08 EX-L 6-6, Headlight Alternatives

[ShazaM]

Hi Forum,

Been reading extensively here about lighting, and there seems to be a common opposition towards HIDs which I've come to understand after reading more about the subject.

I had a 5k/6k setup on my old 96 and I did it only because I was under a strict budget and I was also a college kid and that car was basically my transporter.

Anyway, I have decided against going HIDs again, especially for my new baby. The way the housings are designed and the reflectors are aligned, throwing an HID in there will just glow like two blue suns at night pissing everyone off. That's not what I'm trying to do. But the current OEM setup just ****S... I cannot see jack at night and it's starting to really bother me. I see way better in my old 96 than in my new car and I'd like to change that, well.. at least improve it.

I saw some retro fit videos, and I was really mezmerized by the way the end result. But that seems to be a long and dire process that my Mon-Fri 9-5pm working self cannot indulge in.

This leaves me to HIRs, are they worth it? Is 9012 my only choice? and obviously I will have to file them down to match OEMs (9006's?)

Last, and least favorite would be a customer aftermarket housing that supports proper HID.

What does the wise collective here think? I wouldn't mind taking a look at some retrofit guides if anyone knows of some, I'm a handy man myself, but I've been bogged down by busy work. I usually try to do everything myself but lately I've been having to look for shortcuts because I'm pressed for time.

Thanks fellas.

[pmdbruin]

You have a coupe so your stock bulbs are H11 for low beams and 9005 for high beams.

The best safe and legal alternative is the H9 bulb...which I believe offers around 2100 lumens. That's a lot more than the 1200-1400 lumens or something of the H11 stock bulbs.

The high beams...personally I wouldn't even bother changing since I rarely use my high beams. If you do need to change then, I believe the 9011 HIR1 bulbs would be the best safe and legal alternative.

For your fogs, keep them with the H9 bulbs.

Oh and btw, the reflectors in your headlight assembly are the high beams, not the low beams. The halogen projector is your low beam.

[ShazaM]

Man both are weak sauce. My highs do absolutely nothing for me in the darkness. All I see is just more faint yellow glow at the top hitting tree branches and signs.

As far as H9's (sorry typo) go.. do they come in color tints? Because I absolutely cannot stand that blue tint as much as I can't stand the yellow. I want something pure crystal white.

I'm looking at Amazon and none of them seem to mention anything about the type of color the bulb produces.

[pmdbruin]

The Philips H9 is the most legit. The H9 is going to be slightly whiter than your H11. I believe it'll still be yellow though...just not as much. I see a Sylvania H9 that is supposedly whiter. I'm not sure what the quality of this brand is. You'll have to ask Markus for help on that.

[ShazaM]

Ok I got both the Philips and Sylvania bookmarked. I've had Sylvania stocks on my 96. All I can say about them is they worked. But they were yellow haha.

I'll wait for more input. Thanks for the references tho bruin.

What's the general consensus about these 9012 HIR2s?

Amazon

Amazon

[giltibo]

Got an '08 Coupe with the XTreme 4300K HID kit from XenonDepot. In the 9 months I've had the kit on, I am very seldom asked for dimming the lights. With the OEM projectors on the Coupe, glare is fairly minimal while improving the low beams a lot (OEM H11 halogens give off very weak light IMHO). The worst offenders by far, IMHO, when it comes to glare (to the point of being dangerous) are actually OEM HIDs from GMs and especially Fords.

[ShazaM]

Originally Posted by giltibo

Got an '08 Coupe with the XTreme 4300K HID kit from XenonDepot. In the 9 months I've had the kit on, I am very seldom asked for dimming the lights. With the OEM projectors on the Coupe, glare is fairly minimal while improving the low beams a lot (OEM H11 halogens give off very weak light IMHO).

Have you parked your car in front of a white wall? I'd be so interested in seeing what the pattern looks like.

[ypsibird]

Originally Posted by ShazaM

What's the general consensus about these 9012 HIR2s?

I would suggest you simply search 9012. There are a bunch of threads about HIRs including HIR2.

[pmdbruin]

Originally Posted by ShazaM

I'll wait for more input. Thanks for the references tho bruin.

What's the general consensus about these 9012 HIR2s?

No problem. You should know that HIR2 9012 won't work with your car. Remember, you need HIR1 9011.

HIR2 9012 bulbs are for the sedans.

[ShazaM]

Originally Posted by pmdbruin

No problem. You should know that HIR2 9012 won't work with your car. Remember, you need HIR1 9011.

HIR2 9012 bulbs are for the sedans.

Gah.. you're 100% right.. H11 low beam, H11 fog lights.

In that case it will be these puppies:

Amazon

Amazon

Thanks for correcting me bruin.

Also, im thinking of getting these to replace my current fog lights:

Amazon

Amazon

It gets foggy where I live a lot and having yellow fog lights by themselves helps visibility big time for me. I also think from far away at night it will have a unique look.

[pmdbruin]

Originally Posted by ShazaM

Gah.. you're 100% right.. H11 low beam, H11 fog lights.

In that case it will be these puppies:
http://www.amazon.com/Philips-HIR1-9...words=9012+hir

Thanks for correcting me bruin.

No problem. I looked at those before but it seems like the reviews suggest that it may not be the true HIR1 bulbs from Amazon and are just 9011 bulbs.

http://store.candlepower.com/9011.html

These are for sure the HIR1 bulbs. They're a little more expensive though.

[sp3ak]

Aren't the fog lights already an H9 bulb? Something to look into anyways before ordering.

Those Phillips HIR bulbs are great. I put in the 9012's (low beams) on my Integra and I like them a lot. They aren't really white but they do the main job of lighting the road up. From my research they should also last a lot longer than some of the Sylvannia bulbs.

[Markus]

The fog lights are H11 and should not be replaced by an H9. The H9 has no bulb tip shield and neither do the fog lights. H9 in Accord fog lights will produce unsafe levels of glare.

[ShazaM]

Originally Posted by pmdbruin

No problem. I looked at those before but it seems like the reviews suggest that it may not be the true HIR1 bulbs from Amazon and are just 9011 bulbs.

http://store.candlepower.com/9011.html

These are for sure the HIR1 bulbs. They're a little more expensive though.

Looks like these are going to be my go-to's for now. Thanks again.

Originally Posted by Markus

The fog lights are H11 and should not be replaced by an H9. The H9 has no bulb tip shield and neither do the fog lights. H9 in Accord fog lights will produce unsafe levels of glare.

I plan on replacing the H11 in my fog lights with yellow H11's. Do you think that's going to cause any issues?

[Markus]

Originally Posted by ShazaM

I plan on replacing the H11 in my fog lights with yellow H11's. Do you think that's going to cause any issues?

No issues - you'll be fine with yellow H11 bulbs. Just make sure you don't use bulbs with wattage higher than 60-65 in the fog lights. Some of the yellow bulbs are 80w