PIAA replacement bulbs....

Posted by: XterraNY

PIAA replacement bulbs.... - 08/02/01 03:08 PM

Has anyone replaced their stock halogen bulbs with PIAA's Platinum Series? They are supposedly the same wattage but light output is comparable to higher wattage bulbs. If so is the difference that noticeable?

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'00 Super Black SE 4X4
Manik Brush Guard w/
PIAA 520s
Posted by: p.i.n.o.

Re: PIAA replacement bulbs.... - 08/02/01 03:14 PM

Which bulbs are you talking about? The 9004 series for the headlights or the H3's for the foglights? Plenty of people have swapped out the stock bulbs for PIAA's and have nothing but nice things to say...

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Paul Crescini
'00 Super Black SE 4wd Auto
www.geocities.com/lil_pino/xtoy.html
Posted by: XterraNY

Re: PIAA replacement bulbs.... - 08/02/01 03:24 PM

As for the fog lights, do the lens from the factory have to be replaced with glass lenses?

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'00 Super Black SE 4X4
Manik Brush Guard w/
PIAA 520s
Posted by: KCX

Re: PIAA replacement bulbs.... - 08/02/01 07:20 PM

I put the higher wattage bulbs for my fogs and you don't see much difference. The stock wiring can handle the bigger bulb. The stock plastic lens can handle the bigger bulb. So don't worry about that, but to me its not worth the extra money, so get driving lights from PIAA for the money. After I bought mine bigger bulbs, they were destoryed from hitting a deer.........So I got the ARB bumper and KC Hiliters!

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Join the Heartland Xterra Owners Club!
www.hxoc.net
Posted by: Synchro

Re: PIAA replacement bulbs.... - 09/02/01 06:49 AM

9004 definitely look brighter. and even though i know it is a trick with the color of the light, it still looks brighter.

as for the fogs, i got the PIAA 1550XT replacement fogs and they are TONS brighter than the stock ones. the difference is tremendous.
Posted by: XterraNY

Re: PIAA replacement bulbs.... - 09/02/01 07:41 AM

Quote:
as for the fogs, i got the PIAA 1550XT replacement fogs and they are TONS brighter than the stock ones. the difference is tremendous.

[/B]


Can these be wired to utilize the rotator switch of the stocks? I already have the switch from my 520s, and would rather not have an addition switch. I also assume being PIAAs that they are sealed, unlike the stocks which I have already replaced due to interior rust.

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'00 Super Black SE 4X4
Manik Brush Guard w/
PIAA 520s
Posted by: Ag_xterra

Re: PIAA replacement bulbs.... - 09/02/01 07:46 AM

i have a 2001 xterra and i was reading the manual a few days ago and saw that it says 9007 series bulbs for headlights. i read about everyone talking about 9004 series and wondered if i'm somehow reading the bulb chart wrong of what is the deal.

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Silver Ice Xterra Xe
4x4 auto 3pk
"You eat pieces of **** for breakfast?"
Posted by: airbutchie

Re: PIAA replacement bulbs.... - 09/02/01 07:54 AM

Hey Ag_Xterra... The '01 Xterra manual
is completely WRONG... I bought a pair
for Xenon 9007 replacement bulbs for my
X and they didn't fit... Then I had them
exchange it for PIAA 9004's and those fit
perfectly... In short, 9004's are the
CORRECT model number for your X's headlights!
BTW, I would also recommend getting PIAA
light bulbs... It give a much cleaner and
brighter light projection... Hope this
helps ya...

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Xterra 2001 SE 4x2
Air Butchie Productions
Posted by: Synchro

Re: PIAA replacement bulbs.... - 09/02/01 09:13 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by XterraNY:
Can these be wired to utilize the rotator switch of the stocks? I already have the switch from my 520s, and would rather not have an addition switch. I also assume being PIAAs that they are sealed, unlike the stocks which I have already replaced due to interior rust.



before i had put my ARB on, i had the 1550s wired into the stock fog wiring. no problems. no idea on the seal issue. i know the glass lneses are replacesable as i have to do that after i hit a rock with mine a while back.



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Synchro (aka Kirk)
2000 Xterra SE, Alpine Green, 4x4, ARB, 32" BFG MTs
Posted by: O'Polka

Re: PIAA replacement bulbs.... - 12/02/01 11:45 AM

I am running the 100/80w super whites in my headlamps and the 80w piaa fog bulbs in my stock fog lamps with no problem. Sure does make a difference when driving in the country!!!

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John O'Polka
SWXC Member #28
2001 SE 4x4
Goldrush smile
http://www.geocities.com/opolka_2000/

http://albums.photopoint.com/j/AlbumList?u=1435837
Posted by: gothamist

Re: PIAA replacement bulbs.... - 12/02/01 07:23 PM

In case people are looking I tried a while back to get comparison pictures of my PIAA Superwhite 9004 bulbs to the stock ones.
http://www.beatdriven.com/xterra/lighting/index.htm

There are also more light beam comparison pictures on the main part of my website.

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gothamist -- MAXC member
http://www.beatdriven.com/xterra.html
Posted by: XterraNY

Re: PIAA replacement bulbs.... - 13/02/01 10:21 AM

Hey gothamist-

Do they have a better spread to the sides as well as the obvious increase in forward distance? (your pictures definitely help)

also for your fog lights are you replacing the factories with the PIAA's and routing the wires to the stalk rotator switch?

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'00 Super Black SE 4X4
Manik Brush Guard w/
PIAA 520s
Posted by: gothamist

Re: PIAA replacement bulbs.... - 13/02/01 10:55 AM

The PIAA bulbs have a more uniform beam pattern than the stock ones (and are brigher), but the light doesn't really spread out any further.

I replaced the fogs w/ the PIAA 1500XTs and spliced into the wiring right at the light...the stock wiring/fuse/relay can take the 55W just fine.


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gothamist -- MAXC member
http://www.beatdriven.com/xterra.html
Posted by: BigTom

Re: PIAA replacement bulbs.... - 16/02/01 06:49 PM

I replaced my headlights with PIAAs and fog lights with the H3s. I bought both from XterraParts.com, but the H3 connectors were different than the original. With a little modification, they work grrrrrreat!! The light is brighter, but I don't notice a difference in the spread or distance of the beam.

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'01 Silver Ice XE 4X4 3 pack V6 AT
BT
Posted by: BX Tale

Re: PIAA replacement bulbs.... - 17/02/01 06:53 AM

I have tried both PIAAs and Hella replacement headlight bulbs, My opion is they are the same and the HELLAs are way cheaper in cost, The PIAAs I would have to replace every 6-8 months and that starts to get expensive. The HELLAs OPTILUX White. Are very good.
Here is the link http://catalog.com/susq/
9004 12v 65/45 PR=$27.5
9004 12v 100/80 PR=$27.5
H3 12v 55w PR=$24.5
H3 12v 100w PR=$24.5

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Posted by: JB Strickland

Re: PIAA replacement bulbs.... - 19/02/01 06:36 PM

I recently replaced my stock bulbs with 9004 PIAAs...can defenitely tell a difference when it's very dark. It's a whiter light, am able to pick out my X in traffic by comparing headlights. But what a pain to actually do the job...what engineer put the radiator overflow and the battery box directly behind the right bulb socket? I got my PIAAs for $60/pair at Eastern Offroad in VA Beach.

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'01 XTERRA SE 4X4
Just Blue
VA Beach
Posted by: Ag_xterra

Re: PIAA replacement bulbs.... - 21/02/01 08:19 PM

i just put in my new bulbs yesterday. they are great. in my opionion very easy to install, well the left passenger side alittle trickier than the right one but still no problem. whiter light on low beams but high beams seem to have a much bigger difference. theres even a hint of blue on high beam.

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Silver Ice Xterra Xe
4x4 auto 3pk