Ken, I speak on only the PIAA... The Superwhites have a blue tint but doesn't "color" your vision or the road, for that matter. It does not contain xenon gas. But it is one heck of a bulb.
Ken, I'm not sure which bulbs my ML comes with, but it is a 55w H7 Hella bulb (for the low beams) with some Xenon gas in it. For your Jetta, I suggest that you try out the Sylvania Cool Blue (they're not actually blue) bulbs, which are definitely available in H7 form. A couple of people in our M-class mailing list have tried it and have been extremely happy with the results. The Cool Blues are also a lot cheaper than the PIAAs, but they're not as "white".
The PIAA bulbs actually do also contain trace amounts of Xenon gas in it, just like the Hellas. There is a very light purplish tint on it, but that's a dichroic (I think that's the word) filter that is mean to filter out the yellow from the output. This is how you get the really white light output and the "tint" (which is actually the filter) is not intended to actually tint the light output unlike the bluish/purplish coating that those cheap Korean imitation bulbs have.
... which is Greek for "two color". Or is it Latin? And do we care? :-)
I still have to wonder whether they are actually getting any (or any significant) excitation from the Xenon itself. Presumably the $1k lighting systems the Edmunds editorial talks about actually use high-voltage electricity to "kick" the Xenon molecules into emitting their light. (Flash tubes use high-voltage, low-current discharges, and with a simple electronic circuit, you can turn 12V DC battery current into the high-voltage stuff. The high voltages involved make the parts expensive, even if the circuit itself is simple.)
The true High Intensity Discharge Xenon headlamp systems are also expensive because they require ballasts and ignitors. My E320 is equipped with these headlamps and they are a heck of a lot brighter and whiter than any halogen bulbs will ever be. I believe that the initial startup voltage for the HID lamps is 25,000 volts and 20 amps.
Check out the FAQ and the Gallery pictures. You'll see the difference in colour temperature of the lights in warmup and steady state (Pictures of the MB cars). http://www.hidlights.com/
ateixeira: I paid $60 for the H4 (80/80 watts) output 135/115 watts. $40 pair H3-Foglights (55 watts) output 85 watts. They ARE awesome.
aling1: Thanks...I didn't know the bulbs had a "trace" of xenon gas. But still... I'm convinced...I've seen other bulbs at night while I drive, your common "blue" and my PIAA's put shame. Don't think I'm a bigget (I think that's how it's spelled), but I'm going to promote what's good! I should get commission off PIAA!!:-)
Each harness is in the vehicle, so no, they are not missing (as I had proposed before). Instead each of them was very well hidden, and you really had to dig beneath the radio console, the lower dash board behind the steering wheel, and the engine compartment to find the wires.
The trick in locating the upgrade wires: look for blue tape!! All three were taped up to other wires, so that they wouldn't rattle around. If you note blue tape, you've found them.
The whole install took about 4 hours, (that includes looking for these dumb wires). The security upgrade works pretty good. I'm going to adjust the sensitivity of the shock detector however, since it only went off once when I literally sat on the hood of the car.
For me this was actually fun to install. I like working on my car, and having it in about a dozen pieces or so You get a real sense of ownership for something you've done yourself.
I felt the same way after painstakingly sewing on the leather cover for my steering wheel. One mistake and you have to undo it and start over. I think it took two hours at least, on a hot day.
Looks great, feels beefy thick, and it was well worth it.
I would strongly suggest sticking to the wattage of the stock bulbs. Moving up to a higher voltage could melt the wiring harness, the bulb holder, the reflector, the lens, or a combination of all. I don't think that it's worth the risk (could catch on fire as well).
No, you'll just need a pair. One for each headlamp.
Good Luck, and I'm absolutely certain that you'll enjoy the improvement in night time visibility.
Yes you can, juice. There quite a number of places that sell them. The more common ones that come to mind are www.autosupermart.com (they guarantee the lowest prices), or www.autobulbdeport.com
Yes, it's just a bulb replacement. I think that you'll notice a big difference in night, especially the contrast between different objects. The PIAA bulbs are a little bit brighter, but a heck of a lot whiter. Since the contrast is better, your eyes don't have to strain as much, and they won't be as tired. Have a look at the pictures below.
The picture on the left is from a regular halogen headlamps, and the one on the right is from HID Xenon headlamps. The PIAAs won't be quite as good as the picture on the right (halogen technology can only go so far), but you'll see what I mean by better contrast from whiter light.
I too was skeptical at first, but a couple of minutes of driving at night after the PIAAs made me a believer.
I am pretty sure Canadian Tire sells one. Installing it may not be as straightforward as you think though. I have posted the schematic there if you want to have a look.
Drew: Thanks for the info, I'll try Canadian Tire... unless I decide to spring the money for the PIAA!!!
In my case, I just wanted to play around with a very cheap modification for kicks. I've been happy with the Forester's lighting, but I thought I'd give the Hella Premium Xenon bulbs a try. They were only about $10 each so it was low risk. Also, I've been skeptical of blue bulbs (which these Hellas are not).
Just the other night, I had a friend come over with his Forester S and we compared lights side by side. We also tried driving down a dark street consecutively to see if we could notice a difference. The Hella bulbs do cast a whiter light which is noticeable by the driver. One of these days, we'll have to find a completely dark country road to compare range and dispersion.
FYI, I bought my PIAA Platinum Superwhite bulbs from Lordco Parts. I believe that they're cheaper than they were back when I bought them, so perhaps you should look into those too. But, the PIAAs Superwhites are still not available in H1 or H7 form. Perhaps what you could do is spring for the H3 PIAA (or Sylvania) bulbs for your foglamps, and if you like them, you can then choose to wait for the H7 PIAAs, or get the Sylvanias right now.
The OB 2000 and GT require 2 bulbs per headlight. 55W-H1 for LOW and 60W-9005 (HB3) for HIGH. Other than GT or OB have only one: 60/55W-9007 (HB5). The fog lights on the OB are 51W-9006 (HB4) and the non OB are 55W-H3. This is for Canadian models. It may be different for other countries.
An H4 bulb is also referenced to as a 9003 or an HB2. A 9004 bulb is also referenced to as a HB1. A 9005 bulb is also referenced to as a HB3. A 9006 bulb is also referenced to as a HB4. A 9007 bulb is also referenced to as a HB5.
H1, H2, H3, & H7 bulbs are usually referenced as such.
Pat, it looks like you can either wait for the H1 Superwhite to become available in the future, or you can go with the H1 Cool Blues (which are quite a bit cheaper). The PIAA Superwhites are currently available in H3, H4, and 9004 to 9007 sizes.
FYI, the H4s are also available in Super Plasma Blue (even higher colour temperature and nicer than the Superwhites). Autosupermart.com is currently selling the H4 Superwhites and the H4 Super Plasmas for the same price ($69.99 for a pair). Given the choice, definitely go for the latter. The Super Plasmas are the closest thing that I've seen compared to the real HID Xenon bulbs. They're even a touch bluish when viewed from outside the vehicle. From behind the wheel though, they are just as good (or maybe even slightly better) than the Superwhites.
The Sylvania Cool Blues range in colour temperature (depending on bulb style) from 3500K to 3700K. The PIAA Superwhites are 3800K, the Platinum Superwhites are 3950K; The Super Plasma bulbs are 4300K. I believe that most true HID Xenon bulbs are 4700+K. Sunlight is 5250K.
More on the H4 Super Plasma bulbs: "The Super Plasma is a H4 55 watt low beam / 60 watt high beam bulb producing 100 and 110 watts. SAE certified in all states. Piaa has applied a plasma blue coating to the low beam area of the bulb and its PIAA Super White coating to the high beam area. With the two coatings, this bulb allows you to have a low beam with near HID color, and a intense very bright super white high beam. The low beam has a color of light blue, giving a near Xenon lamp look, however the high beam is yellowish compared to the low beam."
Have you any direct experience with the Sylvania Cool Blues? Are they any brighter than standard halogens (ie. filled with Xenon) or are they simply standard bulbs with a blue tint? I'm looking for inexpensive ways to improve the lighting on my Jetta which uses H7 bulbs.
Yes, I bought the 9004 Cool Blues for my minivan just about 1.5 months ago. They are definitely whiter than the stock 9004 Sylvania non-Cool Blue bulbs that were in there before. I tried a couple of other bulbs prior to the Cool Blues, but while they were legal (and no loss in output), they were all terrible and I always ended up going back to the stock bulbs. I just couldn't bring myself to spend that kind of money on the 9004 PIAAs (not for this 6 year old van), so I waited. However, one day while looking for spray paint at Canadian Tire, I stumbled across the Cool Blues (I've read about and seen the differences before) and immediately bought them.
However, unlike the PIAAs, when I first put one bulb in, it was a little difficult to tell at first (I was looking from the side) from the stock bulb. I could tell when looking at the stock and C.B bulb side-by-side and straight on. When I took the van out later at night, I immediately noticed a difference in the light output (slightly brighter and definitely whiter). I would recommend them since they are a good (legal and cheaper) alternative to the PIAAs. I should also add that the different sizes of Cool Blue bulbs may have different colour temperatures.
BTW, no they're not just cheap imitation bulbs with tint. They have similar filters, just like the ones found in the PIAAs. I'm not sure if they're Xenon filled though (could be). For more info, have a look here: http://www.sylvania.com/prodinfo/auto/cool/welcome.htm
Phillips also makes a similar product known as the "Blue Visions". However, I have no experience with those bulbs and hence can't say anything about them.
Aling1: I too was making comparisons to the Plasma Blue vs. the Platinum SuperWhites. I went with the Platinum SuperWhites because the Auto Parts owner said that he has the Plasma Blue on his vehicle and although they look "nice" from the outside or on-coming traffic, they are not as bright (whiter) as the Platinum SuperWhites; especially in high beam. I went with his word, cause they both cost the same, so I don't think he was trying to get off to make xtra profit. PS- My friend which the owner of the Auto Store happens to be his client, also experienced it and admitted that the Platinums were brighter than the Plasma Blue. Just some FYI...=)
That's strange because the high beams of the Super Plasma bulbs ARE Superwhites. It's only the low beams that are Super Plama. I read a test in a U.K auto magazine which liked the Super Plasmas just as much as (or even more so than) the Superwhites.
In any case, both are good and you can't go wrong with either.
Canadian Tire does not have the 9005. They told me they have no intention to carry it. They have the 9004. Lordco does not carry Sylvania anymore either. As far as I know the H1 does not exist at all in Sylvania cool blue (it's not listed on their website). The PIAA look good but that's quite expensive...
The H7 Cool Blues is not listed at Sylvania's website either, but one of the M-class owners managed to get it (and the H1 Cool Blues) for his vehicle. I'll ask him where he bought his from. Did Canadian Tire have any of the Cool Blue bulb sizes at all for your Outback?
The PIAA H1s are unfortunately still not available with in Superwhite form; they're supposed to be soon though. However, the PIAA Superwhites are available in 9005 (for your foglamps).
Lucien, I went to the Hella site and found the Rallye 1000 but not the 500. Do the 500 look similar (or point me to a photo)?
To answer your question (but I reserve the right to equivocate), I am function over form. You offroad sometimes so if anyone "deserves" them, it's you (well your OB). If you want to rally offroad, they're a must, even in the daylight.
On the form issue, I suggest you cajole Bob into using some of his fancy-shmancy graphics programs to overlay an OB photo with a photo of the Hella's so you can install them "virtually". Why do all the work yourself? Make Bob help!
Important Q: What's Kirsten say? (apologies if I got hacked her name; please correct me)
No Canadian Tire did not have ANY of the cool blue bulbs for my OB 2000. The also said they are not planning of carrying them either... If you know a place I can get them at a reasonable cost by mail order, please let me know... Thanks.
they're quite inexpensive as well. I've seen them available for under US$70. Just be sure to buy the clear acrylic stone shields, because they are vulnerable to damage. BTW, I've heard of a few ML owners that have left the Hella (opaque - shown in the picture above) stone shields in place when they turned the lights on. The result, melted stone shields and ruined lamps. This is one of the reasons why I recommend the clear shields. You'll never have to take them off.
I believe that www.urbanjungle.com carries both the Hella 500 foglamps and driving lamps, as well as the stone shields.
Kirsten thinks it might be dorky, and she might be right. But we are planning on some roadtripping this summer, and I could use more light on the back roads
Has anyone put a Weapon-R or similar cone-filter style air intake on their Subaru? If so:
How do you get better power when it's sucking in hot under-hood air? I have considered putting WRX hood vents in my Outback hood to let in cool air--and would just plain look pretty cool too!
Any probs with the air meter? I've read of problems with Impreza after putting in new intakes...
dave U are quite right about sucking hot air in. It's pretty much nullified a performance intake. What the revelation is to keep your air box and take out the snorkus attached to the Impreza's intke system. So air from the fender wall is being sucked in. A few ppl have done it. I believe 2 issues of SCC demonstrated that with a simple K&N panel filter dropped into the air box.
Is there any kind of protection that I can purchase for my '00 OBs headlights? They are still pretty clear, but already I'm starting to see pit marks on them.
I just ordered a set of Hella Optilux Xenon Whites for my Jetta. They're very similar (maybe even the same product) as the Sylvania Cool Blues. The bulbs are basically Hella Premium bulbs with a very light blue quartz. I would have perfered the Premiums, but they don't come in 9007 sizes and I was having trouble finding the Sylvanias in that size at local stores.
I look forward to hearing from you about the performance of the Optilux bulbs when you do get them. I don't think that they're the same as the Cool Blues or the PIAAs, but probably similar. They all use similar techniques to achieve brighter and whiter light. However, some do this better than the others. If you didn't already know, you can read more about the Optilux bulbs at www.hellausa.com
I considered buying the Sylvania Cool Blue lamps for my Outback, but after reading the packages and the Sylvania website I've come to the conclusion that Sylvania does not claim that the bulbs are actually brighter than their standard bulbs. They are just "bluer". The web site is full of marketing speak about how "cool" you'd look with these bulbs on your car. Based on what I've read so far, the PIAA or Hella bulbs are actually brighter than standard halogens. Comments?
That's right. The Sylvanias are not brighter than the regular stock bulbs. They're not "bluer" either, but whiter. To tell you the truth, the PIAAs aren't much brighter either (not when using a light meter), however they seem like they are because of the much higher (whiter) colour temperature. You have to try it for yourself to believe it. If they weren't worth it, I wouldn't have repeatedly bought them.
If you want much increased brightness and whiteness, you'll have to either add more lamps (auxilary HID Xenon lamps are available), or you'll have to switch to Xenon headlamps. The latter option is unfortunately not available in N.America through Subaru. The former option is available, but can be expensive. Like they say, you get what you pay for.
Here's a non-lighting related question. Has anyone successfully put in a K&N filter on their Forester? If so, what part number fits and has there been any noticeable difference?
Just ordered the roof bike rack from Darlene at QSubaru. I don't think I'll mess with Hellas right now. As badly as I want to make some meaningful (i.e. non-cosmetic) mods, I just can't justify the cost right now :-(
Hopefully the rack will arrive in time to carry our rides for the trip to Rocks!!
Comments
I speak on only the PIAA...
The Superwhites have a blue tint but doesn't "color" your vision or the road, for that matter. It does not contain xenon gas. But it is one heck of a bulb.
The PIAA bulbs actually do also contain trace amounts of Xenon gas in it, just like the Hellas. There is a very light purplish tint on it, but that's a dichroic (I think that's the word) filter that is mean to filter out the yellow from the output. This is how you get the really white light output and the "tint" (which is actually the filter) is not intended to actually tint the light output unlike the bluish/purplish coating that those cheap Korean imitation bulbs have.
Drew
It's interesting how much more light output we'll need as we age. Luckily I'm not that old ;-)
I still have to wonder whether they are actually getting any (or any significant) excitation from the Xenon itself. Presumably the $1k lighting systems the Edmunds editorial talks about actually use high-voltage electricity to "kick" the Xenon molecules into emitting their light. (Flash tubes use high-voltage, low-current discharges, and with a simple electronic circuit, you can turn 12V DC battery current into the high-voltage stuff. The high voltages involved make the parts expensive, even if the circuit itself is simple.)
Chris
For more info on HID lights, check out the following links:
http://www.hella.de/shop/xenon/maine.htm
Check out the FAQ and the Gallery pictures. You'll see the difference in colour temperature of the lights in warmup and steady state (Pictures of the MB cars).
http://www.hidlights.com/
By the way, here's that link I promised in my last post:
http://www.thejuiceman.homepage.com/directory.html
Follow the i Club links and you'll see a picture of each Impreza that showed up, plus some regulars here.
-juice
(55 watts) output 85 watts. They ARE awesome.
aling1: Thanks...I didn't know the bulbs had a "trace" of xenon gas.
But still... I'm convinced...I've seen other bulbs at night while I drive, your common "blue" and my PIAA's put shame. Don't think I'm a bigget (I think that's how it's spelled), but I'm going to promote what's good!
I should get commission off PIAA!!:-)
Thanks.
Pat.
Installing this thing is HARD!!
The security kit upgrade from Subaru for Legacys and Outbacks comes with instructions, which are generally pretty good...
However...
The real difficulty is in locating three wiring harnesses:
1. security block wiring harness
2. starter/horn interrupt harness
3. alarm horn connector
Each harness is in the vehicle, so no, they are not missing (as I had proposed before). Instead each of them was very well hidden, and you really had to dig beneath the radio console, the lower dash board behind the steering wheel, and the engine compartment to find the wires.
The trick in locating the upgrade wires: look for blue tape!! All three were taped up to other wires, so that they wouldn't rattle around. If you note blue tape, you've found them.
The whole install took about 4 hours, (that includes looking for these dumb wires). The security upgrade works pretty good. I'm going to adjust the sensitivity of the shock detector however, since it only went off once when I literally sat on the hood of the car.
For me this was actually fun to install. I like working on my car, and having it in about a dozen pieces or so
-- ash
I felt the same way after painstakingly sewing on the leather cover for my steering wheel. One mistake and you have to undo it and start over. I think it took two hours at least, on a hot day.
Looks great, feels beefy thick, and it was well worth it.
-juice
On the H4's do I need to get 55/60w to match the current bulbs or can I go up to the 80/80w ones without any problems? This is PIAA #15660 vs. #15680.
Also do I need 2 bulbs for each side or just a pair for the whole car?
Thanks
No, you'll just need a pair. One for each headlamp.
Good Luck, and I'm absolutely certain that you'll enjoy the improvement in night time visibility.
I'm finding myself just being the timer, on/off, wait 5 seconds, on/off...!
thanks,
ash
-juice
Are you considering them?
I'm perfectly happy with mine, but am I missing something? Do you see things in advance?
It's just a bulb replacement, right?
-juice
The picture on the left is from a regular halogen headlamps, and the one on the right is from HID Xenon headlamps. The PIAAs won't be quite as good as the picture on the right (halogen technology can only go so far), but you'll see what I mean by better contrast from whiter light.
I too was skeptical at first, but a couple of minutes of driving at night after the PIAAs made me a believer.
Drew: Thanks for the info, I'll try Canadian Tire... unless I decide to spring the money for the PIAA!!!
In my case, I just wanted to play around with a very cheap modification for kicks. I've been happy with the Forester's lighting, but I thought I'd give the Hella Premium Xenon bulbs a try. They were only about $10 each so it was low risk. Also, I've been skeptical of blue bulbs (which these Hellas are not).
Just the other night, I had a friend come over with his Forester S and we compared lights side by side. We also tried driving down a dark street consecutively to see if we could notice a difference. The Hella bulbs do cast a whiter light which is noticeable by the driver. One of these days, we'll have to find a completely dark country road to compare range and dispersion.
FYI, I bought my PIAA Platinum Superwhite bulbs from Lordco Parts. I believe that they're cheaper than they were back when I bought them, so perhaps you should look into those too. But, the PIAAs Superwhites are still not available in H1 or H7 form. Perhaps what you could do is spring for the H3 PIAA (or Sylvania) bulbs for your foglamps, and if you like them, you can then choose to wait for the H7 PIAAs, or get the Sylvanias right now.
Other than GT or OB have only one: 60/55W-9007 (HB5).
The fog lights on the OB are 51W-9006 (HB4) and the non OB are 55W-H3.
This is for Canadian models. It may be different for other countries.
A 9004 bulb is also referenced to as a HB1.
A 9005 bulb is also referenced to as a HB3.
A 9006 bulb is also referenced to as a HB4.
A 9007 bulb is also referenced to as a HB5.
H1, H2, H3, & H7 bulbs are usually referenced as such.
Pat, it looks like you can either wait for the H1 Superwhite to become available in the future, or you can go with the H1 Cool Blues (which are quite a bit cheaper). The PIAA Superwhites are currently available in H3, H4, and 9004 to 9007 sizes.
FYI, the H4s are also available in Super Plasma Blue (even higher colour temperature and nicer than the Superwhites). Autosupermart.com is currently selling the H4 Superwhites and the H4 Super Plasmas for the same price ($69.99 for a pair). Given the choice, definitely go for the latter. The Super Plasmas are the closest thing that I've seen compared to the real HID Xenon bulbs. They're even a touch bluish when viewed from outside the vehicle. From behind the wheel though, they are just as good (or maybe even slightly better) than the Superwhites.
More on the H4 Super Plasma bulbs:
"The Super Plasma is a H4 55 watt low beam / 60 watt high beam bulb producing 100 and 110 watts. SAE certified in all states. Piaa has applied a plasma blue coating to the low beam area of the bulb and its PIAA Super White coating to the high beam area. With the two coatings, this bulb allows you to have a low beam with near HID color, and a intense very bright super white high beam. The low beam has a color of light blue, giving a near Xenon lamp look, however the high beam is yellowish compared to the low beam."
Drew
Have you any direct experience with the Sylvania Cool Blues? Are they any brighter than standard halogens (ie. filled with Xenon) or are they simply standard bulbs with a blue tint? I'm looking for inexpensive ways to improve the lighting on my Jetta which uses H7 bulbs.
However, unlike the PIAAs, when I first put one bulb in, it was a little difficult to tell at first (I was looking from the side) from the stock bulb. I could tell when looking at the stock and C.B bulb side-by-side and straight on. When I took the van out later at night, I immediately noticed a difference in the light output (slightly brighter and definitely whiter). I would recommend them since they are a good (legal and cheaper) alternative to the PIAAs. I should also add that the different sizes of Cool Blue bulbs may have different colour temperatures.
BTW, no they're not just cheap imitation bulbs with tint. They have similar filters, just like the ones found in the PIAAs. I'm not sure if they're Xenon filled though (could be). For more info, have a look here:
http://www.sylvania.com/prodinfo/auto/cool/welcome.htm
Phillips also makes a similar product known as the "Blue Visions". However, I have no experience with those bulbs and hence can't say anything about them.
I too was making comparisons to the Plasma Blue vs. the Platinum SuperWhites.
I went with the Platinum SuperWhites because the Auto Parts owner said that he has the Plasma Blue on his vehicle and although they look "nice" from the outside or on-coming traffic, they are not as bright (whiter) as the Platinum SuperWhites; especially in high beam. I went with his word, cause they both cost the same, so I don't think he was trying to get off to make xtra profit.
PS- My friend which the owner of the Auto Store happens to be his client, also experienced it and admitted that the Platinums were brighter than the Plasma Blue.
Just some FYI...=)
In any case, both are good and you can't go wrong with either.
Canadian Tire does not have the 9005. They told me they have no intention to carry it. They have the 9004. Lordco does not carry Sylvania anymore either. As far as I know the H1 does not exist at all in Sylvania cool blue (it's not listed on their website).
The PIAA look good but that's quite expensive...
The PIAA H1s are unfortunately still not available with in Superwhite form; they're supposed to be soon though. However, the PIAA Superwhites are available in 9005 (for your foglamps).
Drew
Question for the group:
I am thinking of mounting 2 Hella 500 round driving lamps on my '99 OB, in front of the grill just inside the headlights.
So.... Cool or Cheesy?
Quite strange looking actually...
ash
To answer your question (but I reserve the right to equivocate), I am function over form. You offroad sometimes so if anyone "deserves" them, it's you (well your OB). If you want to rally offroad, they're a must, even in the daylight.
On the form issue, I suggest you cajole Bob into using some of his fancy-shmancy graphics programs to overlay an OB photo with a photo of the Hella's so you can install them "virtually". Why do all the work yourself? Make Bob help!
Important Q: What's Kirsten say? (apologies if I got hacked her name; please correct me)
..Mike
..Mike
If you know a place I can get them at a reasonable cost by mail order, please let me know... Thanks.
I believe that www.urbanjungle.com carries both the Hella 500 foglamps and driving lamps, as well as the stone shields.
Hope this helps!
How do you get better power when it's sucking in hot under-hood air? I have considered putting WRX hood vents in my Outback hood to let in cool air--and would just plain look pretty cool too!
Any probs with the air meter? I've read of problems with Impreza after putting in new intakes...
Finally, can you feel any gain in power?
Thanks to all!
dave
U are quite right about sucking hot air in. It's pretty much nullified a performance intake. What the revelation is to keep your air box and take out the snorkus attached to the Impreza's intke system. So air from the fender wall is being sucked in. A few ppl have done it. I believe 2 issues of SCC demonstrated that with a simple K&N panel filter dropped into the air box.
thanks, ash
I just ordered a set of Hella Optilux Xenon Whites for my Jetta. They're very similar (maybe even the same product) as the Sylvania Cool Blues. The bulbs are basically Hella Premium bulbs with a very light blue quartz. I would have perfered the Premiums, but they don't come in 9007 sizes and I was having trouble finding the Sylvanias in that size at local stores.
I'll let you know how it goes.
Drew
I considered buying the Sylvania Cool Blue lamps for my Outback, but after reading the packages and the Sylvania website I've come to the conclusion that Sylvania does not claim that the bulbs are actually brighter than their standard bulbs. They are just "bluer". The web site is full of marketing speak about how "cool" you'd look with these bulbs on your car. Based on what I've read so far, the PIAA or Hella bulbs are actually brighter than standard halogens.
Comments?
If you want much increased brightness and whiteness, you'll have to either add more lamps (auxilary HID Xenon lamps are available), or you'll have to switch to Xenon headlamps. The latter option is unfortunately not available in N.America through Subaru. The former option is available, but can be expensive. Like they say, you get what you pay for.
Drew
-Colin
..Mike
Hopefully the rack will arrive in time to carry our rides for the trip to Rocks!!
Andrew