3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
PIAA H11 Fog Lights, April 5, 2009
This review is from: PIAA 13511 H11 12-Volt Plasma Ion Crystal Yellow 55=100-Watt Bulb - Twin Pack (Misc.)
I just received and installed PIAA H11 fog lights (#13511). I live in a very foggy area, and these fog lights are a great improvement over the stock fogs in my 09 Sentra.
Pricey, but worth it!
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2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Its all about the color, not wattage, November 9, 2011
This review is from: PIAA 13511 H11 12-Volt Plasma Ion Crystal Yellow 55=100-Watt Bulb - Twin Pack (Misc.)
I purchased several sets of PIAA extreme white bulbs of differing sizes, tried them, returned some to Amazon then purchased some of what I returned again. Why?
PIAA, Hella, Sylvania etc. seem to market the non-HID or Xenon automotive bulb products primarily by wattage and light temperature (Kelvin). I do not normally find a lumen rating which I would prefer since my objective in upgrading bulbs is to see further or brighter. My 1991 BMW uses traditional halogen bulbs everywhere so I hoped for better-than-OEM. Here are my conclusions after installation and usage.
I find "wattage" as in 55w=110w misleading. I do not believe, and my opinion, that the extreme white bulbs illuminate any further than the original 55w halogen bulb. I placed one PIAA in one of two fog lights and observed equidistant visibility with it and the stock Hella type 9006 55w bulb. Thus, "lumen" would be the measurement I would have preferred rather than watts.
The Kelvin scale color temperature is what you are really benefitting from. I tested with an original, probably 3200k bulb on the right side, a 4000k 'extreme white" on the left side and big difference! The whiter looking 'extreme white' or any 4000k rated bulb or higher will look 'brighter' but it simply is a higher Kelvin scale color. I probably agree with the marketing suggestion that a whiter white may help you see more clearly in the dark, not necessarily farther out.
But here is the catch and why I returned some "extreme white" bulbs. Placed behind a color lens such as a side marker or turn signal, the color is not 4000k but becomes yellow or red. So, I see no benefit to the premium price for a 4100k bulb in this instance. To its credit, PIAA does not seem to suggest the low wattage bulbs for such application are any higher wattage than the stock bulbs.
To be clear, I suggest 'upgrading' to a higher kelvin-rated bulb only for clear lens applications such as backup lights, fog lights and headlights if your car uses older halogen bulbs in the 3200k range. The benefit is a whiter white that helps visibility with its contrast, not its lumens. I returned the side marker lights and wedge lights that fit behind color lenses. I re-ordered the wedge since I acquired new headlight assemblies that had a wedge bulb in addition to H1 bulbs not in the original BMW fitment. With the new headlamp assembly and PIAA extreme white bulbs, there is a decided color difference perceived as brighter but not illuminating further out.
I just returned from a 1400 mile trip using the PIAA extreme white bulbs. The road side signs seemed to pop out. I did not have any angry "you are too bright" flashes from on-coming cars. The higher Kelvin-scale bulbs are worth the upgrade for clear lamps, not colored lamps.
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2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great functional replacement from oem, September 21, 2010
This review is from: PIAA 13511 H11 12-Volt Plasma Ion Crystal Yellow 55=100-Watt Bulb - Twin Pack (Misc.)
If your looking for something that works better then OEM, in the sense that its brighter, and able to throw the beam even further, but not opting for HIDs, then these are it. The color you get from these are a very bright, and vibrant yellow, just as it describes. Haven't had them on for very long, but so far, it seems alot more reliable then my cheap-o lights you get from auto stores.
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