Headlights: GE Nighthawk v. Sylvania Silverstar

[Tomko]

Over the holidays I switched from Sylvania Silverstar bulbs to GE Nighthawk bulbs on my Tahoe.

I've had a little bit of a problem with lifespan on the Silverstars. In all fairness, Sylvania has sent me two free replacements, and mentioned that DRLs can diminish their lifespan. This is why I decided to try the GE Nighthawks.

So far the Nighthawks appear much brighter and whiter on the road than do the bluish Silverstars.

Has anyone else tried these bulbs? What have been your experiences?

[likearock00]

I haven't tried the GE's but I did put the Silverstars on my old Taurus. I didn't think there was a huge improvement with the Sylvania's over the stock bulbs. I do see they have Silverstar ultras out now...I wonder if they are any brighter?

[throwback]

I also noticed a short life span with the silver stars. My car does have DRLs and that is one of the reasons I hate DRLs.

[louda]

I'm considering the GE Nighthawks for my perky Sunfire because I drive late at night coming from work and often through suburbs that are under construction where there's barely any road light. But I found that they're a pain in the ass to get. A local Canadian Tire used to carry them but now I don't see them on the shelve. They have plenty of Sylvania Silver Stars though.

[Tomko]

I'm considering the GE Nighthawks for my perky Sunfire because I drive late at night coming from work and often through suburbs that are under construction where there's barely any road light. But I found that they're a pain in the ass to get. A local Canadian Tire used to carry them but now I don't see them on the shelve. They have plenty of Sylvania Silver Stars though.

Canadian Tire's AutoZone ripoff - PartSource - had the Nighthawks at 20% off for the month of December.

[MrFrost]

I tried the Sylvania Silver Star bulbs and also noted the shortened life-span.
While researching this I ran across a very....er, "illuminating" article.

Article Quotes:
"Osram, the well-established German lampmaker, sells a line of automotive bulbs they call "Silver Star". These are Osram's top-of-the-range headlamp bulbs, equivalent to Narva RangePower+50, GE Night Hawk, Philips VisionPlus, and Tungsram Megalight Premium. They produce the maximum legal amount of light while staying within legal power consumption limits. They have colorless clear glass."

and,

"Osram bought the well-established American lampmaker Sylvania in the early 1990s, so Osram is now Sylvania's parent company. Sylvania also sells a line of automotive bulbs they call "Silver Star", but it's not the same product. The Sylvania Silver Stars have blue glass. Light output is of legal levels, but as with all blue-filtered bulbs, you do not get more light from them. The Sylvania SilverStar bulbs have a very short lifetime, because the filament is overdriven to get a legal amount of light despite the blue glass."

Go read the whole article here:
http://www.danielsternlighting.com/t...good/good.html

I bought the Osram Silver Star bulbs and what a difference. Last much longer, and cheaper, too!

[Tomko]

I bought the Osram Silver Star bulbs and what a difference. Last much longer, and cheaper, too!

Sounds interesting. Could you share with us who your supplier was for these Osram bulbs?

Thanks,

[Froggy]

I just ordered 4 Silverstar Ultras for my Monte to replace the normal silverstars, so ill post a few pics when i get them.

[louda]

Ok so now I'm completely confused. I went to CT today and found that they sell both GE Nighthawk and the Sylvania Silver Star. I think they're about the same price for my car. The Silver Star are labelled as "ultra bright" and if you look on the back of the package it says made in Germany by Osram but it has the Sylvania logo on the front. Are these the ones that last longer?

[louda]

Canadian Tire's AutoZone ripoff - PartSource - had the Nighthawks at 20% off for the month of December.

Thanks, I gotta look for one in my area.

[ctaylorzl1]

I have Silverstar Ultras in my Ram, I am not impressed with them in the least bit. They are hardly if any brighter than my factory bulbs. The only reason I havent changed them is because I'm waiting for them to go out, I cant see paying for another set when the ones I have work, although I have almost overcome that due to the fact I hate these bulbs so much! Someone give a review of the Nighthawks, if the are good I might have to get a set!

[Mischief007]

I have the Sylvania Silverstars and they are MUCH better than the stock bulbs. Only had them for about 2 months now but so far so good.

[Ed753]

Wagner makes some of these “specialty” bulbs too. I put their TruView in my truck, it is a brighter light, yet less glare (I was often getting flashed even though I had my dims on and adjusted properly) these have helped, I don’t get flashed anymore. Wagner also has one called BriteLite they are a “brighter” and “wider” light, my wife’s Jeep had dead spots on the sides, these too helped tremendously. I bought them at my local parts store. Wagner is more of an industry/repair-shop brand vs. GE and Sylvania sold at all the big chains, Automotive and Retail.

[Tomko]

Well Thursday night I drove home from Montreal on the very dark 417 and the Nighthawks performed beautifully. They were brighter and whiter than the Silverstars. I just hope that they will last longer than the short-lived Silverstars.