GE Nighthawk Platinum Headlight Bulbs - Anyone used them?

[hightech]

I tried searching for this info already and could not find any feedback, so I created a seperate thread for this.

I have an 09 Civic and find the stock lights to be pretty poor. I would like something brighter and was considering the GE Nighthawk Platinum. Has anyone used this and are they any good?

I tried the Sylvania Silverstar on my other car (02 Camry) and it was bright but only lasted 8 months (got my $$ back from Canadian Tire tho). I know that HID is the best, but I suspect it will be costly and complex to change (i.e. bulbs, reflectors, etc.)

Also, should I change the LOW and HIGH beam bulbs together to get the best effect, or is running 2 different sets ok?

All suggestions would be welcome.

Thanks

[Trainman]

I have used the regular GE Nighthawks for several years and been very happy.  I do not know about the Platinum, they are the ones with the blue coating on 1/3 of the end of the bulb?  I know Daniel Stern does not like tinted bulbs, nor do I so I wonder how these really work  http://www.danielsternlighting.com/home.html

Currently, as the 'awkes are not available in the size that the low beam is on the Forester, I am running the stock on the low's and the Nighthawks on the high beam.  I really need to get something in for those low beams but I have seen no adverse reactions from having both.

[Trainman]

From Mr. Stern's web site:

Superwhites

Claims ("55w = 85w", etc.) made for "Superwhite" type bulbs are very misleading. They simply aren't true. Here's the full scoop!

CLAIM: "SuperWhite" bulbs produce 85W of light from 55W of electricity

REALITY: "Superwhite" ("Hyperwhite", "UltraWhite", "Platinum", etc., basically any bulb advertised as being "whiter" than normal) bulbs produce more glare and less seeing light than standard bulbs.

The "55W = 85W" type claims are a sham. Here's how these kinds of pretend wattage numbers are cooked-up: The blue or purple filtration coating on the glass tints the light so that it is "whiter". Most bulbs that actually produces more light (i.e., higher-wattage bulbs) also burn with a whiter color than standard-wattage bulbs. With these color-coated bulbs, only the light color, and not the actual light output, imitates a high-power bulb. There is no seeing advantage to "whiter" light, though some people seem to think that others will look upon headlamps so equipped and go "Wow, cool!". Why they believe anyone else cares what color their headlamps are is anybody's guess.

A major reason why many people find many US-specification headlamps in need of upgrading is because many such headlamps have very low levels of foreground light, which creates a "black hole" on the road in front of the car. There's often insufficient lateral light (left and right) to see critters or people before they run into the road. The "hot spot" creates a narrow tunnel of light that disappears "out there somewhere", with no visual cue to where the beam (and therefore the driver's seeing range or "preview") ends. But these headlamp performance aspects are governed by the optics of the lamp, not by the color of the light. Bulbs with blue or purple tinted glass never improve the performance of your headlamps. They may leave it relatively unchanged, or they may severely reduce it, but they never improve it. ...


...BOTTOM LINE: The laws of physics are the laws of physics. They don't bend even for the highest-paid advertising agency. There is no way to get "85 watts of light for 55 watts of electricity." Tinted bulbs aren't better.

http://www.danielsternlighting.com/tech/bulbs/superwhite/superwhite.html

So I really wonder if GE has succumbed to the "super white" hyperbole    Too bad if they have as the regular Nighthawks are great.

[rrocket]

I've used both the Silverstar Ultras, and most recently the GE Nighthawk Platinum.  The little blue strip is maybe not even 1/4 of the bulb total, and it's right on the tip.  I don't know if it has any effect on colour at all.  I find them as bright with as the Silverstars and there certainly isn't any bluish tinge.  I made sure to check this out when I installed them by looking at them from afar, and also checking the colour of the road when driving.  Everything looks white to mine and Import Queen's eyes.

 I'm not sure how long they'll last.  I just decided to give them a shot to see what they're like.  So far so good.

[roundupready]

Tried the old Nighthawks a couple years ago.  They lasted only a year.

Now I have the OSRAM Rallye for my low beams.

These are better than the old Nighthawks. 

Never tried the platinums though.  Maybe they are better than the regular ones?