First off, lemme say that changing out the headlights bulbs on the Runner is a major PITA. I actually had to bust out the manual and read it!

Well, the Sylvania SilverStars are MUCH brighter than the older OEM bulbs. A nice white light with no icky blue bulb in the housing. Not as bright as HID, but it will do.

RANT: After putting her back together, my passenger blinker light blew. NICE.

I can tell this will be one fun vehicle to wrench on.

 

yep they are a PITA to install. I really liked how bright they were till I was next to a escalade with HID's. its not even close!

 

I have been plaing on getting some Silver Stars for a long time but I can't decide wether to get thoes or PIAAs. I know the PIAAs cost more which leads me to beleve they are brighter. What does everyone else think? Sounds like you are likeing the Silver Stars though.

 

Stay away from PIAAs lights. They last about 1yr, mine usually lasted 1 1/2. Xtreme whte and Siverstars look IDENTICAL when lit. Don't waste your money on these bulbs, I could have bought an HID already with money spent on bulbs alone.

 

Ditto. Replacing the PIAAs got too expensive so I went back to the stockers.

 

Just cahnged over about 2 months ago and love the Silver Stars

 

Are the Silver Stars brighter than the Hella's? I need to replace the headlites in my 2nd gen and am trying to decide between the Silver Stars or the Hellas.

 

Joatmon,

I have no idea about the Hellas, but the SilverStars are a VAST improvement over stock halogen.

 

cost doesnt always mean they are brighter!

 

why was it difficult?
i found installing them easy.

did you take off the grill or however it says to in the manual?

its easier if you just unbolt the fluid containers in the enginebay behind the lights (i think one is the washer fluid, i forget the other) and then you can access the bulbs that way.

hopefully that made sense.

 

In regards to the Hella's I have a set of their yellowstar bulbs. They have a slight yellow tint excellent for fog, snow, rain etc. I have not had the Silverstars but I have had two sets of the Piaa's and I won't run the hyper/blue HID type bulbs anymore. Hands down the Hella's allow me to see far better than the Piaa's ever did.

 

this was the easiest mod I have ever done. It literally took me 2 minutes for each bulb, and I am no mechanic by any means.

I guess the 2nd gens are harder than the 3rd eh?

 

Ya, I did the installation per the manual. Removed the corner lights, removed the grill, removed the housings...install bulbs...yada yada.

The place where you mount the bulbs isn't very accessible. I'll only go through it one more time when I upgrade again to HID. I still need to make a housing for the ballasts

 

no, they arent harder. i have a 2nd gen. i installed the silverstars on mine a year or two ago.


the manual says to take of the grill and such like how Vtec_Killer did, and then remove the housings.

once you unbolt the stuff behind the housing, you can reach the bulb very easily.

 

I just put a set of S. Stars in today, what an improvement over the stock. You have to love these old Toys, 2 screws, lift up the trim ring pull out the old one put in the new one! 10 minutes for both sides!! HA!
I paid $42.00 for mine, what a deal!!

 

The Silverstars are nice, but they only lasted me about a year...I put the OEM's back in. I have heard that the Wagner's last longer. A search here for "Wagner" should show more info.

 

colored bulbs looks better but I dont think it is brighter.........

 

same deal in my 89 a HUGE improvment over stock..i like the color of them and they are AMAZING for the price...accualy they are just plain amazing. They are brighter than my dads 99 stock bulbs..he just put silverstars bulbs in...little bit imporvemtn but mine are still better

 

I was wondering if I could do this. I supose If I took out my baterie and windshield washer bottle I could get to the back of the bulbs. My grill is much harder to remove than the stock one. That's the reason I haven't upgraded my bulbs yet. I better look into this method! I really really don't want to take my grill off.

 

you dont even have to remove the battery. i think i just unbolted the thing that keeps it tied down, then removed the washer fluid bottle, and i think the coolent bottle on the other side. you can easily access the bulbs from the rear.

no removing of the grill required.