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Exterior & Interior 350Z Body modification, interior styling and lighting

hi beam & low beam bulbs

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Old Nov 16, 2003 | 09:00 AM
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Default hi beam & low beam bulbs

from what I gather there are seperate bulbs for these functions...for base (no HID)... what's a decent replacement bulb, that could give a better color (a bit bluer) & brightness without looking too ghetto?? also is it true it's a b*tch to replace bulbs??
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Old Nov 16, 2003 | 09:07 AM
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you have to remove the wheel wells to replace bulbs, not hard at all.

best replacement for low beam is a true HID kit.
for high beam a set of PIAA bulbs would suffice.
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Old Nov 16, 2003 | 09:25 AM
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ok replacement doesn't seem that bad...but true HID will be in the future for me...do they make PIAA low beams as well? and do they have a bluish color?? I know the PIAA are good bulbs...
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Old Nov 16, 2003 | 09:31 AM
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I've paid a lot of money in the past for PIAA bulbs just to get that blueish color as well as the light quality. What no one tells you until it happens is those bulbs only last for about a year. And the higher wattage you go you'll tend to burn them out sooner. I've since put back the OEM bulbs and just live with it. Check GATZ (?) out b/c I've been told they're better made and "tends" to last longer.
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Old Nov 16, 2003 | 09:40 AM
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do the GATZ??? have bluish color?? never heard of 'em...but I have heard of PIAA..thought they were pretty reliable??
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Old Nov 16, 2003 | 09:46 AM
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I thought the PIAA's were too. Great advertising huh? CATZ are (as I've been told by the local speed equipment shops) are made better and the reason you haven't heard of them (as much) is b/c they lacked the advertizing blitz PIAA has. Don't take my word for it..go check both of them out. Make sure you understand the "Return" policy and you'll find that CATZ has a better policy. IMO, I have a Z that has HID and no longer need PIAA or CATZ bulbs. "hint, hint" Oh to answer your question...yes, the CATZ bulbs have blueish colors and in different wattages.
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Old Nov 16, 2003 | 04:29 PM
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thanks...acutally have heard of CATZ...(GATZ = ghetto cats? lol )had a set of CATZ for fog lights on my old ranger were pretty nice..I'll have to look into..anyone else use 'em??
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Old Nov 16, 2003 | 04:46 PM
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u can check out nokya bulbs. i am happy with them in my concorde. But i bought the purplish bulbs, <--lot of people had blueish bulbs so thats why i got purple.
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Old Nov 16, 2003 | 04:56 PM
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And uhhh, don't touch the glass on the bulb....ever.

Something about finger oils make 'em bust easier?
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Old Nov 17, 2003 | 04:06 PM
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sylvania silverstars, had em on my 3rd gen rx-7, look really good-check em out
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Old Nov 17, 2003 | 07:41 PM
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Any halogen bulb that uses filters to make the light more white or blue tend to reduce light output, which means LESS light than OEM. You are basically paying for color. There are some that claim to fill them with small amounts of xenon bulb, allowing the filament to burn hotter.. but I dont buy into that much, I've tinkered with them and havent noticed much of a difference if any.

PIAA is very over-marketed, I do not support their products. I do not care much for CATZ either. If you are going to spend money on fancy looking bulbs, might as well go with Hella Optillux.. atleast you have the satisfaction of knowing that there is a lifetime warranty on their bulbs. Plus, their bulbs use tempered glass and are not painted (they use colored glass instead). Take my word for it, I have bucket filled with tons of crap halogen bulbs and plug-in junk LED clusters.

If you want better light output from your low-beams, go with true-HID. If you want better performance from your high beams, get higher wattage bulbs. Note, you MAY need to upgrade the wiring harness after a certain wattage.. although, I have not tested the Z out to determine what is sufficient in terms of wiring.

- Mike / ClearCorners.Com

Last edited by old_s13; Nov 17, 2003 at 07:44 PM.
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Old Nov 18, 2003 | 09:00 AM
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old_s...so you don't think the PIAA's are a quality product? do the Hellas offer decent performance and color (whiter or bluer, don't want ghetto colors) or do you just like the lifetime warranty? again at this point HID is in the future for me...
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Old Nov 18, 2003 | 09:40 AM
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MrZeeeeee,

If you can save/spend $300 i would highly suggest getting a true Xenon Gas/HID system.

here is one site

another

dan

btw, i install 4300k w/35 watt ballast on my high beams.

dan
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