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YellowSLK230 · 04-13-2006, 10:20 AM

If you look at the specs for the Silverstars, they are not as bright (96) in terms of MSCD output as the Halogen+ (125 MSCD), and don't last as long (135 hours versus 370). Primary difference is the "color temperature", which is closer to the blue-white look of a Xenon HID lamp, but without the higher output and greater efficiency of the standard long-life halogen. In other words, they pay a lot for that "blue-white look" in output and bulb life, probably by using a thinner filament that runs at a much higher temperature, and adding a blue-pass coating that cuts down on total specification light output by filtering out other parts of the color spectrum.

The advertising text doesn't match the engineering specifications, suggesting that the Silverstar is brighter than the standard bulb. Unless the different color light is better received by the human eyeball, the result would be LESS perceived brightness rather than more. Unless someone here has done a direct LEFT versus RIGHT comparison in the SLK with a Silverstar on one side and a NEW regular Halogen+ on the other side (all bulbs dim with age) and found the Silverstars to be perceived as brighter, I would stay away from them.

04-13-2006, 10:20 AM	#6 (permalink)
YellowSLK230 BenzWorld Veteran Date registered: Sep 2004 Vehicle: '98 SLK230 Location: Gainesville, FL Posts: 727	RE: Replacing MB bulbs for Performance Halogen Bulbs If you look at the specs for the Silverstars, they are not as bright (96) in terms of MSCD output as the Halogen+ (125 MSCD), and don't last as long (135 hours versus 370). Primary difference is the "color temperature", which is closer to the blue-white look of a Xenon HID lamp, but without the higher output and greater efficiency of the standard long-life halogen. In other words, they pay a lot for that "blue-white look" in output and bulb life, probably by using a thinner filament that runs at a much higher temperature, and adding a blue-pass coating that cuts down on total specification light output by filtering out other parts of the color spectrum. The advertising text doesn't match the engineering specifications, suggesting that the Silverstar is brighter than the standard bulb. Unless the different color light is better received by the human eyeball, the result would be LESS perceived brightness rather than more. Unless someone here has done a direct LEFT versus RIGHT comparison in the SLK with a Silverstar on one side and a NEW regular Halogen+ on the other side (all bulbs dim with age) and found the Silverstars to be perceived as brighter, I would stay away from them.