Gmt900 Headlight Replacement Bulbs

MaverickZ71 · February 23, 2011

I keep seeing their tv commercials. Are those things really that good/worth the money? I'd be more interested in the low beams, but am worried about how long they'd really last, with the DRLs always running.

[email protected] · February 23, 2011

silverstars don't last at all. Especially in a gmt-900 where they're used as a drl.

Baker_one_nine · February 23, 2011

I read a lot about the bulbs typically lasting a year. I had ultras for 2 years and they were still good when i traded the vehicle.

They sure look a lot better than stock, and basically double what you can see at night.

It's a pretty safe bet for 40 bucks if you ask me.

beave84 · February 23, 2011

I keep seeing their tv commercials. Are those things really that good/worth the money? I'd be more interested in the low beams, but am worried about how long they'd really last, with the DRLs always running.

I went with HID's from www.aandrmotorsport.com and just disabeled my DRL's.I used the silverstars on my trailblazer and didn't notice anything that would justify the price. The trailblazer didn't have DRL's and the bulbs didn't last any longer.

jimbrown1 · February 23, 2011

I keep seeing their tv commercials. Are those things really that good/worth the money? I'd be more interested in the low beams, but am worried about how long they'd really last, with the DRLs always running.

I used the Silvertar Ultras in my 2005 Sierra and they were awesome, and my DRLs were different lights on the truck than the low beams. I have them in my 2004 Tahoe right now and love them. Really lights up the road a lot more than other bulbs. Advance usually has a sale on them or sometimes offers a rebate.

Hieneken49 · February 23, 2011

i put mine in a yaer ago (drls off) so far so good

georgecdisc · February 23, 2011

I may have a slight biased opinion (I work for OSRAM Sylvania, my location makes the 9005, H11 is manufactured in Germany) but I recommend the Silverstar line of head lights. For low beam (H11 bulb) I've used both the Silverstar and Silverstar Ultra. There was a slight improvement in output going to the Ultras. Always ran the 9005 for high beam. Compared to a regular bulb they both perform much better.

The increase in light output will always decrease their life. It's just how it works. Bulbs designed to be brighter run hotter, the hotter they run the less life expectancy.

I'm not here to run a sales pitch. The price is higher and the life is shorter... is the additional light output worth the cost, that is up to you to decide.

I enjoy improved vision at night. I do a lot of night driving on back roads in the country where critters are abundant. If I drove around 99% of the time in the city with sufficient street lighting, they probably would be worth less to me.

Also, I believe the Silverstar headlights (probably all bulbs actually) have a 1 year warranty.

mike94silverado · February 23, 2011

I thought the (standard) silverstars I bought looked better than the factory headlights by far I just wanted HID's. I thought they were a good upgrade from stock but No one must want regular silverstars if I can't even dump em with 10 minutes on them for $15 lol.

can't speak for the ultras.

svt2205 · February 24, 2011

I may have a slight biased opinion (I work for OSRAM Sylvania, my location makes the 9005, H11 is manufactured in Germany) but I recommend the Silverstar line of head lights. For low beam (H11 bulb) I've used both the Silverstar and Silverstar Ultra. There was a slight improvement in output going to the Ultras. Always ran the 9005 for high beam. Compared to a regular bulb they both perform much better.

The increase in light output will always decrease their life. It's just how it works. Bulbs designed to be brighter run hotter, the hotter they run the less life expectancy.

I'm not here to run a sales pitch. The price is higher and the life is shorter... is the additional light output worth the cost, that is up to you to decide.

I enjoy improved vision at night. I do a lot of night driving on back roads in the country where critters are abundant. If I drove around 99% of the time in the city with sufficient street lighting, they probably would be worth less to me.

Also, I believe the Silverstar headlights (probably all bulbs actually) have a 1 year warranty.

What do you do there in Hillsboro? I spent a number of years in the 90's as a manufacturing engineer working in the 9004/9007 capsule and S8 Wedge production areas.

Silverstars and other quality high performance lamps are good alternatives to standard lamps. They do typically offer a little or a lot more light and they offer a bit of a different light color. But they do this with a huge trade off in lamp life. 1500 hours down to an average of 250. All for a significantly higher price. Well, it doesn't cost that much more to manufacture the lamp. The gas mix is similar, the mounts are the same, the filaments are ever so slightly different, the glass is probably still the same hard glass with coating added as part of the process (maybe in the same area where the amber is applied to S8 wedges) or maybe it's supplied in a coated form. Regardless, the cost to manufacture is SMALL when compared to the 20 bucks give or take to buy one. And don't buy just the one, always replace lamps in pairs. Hmm, wonder who thunk that one up. In the old days, sealed beams, we didn't have to do that....

Sorry, I was rambling on a lot. Overlooking what your not paying for, Silverstars are a good replacement. But Philips and GE offer some good one's too. Philips has Ultra Crystals and Extreme Powers.

The short of this is not all of these lamps offer the same performance. A 9005, 9006 and 9007 offers great gains with the Silverstar and a bit more with the Silverstar Ultras. But a lamp like a H13 is only slightly better, mostly light color, when you go from the standard halogen to the Silverstar. Heck, H13's are even available in a Ultra. Probably because they can't live up to the improvement claims.

As for lamp warranty, good luck with that one. If it's not the OEM's your local parts store will likely give you a replacement if it is either dead out of the package or fails within a few days. Beyond that, your S.O.L.

Shop around to find the best price on these things. Don't pay parts store prices.

Say hi to Cherly B for me....

mybaby2500 · February 24, 2011

I put them and love them. I can see so much better and the light is white not yellow.

georgecdisc · February 24, 2011

What do you do there in Hillsboro? I spent a number of years in the 90's as a manufacturing engineer working in the 9004/9007 capsule and S8 Wedge production areas.

Silverstars and other quality high performance lamps are good alternatives to standard lamps. They do typically offer a little or a lot more light and they offer a bit of a different light color. But they do this with a huge trade off in lamp life. 1500 hours down to an average of 250. All for a significantly higher price. Well, it doesn't cost that much more to manufacture the lamp. The gas mix is similar, the mounts are the same, the filaments are ever so slightly different, the glass is probably still the same hard glass with coating added as part of the process (maybe in the same area where the amber is applied to S8 wedges) or maybe it's supplied in a coated form. Regardless, the cost to manufacture is SMALL when compared to the 20 bucks give or take to buy one. And don't buy just the one, always replace lamps in pairs. Hmm, wonder who thunk that one up. In the old days, sealed beams, we didn't have to do that....

Sorry, I was rambling on a lot. Overlooking what your not paying for, Silverstars are a good replacement. But Philips and GE offer some good one's too. Philips has Ultra Crystals and Extreme Powers.

The short of this is not all of these lamps offer the same performance. A 9005, 9006 and 9007 offers great gains with the Silverstar and a bit more with the Silverstar Ultras. But a lamp like a H13 is only slightly better, mostly light color, when you go from the standard halogen to the Silverstar. Heck, H13's are even available in a Ultra. Probably because they can't live up to the improvement claims.

As for lamp warranty, good luck with that one. If it's not the OEM's your local parts store will likely give you a replacement if it is either dead out of the package or fails within a few days. Beyond that, your S.O.L.

Shop around to find the best price on these things. Don't pay parts store prices.

Say hi to Cherly B for me....

I'm a controls engineer, I mostly work on equipment in the capsule and assembly areas.

I don't have a great knowledge on a H13 bulb, but I would guess it was/is designed as a high performance bulb to begin with. The specifications are so tight that there is little room to make it any better (vs the 9005 that is a far older design).

On the warranty, I believe it has to be sent to Sylvania, not through the auto parts store (again, I'm not sure of the warranty process). I doubt the warranty for light bulbs is used often. It's not something I would typically consider doing (and going through the hassle) just for a bulb.

StLouisMO · February 24, 2011

I just went through this situation this weekend. In the end, I selected the low end Sylvania for $15 bucks a piece. The decision came down to life span. I looked at the Ultras and just the low end ones. The low end ones had 4 bars for life expectantcy. The Ultras had just one bar for life expectantcy (on the back of the packaging). I don't want to have to remove my air filter box every year to replace the passenger side low beam H11. I did that last year with the higher rated Sylvania's (one step below the Ultras...can't remember the name) and here I am slightly over a year later replacing them. If i get 3 or more years out of the low end Sylvanias for a substantially lower price, I'll be very happy. Light output is fine...no less than what the truck came equipped with. So, as mentioned above, lower price and longer bulb life. No brainer.

bluArrow · February 25, 2011

I went SilverStar Ultra in for high beams only because of shorter bulb life. Very satisfied with the output.

tanked_darren · February 25, 2011

I just went through this situation this weekend. In the end, I selected the low end Sylvania for $15 bucks a piece. The decision came down to life span. I looked at the Ultras and just the low end ones. The low end ones had 4 bars for life expectantcy. The Ultras had just one bar for life expectantcy (on the back of the packaging). I don't want to have to remove my air filter box every year to replace the passenger side low beam H11. I did that last year with the higher rated Sylvania's (one step below the Ultras...can't remember the name) and here I am slightly over a year later replacing them. If i get 3 or more years out of the low end Sylvanias for a substantially lower price, I'll be very happy. Light output is fine...no less than what the truck came equipped with. So, as mentioned above, lower price and longer bulb life. No brainer.

I drive in absolute pitch dark and I just don't see how some don't find that to be enough!