One step down from the silverstars are the "Cool Blue" headlight series from Sylvania. They throw about as much light as the Xtra Vision series, but are not as bright as the silverstars. I haven't had any problems w/ my silverstars blowing up. Are you sure you guys aren't touching the glass when you put them in? Do you have condensation in your headlight assemblys? I had a guy come back to Advance every week saying his silverstars kept blowing up and finally after like the 3rd exchange I told him I would put his in for him, here his headlight was duct taped to the car and there was a quart of water in his headlight assembly! I told him "This is your last pair from us pal, get your f'n headlight fixed"