Was just thinking about upgrading my headlights and wondering what others have done. In the past I have bought the PIAA super whites but would like to try a HID setup. Is there a direct "plug and play" kit available or will I have to do some wiring work? Also, does anyone offhand know which headlight bulbs the MP5 uses. Don't have the owners manual handy.

Thanks
Mike

 

If you have not done any research into lighting in general, you may wish to before attempting too many changes. Start with searches on this board, and also check out Daniel Stern's website at

http://lighting.mbz.org/

He seems to be the expert when it comes to lighting (he advises the NHTSA). If you want to improve lighting performance, you will have some trouble improving upon what the P5 already comes with. Edwin will probably come on here are hit me on the head and tell me I'm a fool for not suggesting the E code (European pattern) headlights, but I have E code lights on my other car, and I can't say that I find one significantly better than the other. Different, but not necessarily better. The Proteges have one of the best low beam/high beam setups available from factory right now. It outperforms some of the fancy HID units in the expensive cars even. BTW - the P5s have a DOT type of beam pattern, and the 3rd gen protege sedans have e code lights.

If you are only interested in looks, then you may wish to do something, but still read up on the lighting stuff if you haven't already.

Dale.

 

Thanks for the info Dale. Hmmm maybe I'll leave the lights alone and put the cash towards other mods. Thanks again

Mike

 

Sylvania SiverStar bulbs.

www.powerbulbs.com

Stock wattage, lotsa output.

 

Are these bulbs available in Canada?

 

Yea they are. I think Hong Kong Fever got them here in Calgary. You might wanna ask him. Forgot the place and deleted the pm. They go for around 65$ cdn anyways. I bought mine from the website for 67CDN including tax and shipping. And it took 1 week to get to my door. They're a european site.

 

He got them from a place here in town called Traction. It's like a "rice boy" store for semi trucks.

 

What part number of PIAA bulbs should I get for the 2003 P5 that I'll pick up this Saturday from my dealer? I've used PIAA before in my Pathfinder and one of the bulbs burnt out in less than 18 months. Are there any other brand with longer bulb life? What about the Sylvania?

 

Depends on what your using them for...Some people here have replaced the fogs altogether with PIAA and love them. I personally have the 'cool blue' Sylvania bulbs in my highbeams and so far have had no problems but, I don't really notice a difference in the light that they shed. STAY AWAY FROM BULBS THAT WILL GIVE YOU THAT 'BLUE' EFFECT! I HAD a pair and they burnt the insides of the headlights, the good thing is that I caught them before they did any permanent damage.

 

Well Dion, just stick with the stock wattage and you won't have that problem!

 

Thanks Nick. Your so helpful Haha. I know that now. Otherwise I was saying to myself:

 

.... so what are the Sylvania & PIAA part numbers for the headlight replacements for 2003 P5? I'll stay with the stock-voltage ones. (A friend of mine had fried his electrical circuitry when he went with the high-voltage set.)

Thanks in advance.

 

PIAA

PIAA and Foglight search feature

Otherwise, the HLs are H7's, the Highbeams are 9005, the Fogs are H3. If you want to go with the PIAAs I've got the driving light part number as PIAA = 5462. Try that.

 

He he he... Glad to be of service!

 

Nick,

what is the stock wattage for the low and high beams for the P5 if you don't mind me asking? I have replacement 85W bulbs in there now.