ABFoz
Forum Member
- Joined
- Mar 24, 2018
- Messages
- 955
- Location
- Auckland, New Zealand
- Car Year
- 2005
- Car Model
- Forester XS
- Transmission
- 4EAT
I have just fitted HIR1/9011 bulbs as replacements for my HB3/9005 high beam bulbs. Standard HB3 bulbs produce 1700 lumens while HIR1s must produce at least 2300.
According to the lighting expert I consulted recently, I should try this upgrade first before purchasing auxiliary lights. He said Subarus do particularly well in terms of lighting except for some BE/BH models and this upgrade is his most preferred one without costing the user so much.
HB3 on the left, HIR1 on the right
I trimmed the right-hand side of the top tab from 12mm to 8mm to fit the stock bulb holder.
Notice the infrared coating on the bulb. The coating is supposed to reflect the heat back into the filament for brighter burning per watt.
I would need at least 500m of straight and unlit road to do the throw test. We don't have those in Auckland. I can see a significant increase in performance, though, when I drove around our unlit but bendy roads. Other people who have done the same upgrade have the same feedback.
Here is a short video I made safely on the side of our straightest and most unlit roads in the area.
For reference, here is a video of an HIR1 upgrade on an 80-series Land Cruiser on an unlit and straight road:
According to the lighting expert I consulted recently, I should try this upgrade first before purchasing auxiliary lights. He said Subarus do particularly well in terms of lighting except for some BE/BH models and this upgrade is his most preferred one without costing the user so much.
HB3 on the left, HIR1 on the right
I trimmed the right-hand side of the top tab from 12mm to 8mm to fit the stock bulb holder.
Notice the infrared coating on the bulb. The coating is supposed to reflect the heat back into the filament for brighter burning per watt.
I would need at least 500m of straight and unlit road to do the throw test. We don't have those in Auckland. I can see a significant increase in performance, though, when I drove around our unlit but bendy roads. Other people who have done the same upgrade have the same feedback.
Here is a short video I made safely on the side of our straightest and most unlit roads in the area.
For reference, here is a video of an HIR1 upgrade on an 80-series Land Cruiser on an unlit and straight road: