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Hi, everyone!
I was worried about buying my headlights on Amazon, so I figured I'd buy one just to check it out. Take a look at these pics and see if you think it's a real Sylvania or a knockoff.
Here is the packaging. That looks good.
Popped open the top without cutting open the sticker seal, in case I need to return it.
And here is the bulb.
The bulbs were discounted to $53, which made me a little nervous. I'm paranoid of cheap Chinese knockoffs. What do you guys think?
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I got the same bulbs from Amazon. They are not the same as the Osram I took out of the car. They are also more yellow, like a std halogen light compared to the bulbs that came with the car. I think I've been had.
Could you take a picture of the headlights on? I'm curious to see what the color is.
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I bought a pair of Philips D1S bulbs off of Amazon for around that price, came in the exact same box that Saab ones came in and the label was the same as well. Been in the car for almost two years now and I haven't had an issue yet. I can't obviously vouch for the Sylvanias et all.
2011 Saab 9-3 Aero XWD Performance by Hirsch "Wolffe"
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Yeah, I'll try and get a pic for you. But I'm keeping them. I replaced one and drove that evening and it was waaaay brighter than what I had, so I replaced the other one. I'll live with the different shade because I didn't know what I was missing as far as brightness.
Edit: Looking at them last night, they are actually more white than yellow, but less blue than the bulbs that came with the car.
Last edited by 900Aero; 16 April 2013 at 13:20.
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Why are you paranoid about the Chinese bulbs. I've used them a lot. They don't last as long as brand name bulbs, but I usually get at least a year out of them. Considering they only run me ~$20/ pair, it's a worthwhile tradeoff.
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Because the Chinese knockoffs have been known to blow the controllers/ballasts, these headlights are very sensitive to what bulbs are used. I just went through this stuff and in the end I ended up buying these (I also have the bulbs posted above sitting on a shelf for backups):
D1S: Osram Xenarc 66144 CBI - HID Bulbs from The Retrofit Source Inc
In a few years when I have time, I will be popping these headlights open and clearing the projector lens to help give them a clearer cutoff.
2004 Saab 95 Aero Stage 1+
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Got a link to where you bought those from exactly? I could get a pair for my father's 9-5 since they are off color and flickering all the time anyways.
European Motor Services, LLC - Point Pleasant, PA 18950 - www.europeanmotorsvc.com
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i bought some flosser D1s bulbs from eeuroparts for $87 each. Construction wise they seem similar to Philips - maybe Philips OEMs? Installed them for a bout a week now and they seem to work well, not flickering like the previous Philips.
They are abit more yellow than the Philips though.