Upgraded Lighting - somewhat disappointed...

Tree_Hugger · Jan 6, 2004

Well. I intalled an add-on wiring harness and XD5 80W lowbeam and 100W highbeam bulb.
I'm somewhat disappointed with the results. It is brighter, but not by much.
THe wiring harness is of good quality, it was a bit fiddly to install, routing is somewhat of an issue, mostly at the headlight end (the flexible protective shields behind the headlamp housings necessitate a convoluted path and use up most of the free length in the harness

- I think I might cut slits in it to allow a more direct routing).

The high wattage 9005 and 9006 bulbs have a straight terminal instead of a right angle one. I like that.

The problem is (I think) the thick dark blue coating on the bulbs, intended to 'fake' a higher color temperature.

I think it absorbs about 30% of the light :6:

. I'm not happy about that! :7:

Does anyone know how to remove the coating?
Isopropyl Alcohol?
Acetone?
MEK?
Napalm?

the_dude · Jan 7, 2004

The glass is that color. Buy new bulbs to meet the new harness' specs.

Tree_Hugger · Jan 7, 2004

The Dude said:
The glass is that color. Buy new bulbs to meet the new harness' specs.

It's definitely a coating (the bottom of the envelope is clear)and these are the only higher wattage 9005 and 9006 I have been able to find.
If you know of any others, I'd love to know. These were from Global Premier...

dichris · Jan 7, 2004

Do a search on Google, there are several manufactures that make 100 Watt replacement bulbs for 9000 series lamps... Off Road use only classification...

Here's one search result

http://www.jcwhitney.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?storeId=10101&AID=10273849&productId=5320&TID=101&catalogId=10101&langId=-1&PID=673632

the_dude · Jan 7, 2004

The only problem with you trying to take the coating off (which I haven't seen before) is when you tamper with the glass like that and make a hairline scratch or some other error to the bulb, it can blow up. Maybe that coating is there to handle the extra heat of the bulb too, and if its gone than your bulb can blow up.

AVingInNH · Jan 7, 2004

I posted similarly to another thread.

Those sound like the GLOBALPREMIER.COM bulbs. I had 5200K (80/100W) 9006/9005 bulbs. One of the 9006's burned out in about 4 months. I ordered their new 5800K bulbs and a set of Koebe 9006's (4800K) as well. I am running right now with one bulb of each installed (the 9005's are still ok) and you can't tell the difference, except that the Koebe's cost a lot less (about $8/set vs. $30). They are both WHITE, not BLUE, and are stock wattage.

-J

Tree_Hugger · Jan 7, 2004

Thanks for the suggestion DiChris. Most of the ones shown appear to be 'rated at 100W' but only draw 55 or 65. This is not what I'm looking for. The ones you referred to are also coated, and I think the coating is the real problem.
I have found a source of clear 80W and 100W (it was about page 10 of the google list), and bookmarked it.

On the way to finding that - there was some info on coatings.
Apparently there are some with a light blue internal coating fom DuPont (which might be OK) and many more with a dark blue external coating, some with both! And the external coating might be an Ethanol-dissolved dip that is then cured at 300 Centirade.
That probably means that Ethanol, and/or Isopropyl Alcohol, isn't going to touch the coating. I do wonder if acetone will, though.
I'm also thinking about chlorine bleach...
BTW Isopropyl Alcohol is the recommended cleaning agent....

KingVolcano · Jan 7, 2004

Guys, if you want bulbs give my buddy Troy an email. His bulbs have a lifetime warranty. His pricing is excellent and he will work with you on custom orders.

Tell him KingVolcano sent you.

Troy's email - timewasten@attbi.com

brsofla · Jan 9, 2004

Check the internet for "Nokya" bulbs. They're true 80w and 100w 9000 series bulbs. Also, look under H3 and H4.

Suggest buying the pure white ones, not the blue. Most of the blue comes from some kind of coating on the bulb or blue glass.

Good luck, bro >:D