Short H3 Bulb Life

[RobG]

I have the Hella micro DE driving lights in my car, the lights came with hella brand bulbs, they lasted about a year, then I put the silver stars, they have only lasted about 2 months, after 2 sets of them I'm wondering if there are preference to bulb brand, something that will last longer. Anyone with any experience.

[Canadian Turbo]

Re: Short H3 Bulb Life

I have H7 bulbs for low beams in the Smart and I am now on my 4th set in just about four years after a double burn out last week. That set was Silverstars and I had just put them in March/April so they seem to not last so long at all. I just got whatever Mercedes puts in as they seem to last the longest of anything I have tried.

[Satnam]

Re: Short H3 Bulb Life

It's such a small housing, bulbs might be dieing of heat.
If Silverstars are a little higher wattage that would explain it.
get a HID conversion kit for them.

[Kor]

Re: Short H3 Bulb Life

I always heard to be more careful not to touch the bulbs with fingers? The more you touch them and get oil on them the more trouble you will have with them heating up more and unevenly?

[vee_dubbin]

Re: Short H3 Bulb Life

I always heard to be more careful not to touch the bulbs with fingers? The more you touch them and get oil on them the more trouble you will have with them heating up more and unevenly?

If you touch the glass part of the bulb, you leave an oily residue on the glass. The oily residue will heat up and eventually causing the glass to pop. I experienced this when the bulb exploded inside the headlight leaving a film on the inside. I had to remove the headlight to try to clean the inside, which resulted in me buying a new headlight because i couldn't get in there to get it all cleaned off.

The silverstars suck in term of life. I also had this problem. I had contacted the company to complain and the sent me 2 new bulbs to try and they only lasted me 3 months. I finally caved and spent 120 bucks on PIAA brand bulbs because they are a little brighter and better, and they came with a one year warrenty to never burn out within that year. Well, they did and they were replaced after 7 months free of charge.

If you figure the cost of the silverstars (40.00 per set) and how long they last (2-3 months) it works out to be approximately 160-220 dollars a year spent on light bulbs. Compared to PIAA (a better bulb) which is 120 dollars. But the PIAA's will last longer then the full year, especially if PIAA's warrenty replaces them before the year is up.

[BaggedGLI]

Re: Short H3 Bulb Life

I had the same hella micros, and the only bulbs that lasted were the ones that came with them all the other sets went in about a week. Go with what hella gives you or go hid.

[Stonewall]

Re: Short H3 Bulb Life

I have to replace my silverstars about once a year. I would warn anyone that is thinking of going HIDS that you need a projector housing to place them in. You just can't throw them in stock housings and expect them to work right. Not only will you blind oncoming traffic but you may also get a large fine.

[popp]

Re: Short H3 Bulb Life

we sell PIAA's and they are bright and good (6000k color or yellow) they have 1 year warranty from burn out. If they burn out, we will replace them for FREEEEEEEEEE ( Eurodrivers price $90-100 depending on bulb type)

Kris, very true, always use laytex gloves or a paper towel etc........never touch the bulb with your fingers

PS: Vee Dubin, I didnt read your post before posting mine, so sorry for double posting.

[popp]

Re: Short H3 Bulb Life

I would warn anyone that is thinking of going HIDS that you need a projector housing to place them in. You just can't throw them in stock housings and expect them to work right. Not only will you blind oncoming traffic but you may also get a large fine.

Not true........we sell HID kits and have talked to numerous CPS, RCMP officers that say they will not ticket you for HID's. Agreed that a projection lens is much better then a open style light, but don't forget that there are lots of OEM cars now that come stock with HID's which do not come with projection headlights.

We also talked to a crown prosecutor that told us they have never seen a case before the court regarding HID or Aftermarket bulbs in Alberta. You may get a ticket from the odd power hungry cop, but it will never make it to court. If you get pulled over because of your HID's more then likely it's because of your tint or your speeding etc that got you pulled over.

[Stonewall]

Re: Short H3 Bulb Life

Agreed that a projection lens is much better then a open style light, but don't forget that there are lots of OEM cars now that come stock with HID's which do not come with projection headlights.

OEM cars have designed lenses to cut off the beam at the right height. A standard housing with a normal h7 etc bulb doesn't, so they are not able to control the different way the light leaves the HID bulb. Here is a arrticle that explains it in much more detail Linky

[darkmanCANADA]

Re: Short H3 Bulb Life

After 3 sets of Silverstars I went to PIAA (Mopac $90). It has been almost 2 years and still going.

[popp]

Re: Short H3 Bulb Life

stonewall I agree with you 100%, I'm only saying you will not get pulled over for going with HID's in a OEM housing unless its 10k or higher

[stefan]

Re: Short H3 Bulb Life

After 3 sets of Silverstars I went to PIAA (Mopac $90). It has been almost 2 years and still going.

silverstars do go quick. keep reciepts, because you will use the 1 year warranty. I have a euroswitch in my jetta now, so I just have the orange lights up front for my DRLs. Headlights last much longer .

[squidjit]

Re: Short H3 Bulb Life

i have had a set of PIAA H3 lights in my jetta fogs for just under a year now and im on my 6th set now... ive definitly gotten good use of my 1 year warrenty.... i have found that they will burn out when i used them on the highway at night for long periods of time... and the coils just looks like they melted when i pull them out... so they just run to hot i guess...
once my 1 year is up im getting an HID kit for em for sure....

[RobG]

Re: Short H3 Bulb Life

I have to replace my silverstars about once a year. I would warn anyone that is thinking of going HIDS that you need a projector housing to place them in. You just can't throw them in stock housings and expect them to work right. Not only will you blind oncoming traffic but you may also get a large fine.

Not an issue..where is a cost effective place to an HID kit?