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Old 08-20-2018, 01:26 PM   #526
FB20GP7
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Just did the H11 to H9 conversion myself on my Impreza. Picked up a pair of German made Osram bulbs from Canadian Tire at $13.99/ea.




New H9 65W halogen on the left (driver side) and factory H11 55W on the right (passenger side).
It definitely looks brighter with a wider beam pattern and larger hot spot. There seems to also be a little bit more glare above the cut off but I don't think it's very pronounced so I'll probably leave my headlight adjustments as-is.

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Old 10-28-2018, 02:35 PM   #527
theevbo
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Fun story, purchased a used WRX a while back and the previous owner installed/hacked in an HID kit. Not interested in keeping this setup so it’s going in tomorrow to have stock wiring harnesses put back in. Any issues with installing H9 harnesses instead of H11s?
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Old 10-29-2018, 01:35 AM   #528
BWX
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I've had my current H9 bulbs in for years, still going strong. I did clean the bulbs off with alcohol before installing them this time, even straight from package there was grime on them. Any dirt or oil on them makes them wear out or fail early. I didn't use the harnesses I bought either, I just shave down that one flange in the plug and they fit in stock harness. The harness adapter works fine though.
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Old 10-31-2018, 01:38 PM   #529
trdehmer
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I have a 2012 Subaru WRX Sedan with the OEM halogen headlights (projector style low beams). The H11 to H9 mod seems simple enough I think. Can someone provide me a link to which H9 bulbs are recommended the most, and a link on how to modify them if needed? Or a link if a special harness is needed or otherwise?

Thank you!!
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Old 10-31-2018, 03:50 PM   #530
Mulder
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Quote:
Originally Posted by trdehmer View Post
I have a 2012 Subaru WRX Sedan with the OEM halogen headlights (projector style low beams). The H11 to H9 mod seems simple enough I think. Can someone provide me a link to which H9 bulbs are recommended the most, and a link on how to modify them if needed? Or a link if a special harness is needed or otherwise?

Thank you!!
Go to any parts store. Buy a pair of standard/OEM grade off-the-shelf H9 bulbs, NOT Silverstars or anything with a blue coating. Compare them with the H11's, when you look inside the connector on the bulb you'll see a tab in the H9 that's not in the H11. Snip those tabs off (it's easiest with a small pair of flush cutters that can reach inside) then install the H9's directly in place of the H11's. That's it. No mods to the car wiring or lights needed.
Keep the H11's in the glovebox as spares and note that the H9's do have a shorter rated lifespan than the H11's, although with that said I did this mod four years ago and I'm still on the same set of H9's.
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Old 09-16-2019, 09:41 PM   #531
JazzminGrn
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https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon....1NXi8gOryL.jpg

https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon....1DHP73TMsL.jpg

I got my bulbs and the metal flanges are a different shape. I do not understand why this is not being discussed. Did the flange shape change from 2012 to 2019.

Trimming the plastic plug is easy. Cutting metal next to glass (that you cant touch) is a difficult procedure.

Does anyone have guidance on this issue?
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Old 09-16-2019, 10:33 PM   #532
Buffman
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You'll need a small pair of snips to snip the metal if the bulb doesn't lock in.
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Old 09-17-2019, 12:33 AM   #533
BWX
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Quote:
Originally Posted by JazzminGrn View Post
https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon....1NXi8gOryL.jpg

https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon....1DHP73TMsL.jpg

I got my bulbs and the metal flanges are a different shape. I do not understand why this is not being discussed. Did the flange shape change from 2012 to 2019.

Trimming the plastic plug is easy. Cutting metal next to glass (that you cant touch) is a difficult procedure.

Does anyone have guidance on this issue?
See my post here 3rd pic.

https://forums.nasioc.com/forums/sho...&postcount=507


I never posted about this but I will now. The first set I had I did not touch, very careful not to touch them.. Well they lasted about a year or maybe 18 months.

Next set I said screw it, I am going to clean them myself with isoprpyl alcohol and microfiber then hit them with compressed air to get any microscopic lint off of them.

Now it has been several years and they are still going fine, and I got a TON of crap and dirt off of them right from the box! They are absolutely filthy dirty out of the box. Must be a dirty factory or something. Or maybe they don;t care or maybe they do it on purpose to deliberately shorten the lifespan. Whatever reason, clean them yourself.. Touch them all you want, then clean them right before install and don't touch them after last cleaning.


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Old 09-17-2019, 10:23 AM   #534
JazzminGrn
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Thank you BWX!
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Old 09-17-2019, 01:14 PM   #535
BWX
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Old 09-19-2019, 11:38 PM   #536
JazzminGrn
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So quick follow up.

After trimming the smaller inner tab with a dremel and trimming the metal flange/base with small metal snips I was able to install the bulbs.

The verdict. Headlights are now both brighter and whiter. I can now tell when they are on. It was worth the trouble. The vehicle is now safer.

Recommendations: do the mod. Buy the bulbs online (I got mine in store so cost me $50) use a dremel and metal snippers
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Old 09-19-2019, 11:38 PM   #537
JazzminGrn
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So quick follow up.

After trimming the smaller inner tab with a dremel and trimming the metal flange/base with small metal snips I was able to install the bulbs.

The verdict. Headlights are now both brighter and whiter. I can now tell when they are on. It was worth the trouble. The vehicle is now safer.

Recommendations: do the mod. Buy the bulbs online (I got mine in store so cost me $50) use a dremel and metal snippers
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Old 09-20-2019, 04:53 AM   #538
BWX
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Yup it makes low beams actually usable! I got mine for something like $8 each at Autozone last time I think. They were really cheap.

Also now you can easily glare people with your low beams a lot worse if they are too high so you have to make sure they are adjusted well..

But I almost don't feel bad about glaring people anymore, seems like everyone has those "self leveling" leds or hids that blind everyone even on low beams.
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Old 01-20-2020, 02:26 AM   #539
GoFrogs
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Quote:
Originally Posted by JazzminGrn View Post
So quick follow up...

Recommendations: do the mod. Buy the bulbs online (I got mine in store so cost me $50) use a dremel and metal snippers

sorry, but you bought them at the WRONG store.

Walmart (and similar) carries these H9 bulbs for around $10 ea. They do not need to be Silverstar/Ultra or Xtra Vision; they can be plain old Basic lights (on the top row of pegs).

I do not know where you picked them up for $50 (I assume per pair), but dang son, you got taken; unless they were the aforementioned Silverstar/Xtra Vision bulbs...then just taken a little less.

Shop more wisely in the future.
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Old 02-24-2020, 03:45 AM   #540
johnpy
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Mulder View Post
Go to any parts store. Buy a pair of standard/OEM grade off-the-shelf H9 bulbs, NOT Silverstars or anything with a blue coating.
Sage advice.

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