Silverstar Ultra bulbs melting

May 29, 2008 | 02:19 PM

Scollard

Thread Starter

Newbie

Joined: Nov 2007

Posts: 13

Likes: 0

From: Washington

2004 S430 4matic

Silverstar Ultra bulbs melting

I had a low-beam go out about 2 months ago and I replaced both with Sylvania Silverstar Ultra bulbs. I have these same bulbs in my Pathfinder, although they are 9004s. Over the long weekend I was cruising a dark road and found I have very little low beam output. I dropped my car off at the dealer and they pulled the bulbs and found they were melting, deformed and turning black. Has anyone had this problem. Could it be because they sit in a projector housing that they get too hot, while in my Pathfinder they are in a reflector. Would PIAAs maybe work or are they going to get just as hot as the Silverstars and melt? Any suggestions besides doing a HID retrofit, which I will probably do eventually.

May 29, 2008 | 03:48 PM

Benz5656

Senior Member

Joined: Mar 2008

Posts: 314

Likes: 3

From: SC

SL500

Its the bulbs getting too hot in the housings. The way these bulbs work is that they are colored which is like putting tint on glass. In ordered to push the light through the tent you need more wattage. More wattage with a halogen bulb means more heat. Which is why it is melting. Your best bet is to get a HID retrofit kit for $200, and don't forget your capacitors to keep those grimlins away. (Please tell me you didn't go to the dealer for a halogen bulb replacement)

Jun 3, 2008 | 10:22 PM

James@Creative

Senior Member

Joined: Aug 2006

Posts: 340

Likes: 0

From: San Diego, CA

Let me know if you would like an HID retro kit, I can send it out to you for $150 plus shipping.

Jun 4, 2008 | 03:15 AM

midnight

Junior Member

Joined: Jul 2006

Posts: 18

Likes: 0

From: Houston

2004 S500 2005 Crossfire SRT-6

Do you have a HID upgrade kit for a 2004 S430. I would like to upgrade as well. Also is this a DIY kit or will I have to have it professionally installed.

Jun 4, 2008 | 09:53 PM

Vader55

MBWorld Fanatic!

Joined: Jul 2005

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Likes: 1

From: OC

AMG E55, Stage 1, Strait Pipe from Primary Cats

Quote:

Originally Posted by James@Creative

Let me know if you would like an HID retro kit, I can send it out to you for $150 plus shipping.

This is a no brainer guys.

Jun 9, 2008 | 12:02 PM

Scollard

Thread Starter

Newbie

Joined: Nov 2007

Posts: 13

Likes: 0

From: Washington

2004 S430 4matic

HID Kit

Does the kit include the Bosch projectors and ballasts or are you just talking about fitting a D2S bulb into the H7 halogen projector. You should not put a HID bulb in a Halogen projector. The alignment is all wrong to get the proper light distribution. You must change the projector in the headlight to HID if you want the proper light output.

I talked to Sylvania and they are taking back the bulbs and replacing them. They assure me that the bulbs should work fine in these headlights and it must have been a faulty bulb or it could have been touched by a finger.