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Old 07-05-2008, 06:04 PM   #1
Huevo
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Default 2008 Impreza Headlamp bulbs

hey guys, i am pretty new here. just this last week i got my first suby and i am lovin it. i would like to buy new bulbs for the headlamps but i am not sure what size to get. i have looked in the owners manual and on the site but i cant find it. i am probably just retarded but does anyone know what kind i need to buy? i dont want to get the wrong bulb for my car. and also my car has to spots down low on the front for some fog lights. i would like to get those too but again i dont know what to put there. if you could please help me i would be very appreciative! thanks!

here is a front pic(notice the spots for the fog lights):
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Old 07-05-2008, 06:19 PM   #2
Magic Marker
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Congrats on the purchase.
IMO, got OEM fogs. You know they'll fit just right. I have them and recommend them.



As far as bulbs, you know that they are covered under the bumper to bumper warranty? I don't plan on changing mine out until the warranty is over.
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Old 07-05-2008, 07:27 PM   #3
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so the OEM ones are the best for it? where do you get them?
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Old 07-05-2008, 07:38 PM   #4
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Your owners manual should tell you what all the bulbs are, keep looking. Of course you can also pull a bulb out and look at it.
I do know that on the '08 the low beam bulbs are H11. There isn't much available in quality aftermarket upgrades and I'd suggest staying away from anything on Ebay especially if it has a blue coating.
If you feel that the stock lighting is not enough (can't comment since I haven't been in an '08 at night, or at all for that matter), you may want to check the aim first. Sometimes the factory will aim them improperly and there won't be enough light on the road. Aside from that, it is possible to install H9 bulbs into an H11 housing with a very minor modification to the H9 bulb. Doing so will net a significant increase in light output as the H9 is a 65W/2100 lumen bulb vs. the H11 at 55W/1350 lumens. As long as you do this using OEM-grade bulbs (i.e. Hella, Phillips), again not blue-coated ones, it should be a safe upgrade.
I put H9's in the low beams on my GTO which are also H11, and it did make a noticeable improvement.
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Old 07-05-2008, 10:50 PM   #5
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Huevo View Post
so the OEM ones are the best for it? where do you get them?
My fogs were factory installed since all OBS come standard with them. You can get the OEM kit from the dealer or www.subarugenuineparts.com.

As for lighting, I want to find out if the STi HID headlamps are a direct PNP with Imprezas across the board. It may cost a bit, but OEM is still best.
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Old 07-06-2008, 01:42 AM   #6
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Pop the hood and its on top of the head light.
If you go HID, retrofitting is recommended (Although I didn't do it :P). I saw a STi the other day and it looked the same as mine, just that the line was a bit cleaner. There were still hot spots...
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Old 07-06-2008, 03:41 AM   #7
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http://www.3gwrx.com/forum/index.php?topic=875.0

Get some H9s instead of the H11s and cut the extra little tab off the inside of the connector. H9s put out more light and have the same fitment (aside from the one little tab). I've been running H9s for two months with no issues (nobody flashing me) and much better night vision.
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Old 07-06-2008, 01:40 PM   #8
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Get the OEM Fog Light kit because it comes with the steering wheel turn signal stalk with the fog light switch.
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Old 07-06-2008, 02:05 PM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Mulder View Post
Your owners manual should tell you what all the bulbs are, keep looking. Of course you can also pull a bulb out and look at it.
I do know that on the '08 the low beam bulbs are H11. There isn't much available in quality aftermarket upgrades and I'd suggest staying away from anything on Ebay especially if it has a blue coating.
If you feel that the stock lighting is not enough (can't comment since I haven't been in an '08 at night, or at all for that matter), you may want to check the aim first. Sometimes the factory will aim them improperly and there won't be enough light on the road. Aside from that, it is possible to install H9 bulbs into an H11 housing with a very minor modification to the H9 bulb. Doing so will net a significant increase in light output as the H9 is a 65W/2100 lumen bulb vs. the H11 at 55W/1350 lumens. As long as you do this using OEM-grade bulbs (i.e. Hella, Phillips), again not blue-coated ones, it should be a safe upgrade.
I put H9's in the low beams on my GTO which are also H11, and it did make a noticeable improvement.
does the 10W difference cause any type of damage down the line?
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Old 07-06-2008, 02:17 PM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by curiousfish View Post
does the 10W difference cause any type of damage down the line?
It shouldn't, as long as the bulbs used are OEM-grade. A bulb rated at the standard wattage but with a blue coating and overdriven filament can get hotter (and do more damage) than a non-coated one rated at a few watts higher. I haven't seen the wiring in an '08 but assuming it's similar to previous years, it may be somewhat marginal but able to handle the extra 10W. That said a wiring upgrade, particularly the addition of a direct ground for the lights, is a good idea and will improve the performance of even the stock bulbs.
FWIW I've had H9's in the H11 low beams of my GTO for almost two years now, with zero problems.
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Old 07-07-2008, 12:34 AM   #11
shiggy6581
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has anyone tried the retro-fitting of another projector in the stock headlight housing on an 08?
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Old 07-07-2008, 07:16 PM   #12
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+1 for oems
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Old 05-26-2009, 02:25 PM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Huevo View Post
hey guys, i am pretty new here. just this last week i got my first suby and i am lovin it. i would like to buy new bulbs for the headlamps but i am not sure what size to get. i have looked in the owners manual and on the site but i cant find it. i am probably just retarded but does anyone know what kind i need to buy? i dont want to get the wrong bulb for my car. and also my car has to spots down low on the front for some fog lights. i would like to get those too but again i dont know what to put there. if you could please help me i would be very appreciative! thanks!

here is a front pic(notice the spots for the fog lights):
get hids. low beam bulb size H11. www.cardomain.com user name subarudave99
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Old 05-27-2009, 10:52 PM   #14
bsikora
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i dont know if they are the same but mine are H7 for low beams, H3 for fogs, and 9005 for high beam.
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Old 05-28-2009, 09:32 AM   #15
CRAZYHAWK
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I replaced the H11 low beams in my 2009 Impreza with an HID kit.
I'm using the origonal projectors. They are like E-codes and are not
blinding oncomming traffic.

On the Audiforums, many of the members upgraded their H7 halogens
to HIDs with a kit from,

www.vvme.com


2008 SUBARU Impreza (4-door model)

Low beam headlamp
H11
H11ST Silverstar High Performance Lighting: The Whiter and Brighter Halogen
H11XV XtraVision Halogen - The Brighter Light

High beam headlamp
9005
9005SU Silverstar ULTRA for Ultra Night Vision - The Whitest and Brightest Halogen
9005ST Silverstar High Performance Lighting: The Whiter and Brighter Halogen
9005EB EcoBright - Your Environmental Choice
9005XV XtraVision Halogen - The Brighter Light
9005CB Cool Blue Halogen - The Whiter Light
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Old 05-28-2009, 04:22 PM   #16
Subarudave09
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HID is the Best way to go. they dont even compare to halogens. if u decide to do ur Highbeams make sure u disable ur DRL
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Old 05-28-2009, 08:39 PM   #17
Magic Marker
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Subarudave09 View Post
HID is the Best way to go. they dont even compare to halogens. if u decide to do ur Highbeams make sure u disable ur DRL
Let's see your cutoff shots if you're running HID PnP in stock halogen projectors.
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Old 05-28-2009, 09:09 PM   #18
Spore
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Subarudave09 View Post
HID is the Best way to go. they dont even compare to halogens. if u decide to do ur Highbeams make sure u disable ur DRL
Has anyone told you that you couldn't be more wrong? Please stop misleading people with your false "facts". I would recommend you to keep that finger of yours away from the Submit Replay button and learn more before you start using it again.
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Old 05-28-2009, 11:54 PM   #19
CRAZYHAWK
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Your high beams should stay halogen.
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Old 05-29-2009, 05:27 AM   #20
aubriea8
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Quote:
Originally Posted by gggplaya View Post
Get the OEM Fog Light kit because it comes with the steering wheel turn signal stalk with the fog light switch.
agreed. best option.
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Old 05-29-2009, 02:57 PM   #21
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Magic Marker View Post
Let's see your cutoff shots if you're running HID PnP in stock halogen projectors.
yea my main pic. check ur sources cuz HIDs with halogen projectors is perfectly fine.
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Old 05-29-2009, 03:00 PM   #22
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Old 05-29-2009, 09:11 PM   #23
Spore
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Subarudave09 View Post
yea my main pic. check ur sources cuz HIDs with halogen projectors is perfectly fine.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Subarudave09 View Post
You call that proper optics??? You've never seen a real HID projector beam, have you now? See how the center portion of your light is very bright and farther away from the center, it goes dim? That is call hot spot. See how you have light that is above the cutoff of the beam? That is call glare. I think people will like you more if you drive with your high beams on instead.

Since I'm too lazy to repeat myself, I just quoted what I've said earlier...

Quote:
Originally Posted by Spore View Post
Has anyone told you that you couldn't be more wrong? Please stop misleading people with your false "facts". I would recommend you to keep that finger of yours away from the Submit Replay button and learn more before you start using it again.
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Old 05-30-2009, 08:53 AM   #24
Subarudave09
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i doubt that cuz there are HIDs in my high beams also and thise a reflector housings. plus i have new 8000k bulbs so ill take pics tonight
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Old 05-31-2009, 09:38 PM   #25
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Subarudave09 View Post
i doubt that cuz there are HIDs in my high beams also and thise a reflector housings. plus i have new 8000k bulbs so ill take pics tonight
You don't see anything wrong with the picture you just posted? At all?

Good lord.

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