Philips Silver Vision vs. Osram Diadem

[Avetiso]

So after having 6 Khoalty chrome bulbs shipped to my house, I realized that I didn't get broken bulbs. They just suck. Lighting is uneven, not consistent, chrome finish is cracking/peeling... whatever. Should have bought quality right away. Lesson learned (again).

Anyway, here is Silver Vision: http://www.powerbulbs.com/us/product/philips-silver-vision-py21w-581-indicator-bulbs

I like the finish of this bulb more than the Diadem, BUT Silver Vision does not have a 194 variant, meaning I'd have to figure something else for the sidemarkers.

Osram has bulbs for both the corners and the sidemarkers, but their finish is a little... weird? It looks blue, almost. Not sure how it'd look because I can't really find any good photos of them installed in the real world.

Here is Osram Diadem: Diadem: http://www.powerbulbs.com/us/product/diadem-chrome-py21w-twin (http://www.powerbulbs.com/us/product/diadem-chrome-py21w-twin)

One downside is that there will still be a slight amount of amber visible in daylight, but I'd rather have that than what I get with cheap bulbs.

Anyone know anything about this or have thoughts about it?

[johnrando]

sillieidiot tends to know about lighting, you might want to ping him

[Avetiso]

sillieidiot tends to know about lighting, you might want to ping him

Will do. Thanks for the heads up, JR.

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[orange260z]

I have no comment on the bulbs you're looking at, but have ordered from Powerbulbs a few times and was very happy with the product and service.

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[Avetiso]

I have no comment on the bulbs you're looking at, but have ordered from Powerbulbs a few times and was very happy with the product and service.

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I hear they are great. Looking forward to buying something from them.

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[Oli77]

Dario, second link does not function properly.

[Avetiso]

Dario, second link does not function properly.
Thanks. Does it work now? It works for me.

[Oli77]

Yup

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[Vas]

Pics of your khoalty bulbs? I am not having issues with mine.

BTW turner motorsports also sell bulbs.

[Avetiso]

Pics of your khoalty bulbs? I am not having issues with mine.

BTW turner motorsports also sell bulbs.
No pictures, but the difference is ridiculous. Out of 6 bulbs, 3 light up well, and 3 are so dim you just see the coil get hot inside. Can't even see it within the housing.

[Hermes]

1 can BBQ paint, $7. Make all the chrome bulbs you want

[Avetiso]

1 can BBQ paint, $7. Make all the chrome bulbs you want
I don't want to lose light output.

[Hermes]

It's fine, 3 thin layers. Cover the connections on the bottom with blue tape first ;)

Just use on the bulbs you have from the other car, if you don't like it order the other ones

Edit: first link I found
http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?1308620-*DIY-Stealth-Bulbs-for-clear-corners

[Avetiso]

It's fine, 3 thin layers. Cover the connections on the bottom with blue tape first ;)

Just use on the bulbs you have from the other car, if you don't like it order the other ones

Edit: first link I found
http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?1308620-*DIY-Stealth-Bulbs-for-clear-corners
Any specific paint to get? It looks almost matte aluminum, not gloss. Might give it a shot, though.

[sillieidiot]

The silvervisions don't completely get rid of the egg yolk effect. Just makes it smaller. But they are reliable. The output appears to be slightly dimmer than stock, but way better than the crappy khoalty bulbs.

The diadems work fine from my experience. When I got them for a customer they look completely chrome (well it's more like a silver finish, and you can barely see the orange) to me. Unless it's changed since I've used it. They lit up brighter than OEM. But then his bulbs could have been old lol It completely got rid of the egg yolk effect which is a plus I guess.

i prefer to use LED bulbs though.

[JKO_ZHP]

Why not go LEDs? I bought mine from Khoalty and they've been fine, bright and no yellow

[danewilson77]

I like the idea of painting only half the bulb by taping the bottom half. Then you can paint as many coats as you want to, and you retain the amber "blink".

[Newjack]

Why not go LEDs? I bought mine from Khoalty and they've been fine, bright and no yellow

LED bulbs inside the corner lights? Or LED corners with the LED's already part of the assembly?

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[sillieidiot]

LED bulbs inside the corner lights? Or LED corners with the LED's already part of the assembly?

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bulbs inside the corners/sidemarkers

[jiggz]

I've been using the Phillips Silvervisions since 2004 and love them. In fact I'm still on the same set I had in 2004 in my old 325i - never had one go out yet (have 2 boxes in the garage, figuring I would have needed them by now).

[Avetiso]

I've been using the Phillips Silvervisions since 2004 and love them. In fact I'm still on the same set I had in 2004 in my old 325i - never had one go out yet (have 2 boxes in the garage, figuring I would have needed them by now).

Think you can get a picture of whatever amber they show?

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[terraphantm]

I like the Philips Silvervisions a lot. Just as bright as the stock ambers. The egg yolk effect was largely diminished -- I found it only really noticeable in the bright sun or if I was really close to the bulb.

I didn't like the Osram Diadems at all. Ended up getting a "blue egg yolk" effect. Looked kinda ricey

Here are some blurry cell phone shots from my old ZHP

http://i.imgur.com/kvMsml.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/Op3xVl.jpg


Again, they are just as bright as OE ambers, and they shine an actual amber color (instead of the darker orange of most stealth bulbs). Still use them in the front of my M3

[Tnhl1989]

Thanks terra. Just what the doctor was asking.

[Avetiso]

+1 Appreciate the input. Terra, what do you use for the side markers?

[terraphantm]

+1 Appreciate the input. Terra, what do you use for the side markers?
I kept the crappy stealth bulbs for the sidemarkers since they're not really critical