What do you guys recommend to replace the sealed beam headlights on an '87 Samurai?  I'm not really interested in re-wiring, and I'm looking for plug-and-play.  I'd prefer a bright, flat beam with a sharp top-side cut-off on low-beam, but I'd love to have nuclear power on high-beams.

Halogen sealed beams.... 

i bought the h4 conversion with the halo and they came with bulbs for around 40 off ebay and they are really bright and even glass so you could run hids if you wanted to this is them with just the halos on

Two comments - forget HID conversions, they are illegal, and check IPF (ARB) they do a 7" H4 halogen insert.

um hids arent illegal thats why theyre in 90% of new vehicles

um hids arent illegal thats why theyre in 90% of new vehicles

In almost every state most of the Hid conversions are indeed illegal as firstly they are not DOT certified. The second reason being is that incadescent reflectors do not work well with Hid bulbs because of tha glare and color created. If the Hid's are original equipement then they certainly are legal in THAT vehicle and only in original color/temp(no blue). It is really up to how tightly the cops are wound up about safety and revenue generation as too if you get away with it.

The revenue generation arm of the NYS govt(state troopers) has been issueing tickets for any headlight with a blue tint or too much glare, and they are not simple improper equipement tickets but reckless endangerment citations. What really kicked off the anti hid campaign of the cops is the tuners and their JDM and UK imported headlights with incorrect cutoffs causing many accidents by blinding oncoming traffic.

I replaced mine with "Silver Stars" $25.00 each, but well worth the improvement.

CAPT

Lowrange sells the IPF H4 headlamps, bulbs and plug & play wiring harness. Go with the 80/110 bulbs, as they are a HUGE upgrade from the stock 55/60 watt bulbs. My .02   

um hids arent illegal thats why theyre in 90% of new vehicles

I never said HIDs were illegal - I said HID conversions were illegal.

HID conversions are illegal in EVERY state in the US, in Canada, in the UK and European Union, and in Australia - just to name a few.

See talonxracer's post for more detail.

Fordem and Talon are both correct. Especially up there in Washington. I'd be carefull ...........
I'll have to side with Capt. Silver stars are great lights and very durable.....Boxcar...

Lowrange sells the IPF H4 headlamps, bulbs and plug & play wiring harness. Go with the 80/110 bulbs, as they are a HUGE upgrade from the stock 55/60 watt bulbs. My .02   

Be carefull upgrading your main headlights with 80/110 bulbs, I know here in NY the inspection stations will see the greatly increased light output, they will then turn on the light meter and measure the output, fail the vehicle for illegal equipment and NOT ISSUE a 10 day inspection extension and require the vehicle be towed home.

A real pain in the arse to say the least. It is best to just leave the stock headlights or halogen upgrades at the legal limits and install additional lighting for the additional light output you desire.

I've used the 80/100s, wasn't too impressed with them (they are legally acceptable in my neck of the woods), I've since switched to the SilverStars, and SilverStar Ultras - you may see anecdotal reports of short life span with the SilverStars, but, that's not been my experience - my first set of SilverStars is still going strong over four years later, SilverStart Ultras in another vehicle going on three years, and just bought a second set of Ultras for a third vehicle.

You will not find a 80/100 bulb that is DOT certified, thusly they are illegal regardless of local enforcement, but if you can get away with it by all means do so, anytime that you can pull one over on the man, it is a great day!

How do the Ultras compare to the original SilverStars?

I'm not in the US  so DOT certification is not an issue - in fact - as far as vehicle lighting goes, our laws are so primitive that they are ludicrous...

At the front we are required to have "a white light, visible at a reasonable distance" and at the rear, if the vehicle is less than 7 feet wide, "a red light, affixed to the right of center", we are also allowed amber "trafficators" and all other colors are illegal, so the cops will get you on bluish HIDs.

As for the Ultras vs the regular SilverStars, I haven't compared them on the same vehicle, but I'd say they're visibly brighter & whiter and probably better distance - Sylvania has a comparison chart on their website with percentage improvements that's I suspect is fairly accurate.

The vehicle with the regular Silverstars probably sees the most evening use, but not that much long distance, I don't see myself upgrading to the Ultras unless I have a lamp failure.

I'm not in the US  so DOT certification is not an issue - in fact - as far as vehicle lighting goes, our laws are so primitive that they are ludicrous...

 

You are so very lucky