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Old 05-19-2003, 11:46 AM   #1
Benjamin Tang
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Default 04 STi HID pics

these are pics i "borrowed" from a yahoo japan auction... check it out! the ballasts are integrated into the base of the headlight...


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Old 05-19-2003, 12:34 PM   #2
Adiliyo
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here's the million dollar question...(for me at least ) can you tell if they're projector or reflector lights?
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Old 05-19-2003, 03:45 PM   #3
Benjamin Tang
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my thought is that they are projector.

is it me, or is it uncommon for the low beam to be inboard? most cars i see have the low beams outboard in the lights... these are inboard.
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Old 05-19-2003, 04:34 PM   #4
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they're definately reflector type lights. projector lights are much smaller and rounder. take a look at the evolution's low beam light or last years STi lights. those are projector lights. they project the beam battern instead of reflect it, or something like that.
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Old 05-19-2003, 05:40 PM   #5
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Quote:
Originally posted by Benjamin Tang
is it me, or is it uncommon for the low beam to be inboard? most cars i see have the low beams outboard in the lights... these are inboard.
Subaru Japan's site shows the following picture for the STi (non Spec C):

Also, from
http://www.subaru.co.jp/impreza/sedan/09/index.html
it says that the HID is the low beam (with DRL disable switch??).

So, the low beams are on the outside (I'm assuming that's what you mean by "outboard"), even though the ballast is placed on the inside/center.

Also, the low beams must be a reflector type, although I can't seem to find the definite statemen in subaru japan's site.
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Old 05-19-2003, 08:12 PM   #6
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oops my bad. i thought the low beams were inboard, like the jdm headlights i have on my wrx right now.

but then my low beams are projector...?
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Old 05-19-2003, 08:53 PM   #7
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Quote:
Originally posted by Benjamin Tang
but then my low beams are projector...?
True. For a long time, I also assumed that the GDBC STi uses projector low beams. But the picture I attached above says otherwise. The switch from projector low beam HIDs to reflector low beams is indeed strange.
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Old 05-20-2003, 02:40 AM   #8
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Quote:
Originally posted by satrya


True. For a long time, I also assumed that the GDBC STi uses projector low beams. But the picture I attached above says otherwise. The switch from projector low beam HIDs to reflector low beams is indeed strange.
that's what confused me too...why would they go from better ( i think) projector systems to reflector ones? is one cheaper than the other?
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Old 05-20-2003, 01:54 PM   #9
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Quote:
Originally posted by Adiliyo
that's what confused me too...why would they go from better ( i think) projector systems to reflector ones? is one cheaper than the other?
Afaik, the two benefit I know with projector housings is that a good light pattern can be achieved in a smaller volume/space (compared to the current reflector design), and that a sharp beam cutoff can be achieved simply by placing a cover plate inside the housing.

It's possible that the new reflector design is such that one or both of these advantages are no longer significant. Space is definitely not an issue, unless the car design calls for tiny headlights (notice how oem projector lights are relatively small, but additional area is included around it to make the overal headlight seem not too small). The other issue, the ability to have a sharp beam cutoff, is either considered not worth the cost, or perhaps the new reflector design allows for a reasonably good beam cutoff, reducing the motivation to go with projector beams. Better yet, the new design might be made such that the reflector facets can work for both halogen filament and xenon arc bulbs. That would be a nontrivial feat, since halogen and xenon bulbs light up differently, but not necessarily impossible with the right numerical simulation / design.

my 2 cents
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Old 05-20-2003, 07:55 PM   #10
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Quote:
Originally posted by satrya


Better yet, the new design might be made such that the reflector facets can work for both halogen filament and xenon arc bulbs. That would be a nontrivial feat, since halogen and xenon bulbs light up differently, but not necessarily impossible with the right numerical simulation / design.

my 2 cents
hmm...so if i buy an aftermarket hid system for a stock 04 wrx housing then the light pattern may be off? i hope not!
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Old 05-20-2003, 11:36 PM   #11
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Quote:
Originally posted by DieselClown
hmm...so if i buy an aftermarket hid system for a stock 04 wrx housing then the light pattern may be off? i hope not!
That's just the thing, I'm not sure if the my2004 reflectors for halogen and HID are identical. If they are, then the design must have been such that the beam pattern won't be off.

However, I'm almost sure that if the halogen reflectors off of my2002-2003 imprezas are fitted with aftermarket hid, the beam pattern wouldn't be quite right.
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Old 05-25-2003, 04:15 AM   #12
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Quote:
Originally posted by satrya


However, I'm almost sure that if the halogen reflectors off of my2002-2003 imprezas are fitted with aftermarket hid, the beam pattern wouldn't be quite right.
get the right (good) kit and the beam pattern is almost perfect and in some regards better
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Old 05-25-2003, 08:17 PM   #13
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Being reflector lamps instead of projector, do these have a symmetric or 'left' or 'right' hand illumination pattern?

Ed
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Old 05-26-2003, 02:25 AM   #14
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kinda sucks if they can't be fitted with an aftermarket HID kit (in respect to the WRX) since then you don't have the option of going with normal STi lights and then adding an aftermarket HID setup (which is a bit cheaper), but having to buy the STi HID lights (which if they are priced like the 02/03 lights is waay expensive....
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Old 05-26-2003, 03:53 AM   #15
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Quote:
Originally posted by satrya


That's just the thing, I'm not sure if the my2004 reflectors for halogen and HID are identical. If they are, then the design must have been such that the beam pattern won't be off.
Lucky Houston people got to see some STis yesterday at Gillman. After examining the headlight reflectors, the STi and the 04 WRX low beam housing are quite different.

Michael
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Old 05-27-2003, 11:05 AM   #16
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Quote:
Originally posted by mlchang
Lucky Houston people got to see some STis yesterday at Gillman. After examining the headlight reflectors, the STi and the 04 WRX low beam housing are quite different.
Thanks for the info. If that's the case, then it's very likely that a single reflector design that fits the halogen filament and HID arc bulbs is inferior or much harder to design than a dedicated halogen filament reflector and a dedicated HID reflector. I'm sure HID retrofits onto oem halogen reflectors vary in quality, but I'm still not convinced that such a retrofit could retain a legal beam pattern.
Quote:
Originally posted by edkwon
Being reflector lamps instead of projector, do these have a symmetric or 'left' or 'right' hand illumination pattern?
I'm not sure how the reflector vs. projector fact has to do with the illumination pattern. As long as the regulations among different countries vary, imho, oem headlights will never be symmetric. Otherwise, afaik, these oem lights may not meet local (e.g. US, European, and Japanese) regulations.
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Old 05-27-2003, 11:06 AM   #17
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How about the levelling motor harness? Is the 04 STi headlight levelling plug the same as the 03 EDM/JDM STi? If so, I wonder if you could source the switch and harness from an 04 STi and use them for the 03 STi headlights...
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Old 05-28-2003, 03:48 PM   #18
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How much do you think it cost to buy the HID lights from the STi and put them into an '04 WRX?

I wonder if it would be any cheaper than in past years, now that the STi is USDM?
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Old 06-04-2004, 04:49 AM   #19
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Quote:
Originally posted by Bootsy Rex
How about the levelling motor harness? Is the 04 STi headlight levelling plug the same as the 03 EDM/JDM STi? If so, I wonder if you could source the switch and harness from an 04 STi and use them for the 03 STi headlights...
yeah, i would like to know this also. anybody know?
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Old 06-04-2004, 05:56 PM   #20
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Quote:
Originally posted by Adiliyo
here's the million dollar question...(for me at least ) can you tell if they're projector or reflector lights?
they're reflector based...i'll take pics of mine when i get home
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Old 06-04-2004, 05:59 PM   #21
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Quote:
Originally posted by ScoobyWrex
How much do you think it cost to buy the HID lights from the STi and put them into an '04 WRX?

I wonder if it would be any cheaper than in past years, now that the STi is USDM?
cheapest i've seen the USDM ones go for is about 1200 online somewhere. the other part you need is a harness to connect them to your existing headlight plugs....or just splice

--Justin

P.S. ScoobyWrex, you in G-bury now? I'm near by if you wanna check out my set up. PM me
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Old 06-05-2004, 03:01 PM   #22
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here are the pics....



closeup of headlight assembly:


the light itself:


PM me for any questions!
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Old 06-05-2004, 05:07 PM   #23
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Or you can do a retrofit and put in projectors

http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/show...sti+projectors
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Old 06-05-2004, 07:20 PM   #24
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I have my04 WRX and I just put in H.I.D.'s nad the light pattern with my H.I.D.'s is actually the same if not a little better I just have to adjust my passenger side, its kind of shinning alittle to high.

Curt

the only thing that i didnt like what Suby did is that the my04 has H1 bulbs for the low beam and that they reversed the connection, I mean that the red wire is neg. and the black wire is the power.
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Old 06-05-2004, 09:39 PM   #25
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Quote:
Originally posted by Daboro's Rex
I have my04 WRX and I just put in H.I.D.'s nad the light pattern with my H.I.D.'s is actually the same if not a little better I just have to adjust my passenger side, its kind of shinning alittle to high.

Curt
Curt,

Did you put in an HID kit in your existing stock WRX headlamp housings? Or did you buy HID housings as well?

And i saw that retrofit, well done. but when he used the dryer hose aluminum it's too noticeable when looking at it. As for the cutoff and all....VERY well done!
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