At the advice of Daniel Stern at http://www.danielsternlighting.com/ I bought a set of upgrade bulbs for my taillights, and I also bought euro-spec tail lights for my `05 MCS from http://www.newministuff.com/ (about US$175 delivered with amber turn lenses - white turn lenses for use with yellow bulbs are a bit more).

The results are amazing - the tail and brake lights are about 75% brighter due to the bulbs, and (visually) the amber rear turn signals are about 3x brighter than stock. A great way to reduce the odds of someone hitting you from behind, as they REALLY get the attention of the following driver.

Daniel Stern also offers upgrade bulbs - typically about 75% no-BS brighter than stock, for almost every other external light on the car a great visual and safety improvement for small cost.

Don't waste your money on overpriced PIAA and other Japanese bulbs - they are complete BS - they don't add more light, just make it bluer, while providing less actual light.

 

did u replace the front runnin' lamps?

if u did, dont they still seem to give off an 'amber' cast in the bulb housin' while turned off

 

I agree that many of the overly-blue colored pseudo-HID look bulbs are not a real improvement, but I really do love my PIAA amber colored Ion-Crystal high beam bulbs. They are soothing to the eyes and light up things much further away than anything I have ever seen. . . not exactly legal in the US, but if you can get them from overseas I highly reccomend them.

edit: Yucca Patrol posted this on his wife's account. . . sigh. .

 

I replaced every external bulb except the side turn signal repeaters. The upgraded front running light bulbs are clear, but my front turn signals are now dichroic-coated bulbs, which are brighter yellow than stock, but which give a slight bluish tinge to the front running/turn lense when off.

I understand that others have completely different priorities, but personally I could hardly care less how the lights look, especially when off. My sole interest is in getting better vision so I don't hit hard (or soft) objects, and better visibility so others don't hit me.

 

Mr. Stern can sell you amber high-beams which are actually brighter as well as looking Ah, "interesting".

I wouldn't buy PIAA bulbs for any purpose - they are poor quality and way over-hyped and over-priced. You are paying mostly for their lying advertising.

 

Any pictures OldRick?

 

If we get a break in the rain, I'l try to shoot a pic. Not going to be easy, as the only time both R & L are on together is when you unlock with the remote key, so the timing is dodgy with a digital camera.

 

Unless you have a friend, or a tripod! Looking forward to seeing the difference!

 

How about turning on the hazard lights?

Steve

 

I'll see what I can do - problem is that there is an annoyingly long shutter lag when you press the button, and timing the shot for when the lights are at their peak will be pretty random.

 

Exactly what bulbs did you buy? #, watts?

as to PIAA, yup

 

These are for the rear turn signals and tail/stop lights:
P3496: 540/38 lumen, 27/8w at 12.8v, very fast rise time.
P3497: 560 lumen, 27w at 12.8v, very fast rise time.

As to the rest, contact www.danielsternlighting.com - he imports high-grade european-made bulbs, like Osrams, and can tell you much better than I can which bulbs you need for upgrades. I even replaced the marker lights in the wheel arches with brighter...

 

Anyone else think it's kinda odd that Mr. Stern doesn't have all this info on his website? He must really like talking to people. Guess it's just me but I would get bored/tired of rehashing the same info over and over again when I could just post it and be done. More power to you Mr. Stern.

 

By front running lamps do you mean the turnsignals? Silvervisions or the like take care of the 'egg yolk' amber look inside clear lenses but still illuminate amber.

Dunno about amber high beams, and overall do not need my highs for any extended periods, but I will ultimately replace the fogs with ambered bulbs as that color works best with fog conditions as far as I know.

In replacing all of the bulbs did you stick with stock wattage? That is something I'd be concerned with, putting a strain on things with too much draw and also have seen people having melting issues with too much heat.

 

Yeah, I find it very annoying. He does know alot and preaches a lot buy who doesn't have electronic online ordering in this day in age ... its like its 1993 or something.

 

i have 'sterns' silver version, but when the bulbs are 'off ' u can still see a cast of amber-ish reflection in the bezels...

 

EDIT: I'll just post the questoin here

https://www.newministuff.com/new/sho...uctshow&id=184

The one that you purchased is the 3rd pictured right? and it is the cheapest one? And do those come with bulbs (I am guessing no since they don't mention anything about bulbs)? If not, can I use my bulbs from my current car?

Just making sure..

Thanks!

 

Which one is brake and which one is turn? I have the brake light mod and use a total of four bulbs for that. Thanks:smile:

 

These are `05 taillights with white turn-signal inserts. The lights pictured are all the same - the white turn signals, shown with different bulbs. They come with all stock bulbs, unless you upgrade to one of the options, or you can use the bulbs you have. The options pictured simply show the optional bulbs - I'd buy the Osram, if I were ordering for the clear insert.

I got the really cheapest option, which is the standard euro light, which has amber inserts instead of clear. https://www.newministuff.com/new/sho...uctshow&id=149
According to this page, they can be fitted to earlier cars with a "minor wiring change".

BTW, I think it's pretty funny that while US guys are replacing their wheel arches with euro-spec to remove the marker lights, the european guys are replacing theirs with the US spec arches to make their cars more visible...

 

I dont like the US Spec wheel arch reflectors, but I do like them in Smoke instead of Amber/Red. They're still highly visible (and legal with appropriate bulbs), but fit with the colors on the car (Blue, black, white).

 

I went to Danliel Stern as well for some lighting upgrades . I had no idea there were so many options . The man knows his buisness.