Phillips brand headlamp and fog light bulbs are what I prefer to use. I think they are superior quality to Sylvania and offer better/more light for less money. PIAA also makes excellent lights but they are very $$$.

I usually use Phillips VisionPlus replacement headlight and fog light bulbs. They are advertised as offering 60% better/more light vs standard halogens. They definitely lived up to the claim IMO whenever I have used them. Unlike Silverstars they actually LAST more than 2-3 times turning them on. I also think they provide a clearer/whiter light.

I actually ran Silverstar Ultra's in my Patriot. I was going to get the P-VP's but I had a pepBoy's coupon that let me get them for almost free. Otherwise I would have got the P-VP's. I was really surprised that they SU's actually lasted as long as they did. I was sure they were going to burn out at any time but they were still working when I sold the Patriot. About a year or so. They were definitely due to fail though.

These are what I would recommend you use P-VP...

[ame]http://www.amazon.com/Philips-9008-VisionPlus-Headlight-Bulb/dp/B001CB03EE[/ame]


They also offer Xtreme Power and Xtreme Vision lights if you want more but IMO they are too bright( i.e. blind cars coming at you ) at 80-100% more than standard halogens plus I always worry about melting things due to increased heat...

[ame]http://www.amazon.com/Philips-9008XVS2-X-Treme-Vision-Headlight/dp/B00BQWQN3E/ref=sr_1_2?s=automotive&ie=UTF8&qid=1394716866&sr=1-2&keywords=Philips+H13+9008+xtreme[/ame]

[ame]http://www.amazon.com/Philips-9008-X-treme-Power-Headlight/dp/B00480KPLW/ref=sr_1_1?s=automotive&ie=UTF8&qid=1394716866&sr=1-1&keywords=Philips+H13+9008+xtreme[/ame]


EDIT - the P-VP's I used in my 2008 Ram lasted 30+ months. I replaced the OE bulbs( Hi/Low/Fog )shortly after buying it and the P-VP's I put in were all still functioning when I sold it to get the Patriot in 2011.

 

If you are going to stick with inferior halogens and you want brighter bulbs, expect low life expectancies and high costs. Silverstars are ok, PIAA is a good one, GE night hawk, and OSRAM night breaker.

 

Frankly, I get flashed at so many times with my low-beams on, I can't imagine anything brighter. I don't want to jinx myself, but I'm also impressed that my OEM lights are still working. Ignatz just passed his 5th birthday and is over 140,000 miles in everything from 100F heat to -25F cold and been jarred by 100,000 potholes and frost heaves -- still shining brightly. Whatever they are, I'd want them again.

If I had to just buy a set I'd go with Sylvania. They're made only a few dozen miles from where I sit and I have friends who work there. I'd just as soon keep them working rather than pay someone else to undercut them.

 

I tried all kinds of brands and nothing beats Philips thus far. I used Xtreme Power and now running a set of these.

 

I approve of the Philips Xtreme bulbs myself, they seem as bright as the Silverstars I used in the past but these will probably last longer. My silverstars always died FAST.

 

My silverstars are decent. I figured they'd be brighter for the 60 bucks I paid for them.

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regardless of brand
i cant believe the price of headlight bulbs,
i was in sticker shock/denial when i replaced mine,
$17/$20 a bulb? holy cow to me thats flat out insane

 

Yup - they use to be cheap until a few years ago when I noticed it when replacing my wifes bulb. After that I've converted to HID on my vehicles and friends and not one bulb replacement since (and for a price of $30 shipped).

I remember a decade ago when HID's used to be super expensive and the alternative was the high wattage halogen bulbs - boy how times have changed.

 

Yup - they use to be cheap until a few years ago when I noticed it when replacing my wifes bulb. After that I've converted to HID on my vehicles and friends and not one bulb replacement since (and for a price of $30 shipped).

Do you have projectors, or the stock headlight buckets?

 

Is there a common store in the USA that sells Philips headlight bulbs?

 

I'd doubt you will find them cheaper than on Amazon. For example, when I bought mine last year, I paid $28 on Amazon. Local Pep Boys store carries the same bulbs for $53.

 

Advanced Auto, Pep Boys, O'Riley, NAPA, Autozone, Target, Kmart, and pretty much every parts store.

 

im sure amazon or ebay is cheapest but if i can get them same day for a "few" dollars more id rather do it that way than having to rely on unknown sellers

 

I got my Philips on Amazon. Quick shipping and arrive safe.

 

lame! our local wally world or meijers dont carry philips headlight bulbs.only sylvania

 

Go to any auto parts stores, you will surely pay at least double as you would from reputable, reliable, and fast shipping eBay/Amazon sellers but as least you will get them same day from a huge corporation with a local location.

 

I"ve used Phillips extreme power in my Patriot, they were a great upgrade from stock.

Also had Crytalvision Ultra in my patriot.

Before I did the LED conversion on my compass I used the Crystal Vision Ultra as well.

Extremepower = noticeable increase in light still yellow

Crystal Vision = noticeable increase but not as great as extreme power with a whiter light.

I did a 9005 and H11 LED headlight conversion using a kit off eBay.

Yes it was a direct toss the bulbs into the stock housing, however I have not been flashed by anyone yet with them installed, noticeable increase is light and its pure white, although the kit is DOT approved I haven't had any issues with law enforcement here.

I bought this exact kit, although I posted the link for the H13 (which is what patriots run)

http://www.ebay.ca/itm/CREE-KIT-900...UPGRADE-/161155778502?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item2585a207c6

 

I have not seen any reliable benchmark tests from these cree LED's against halogens/LED's yet and for P&P headlight conversions everything I've seen to date in regards to the LED's is that their directional light output and low lumens cannot safely be used for daily driving with the current technology. You can go search around but no matter where you look with these LED headlight kits, they look nice from the outside but they have very disappointing and in the case of diving dangerous results. Halogens and HID's have proven and safe light output for driving - so far LED's do not.

http://www.clubxb.com/forums/showthread.php?t=50337

 

I'm well aware of the terrible beam pattern that HID's produce, these leds don't seem to produce that, and they are extremely bright, in fact they tend to overpower my 4x 18W spot lights on my bull bar.

 

Never said anything about a beam pattern - HID's have superior beam patterns and that is entirely dependent on the housing. Your LED's beams match those of the halogens (side filaments) so that is why they look ok in your housing, however the light output is where LED's have failed (don't know about these new kits however).

Have you found any comparison tests on these LED's versus either halogen or HID's (or both)?

 

Went to advance auto,oreillys,and autozone today and none of them carry philips bulbs. They all only have sylvania.

 

just ordered a set----best price----
http://www.ebay.com/itm/201053291928?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649

 

I was in a rush to get them installed so I never did a side by side comparison, they were rated at 1800-2000 lumens. I totally agree with you on the light output of LED's historically they have been quite poor compared to halogen.

They are rated at 1800 - 2000 Lumens +/- 10%

As an example, Phillips extreme vision H11 bulbs are rated at 2000 lumens.

So these lights are as bright as factory bulbs or the aftermarket halogen bulbs.

 

Yes but remember that an LED lumen is not comparable (directly) to halogen/HID lumens and the fact that LED's beam patterns are directional (similar but different than halogens). Looking around for anyone that has done a side by side bulb comparison test and no luck yet.

 

I only have internet education on halogen bulbs. Do the Phillips not have the problems discussed on the net about Sylvania?

What I remember reading about the brighter Sylvania halogens is:
- The color difference gives a perception of brighter, but in reality they are only slightly brighter.
- Bulb life is drastically shorter/bulbs are exponentially more expensive
- While initially brighter when new, they quickly degrade to a lower brightness

I decided that one level up from the OEM standard type bulb was probably the best value based on what I read above.

Am I wrong??

 

I am guessing that everything you say is true except for the color.The sylvania silverstars have a blue tint in the glass to change their color.The Philips xtreme do not.I believe the Philips Extreme bulbs remain the same color as stockers but just brighter.I think they are rated around 3500K.Although i did just order the Philips Extremes an hour or so ago,im sure their life expectancy is minimal.You may be correct that upgrading to one level up may be the most sufficient thing to do.

 

I ran Extreme power Phillips bulbs in my compass, brighter than stock by quite a bit, but same yellow type color. Any blue tint on bulbs actually reduces actual light output but looks "better"

The crystal Vision Ultra bulbs by Phillips have a blue tint to them, but they are brighter than the factory bulbs so you gain the white light without losing any output.

 

I've run both Xtreme Power and Vision Ultra. As Tyler said Xtreme provides more light output where Vision Ultra has blue tint to them which I like. Xtreme bulbs were on for almost two years and I replaced them with Vision Ultra because of the looks. I kept Xtreme for backup purposes as they still work.

 

xtremes were still working after 2 years of use?!?

 

Yes, keep them as spare set.

 

I guess it will also depend on how much one drives at night or with the headlights on.