THSCC Forums

Hi, everyone!

Found out the night of the Christmas party that the low beam on the driver's side of the Miata is out. This is an NA, so it currently has the 7" round 6024 halogen sealed beams in it.

My question is - what would you do? Would you just replace the one sealed beam, or take advantage of the oppoirtunity to upgrade to something better?

As I see it, there are several levels of performance here:

Lowest: Stock type halogens
Low: Higher-performance halogens, like Sylvania SilverStar
Higher: E-code headlights (Hella/Cibie) with replaceable bulbs
Highest: E-code housings with HID conversion.

Now, I don't really *want* to spend $400 or more for headlights, so the HID conversion is not really an option.

So, does anyone have any experience with this? If so, what have you tried and how has that choice worked for you?

I'm going to be investigating pricing, too. Stock-type halogens are $10 or less, I think, and the SilverStars were about $25 at AutoZone (which means I can get them cheaper elsewhere, I'm sure). The Hellas or Cibies will be more than the SilverStars, I know, but I have to find out how much.

Thanks for any info that anyone can provide....

Jon K.

Get a real H4 replacment, no sealed beam of any sort regualr or halogen.

I can get the Bosch H4's locally, though technically they are motorcycle haedlights. They are 10000% better than any sealed beam, thought this would be true of Hella, Cibe, etc. The Boschs are about $85 pr

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91 Jetta GLI STS/DSP 111
85 Porsche 944 ASP 11
http://www.blackforestindustries.com

Did it on my 93 and loved 'em.

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Mike Whitney
whit32@gmail.com, 919-454-5445
V10, V8, V8t, I6, I6, V6, F4t, I4, I4, I4, I4, I2, 1, 1

Whenever I need a question answered concerning automotive lighting, I talk to Ken from www.rallylights.com . He will take the time to get you what you need at a fair price. He has had multiple opportunities to try and up-sell me to something more expensive, but every time I have asked him about such products, he has told me that based on what I describe as my use, I have no need for it. While I cannot, I am confident that he can help you.

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Rich
http://www.v8mongrel.com/

I run Sylvania SilverStars.

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Has no responsibility whatsoever.

Hella E codes from Rallylights, like Rich said. I really like the H4 bulbs rated at 55/100 Watts. Install them with a relay and you shoud be fine.

I do swap the headlights before the annual NC inspection as I was told that the "nipples" on the DOT standard lamps were required to properly mount the alignment checking tool. Anyone know if that's still true?

Frank

Jon, FWIW, I really like the Silverstars I put on the Excursion. The truck has really good headlights anyway, but these were notably better.

I put Hella H4-conversion replacement reflectors and bulbs in Emmie's Miata many years ago, and it was a good thing- brighter light, even with the "normal" 60/55W (high/low) bulbs, and they have a nice clean pattern. If you want more light, get the 100/55W H4s, though you'll want to add a relay to provide power for the high beams. Even that may not be too much work, as I'm sure someone offers a plug-in relay harness. I did that in the Neon shortly after I got it, in search of some improvement on its horrible stock headlights...

Hmm, I see our buddy Ken Beard has the H4 conversions for a good price:
http://www.rallylights.com/hella/7in.asp

I got my Neon relay conversion from Gene Henderson's old company, Competition Limited, and I see they are still selling them:
http://www.hioutputbulbs.com/har.htm

That would be my suggestion!

Good luck!

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Carl Fisher

Be Cool to the Pizza Dude:
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/stor ... Id=4651531

But you are comparing a replacment bulb to a sealed beam headlight version of the silverstar.

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91 Jetta GLI STS/DSP 111
85 Porsche 944 ASP 11
http://www.blackforestindustries.com

In my old 510 Datsun with 5 1/4 quad lights I ran H4 conversions and H1 conversions on the inside pair. I then replace the 55/60 watt H4s with 90/130 watters and had 100 watt H1s. Of course I fabricated my own harness with relays and fuses directly to the battery. It kicked butt at night.

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George Bright Member # 141
One of the youngest of the old farts.
Yes I voted against you joining the club.

Thanks, everyone!

Guess I'll start saving my pennies for an H4 conversion. The prices at rallylights.com look pretty good - only about $25 or so more per pair than the SilverStar (or Silverstar, however it's typed) sealed beams. And I'd prefer to spend $10 every year or so to replace a bulb or two, rather than $25 for a single sealed beam.

Jon K.

Tom Bishop at Auto Sport Gallery used to have a really nice optical adjuster. If you bought your bulbs/lenses from him he would align them for you. I assume he still does that.

It really made a huge difference as I tried aligning using a flat parking lot and measuring the spots on the wall and had quite poor results.

--Kevin H.

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2003 WRX (again!)