joseph
11-30-2006, 10:01 PM
I bought my HIR 9012 to replace my 9006 low beam bulbs and I just wish to share some info to make easier if you do it. HIR 9011 will replace a 9005 bulb, but I did not get them, I just need the low beams as bright as possible.
Those bulbs can be bought on E-bay, and there is only one seller, just search HIR 9012 and you'll find it, price for 2 bulbs with shipping is $58.90.
They need to be trimmed to fit, here's how to do it.
Left is HIR, right is sylvania 9006 ST
http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h7/pjosephlv/th_100_1371.jpg (http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h7/pjosephlv/100_1371.jpg)
White indicates where to trim it, cut using cutting pliers, but be careful and only take out a little bit at a time or a big chunk will break off, trim off the top first then the left side.
TIP: when trying to fit it in the light housing, work on the driver side, which will provide more room to put it in as many times as necessary to have a good fit, also move the power steering reservoir to the side to make more room, then you will have plenty of space to work. Also, when done with one light bulb and it fits well, put it in the passenger side, because it's tight there, and get that side over with first, then go back to the driver side, where it will be easy to test fit the second bulb since there is plenty of space of the driver side to work.
Before trimming (L is HIR, R is ST)
http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h7/pjosephlv/th_100_1370.jpg (http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h7/pjosephlv/100_1370.jpg)
After trimming, make it smooth with a nail file.
http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h7/pjosephlv/th_100_1374.jpg (http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h7/pjosephlv/100_1374.jpg)
Trim around the side with a nail file, but remove the o-ring before trimming, because I found out that trimming the top part is not enough and it wouldn't get in, so I removed the o-ring and filed it all the way to the base and it then fit all the way in. You don't need to file it much, just a few passes all the way around is enough. Test fit it all the way until it locks, and if it's good, take it out, clean the dust off, put the o-ring back and clean the bulb with a soft cloth before final install (Don't ever touch the glass)
TIP: hold it real tight when you file it, or you'll waste $30 if you drop it and break it, I suggest you do it a few inches above a thick carpet with a rag under it to catch the dust, so if you drop it, it won't break.
http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h7/pjosephlv/th_100_1375.jpg (http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h7/pjosephlv/100_1375.jpg)
http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h7/pjosephlv/th_100_1372.jpg (http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h7/pjosephlv/100_1372.jpg)
Here are the results:
Left side is HIR, right is ST
http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h7/pjosephlv/th_100_1376.jpg (http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h7/pjosephlv/100_1376.jpg)
HIR 9012
http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h7/pjosephlv/th_100_1378.jpg (http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h7/pjosephlv/100_1378.jpg)
9006 sylvania ST
http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h7/pjosephlv/th_100_1377.jpg (http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h7/pjosephlv/100_1377.jpg)
HIR looks definetely brighter and has been proven to be brighter, so it should be good to go, but it apparently is not as white as the sylvania ST.
HIR's are rated at 3650K while the ST's are 4000K.
I drove around at night, it's slightly brighter (nothing spectacular), especially on the sides, but it's more yellowish than sylvania ST bulbs, which I kind of miss, I liked the whiteness of the ST's but brighter is better than whiter I guess, it's a matter of taste, your opinion is welcome if you already have HIR's
Those bulbs can be bought on E-bay, and there is only one seller, just search HIR 9012 and you'll find it, price for 2 bulbs with shipping is $58.90.
They need to be trimmed to fit, here's how to do it.
Left is HIR, right is sylvania 9006 ST
http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h7/pjosephlv/th_100_1371.jpg (http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h7/pjosephlv/100_1371.jpg)
White indicates where to trim it, cut using cutting pliers, but be careful and only take out a little bit at a time or a big chunk will break off, trim off the top first then the left side.
TIP: when trying to fit it in the light housing, work on the driver side, which will provide more room to put it in as many times as necessary to have a good fit, also move the power steering reservoir to the side to make more room, then you will have plenty of space to work. Also, when done with one light bulb and it fits well, put it in the passenger side, because it's tight there, and get that side over with first, then go back to the driver side, where it will be easy to test fit the second bulb since there is plenty of space of the driver side to work.
Before trimming (L is HIR, R is ST)
http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h7/pjosephlv/th_100_1370.jpg (http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h7/pjosephlv/100_1370.jpg)
After trimming, make it smooth with a nail file.
http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h7/pjosephlv/th_100_1374.jpg (http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h7/pjosephlv/100_1374.jpg)
Trim around the side with a nail file, but remove the o-ring before trimming, because I found out that trimming the top part is not enough and it wouldn't get in, so I removed the o-ring and filed it all the way to the base and it then fit all the way in. You don't need to file it much, just a few passes all the way around is enough. Test fit it all the way until it locks, and if it's good, take it out, clean the dust off, put the o-ring back and clean the bulb with a soft cloth before final install (Don't ever touch the glass)
TIP: hold it real tight when you file it, or you'll waste $30 if you drop it and break it, I suggest you do it a few inches above a thick carpet with a rag under it to catch the dust, so if you drop it, it won't break.
http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h7/pjosephlv/th_100_1375.jpg (http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h7/pjosephlv/100_1375.jpg)
http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h7/pjosephlv/th_100_1372.jpg (http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h7/pjosephlv/100_1372.jpg)
Here are the results:
Left side is HIR, right is ST
http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h7/pjosephlv/th_100_1376.jpg (http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h7/pjosephlv/100_1376.jpg)
HIR 9012
http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h7/pjosephlv/th_100_1378.jpg (http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h7/pjosephlv/100_1378.jpg)
9006 sylvania ST
http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h7/pjosephlv/th_100_1377.jpg (http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h7/pjosephlv/100_1377.jpg)
HIR looks definetely brighter and has been proven to be brighter, so it should be good to go, but it apparently is not as white as the sylvania ST.
HIR's are rated at 3650K while the ST's are 4000K.
I drove around at night, it's slightly brighter (nothing spectacular), especially on the sides, but it's more yellowish than sylvania ST bulbs, which I kind of miss, I liked the whiteness of the ST's but brighter is better than whiter I guess, it's a matter of taste, your opinion is welcome if you already have HIR's