Another group buy on HIR headlight bulbs - $28

[landtank]

I've got the Toshiba bulbs and this might be because I replaced the 80w hellas with them but no big whoop as far as I can see. Hella has been threatening to re-release the 80-w again, and at 10.25 a bulb I've give them another shot.

Persoanlly I'd go with the JD bulbs at $25.00 and skip the high beams all together. I really don't see any big deal in this group buy. BUt lighting seems to go along with stereo preferences. Some can see a worthwhile improvement where others see a waste of money. NOt saying the HIRs are a waste of money but after those hellas they were quite the disappointment.

 

[erics_bruisers]

i did the group buy last time with that lighting-dud (daniel something) and imho they somewhat sucked --

-- no biggie, but lighting is no longer that interesting to me --

e

 

[ryanjl]

People's opinions obviously vary, but here's mine:

Anyone who thinks that these didn't make that big of a difference has other problems somewhere in their system. I go between driving my 80 with the HIR's and Slee Harness, to driving an LX470 with stock lighting (which is supposed to be better than stock 80 lighting, FWIW) and the difference is astonishing. It almost feels dangerous to drive the Lexus with the standard lighting--obviously it's not really 'dangerous' if it's stock--because the change in lumens is that great.

 

[doctorJ]

I'm one for a set of high and low. I emailed the above link - just wondering if the group buy is through him or DougM. ??
Jay

 

[lurker]

People's opinions obviously vary, but here's mine:

Anyone who thinks that these didn't make that big of a difference has other problems somewhere in their system. I go between driving my 80 with the HIR's and Slee Harness, to driving an LX470 with stock lighting (which is supposed to be better than stock 80 lighting, FWIW) and the difference is astonishing. It almost feels dangerous to drive the Lexus with the standard lighting--obviously it's not really 'dangerous' if it's stock--because the change in lumens is that great.

I would really like it if you could measure the voltage between the plus side of your low beam connector to chassis ground. This would be a big help to us that possible have voltage problem, sence you have a very good bases for an example.

Hey, the worst you can do is tell me to shove it.

 

[landtank]

People's opinions obviously vary, but here's mine:

Anyone who thinks that these didn't make that big of a difference has other problems somewhere in their system. I go between driving my 80 with the HIR's and Slee Harness, to driving an LX470 with stock lighting (which is supposed to be better than stock 80 lighting, FWIW) and the difference is astonishing. It almost feels dangerous to drive the Lexus with the standard lighting--obviously it's not really 'dangerous' if it's stock--because the change in lumens is that great.

Ok, so I've got the slee harness installed as well. What would be my problem?

With all the hype of you guys these bulbs just didn't live up to it. It's a difference in expectations. A knowledgeable lighting person could easily look at my truck and realise how much it has improved and what it took to get there. I'm not that guy and expected more for my $50.00 quite frankly. It was a lot less than the Hellas at more than twice the price.

I'm not saying the heelas were better because thay had life issues, just the output was far superior for those couple of weeks.

 

[IdahoDoug]

Excellent. Looks like we've got 10-12 pairs committed here already. I'm just looking for the 15 commitment on this thread and then I'll contact Daniel Stern for a code which you can all then use.

If you'd like to discuss your vehicle's electrical status or start a bulb discussion thread, please start an appropriate thread. Hope I'm not bumming anyone out with that, but there are some excellent HIR threads and some bulb comparison threads in Search. I'm simply looking for those who, like myself, missed the HIR group buy and would like to get some in before winter. I've been a lighting fanatic for decades and have tried all manner of quality bulbs lately, only to find incredibly short lives. I'm tired of messing around, changing Hella bulbs in hotel parking lots on trips, and getting flashed at due to poorly shaped beam patterns. These are the real deal as far as my research shows.

Rgds,

DougM

 

[CDN_Cruiser]

Doug:

I'll be in for a high and low sets (the price is per bulb - correct) - assuming they can ship to Canada using USPS.

Cheers, Hugh

 

[doctorJ]

Below is D.Stern's response to my email. Price goes down A LOT if a few more of us commit to buying them.
Jay
>
Daniel,

I am interested in the HIR bulbs for a 97 Toyota Land Cruiser, both high
> and low beams. I heard there is a "group-buy" discount going on? What is the
> deal. Do we all buy seperatley through the guy (Doug) on IH8MUD, or from you.
Jay



Greetings, Jay.

Group buy price is $27.80/ea if we can get 20 forum members signing onto
the group; $24.80/ea if we can get 30 forum members. Orders will be placed
through me. (Regular non-group price is $38.95/ea)

DS

 

[IdahoDoug]

Just to clarify, the group buy requires 15 sets to get the $28 price ($27.80 to be exact). Thanks!

DougM

 

[scottm]

In, highs & lows, hope we get 30 sets! Any break on shipping if you get them and tote them when you come in Oct? Any difference in color?

 

[IdahoDoug]

We could combine shipping, but I think their small size and fractional weight means just a few bucks. As for color, I seem to recall they're a full spectrum bulb that's slightly whiter than stock. I have done a lot of research and full spectrum is far better for fatigue free driving despite the trendy bluish aftermarket bulbs. For additional info on this, do a search for HIR posts by Cary.

DougM

 

[reffug]

Doug excellent leg work. And I totally agree with winter driving coming. Please count me in for a set of high and low. And thanks again for the leg work.

 

[ryanjl]

Sorry for the bulb conversations. Just didn't want anyone to be dissuaded from the HIR's because I am of the opinion that they are the real deal.

Sign me on for a set of the low beams for the LX.

Are we ordering these direct from Stern, or are we paying you, or......?

 

[4x4CPOSEADOG]

Sign me in for a set of both low and high beams for the LX. Thanks for a good info. This is going to be a good mod for the LX. Does Mr. Stern accepts checks or money order?

 

[cary]

Just a bit more information based on some comments above:

1) 80watt Hella's v. HIR Bulbs. The 80 watt Hella Bulbs put out around 1600 lumens very close to the HIR 1700+ lumens. So why run the HIR's. Three reasons.

First, unlike the old German Made Hella Bulbs that last forever, the current 80 watt bulbs very poor quality and basically last about 50 hours. Most of us that were running them found that we were replacing them once a month. Compare that to the 1000+ hour life expectancy of the HIR and the $28 up front is much less than the $10.25 x 20 replacements.

Second, the 80 watt bulbs have horrible quality control in the filament placment. We were regularly seeing bulbs with 5mm of varience in filament placement. 5mm of filimant movement accounts for about 1 foot of light movement at 25 feet, not to mention light lost because the lens cannot properly direct the light.

Third, the HIR bulbs don't increase the load on the electrical system. You can confortably use these without a wiring harness upgrade. The harness upgrade will provide the icing on the cake, but is unecessary.

2) Low beam and high beam bulbs- The low beam bulbs make significant increase in light output (I use them on both the LC and my Wife's BMW). The high beams provide an increase, but not as significant. This is in part because the lumens increase is greater as a percent for the low beams (1000 to 1700) v. the high beam (1700 to 2500). If you are only going to do low or high beams, definetely do the low beams.

Cary

 

[lurker]

Just a bit more information based on some comments above:

1) 80watt Hella's v. HIR Bulbs. The 80 watt Hella Bulbs put out around 1600 lumens very close to the HIR 1700+ lumens. So why run the HIR's. Three reasons.

First, unlike the old German Made Hella Bulbs that last forever, the current 80 watt bulbs very poor quality and basically last about 50 hours. Most of us that were running them found that we were replacing them once a month. Compare that to the 1000+ hour life expectancy of the HIR and the $28 up front is much less than the $10.25 x 20 replacements.

Second, the 80 watt bulbs have horrible quality control in the filament placment. We were regularly seeing bulbs with 5mm of varience in filament placement. 5mm of filimant movement accounts for about 1 foot of light movement at 25 feet, not to mention light lost because the lens cannot properly direct the light.

Third, the HIR bulbs don't increase the load on the electrical system. You can confortably use these without a wiring harness upgrade. The harness upgrade will provide the icing on the cake, but is unecessary.

2) Low beam and high beam bulbs- The low beam bulbs make significant increase in light output (I use them on both the LC and my Wife's BMW). The high beams provide an increase, but not as significant. This is in part because the lumens increase is greater as a percent for the low beams (1000 to 1700) v. the high beam (1700 to 2500). If you are only going to do low or high beams, definetely do the low beams.

Cary

Since I suspect that I don't have HIR's I'd be in for a set of low beams.

 

[IdahoDoug]

Well, we're over the 15 limit to get the discount. What I'll do is let the thread run until Tuesday, September 7 which would be a full week. Wherever we're at, I'll contact Daniel and get the best price based on the bulk buy we'll be at. Then I'll provide any ordering instructions you'll need, which I suspect will be nothing special.

DougM

 

[handy_Al]

Doug,

Count me in for a set of highs and lows. Thanks for the effort in doing this !

Al B.

 

[wb1948]

Sounds like a deal. Too many deer around here to drive with inadequate lighting, count me in.
-William