Pulled the Trigger on some HIR Bulbs

[LeSabre in Buffalo]

My car modding bug bit again tonight, and some HIR2 bulbs are on their way to replace my 9005 low beams. Of course these are the latest and greatest HIR lights. http://store.candlepower.com/ph3rdge90h.html

Reason for getting these (for $75) is that my 9005 low beams are starting to go dim after about a year and a half of pretty heavy use. They're not putting out nearly as much light as they used to, to the point where the hopped-up 9006 bulbs are just as bright. I wanted something just as good, but longer-lasting.

I didn't want to do HID because of legality issues, and a lot of my driving is done during inclement weather, where HID glare would be a detriment. And with my car needing a yearly inspection (thanks, NY state! ), I don't want to pull an obvious HID kit out right before inspection time.

I'll post pictures when I have them installed.

[olblueeyesbonne]

Are you kidding -they will flag you for HID's @ NY inspections?!?!?!?
Oh, and I haven't had any problem with inclement weather glare from my 6000k HID's, although I too have noticed they have lost abit of their brightness since I got them in Nov/Dec '08.
You could have DDM HID's for under $50 and IIRC you already have the relay harness, but in case you don't they are only like $15 on ebay.

[LeSabre in Buffalo]

It depends on the shop. Some shops will, and others will not. Although it helps to go to an independent shop. Also, I'm moving back to Buffalo soon, and some of the local cops take a very dim view of obviously modified cars. I'd rather spend more on a pair of HIR bulbs that look normal in light output and bulb shape rather than the HID kit for that reason.

Yes, the HID kits will provide more lumens than the HIR bulbs. The HIR do match the filament position of the 9006 bulbs much better than the HID, which uses a much larger arc of light. So it just may be a wash as for what puts more light on the road. I know the DDM kit would have been cheaper.

Eh, I am not a fan of retrofitting HID kits without a purpose-designed housing. So I'm doing what I can to have brighter lights without going HID.

[rrounds]

Just one question ?
Why not go with the HIR 9011 bulb and modify it to fit the low beam side like you did with the 9005 bulb's.
That would have giving you even more light on your low beam side.

ROD

[LeSabre in Buffalo]

Lifespan. The 9012 bulbs I ordered have a 1400 hour rated lifespan, vs. a 325 hour lifespan for the 9011's. So, they will stay at the same brightness level for longer. I'm hoping these are the last set of low-beam bulbs I have to buy for this car.

Plus, the filament on these best replicates the 9006 filament placement in the reflector out of all the HIR bulbs, from my readings. So they'll be like stock, except with a lot more light. Too much light will overwhelm the reflectors, and send light willy-nilly. I'm all for more light where it's doing me good, not more light for the sake of more light.

[PRD2BDF]

Which Lesabre had the projector retrofits? *dang* those similar SNs....

[LeSabreUltra]

That would be me, lol...

Regardless, I'm interested in seeing how the HIR turns out. I had considered them for a while but never tried them.
.
.
.

[LeSabre in Buffalo]

Dan, you and me both.

I was driving back from class tonight, and flicked on the rarely-used high beams. They lit up the road. Going back to the dimness of the bagged-out 9005 low beams was a letdown.

FYI, I also have been driving the 1.5 year old low-beam bulbs with a relay harness tied directly to the battery, and was doing ~4-5 2.5 hour night drives a month for 10 months, in addition to normal around-town use. So the 9005 bulbs have gone through roughly 2/3 of their projected lifespan of 300 hours. They're still better than stock, just not to the level of light output that I had become accustomed to.

[LeSabre in Buffalo]

There's one thing to say about these: WOW! More range and intensity and much less glare than a 9005 swap. The pictures I have do not do these justice.

The lack of glare is what surprised me the most. There is no extra glare like the 9005 bulb gives off when it's in the low-beam housing. There is more light in the places you want to have light. If you looked at the car head-on, you'd swear the headlights were stock based on the lack of glare. I think these will be nicer in inclement weather than HID or 9005 bulbs since the light is aimed at the road, not going wherever it pleases.

I'll post up some better pictures once I find myself on a dark road with my camera handy.

In summary, the Philips HIR2 bulb is much nicer than any 9005 swap, especially to other drivers, and (very likely) in inclement weather.

[LeSabreUltra]

Sounds like an excellent setup! Looking forward to seeing your pics.

Of course, this means your high beams are now begging for 9011 bulbs. I wish I could put some in mine, but I'm limited to the H1 platform.
.
.
.

[LeSabre in Buffalo]

The 9005's in the high beams are good as-is. I don't use them enough to justify the expense of 9011's.

Drat, I have to re-aim the headlights now. C'mon, people, move away from my aiming wall!

[EWC88]

Any pics yet?

[LeSabreUltra]

.
.
.

[LeSabre in Buffalo]

Sorry, guys, it's been a long week. I did re-aim them last night, too quickly to get my camera. I'll have some shots over the weekend.

If they stay like they are, I'll be one very happy camper driving at night.

[LeSabre in Buffalo]

Finally had the chance to do some night driving with my camera.

Here are pics. Pretty typical for the OEM headlights, except the light goes a lot further down the road.





From head-on, looking at the drivers light.