Triumphrat

I've seen some posts about HID for the S4. Great Idea just costs lots of $$$$! I want to put in different bulbs that would be brighter. From older posts it seems that the S4 uses a H4 bulb... please correct me if wrong. I've found 80/100W bulbs on ebay. Would that cause problems with the wiring? Suggestions?

Second, how do the parking lights work? Are they mini bulbs, or just your headlamps on very low power?

Thanks
Ty

I wouldn't go with any more wattage than the 55/60's that are spec'd from the factory. I've already been through 2 harnesses on the stock bulbs (but to Triumph's defense, I just got a bad set from the factory and have had no problems since), so more wattage isn't an option.

However, I, just the other day, replaced them with Sylvania Silverstars... a 55/60 watt bulb that's the whitest light out there. And you know what? They are. I took a nighttime ride last night and they were very white and clean looking. As a matter of fact, a friend who didn't know that I replaced the bulbs commented on how bright they were (high beams on during the day). Not too shabby for $40 bulbs. A set's going in my car this weekend!

And yes, they are H4's/9003's.

Okay... off to adjust my suspension!

What's the deal w/ the parking lights?

Back from adjusting the suspension...

As for the parking lights, they are little bulbs, and they are always on, wether or not the brights are on are not. I didn't change them when I changed my bulbs, though. I might, if I can find some white ones, just so they match the other bulbs.

I hate to preach, but blue light does not equal brighter light. It's perception only. Where it counts is in contrast on the road, which you lose in the blue side of the spectrum because of how blue scatters on reflection. This is the reason fog lamps tend to be yellow in the majority of the world. Yellow being the least scattered yet still visible light in the spectrum. HID, although truly paper white, makes up for the loss in sheer lumens. The same bulb puts out about 2-3x the lumens that a halogen bulb and can get away with losing some light to scatter. In fact, if you look at the capsules (they're not bulbs) from HID lamps on Mercedes or BMW cars, you'll see that the capsule envelope (the little bubble in the middle where the spark forms) is actually colored yellow to filter out some of the blue.

Glad you enjoy the look, but be careful until you get used to the range. The bulbs you bought, at least, are quality made and minimally lose light (compared to some of the import junk selling today)

As far as HID, I've seen ebay auctions for < $200 for a bulb/balast. Well worth it IMHO. With vibration, burnout, and poor quality of most 'white' bulbs, you'll easily spend $100-150 in replacements. I learned my lesson the hard way on my last car (two sets of bulbs and then finally got a clue.)

For the S4 I am going for the full conversion, hi/lo dual with projectors - if I can figure all those pieces out. The biggest advantage is that a hi/lo HID projector instantly flips (literraly like a strobe or LED versus halogen rampup of about 1/4 second). from hi to lo and is a great way to get the attention of the four wheeled idiots on the road.

Take care,
Peet

I didn't get the blue lights... I'll save those for the kids in the Honda Civics. Are my lights as bright as HIDs? No, and I'm won't kid myself either. However, there *is* a marked improvement over the stock halogen bulbs, and riding alongside my buddy's '04 GSX-R I know that.

Sure perception is always a factor (look at the aftermarket exhaust/intake/chip industry for cars, and people register the gains on their "butt-dyno"), but after seeing the same roads that I ride at night, I can guarantee that my lights either illuminate the road better, or at least provide a greater contrast.

Am I saying that just the replacing of the bulbs illuminates the road same that HIDs do? No. Are the bulbs brighter than the stock halogens (and PepBoy's APC brand ricer blue tinted lights)? Yes. And, just for the record, the bulbs are *white*, not blue. Not hyperwhite, or any other fake HID wanna-be look, or any kind of tint.

For $40, they are a great improvement, imho, over the stock, regular kind-of-yellow tinted halogen bulbs. Do they replace HIDs? No, and I'm not fooling myself into thinking that they are a cheaper alternative, either.

But I will take what you say with a little concern. Should they burn out at a faster rate than the factory ones, I'll go back to those. Until then, I know that I'll be able to see more stuff at night than I have been able to.

Also, the last thing that I am going to do is anything that will potentially void my warranty. Since I went through 2 harnesses already, the last thing that I'm going to do is affix something to the factory wiring system that uses more wattage (than the system was designed for, as a service manager might argue, should something arise), and is an aftermarket accessory. A 55/60 watt bulb is a 55/60 watt bulb, regardless of color, etc. I just wanted to go with a Sylvania versus something like an APC (that might be the mental part of the equation).

Regards,

Ldogdotcom

[ This message was edited by: Ldogdotcom on 2004-06-24 07:33 ]

Just a side point....

The sylvaina website lists the wattage a little higher than you said. I'm not 100% sure, but I think they are 65/72W. If that's right, you are over the factory specs. I'm not seeing that as a problem, but what wattage would be a problem? The non-street legal ones I saw on ebay (80/100) claim they don't hurt factory wiring, you think that's a load of crap?

BTW here's the link
http://www.sylvania.com/auto/silverstar.htm

Will

There is a PIAA Superwhite 55/60 that is very bright as well. It is not cheap- about $45 per bulb, but it is like the Sylvannia bulb you are describing. It is not a squid blue bulb- just a brilliant white that lights things up like an 80/100 would. Only it is legal.

__________________
Will
It's a squid thing. You wouldn't understand.
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Go soothingly on the grease mud, as there lurks the skid demon.

Fascinating... that is what it does say on the Sylvania website. However, I picked up the H4/9003 ones and on the package it said 55/60w, and on the bulb itself, it says 55/60. I'd go with what is on the box/bulb versus the website, just to be safe.

After the, um, problems, that I had, there was *no* way that I was going to up the wattage on the bulb. I think the website might be wrong. :???: