Silverstar headlights

[jawn101]

I know I asked this on the "old" forum, and shame on me I guess for not making a record of the answer... but does anyone have the part numbers for the Silverstar high/low beam bulbs? The D doesn't seem to be in their online 'choose your vehicle' tool.

Also, does anyone have any experience to speak to the idea that these bulbs don't last very long? The stockers are very dim, but I don't want to have to replace these every few months. If the reliability is a problem, is there a third option that will provide longer life but more light than stock?

Thanks!

EDIT: Found the P/Ns here (http://deloreantech.wikia.com/wiki/Cross_Reference:Lights) but would still love feedback on the life of the bulbs if anyone has experiences to share.

[Ozzie]

Silverstars:
H4656 (low beams)
H4651 (high beams)

Have had low beams Silverstars for nearly two years.
They are brighter and more of a white color, than typical ones I've seen.
I don't do much night driving on the D, so can't really comment on long term reliability.

[jawn101]

Thanks! Hey, our VINs are really close relatives. Too bad we're on opposite coasts, it could be a family reunion 8)

[Farrar]

My Silverstars have tended to last no longer than two years.

Farrar

[Morpheus]

I never had a problem with the sealed beam Silverstars on my previous D, but I gave up on the H7 type in my old Mazda Protege because they would blow every other month it seemed.

For a car that you don't drive often, you will probably get your money's worth out of them. The whiter light is nice.

[WelmoedJ]

Since you're talking bulbs, I assume these are the H4 type 12V 60/55W?
Over here in Europe we use the ones that can do low and high beams in one bulb.

I personally like the Philips ones: they seem to have a stronger white light than other brands.
Not sure though if they are available in the USA.

[Farrar]

Since you're talking bulbs, I assume these are the H4 type 12V 60/55W?

No, these are "sealed beam Halogen" type.

Farrar

[WelmoedJ]

Okay, yes I know the difference between the sealed beams and our headlight units with exchangeable bulbs.
However when the word "bulbs" are used my mind connects that word to the incandescent bulb itself, not the entire unit where lamp house and filament are sealed in.

BTW: sealed beams are outlawed in Europe for the reason that if a unit dies, it can't be exchanged easily and (almost) immediately.
Most owners over here have a box with spare lamps (bulbs) so exchange can be done if a defective bulb is detected.
Exchangeable bulbs also are cheaper than the sealed beam units you have to buy in case of a defect.
This is no criticism, only an observation.

Our cars allow exchange of bulbs in a rather simple way.
Some nowadays cars however have to be taken into the shop for exchanging defective bulbs due to the awkward way designers filled up the spaces.
This also is an observation :(

[Chris 16409]

I've had my Silverstars since I've had the car (they came with it) and they are still good. I've had the car for a year and a half, and I'm sure the lights were in the car for a while before I owned it. I also drive my car daily, but I'd say I do more day driving than night. I don't have the Silverstars for the high beams, but plan on getting them when the time comes.

[Bitsyncmaster]

The sealed beams are a little lower power than the H4 bulbs. These days the bulbs in new cars cost just as much as sealed beam silver stars. I would not mind using H4 bulbs but would never do it with the clear plastic lens they use now. I would be concerned with the higher power and would probably up my fuses to 25 amps.

[Chris 16409]

That's one of my quibbles with new cars. The headlight lenses are plastic. I like the sekar beams because you get fresh glass everytime you get new bulbs. My old Nissan 300ZX had glass headlight lenses and I really liked them. The car was a 1992 and the lenses still looked great. Look at a similar voyage car with plastic lenses and you can see all the discoloration and fogged up lenses.

[Farrar]

I would not mind using H4 bulbs but would never do it with the clear plastic lens they use now.

Most of the conversion kits I have seen use a glass lens. You just have to check. The Hella kit is supposed to be top quality.

Farrar

[thruxton]

4 years on mine. no probs.

[sdg3205]

How do these compare to the $329 upgrade kit from DMC?

[jawn101]

Thanks guys.. it sounds like they are long-lived enough anyway. I'm also guessing they don't produce any more heat or draw any more power than the original-style assemblies.

[vwdmc16]

jon i have the silverstars and i love them, got them maybe 5 mos back and going great

[jawn101]

jon i have the silverstars and i love them, got them maybe 5 mos back and going great

I didn't notice you did! I'll try and remember to have you turn 'em on next time we meet up..

[outatym2001]

Sylvania Silverstar headlamps are not the only decent sealed headlamp bulbs for your DeLorean.
NAPA Auto Parts sells the Wagner TruView.
TruView Low and High Bulb is $19.99, part number H4656TV.
TruView High Bulb is $19.99, part number H4651TV.

H4656TV bulb candle power rating: Low Beam 15,000, High Beam, 25,000, 12.8 Volt, 35 Watt for both Low and High.
H4651TV bulb candle power rating: 45,000, 12.8 Volt, 50 Watt.

They are cheaper than the Sylvania Silverstar and whether they last as long I have no idea. Your price may vary depending on how long the bulbs have been sitting on the shelf and how quickly the store wants to get rid of them.

Silverstar H4656ST $24.99.
Silverstar H4651ST $23.99.

[sdg3205]

Sylvania Silverstar headlamps are not the only decent sealed headlamp bulbs for your DeLorean.
NAPA Auto Parts sells the Wagner TruView.
TruView Low and High Bulb is $19.99, part number H4656TV.
TruView High Bulb is $19.99, part number H4651TV.

H4656TV bulb candle power rating: Low Beam 15,000, High Beam, 25,000, 12.8 Volt, 35 Watt for both Low and High.
H4651TV bulb candle power rating: 45,000, 12.8 Volt, 50 Watt.

They are cheaper than the Sylvania Silverstar and whether they last as long I have no idea. Your price may vary depending on how long the bulbs have been sitting on the shelf and how quickly the store wants to get rid of them.

Silverstar H4656ST $24.99.
Silverstar H4651ST $23.99.

I got my silverstars from amazon.com for $18 each. Free shipping too.
Just so everyone knows that's also an option

[AirmanPika]

I've had the silverstars for my low beams for 4 years with no issues. Never bothered with the high beams. Didn't they stop making the type of silverstars for our vehicle, hence everything out there is now just remaining stock? Gotta consider though that my DeLorean is not a daily driver, so the beams should last for many more years.

[jmpdmc]

I had seen this rumor of Silverstars being discontinued before so I emailed Sylvania. This is from 2 years ago now so things may have changed:



Jeff, thank you for contacting us with your query today. I do not show these lamps are being considered for discontinue. While sealed beam lamps are becoming lower volume items, this could happen but at this time I do not show this status.



Regards,

Customer Service



From: Jeff Porter
Sent: Sunday, February 07, 2010 3:41 PM
To: *Hillsboro - CS WebMail
Subject: Silverstar Product being discontinued?



Hello,



I have a question about 2 Silverstar products--the sealed beam H4656 and H4651 lamps. I heard a rumor these are being discontinued. Can you confirm or deny this? Thank you for any info.





Jeff


So far, they seem still available.

[Morpheus]

Perhaps someone could email them again, considering this info is now 2 years old?

[sdg3205]

As of 3 weeks ago, I could still buy these in Canada. Typically if something gets discontinued, we experience the loss first.

[sdg3205]

Installed these a few nights ago.

Great, cheap upgrade from stock.

Funny enough, the high beams on my car are CRAZY bright. Always have been and I think they're even stock.

[EdFerri]

I have had mine for about a year and a half now. What an improvement over the "stock" headlights. I love mine!
I picked them up at my local Auto Zone.

[jawn101]

OK, so I finally got around to ordering and installing these. Got them from Amazon, the set of four was under $80 shipped. What a huge difference!

The one slightly odd thing is that the high beam bulb is a slightly different color temperature than the low beam, whereas in the stock bulbs they were pretty much identical.

It didn't look like there were many wafflers on this thread, but for future posterity I took some photos to showcase exactly what an enormous improvement these bulbs are over stock. If anyone's still unsure about the switch, this should help make up their minds. Plus the pictures were too cool to waste.

Low beams, Silverstar on the driver's side, stock on passenger
http://dmctalk.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=10612&d=1337731611

High beams, again, Silverstar on the driver's side.
http://dmctalk.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=10613&d=1337731616

[vwdmc16]

What a difference Jon! Ive never tried to take a pic of mine before and after as my cameras suck. i still have my original high beams so im curious to see how much brighter yours are.

[jawn101]

What a difference Jon! Ive never tried to take a pic of mine before and after as my cameras suck. i still have my original high beams so im curious to see how much brighter yours are.

You know where to find me! Tomorrow afternoon I'll put the passenger side bulbs in.

[dvonk]

nice, i definitely like the temp of the SilverStars better. how does the brightness (i.e., volume of light) compare to stock?

[jawn101]

nice, i definitely like the temp of the SilverStars better. how does the brightness (i.e., volume of light) compare to stock?

I really wanted to get a photo of that but there's too much crap on the walls of my garage to get a real picture. Maybe tonight I'll drive out to an industrial area or somewhere with a flat blank wall I can aim the lights at and get the shot. I still haven't done the passenger side yet so the comparison would be cool.

Anyway, photo or not - there is a lot more light coming from the new lamps. I don't know how much of that is the design vs age of the old ones, but it's a very impressive difference.

[Bitsyncmaster]

I really wanted to get a photo of that but there's too much crap on the walls of my garage to get a real picture. Maybe tonight I'll drive out to an industrial area or somewhere with a flat blank wall I can aim the lights at and get the shot. I still haven't done the passenger side yet so the comparison would be cool.

Anyway, photo or not - there is a lot more light coming from the new lamps. I don't know how much of that is the design vs age of the old ones, but it's a very impressive difference.

Take a photo shining on a white wall (garage door). You will see a big difference.

[jawn101]

Here's the photos from this evening. Unfortunately my garage door is quite close to the nose of the car so the photos don't really do it justice. And no, the headlights aren't massively misaligned - the skew is from me standing slanted to operate the control stalk :)

Headlamps only
http://dmctalk.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=10641&d=1337829847

Brights on (stalk forward)
http://dmctalk.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=10642&d=1337829854

Flash-to-pass (stalk pulled backwards)
http://dmctalk.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=10643&d=1337829861

[dvonk]

thanks for posting photos, jon. there is indeed quite a difference. :fancy: