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Car Forum / Driving, Maintenance, Tuning / Maintenance and Repair / December 2005Down with Sylvania
I bought a set of H1 SilverStars. Installed them without touching the bulbs. After almost 3 months the left bulb blew as soon as the headlamps were turned on. I returned the lamps for a replacement. After about 2 months both bulbs blew simultaneously when turned on. The car is an Acura RSX-S. I measure no abnormal charging voltage. Sylvania has the audacity now to advertise these lamps on Satellite/cable TV.  SignatureDave M. Same thing with Silstars, I bitched to customer service and I got 2 new bulbs, another 7 months and they were gone. I am done!! >I bought a set of H1 SilverStars. Installed them without touching the >bulbs. [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > Sylvania has the audacity now to advertise these lamps on Satellite/cable > TV. > I bought a set of H1 SilverStars. Installed them without touching the bulbs. > After almost 3 months the left bulb blew as soon as the headlamps were [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > Sylvania has the audacity now to advertise these lamps on Satellite/cable > TV. The problem isn't with Sylvania, its that you're buying stoopid gimmick-model blue-colored bulbs. One could argue that Sylvania is "bad" for pandering to consumer idiocy, but I'll give them a pass. Buyer beware. Buy normal Sylvanias, and you won't have a problem. > > I bought a set of H1 SilverStars. Installed them without touching the bulbs. > > After almost 3 months the left bulb blew as soon as the headlamps were [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > for pandering to consumer idiocy, but I'll give them a pass. Buyer > beware. Buy normal Sylvanias, and you won't have a problem. Riiiggghhht, it's the stupid customer's fault for trusting that the name brand manufacturer just might be producing a quality product, replete with a benefit of the doubt second chance, by trying yet another hopefully non defective item. What a thoroughly asinine assesment. You're likely a member of the Bush administration. > "Steve" <no@spam.thanks> wrote in message >>The problem isn't with Sylvania, its that you're buying stoopid >>gimmick-model blue-colored bulbs. One could argue that Sylvania is "bad" [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > name brand manufacturer just might be producing a quality > product, Any idiot knows that blue bulbs are a marketing fad, not a "quality product." > You're likely a member of the > Bush administration. No, but I'll take the compliment. > I bought a set of H1 SilverStars. Installed them without touching the bulbs. > After almost 3 months the left bulb blew as soon as the headlamps were [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > Sylvania has the audacity now to advertise these lamps on Satellite/cable > TV. I suspect something with the car. >> I bought a set of H1 SilverStars. Installed them without touching the >> bulbs. [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > > I suspect something with the car. This is right from the Sylvania website FAQ's: 2. What is the life expectancy of SilverStar? The life expectancy of a SilverStar halogen light source is dependent on the driver's use of the lights, which vary by season, time of day and number of miles driven. We estimate the SilverStar halogen lights to have a life span of up to one year under average driving conditions. http://www.sylvania.com/ConsumerProducts/AutomotiveLighting/HighPerformance/Silv erstar/FrequentlyAskedQuestions/ I for one will never buy another one of their crap products. > >> I bought a set of H1 SilverStars. Installed them without touching the > >> bulbs. [quoted text clipped - 21 lines] > > I for one will never buy another one of their crap products. Unfortunately when guys add aftermarket lights they sometimes take a shortcut or two. The first obvious shortcut is to buy lights from some con artist on a place like Ebay who promises to deliver Sylvania, but reallly delivers some Shanghai knockoff. The second error is to not install the correct wattage. It is literally impossible to know what the OP did. I would be very very surprised if real bulbs produced and sold by Sylvania that were in spec for the car in question would have such a miserably short life span. > > >> I bought a set of H1 SilverStars. Installed them without touching the > > >> bulbs. [quoted text clipped - 32 lines] > Sylvania that were in spec for the car in question would have such a > miserably short life span. How about just one month worth till bulb blew, I never touched glass portion of bulb, and DIDNT buy it from ebay I bought it from a local major auto store. Was an H1 bulb for Mazda6. > How about just one month worth till bulb blew, I never touched glass > portion of bulb, and DIDNT buy it from ebay I bought it from a local > major auto store. Was an H1 bulb for Mazda6. The very short lifespan you experienced is entirely typical of Sylvania Silverstar bulbs. Here's manufacturer data (NOT nominal data that's generally published) for output and lifespan at 13.2v for all the Osram/Sylvania H1 bulbs. Lifespan is given as Tc, the hour figure at which 63.2 percent of the bulbs have failed. Osram or Sylvania H1 (regular normal): 1550 lumens, 650 hours Osram or Sylvania H1 long life: 1460 lumens, 1200 hours Osram H1 Super (if Sylvania Xtravision line included H1, this'd be it): 1700 lumens, 350 hours Osram H1 Silver Star (NOT Sylvania Silver Star!): 1750 lumens, 350 hours Osram H1 CoolBlue or Sylvania H1 Silver Star: 1380 lumens, 250 hours Now, looking over these results, which one would you rather: (a) Buy? (b) Sell? The answer to (a) depends on how well you want to see versus how often to change the bulb. If you want the best possible seeing, you pick the Osram Silver Star. If you don't care as long as it works and you don't want to hassle with it, you pick the long life or Daytime Running. The answer to (b) is determined by how rich your company's shareholders want you to be, and is obvious: You want to sell the bulb with the shortest lifespan and highest price. That'd be the Sylvania Silver Star. DS > >> I bought a set of H1 SilverStars. Installed them without touching the > >> bulbs. [quoted text clipped - 17 lines] > miles driven. We estimate the SilverStar halogen lights to have a life span > of up to one year under average driving conditions. I would be genuinely surprised if a driver could wear out (if that is the correct term) a set of headlights in 90 days. > http://www.sylvania.com/ConsumerProducts/AutomotiveLighting/HighPerformance/Silv erstar/FrequentlyAskedQuestions/ > > I for one will never buy another one of their crap products. I avoided turning on the headlights at dusk until it was much darker than usual. I didn't even use them in foul weather. I had very few hours on this second set of lamps. Both points are true, that I should have been suspicious of the blue bulb type, on the other hand I was fooled by the brand name. If I had really investigated, I might have found that one year bulb life disclaimer. SignatureDave M. > > >> I bought a set of H1 SilverStars. Installed them without touching the > > >> bulbs. [quoted text clipped - 20 lines] > I would be genuinely surprised if a driver could wear out (if that is > the correct term) a set of headlights in 90 days. http://www.sylvania.com/ConsumerProducts/AutomotiveLighting/HighPerformance/Silv erstar/FrequentlyAskedQuestions/ > > I for one will never buy another one of their crap products. > I avoided turning on the headlights at dusk until it was much darker than > usual. I didn't even use them in foul weather. I had very few hours on this [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > type, on the other hand I was fooled by the brand name. If I had really > investigated, I might have found that one year bulb life disclaimer. I believe that Sylvania still offers a 1 year replacement warranty. Check into it. John, I returned the bulbs for a refund at PepBoys. They have a 3 month return policy. SignatureDave M. > > I avoided turning on the headlights at dusk until it was much darker than > > usual. I didn't even use them in foul weather. I had very few hours on this [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > I believe that Sylvania still offers a 1 year replacement warranty. > Check into it. > John, > > I returned the bulbs for a refund at PepBoys. They have a 3 month return > policy. Good deal. Can I get your opinion on those lights when they were working. Did they really improve the visibility of faraway objects. Actually, after I put the OEM lights back in, things looked much brighter. Maybe that's because the yellow part of the spectrum was restored. I did hear that the blue bulbs improve visibility during snowfall. SignatureDave M. > > John, > > [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > Good deal. Can I get your opinion on those lights when they were > working. Did they really improve the visibility of faraway objects. > Actually, after I put the OEM lights back in, things looked much brighter. > Maybe that's because the yellow part of the spectrum was restored. Yep. > I did hear that the blue bulbs improve visibility during snowfall. That is opposite of fact. I guess I'm not completely surprised. Their attractiveness seems to be providing the look of a more expensive lighting system and dazzling oncoming drivers than much else. > Actually, after I put the OEM lights back in, things looked much brighter. > Maybe that's because the yellow part of the spectrum was restored. I did [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] > > Good deal. Can I get your opinion on those lights when they were > > working. Did they really improve the visibility of faraway objects. I was going to install HID's from Xenon Depot. They claim theirs work well with my reflectors, but I don't want to spend $379.00 just to find out the drivers in the opposing lane are being offended by glare. I don't want to retrofit to projector lens. SignatureDave M. > I guess I'm not completely surprised. Their attractiveness seems to be > providing the look of a more expensive lighting system and dazzling [quoted text clipped - 14 lines] > > > Good deal. Can I get your opinion on those lights when they were > > > working. Did they really improve the visibility of faraway objects. > I was going to install HID's from Xenon Depot. They claim theirs work well > with my reflectors No. See http://www.danielsternlighting.com/tech/bulbs/Hid/conversions/conversions.html I've been at that site. Thanks SignatureDave M. > > I was going to install HID's from Xenon Depot. They claim theirs work well > > with my reflectors > > No. See http://www.danielsternlighting.com/tech/bulbs/Hid/conversions/conversions.html > This is right from the Sylvania website FAQ's: > [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > miles driven. We estimate the SilverStar halogen lights to have a life span > of up to one year under average driving conditions. They're being honest. One year is RIDICULOUSLY short for a bulb life. Even Sylvania knows that the SilverStar is crap, but there's a huge market from people who want Kewl Bloo BuLbZ, so they sell them. > I for one will never buy another one of their crap products. The Sylvania SilverStar is a crap product, I'm not arguing that point. I'm arguing that the blue tint is a dead giveaway and no one should be surprised that they blow out very quickly. But many other Sylvania bulbs are very good. > The Sylvania SilverStar is a crap product True. > the blue tint is a dead giveaway and no one should be surprised that > they blow out very quickly. True. Though the standard (ignorant) rebuttal to this is "They're not blue! They make nice WHITE light!" > But many other Sylvania bulbs are very good. Used to be. The percentage of Sylvania stuff that's much good is on a fairly serious decline. All their sealed beams are junk. DS (Would you believe I installed a GE Night Hawk H6054NH sealed beam on my truck and found that I really like it?) > > The Sylvania SilverStar is a crap product > [quoted text clipped - 13 lines] > DS (Would you believe I installed a GE Night Hawk H6054NH sealed beam > on my truck and found that I really like it?) I'm quite happy with the 9004 GE Nighthawks you recommended to me for my '92 Integra. Now that we're late into the year and the days are getting shorter, I'm driving at night again, and there's a noticeable difference in light output from the original OEM bulbs I had last winter. More white; less yellow. >> The Sylvania SilverStar is a crap product > [quoted text clipped - 13 lines] > DS (Would you believe I installed a GE Night Hawk H6054NH sealed beam on > my truck and found that I really like it?) I thought you were a full time Canuckian now... you don't have e-codes in everything? nate Signaturereplace "fly" with "com" to reply. http://home.comcast.net/~njnagel > >> The Sylvania SilverStar is a crap product > > [quoted text clipped - 16 lines] > I thought you were a full time Canuckian now... you don't have > e-codes in everything? No expert here, but to my Canadian eyes it looks like we get generally whatever the US gets. Perhaps it's logistically easier for the automakers to do it that way. > > >> The Sylvania SilverStar is a crap product > > > [quoted text clipped - 20 lines] > whatever the US gets. Perhaps it's logistically easier for the > automakers to do it that way. Oh, certainly, but I was under the impression that E-codes were legal in Canada, even if they aren't always factory fitted. nate > > > >> The Sylvania SilverStar is a crap product > > > > [quoted text clipped - 23 lines] > Oh, certainly, but I was under the impression that E-codes were legal > in Canada, even if they aren't always factory fitted. Daniel Stern has set us straight on that. In Canada, prior to the US introduction of "aerodynamic" headlamps, you used to be able to buy ECE Bosch halogens in all the standard sealed-beam sizes, but with removable bulbs. They were a straight drop-in. They did not have the three little glass pips that the sealed beams had, and they had fantastic beam patterns that were a dream to aim. The cutoff was sharp and flat to the left, and angled up about 10 degrees to the right, with a clear transition between flat and angled. The kit came with a little aiming diagram. Wonderful stuff. I don't know if these are still available or not. What was also available from various specialty factors was European lights for your car. I remember such cars as Honda Accords, Jag XJ-S's and Mercedes' running around with conversions back to European lamps. The Accord especially looked much better with its Euro lights. > In Canada, prior to the US introduction of "aerodynamic" headlamps, you > used to be able to buy ECE Bosch halogens in all the standard > sealed-beam sizes, but with removable bulbs. Crappy Tire still sells the SBQ200 (large rectangular) and SBQ7 (large round) changeover kits, but not the small rectangular or small round items any longer. Before the Bosches, Canadian Tire sold Japanese-made H4 conversions for a brief time. And before that, they sold very good Carello units in "Lucas Ultraquartz" boxes (pity these are no longer made). And well before that, they sold GE Canada's brief experiment with E-code quartz sealed beams in the early '70s such as Q4001, and although I haven't got evidence of it (yet), it's probable they also sold Philips' brief experiment with E-code quartz sealed beams around the same time. > What was also available from various specialty factors was European > lights for your car. I remember such cars as Honda Accords, Jag XJ-S's > and Mercedes' running around with conversions back to European lamps. > The Accord especially looked much better with its Euro lights. For example: http://www.mercadolibre.cl/org-img/preview/MLC/032005/3020374_4193.jpg DS >> I thought you were a full time Canuckian now... you don't have e-codes >> in everything? > No expert here, but to my Canadian eyes it looks like we get generally > whatever the US gets. Generally true, but Canadian law permits ECE (rest-of-world) headlamps, while US law does not. > >> I thought you were a full time Canuckian now... you don't have > e-codes >> in everything? [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > Generally true, but Canadian law permits ECE (rest-of-world) > headlamps, while US law does not. Which explains why I remember certain vehicles being sold new here with ECE headlamps. Certain SAABs, the Hyundai Stellar (not sold in the US), and I'm pretty sure Rolls-Royce and Bentley models. You'll know the rest, of course. Did the US ever permit after-sales installation of ECE lamps? >> Canadian law permits ECE (rest-of-world) headlamps, while US law does >> not. > Which explains why I remember certain vehicles being sold new here with > ECE headlamps. Certain SAABs '85-up 900 9000 through 1994 > the Hyundai Stellar (not sold in the US), The Smart ForTwo (not sold in the US) > and I'm pretty sure Rolls-Royce and Bentley models Yep! > Did the US ever permit after-sales installation of ECE lamps? Not Federally, no. If you can find a March '79 "Car & Driver", start reading on page 93. >> No expert here, but to my Canadian eyes it looks like we get generally >> whatever the US gets. > > Generally true, but Canadian law permits ECE (rest-of-world) headlamps, > while US law does not. OTOH, the US system really doesn't have much of a way to take user-installed ECE lamps off the road. An EXTREMELY anal-retentive inspector *might* look at the markings and raise a fuss with the car's owner, but only if he wants to go out of buisness because there are PLENTY of inspection stations that just check the lamps for function and not the details of the lamps. IN fact there are some inspection stations with inspectors that are fully aware how much better E-code lamps actually are.... Not that this does or does not affect me in any way or is a bad thing in any way... <whistling and looking innocently around> >> DS (Would you believe I installed a GE Night Hawk H6054NH sealed beam >> on my truck and found that I really like it?) > > I thought you were a full time Canuckian now... I am. > you don't have e-codes in everything? Usually, yes, but none of my vehicles spends much time with any one headlamp system. >DS (Would you believe I installed a GE Night Hawk H6054NH sealed beam on >my truck and found that I really like it?) Are these becoming readily available in auto stores? I have generally seen the bulb and sealed beam sections of auto stores locally to be mostly Sylvania products. Signature------------------------------------------------------------------------ Timothy J. Lee Unsolicited bulk or commercial email is not welcome. No warranty of any kind is provided with this message. >> DS (Would you believe I installed a GE Night Hawk H6054NH sealed beam on >> my truck and found that I really like it?) > > Are these becoming readily available in auto stores? I have generally > seen the bulb and sealed beam sections of auto stores locally to be > Sylvania Wal-Mart has the Night Hawks. > > DS (Would you believe I installed a GE Night Hawk H6054NH sealed > > beam on my truck and found that I really like it?) > > Are these becoming readily available in auto stores? I have generally > seen the bulb and sealed beam sections of auto stores locally to be > mostly Sylvania products. I bought my Night Hawks in Canadian Tire (in Canada, of course). They were not with the rest of the bulbs, but were being kept behind the parts counter. I had to ask for them. > > > DS (Would you believe I installed a GE Night Hawk H6054NH sealed > > > beam on my truck and found that I really like it?) [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > were not with the rest of the bulbs, but were being kept behind the > parts counter. I had to ask for them. And then there are those of us Philistines who fill our pockets with headlight bulbs when we visit the local wrecking yard. <whistling> Ted > DS (Would you believe I installed a GE Night Hawk H6054NH sealed beam on > my truck and found that I really like it?) Would the goodness extend to H4656NH lamps? >> DS (Would you believe I installed a GE Night Hawk H6054NH sealed beam on >> my truck and found that I really like it?) > > Would the goodness extend to H4656NH lamps? I would not hesitate to call the H4656NH the best available 165mm x 100mm high/low sealed-beam lamp available. > I bought a set of H1 SilverStars. Installed them without touching the > bulbs. After almost 3 months the left bulb blew as soon as the headlamps > were turned on. I returned the lamps for a replacement. After about 2 > months both bulbs blew simultaneously when turned on. Well...yeah! Here's manufacturer data for output and lifespan at 13.2v for all the Osram/Sylvania H1 bulbs. Lifespan is given as Tc, the hour figure at which 63.2 percent of the bulbs have failed. Osram or Sylvania H1 (regular normal): 1550 lumens, 650 hours Osram or Sylvania H1 long life: 1460 lumens, 1200 hours Osram H1 Super (if Sylvania Xtravision line included H1, this'd be it): 1700 lumens, 350 hours Osram H1 Silver Star (NOT Sylvania Silver Star!): 1750 lumens, 350 hours Osram H1 CoolBlue or Sylvania H1 Silver Star: 1380 lumens, 250 hours Now, looking over these results, which one would you rather: (a) Buy? (b) Sell? The answer to (a) depends on how well you want to see versus how often to change the bulb. If you want the best possible seeing, you pick the Osram Silver Star. If you don't care as long as it works and you don't want to hassle with it, you pick the long life or Daytime Running. The answer to (b) is determined by how rich your company's shareholders want you to be, and is obvious: You want to sell the bulb with the shortest lifespan and highest price. That'd be the Sylvania Silver Star. A bulb with colorless clear glass is ALWAYS better than one with tinted glass. Always. > A bulb with colorless clear glass is ALWAYS better than one with tinted > glass. Always. What about selective yellow H3s for fog lights <G> nate Signaturereplace "fly" with "com" to reply. http://home.comcast.net/~njnagel Well, since both bulbs blew at the same time (turning them on in the morning), I measured the peak voltage today. *Accessory (battery voltage) was 12.6 *After start, the peak voltage as indicated on a Protek 608 DVM was 14.6 *After 10 minutes the voltage was 14.2 SignatureDave M. > > I bought a set of H1 SilverStars. Installed them without touching the > > bulbs. After almost 3 months the left bulb blew as soon as the headlamps [quoted text clipped - 37 lines] > A bulb with colorless clear glass is ALWAYS better than one with tinted > glass. Always. > Well, since both bulbs blew at the same time (turning them on in the > morning), I measured the peak voltage today. > > *Accessory (battery voltage) was 12.6 > *After start, the peak voltage as indicated on a Protek 608 DVM was 14.6 > *After 10 minutes the voltage was 14.2 Sounds fine to me, assuming your meter is accurate. nate The meter DC accuracy is .05% + 5 digits. SignatureDave M. > > Well, since both bulbs blew at the same time (turning them on in the > > morning), I measured the peak voltage today. [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > > nate |
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