9012 HIR bulbs for low beam

[AJJ]

I spent hours reading stuff on the internet about HID, bulb conversions etc. I finally arrived at getting a pair of 9012 HIR's for the low beam. What finally sold me was a post on another board where it says the 9012 looks like stock as you face the car and when you project on a wall...but it's brighter in actual use on the street--great for those like me who want to avoid encounters with the cops. It requires only some trimming of a plastic tab to make it fit into the Civic 9006 slot.

Has anyone done this mod?

[Tim]

They sound pretty interesting. The only downfall I've heard about HIR bulbs is their rarity and cost.

Good luck with that though. If you've got a decent camera, you should do a stock comparison using the same settings and a tripod.

[Thayer]

Installed 9012 HIR low beams last week. Required slight modification, which took only 5 minutes using toe nail clippers (no need for me to buy Dremel tool!). Initially, I was unimpressed with improvement, but soon realized than my main problem was low headlight aim. Today, I adjusted upward. Don't want to bother oncoming drivers, and will check results tonight.

So far, I thin HIR's are best halogen solution short of HID. Similar opinion from lighting "experts" I contacted.

Not checking these boards regularly. Send me private message if you have questions...

[yeos]

I installed mine a few weeks ago and they are definitely a big improvement. I don't see them being too expensive @ $26 each and they last as long if not longer than any other stock halogen.

[jasongg06]

Originally Posted by Thayer

Installed 9012 HIR low beams last week. Required slight modification, which took only 5 minutes using toe nail clippers (no need for me to buy Dremel tool!). Initially, I was unimpressed with improvement, but soon realized than my main problem was low headlight aim. Today, I adjusted upward. Don't want to bother oncoming drivers, and will check results tonight.

So far, I thin HIR's are best halogen solution short of HID. Similar opinion from lighting "experts" I contacted.

Not checking these boards regularly. Send me private message if you have questions...

i was also initially unimpressed, but i put the stock bulbs back in for a comparison and i found that the HIR bulbs produce much more light. The reason you may not notice is because the color of the HIR bulb is the same as stock, so it looks the same.

[CZ-75]

Your eyes are like a butt dyno when it comes to detecting light output differences. There is no way these bulbs are not significantly brighter than stock, as they have been empirically tested for their output.

[striker_1818]

Originally Posted by CZ-75

Your eyes are like a butt dyno when it comes to detecting light output differences. There is no way these bulbs are not significantly brighter than stock, as they have been empirically tested for their output.

you got the rods f'ed up in your eyes right in the retina if you can't distinguish brightness

[Storm]

Originally Posted by yeos

I installed mine a few weeks ago and they are definitely a big improvement. I don't see them being too expensive @ $26 each and they last as long if not longer than any other stock halogen.

You can get them for less ($10/ea) at any John Deere dealer

[86zccrx]

has anybody else experienced a problem with installing these? I modified the clip and the lights will go into the socket, they just won't turn. comparing the toshiba 9012 light to the stock 9006, it looks like the base is also a bit thicker, i don't know if this is the problem or if there is something else i'm doing wrong.

[striker_1818]

i wouldn't know about this issue...
grab your old 9006 and toshiba HIR then start shaving

[yeos]

Originally Posted by Storm

You can get them for less ($10/ea) at any John Deere dealer

Not anymore at the majority of John Deere retailers in the nation. The demand grew as more auto enthusiasts jumped on the bandwagon. Yes there are a few that still sell them at ~$10 a piece, but most of them sell the bulbs at the John Deere retail price of $23.99 each or more. I picked mine up from a local John Deere retailer.

[Storm]

Originally Posted by yeos

Not anymore at the majority of John Deere retailers in the nation. The demand grew as more auto enthusiasts jumped on the bandwagon. Yes there are a few that still sell them at ~$10 a piece, but most of them sell the bulbs at the John Deere retail price of $23.99 each or more. I picked mine up from a local John Deere retailer.

CAMMPS HARDWARE & LAWN PROD - BELLE MEAD, NJ

I paid $9.83/ea

[yeos]

Lucky. lol. I'm satisfied even though I paid more. :)

[CZ-75]

Originally Posted by striker_1818

you got the rods f'ed up in your eyes right in the retina if you can't distinguish brightness

I guess eyes > light meter? :face-icon

[DrScooter]

I put in both Low 9012 and High (?) 9011 and just returned from like a 2,500 mile trip to SPI and ran the HIR bulbs throughout. Outstanding, in "real world" use. I had clear weather, light and heavy rain and also light fog (no snow). If there were road reflectors these things light 'em up at an ungodly distance. I really rarely used the "brights" but if needed they could also kick out alot of light too. Of more improtance to me when on "normal" low beam I was never "flashed" and my drive is ALL through the night as I drive through in 21 hours (wife does a bit) with stops for food and gas. I like to leave after sundown drive through the night and when the sun comes up I'm somewhere else I paid just a tad over $20 each and as I'm not any too handy my local "shop" trimmed and put 'em in for me. To preserve the high beam I don't normally run the DRL but did put the fuse back for the trip. My wife's car has the HID lights and clearly those are brighter but as far as focus and "real world" use I really do like the Toshiba HIR bulbs

[CNI Dawg]

Originally Posted by 86zccrx

has anybody else experienced a problem with installing these? I modified the clip and the lights will go into the socket, they just won't turn. comparing the toshiba 9012 light to the stock 9006, it looks like the base is also a bit thicker, i don't know if this is the problem or if there is something else i'm doing wrong.

Yep they are a pain to install.
Fit MUCH tighter than the stock bulbs.
The base on the stock bulb has 3 high spots that are the same thickness as the entire base of the 9011.
These keep the bulb tight in the housing.
I ended up filing the base of the 9011 to thin it out which helped with their installation.
Cleaned the bulb glass with rubbing alcohol 'cause I touched it while filing
We'll see if they 'hot-spot' - burn out faster from the finger oils left behind.