine lost their shine

thanks
samz

[TrueWildMan]

can you please post pics of what you used?
im very interested
mine lost their shine

thanks
samz

D'oh!! I thought I did, sorry. Here it is:




Will also edit main post...

[crzydmnd72]

First of all, TWM, great job!

Second, putting a hi beam lamp in the low beam side...does this blind other drivers or cause any un-needed grief?

[Bugsi]

First of all, TWM, great job!

Second, putting a hi beam lamp in the low beam side...does this blind other drivers or cause any un-needed grief?

No, and no. You just have to trim off a plastic tab from the high-beam bulb connector, and narrow down the plastic tabs on the outer mounting ring. Dremel takes care of it in about a minute.