headlights

[trmat79]

I am looking to replace the headlights on my 99 GMC Z71 and I was wondering if anyone could tell me a little about them.  I want something a little better than the the stock.  I dont know if i have to replace both low and high beams or what but I want a good headlight for the back road no street light driving.  Also if anyone has any suggestions on bars for the front and maybe off road lights.  I dont want a full grill gaurd though..something a little smaller.  Thanks

 

Todd

[RyanbabZ71]

price vs performance wise go with the sylvania silverstars.

 

They are $19.99 a bulb at autozone plus there is a $10 rebate  :thumb:

[dukbludvl]

I agree with Ryan on the Silverstars. Just added them to my Yukon and they look great. I did the high and low beams.  I also just added the R&D headlight controller which allows me to run both high and lows at the same time -- REALLY lights it up on no light streets.  That was $15 from R&D and easy to install.

[DeezBlueZ]

I dont know if i have to replace both low and high beams or what but I want a good headlight for the back road no street light driving.

 

You will need (2) 9005  and (2) 9006  bulbs.  I bought my Hi -4 headlight controller from Summit racing.  It is made by Painless wiring and is of the highest quality with sealed Bosch relays and all the hardware that you will need.

 

Really makes a difference with the Sylvanias and the controller.

[WhiteHorse]

Is the Relay hard to install??

[DeezBlueZ]

piece of cake...just follow the directions.

[toddoughty]

Do they make a bulb to replace the fogs that would match? I have a Z71. It looks like they do, but I was sure wanting to hear a definate.  Any pics showing the difference of the sylvanias? Why is the PIAA so much more?

[RyanbabZ71]

the stock folight bulbs are 27 watt.  Try some 38 watt (893 bulb).  I have had em for ahwile now and they are brighter

[RyanbabZ71]

i did have a post about the silverstars with pics

 

Try these links or search through the older posts

 

 1181.1  

 

I upgraded my low beam headlights with some sylvania silverstars. $19.99 ea from autozone plus there is a $10 rebate until July.

Here is a pic before they were changed

http://www.gm-trucks.com/ib3....452.jpg

 

Here is a pic after the drivers side was changed. Pass side is stock

http://www.f150online.com/galleries/images...-2973-44129.jpg

 

Here is one at night with both changed

http://www.gm-trucks.com/ib3....458.jpg

 

Went for a ride the other night after changing them and MAN there is a huge difference. I got out to see em and they are much whiter and clearer than the stock bulbs. The afternoon i put em in i thought i threw away $40 but now i think it was well worth it.

[toddoughty]

Thanks Ryan.

[TxDoc]

As long as you're upgrading, and on backroads, consider the R&D or Kennedy headlamp harness.  These will allow you to have ALL 4 headlamps on at once, when you  select high beams.  Much more light!

[toddoughty]

TxDoc--

I did order the R&D headlight and foglight controller.  I am deciding which bulb to go with. I actually had some in another car, and I actually LOST visibility, so I am skeptical. The round fogs in the Z71 were different from the square on the LT, so I wanted to be sure the 893s would fit. I know, I am being stupid.

[buffydores]

If you have cash to burn, try the Sylvania HID conversion kit. It takes less than five minutes to get everything installed. I have it on my 2001 Tahoe. It gives a whiter, more uniform light pattern than the SilverStars, but it's not a lot brighter. Great product:

 

http://www.sylvania.com/xenarc/x2020.htm

[LazKat]

On the fogs, consider Sylvania 885s. They're 50w, the same as the low beam lamps.  I just put 'em on my Avalanche and can really light up the night now! I've heard concerns about heat buildup melting or damaging the housing but it's not been an issue yet and haven't heard any verifiable stories of this happening.  Next job is to aim my fogs a little higher rather than light up the ground just in front of the truck.

[lrymal]

I know that I'm going against the norm here, but I spent hours of driving tonight and tested, retested, some new Silverstars against the OEM Philips 9005/9006.  

 

Didn't mean to compare, but immediately, my feelings were that I didn't get as much illumination and my highbeam didn't "reach out and touch" like the OEM Philips.

 

Note this is on a 9003 Silverado.

 

Soooo, we adjusted the light aim and it was off, too high.  That helped.  Drove and drove on this little rural, but flat road, and tweaked the aim a bit more and finally got the aim as good as one can get.  Another friend's 9003 Silverado showed up and we compared.  His distance illumination is honestly better.  Low beam illumination is also better.

 

We pulled his lamp assembly and noticed that his bulbs were the same OEM as mine: Philips.

 

This was disappointing.  First off, I have always been amazed just how bright my trucks lights are and, as always, want it better, so purchased the Silverstars.  

 

I'll replace the Silverstars with the OEMs tomorrow night and do the same tests on the same road and try to nail this down better.

 

I tried to find the OEM Philips at the Philips website, but they don't highlight them.  This is sort of a mystery to me.  As it is, unless I can improve the Silverstar illumination by re-aiming them, I'll probably keep them off the vehicle.  As it is, for whatever reason, they just aren't as bright.  Again, this is on a 2003 Silverado, although I don't see why that should matter.