DIY: Convert 9005 bulb to fit 9006 harness. Increase visibility!

[truflip]

Not sure what to write for the title. Mod's feel free to change/edit it for a better description.

This DIY article is for converting a high beam (9005) bulb which has about 10 more watts than a regular low beam (9006) bulb. This means increased brightness/visibility at night . Consider it an alternate solution to HID's, projectors, and the rarer HIR bulbs etc...

Before you begin, I want to say that this is not going to be a day and night difference but its quite worth it considering it takes 10 minutes to do. The bulbs are cheap and even cheaper if you have a set of 9005's lying around somewhere (like I did) I'd say they're similar to HIR's... Look's totally stock, just brighter! Not sure if the reach is the same though.

Feel free to check out the video and pics I took before you decide to do this (They're at the bottom half of this post.

What you need:









We need to remove those two guide tabs to ensure a proper fit of the 9006 harness.









The base of the 9005 is also smaller.
I used the rubber seal from the old 9006 bulb
to make sure there are no leaks when it's in the headlight housing.







And that's it! Go ahead and hook it up to your car and test it out!

================================================== =======

Video and Pics!
YouTube - 9005 vs 9006 bulbs

Underexposed this shot a bit to show you the difference:



[above] You can kind of tell the left light is more "filled" with light.



[above & below] If you can tell, the left headlight (or right side of the pic) has more fill



From far, it doesnt look different to a normal 9006 halogen:







Final Two:





and thats it for now!

[Chase]

wow that looks good, almost like HID output +1 for coolness..

[Zeuceone]

Nice write up.

[dentrecords]

good stuff.. added to index

[Firestrife]

Just curious, Are you sure it wont effect the wiring or anything because 10 watts more power is quite a difference on the power drain.

[truflip]

Originally Posted by Chase

wow that looks good, almost like HID output +1 for coolness..

Thanks!

Originally Posted by Zeuceone

Nice write up.

Thank you

Originally Posted by dentrecords

good stuff.. added to index

Cool! Thanks!

Originally Posted by Firestrife

Just curious, Are you sure it wont effect the wiring or anything because 10 watts more power is quite a difference on the power drain.

No, I'm not sure and I forgot to mention it. However I'm quite confident it won't drain the harness. I've seen the same mod done on older Acura's, Accords, BMW 3 series.. Toyotas etc.. and no issues.

I figured the harness going into the 9006 and 9005 are coming from one source.. that it should be ok. I check on the wiring after driving at night for 40 minutes and it looks and feels fine

[hoanger]

i must be crazy.. I can't see the difference! and I'm trying!
but that is very creative! good stuff man

[truflip]

Thanks! hoanger! I guess it must be the monitor you're viewing it on or the pics are too small.?? I'll admit, in the video you cant really tell plus the left beam (9005) is aimed lower than the right.

I can provide larger pics if it helps. I posted small ones for bandwidth's sake

[tda1337]

while the wires are thick enough, u prolly should just go with HIR 9012s for a replacement, they will last longer and have the same output as the 9005 with the wattage of the 9006!!! as for high beams, the 9011 is 65W with 2 times the output of the 9005!!!
u make the call people
they are pricey bulbs at bout 30 a bulb after shipping (one vender on ebay, or get them from john deere!)

[truflip]

Someone obviously did not read the first post. lol

[tda1337]

Originally Posted by truflip

Someone obviously did not read the first post. lol

someone did and can attest those look nothing like HIRs... HIRs are whiter in color
duh....

[truflip]

Alright. If you say so. I can't edit the post. Feel free to PM a MOD or Admin to change it for me. Thanks for the info!

[tda1337]

thats fine as long as someone around here can say the HIRs look whiter than a 9005 bulb! and i am :-P no need to edit for now!

[twistedframe]

I did this last night. Thanks for the write up! I am very happy with the way it turned out.
BTW I did this out of necessity b/c one of my silverstar low beams went out, and I happened to have a set of 9005 silverstars just laying around! It was nice not having to spend another $20 on a new bulb!

[furryferret7888]

so basically you putting a high beam bulb into the low beam spot?

am i getting this right?

[furryferret7888]

ummm? right?

[truflip]

Originally Posted by twistedframe

I did this last night. Thanks for the write up! I am very happy with the way it turned out.
BTW I did this out of necessity b/c one of my silverstar low beams went out, and I happened to have a set of 9005 silverstars just laying around! It was nice not having to spend another $20 on a new bulb!

Awesome! Glad it helped
I did this for the exact same reason as you

Originally Posted by furryferret7888

so basically you putting a high beam bulb into the low beam spot?

am i getting this right?

Yes, I basically put a high beam bulb in the low beam housing

Originally Posted by tda1337

thats fine as long as someone around here can say the HIRs look whiter than a 9005 bulb! and i am :-P no need to edit for now!

One of the mods in my area have HIR's. I'll drop by his place ASAP and get some comparo pics for the heck of it. In the mean time, you should try it and take side by side pics eh?

[GregNco]

Wow, way to much work for very little difference

[truflip]

LOL! Yea I guess. It took me longer to make this thread though.

[umer8566]

well so u putting hi beam bolb in low beam place by removing thoses 2 tabs the one in high beam bolb ok ( and what if u dont have that grinder can i just use the nife and cut it ) and it wont hart the narness right i have 2006 civic just making sure