Hi All,

It's time to replace my fog lights ('03 bugeye WRX wagon) - one got a big stone chip and the other is burnt out.

From reading the posts here, it looks like the Hella 500 Fogs (http://www.rallylights.com/hella/500.asp) with the WRX adapter is the way to go.

Do you agree?
Are there any possibly better options?

Thanks,
Scott

ps - the hella 500 kit is definitely in my price range, much more and it's starting to get expensive.

the other is burnt out.
...you do know that its fairly easy to change the bulbs, right? That said, the 500's are a great upgrade from the stock fogs, easily worth ~$60 (and homemade brackets).
Buy the 500's!

Definately buy the 500's, much better light, a full set with brackets is cheaper than buying one new factory light!

I figured the bulbs were easy to change, but since the other side is chipped, it’s a good excuse to upgrade.

You said homemade brackets - rallylights sells some brackets as well. How basic are the brackets?

Anything that's a better option than the 500's?
Will the Subaru screen type protectors still fit with the 500's installed? Because of the stone chip, I'm thinking about giving them a little bit better protection.

Thanks,
Scott

Whatever you get, make sure you put some protective film on them this time! :p

The brackets are basically triangles with 4 holes in it. Very simple to make if you have a few tools.

Get the Hella 500s and spend $10 on the Rockblocker film. They are much brighter than stock and the rockblocker works pretty well. I have 500s, home made brackets and rockblocker on my 98 Impreza.

Hella 500 fogs are great. Especially mated with the Kartboy brackets. Full system should set you back around $120 for everything.

Brian

Oh, and yes I suggest the Rockblocker film also

Hella 500 fogs are great. Especially mated with the Kartboy brackets. Full system should set you back around $120 for everything.

Brian

Oh, and yes I suggest the Rockblocker film also

What is special about the kartboy brackets?

What is everyone's opinion about these?http://www.aplusperformance.com/catalog/images/as-fcimp02sti.jpg

What about the protectors sold on rallylight's site along with the lights? Not that I'm against the Rockblocker film, just exploring the options.

Thanks,
Scott

Very good protection, but do diminish light output some.

i got 500's (driving beam, not fog) on my car and made home made brackets by going to home depot and getting 2 pieces of "L" bracket... best bet is to remove one of the lights and the factory bracket behind the bumper, then go to the store and find an "L" that covers all 3 holes of the factory bracket...

so you're keeping the 3 stock mounting bolts and drilling one hold throught the bottom/middle of the home made bracket, through the bumper, and through the stock bracket behind the bumper... "L" bracket goes in front, then the bumper, and then the stock bracket behind...

i see no need for the kartboy bracket - a little handiwork of your own can save yourself some $$$... i think i spent a total of $4 at home depot

as for the lights - i love them... but if you get the driving beam, even with them aimed correclty you'll get people flashing you... so i only use them when no one's coming at me... even when i'm behind someone i've had people let me pass and then they get behind me and turn on their brights...

bracket is like this, but not exactly - like this but flat, and has holes all along
http://www.digitalcamera.com.au/tutorials/backgrounds/bg_base.jpg

Installation question: I just read the installation instructions linked from kartboy's website. What a PITA! Is it really necessary to take the bumper cover off?

Thanks,
Scott

Installation question: I just read the installation instructions linked from kartboy's website. What a PITA! Is it really necessary to take the bumper cover off?

Thanks,
Scott

no, not at all - if it was i wouldnt have changed mine... but it will be helpful to remove the headlights though so you can reach behind and hook up your electrical connections and screw in the single monting bolt on the new lights

hmmm...i didnt remove anything other than my old fogs when installing the new ones.

I have the Hella 500 foglamps with the bracket kit from rallylights.com

The install isn't hard from a technical aspect. You bolt the lamp to the bracket then bolt the bracket to the same 3 holes used for the OEM lamp. The only thing you'll have to do is to cut out a notch in the plastic and metal backing plate to make room for the mounting bolt to stick through. Tin snips and a sharp knife should do the trick. Alternatively you can first pop on the bracket without the lamp, then drill a hole through the plastic and metal backing plate for the mounting bolt, then go under the car and pull back the plastic under the foglamp wells to get access to the backside when installing the mounting bolt.

I have the mesh foglamp covers but they block too much light for my tastes with the Hella 500s when using the foglamp pattern. I use the clear acrylic stone shields instead ($11 each i believe). However i still pop on the mesh covers on long trips if i'm pretty sure i'm not going to be needing the foglamps.

Aside from the guesswork...

There are black plastic stone shields avail for the 4000 series Hella lamps (p/n: 79387). However, afaik those lamps are over 8" in diameter, whereas the 500 series are a hair under 7".

Does anyone know if there are shields just like the above but which fit the 500 series lamps?

I'm sure they exist, but so far I've had no luck finding them. I don't like the opaque white plastic caps with black [logo] printing. Plus, I want to be able to use the lights without getting out of the car. And the typical Suby-specific mesh screens block too much light.

Anyone have an "in" with Hella products? And/or have a suggestion of different lights that are at least as good -- in the same price range -- but have or accept covers like I want?

TIA

how much bigger are these than stock.