Headlights

[speedy25]

I remember reading a thread about them some time back but I cant get any relevant results out of the boards search engine.

I got caught out by Akron, OH "finest" drivers who like to do brake checks in the fast lane of the interstate and rear ended a very nice woman.

Along with sheet metal bends it took out a headlight and side marker. I can straighten the rest but I'm in the market for the lighting parts.

Of course I looked on fleabay to see if there was anything of note. Some are direct replacement and some use H1 bulbs. (fog/driving light bulbs in a headlight??!!)

Any experience or insight on a good set to replace my crummy re-fogged and broken stock units?

TIA,

-SP

[Piloter]

I've had every set on my car (Euro-style 9005/9006, H4s, projectors-with-bugeyes) except the newest projector + LED strip style. Bang for the buck, if you don't mind setting up relays, I'd recommend the single-bulb style H4s IF you have the patience to get them to aim properly. As my set was designed for a RHD market, this involved a little bit of creativity...

If you want to keep stock bulbs, the Euro-style 9005/9006 enclosures are a great choice. Stepping up to 9005 high-beam bulbs in the low-beam sockets requires a minute or two with a file and the actual physical design of the enclosure means that there's still a cap over the visible part of the bulb. Light output about doubles, bulb life about three-quarters, and you still get the same legal legitimate pattern. HIR bulbs (9011/9012) are kind of a crapshoot.

The H1 projector-style lights seem to be designed for HIDs, despite the sticker saying 'oh no, don't do it' in Chinese/Korean/Japanese. The bulb they ship with, and a set of Sylvania XVs, hot-spots like mad in a manner that suggests an arc instead of a filament would be better.

I'll try to dig up my old thread reviewing bulbs and enclosures in a couple hours here.

[sequoiasoon]

Left or right side got damaged? I think I have a right side H4 glass lens made for regular LHD. Made an amazing difference in lighting over the 9005/9006.

Other BEST lighting option is to get one of the clear non fluted lens ones and then do a retro with some HID projectors http://www.theretrofitsource.com/pro...roducts_id=227 a little more work but a lot more performance.


You could start with these and do the H4 wiring to see how you like it and go from there if you ever wanted to retro the HID Bi-Xenon projectors into them. http://www.ebay.com/itm/93-97-COROLL...item35b7f91720 I'm not sure if I would get these or the probably the blacked out version http://www.ebay.com/itm/93-94-95-96-...item3a6e3bffc1

[Piloter]

Found the old threads, Speedy, sorry for the delay.

Projector install/writeup:
Ebay 'projector' headlights: The Installation Writeup (56K make a sammich)

Bulbs/enclosures ratings (sorry, no pictures):
Headlight bulb upgrade info (been there, done that)

[speedy25]

Thanks Piloter for the info.

sequoiasoon- Your car looks just like mine in the front!

No parts need from you but I appreciate the offer.

I'm surprised that the single lamp version works better than the dual one.

I have a HID setup sitting around I may try.

-SP

[cipher93]

I know you're looking at a new lens altogether, but for light bulbs, I think the best bang for the buck are GE Nighthawks. I paid $20 for a set for my truck from Amazon (and they have a $5 rebate now too) and compared to the Silverstar Ultras I put in my Corolla, I think the light is very close in quality. The clarity is very close to the Silverstar Ultras, but not quite as intense (bright). however, for a lot less and much longer life hopefully, I'll take it. Nighthawks are also the best bulb for signals and tail lights I've found, far and away. The local store only charges a few cents more than normal GEs, but they are vastly superior.

[sequoiasoon]

The single lamp worked better because the reflector was twice the size and it was a true European H4 pattern not that crappy DOT spec blob of 9005/9006 light.

I had tried all different bulbs in the 9005/9006 doing the modifying base thing to put the brighter ones in also but all sucked. Way back before the HID's were an option I actually found a set of lexus halogen projectors and mounted them in the bottom of my bumper. Combined with a set of Hella foglights in the grill it was pretty good. Once I put the H4's in the lexus projectors came out (they were so pitted it wasn't funny anyway).