Improving Low Beam

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BOLANDMARC

Joined
Dec 29, 2006
Threads
6
Messages
17
Location
Logan City Queensland Australia
Hello All,
:cheers:I know there are a lot of postings on driving lights:doh:, but I want to know how to improve my low beam, so that when I turn off my driving lights that put a nuclear flash to shame I nearly have to light a match to see if low beam is on.
so looking forward to some legal suggestions:D
 
I put HIR bulbs in my 4R, planning to put them in the LC before Winter, expensive but incredible improvement in output without having to upgrade the wiring. I paid $38 each at John Deere for the low-beam HIR2 aka 9012 bulbs, I think candlepower.com has gotten some in stock. You have to trim the plastic base a bit to make them fit, not hard to do. Might as well put HIR1 bulbs in your high-beams while you're at it.
 
i put HIRs in hi and low about this time last year, noticed very improved headlighting, and have had no problems. Its not the expedition answer, but its an easy upgrade for all conditions.
 
RobRed said:
HIR is a good choice and super easy. Don't do HID unless you retrofit projectors (look for the Morimoto HID thread)
Click to expand...

+1. I went with HIR's instead of the el cheapo HID kit. Very happy with the output of the HIR's. I got a set of 4 bulbs to do the low beams as well as the fogs. I got mine at hirheadlights.com... good pricing, prompt shipment.
 
I don't know why all of a sudden, everyone is against HIDs...I am running a 55W kit from DDM and they are 100X better than stock. Cutoff is not as good as the new retrofits that some are doing but I think it is fine as long as you take your time to aim them correctly. I think total out of pocket was less than $80.00. Search around. There is tons of info on HID kits.
 
bkgee said:
i put HIRs in hi and low about this time last year, noticed very improved headlighting, and have had no problems.
Click to expand...

Got a burned out HIR1 high beam now. Not sure how long its been burned out, but its a data point anyway. ~2 yrs and 3 months for that bulb, the other HIR1 and both HIR2 low beams are still operable; all Toshibas from candlepowerinc.com. For $23, I think I will chance a replacement versus sticking my old bulbs back in.

edit: looks like Toshibas are not made any longer (or are too hard to find? or both). An now Philips are the standard "HIR" in quotations because they dont actually have the IR bulb coating, however they otherwise meet the specification. From what I'm reading, they are ~10% brighter than the Toshibas, so looks like I will be in for 2 pending some more research. Anyone have more experience?

Edit 2 https://forum.ih8mud.com/80-series-tech/430026-philips-hir2-3d-generation-9012-a.html
 
Last edited:
Im running 35w 5000k HID kit from DDM tuning, its cheap, an easy install, and the light output blows away any HIR you will find. AS far as the cut off line goes, I don't get flashed from people thinking my high beams are on. The full replacement kit would be nice but the hid kits are just easy to deal with.
 
Only problem with adding HID bulbs to halogen headlight assemblies is not DOT/E legal. They are typically sold for "off road" use only.:meh:

Sent from my iPhone using IH8MUD
 
They are only legal in Oz when you can level the headlights.
 
^^Ive had em for years and never had a problem, always passed yearly inspection, never been stopped.
 
I pulled the HIR trigger a couple months ago and bot the low beams off amazon. They're better than the originals for sure but they aint cheap either. You gotta get some wire dikes or a dremel and trim (or cut) one of the tabs back about 50% and they go right in. Then I adjusted the vertical headlight adjustment 3 times and now i love em.
 
Just another data point, wife had a rather spectacular failure of the Toshiba HIR1 (high beam) which was audible in the cab, and damaged the reflector. I can only assume the voltage spike took out the other bulb at the same time (or it went first) since that one was just burnt out. 2 years, 20k, very few hours of actual use. Should be fun trying to get out all the pieces out of the housing. :rolleyes:

If you're running the Toshibas you may want to change them out before they go.
IMG_0008.webp
 
scottm said:
If you're thinking HIR, this is a good place to look. Click around to see install instructions and such. Toshiba HIR1 (9011) & Philips HIR2 (3rdGen) (9012)

Comparison of HIR to stock: What is HIR??
Click to expand...

Don't want to spend the time and $$$ to retrofit headlights and not a fan of HID's.
Just ordered a set of these from Candlepower and hope I'm not expecting too much for $100.00 worth of bulbs.

With all the info and first hand reports they should be a major upgrade from original. Will advise once received and installed.
Stand by!
 
jemsec said:
Don't want to spend the time and $$$ to retrofit headlights and not a fan of HID's.
Just ordered a set of these from Candlepower and hope I'm not expecting too much for $100.00 worth of bulbs.

With all the info and first hand reports they should be a major upgrade from original. Will advise once received and installed.
Stand by!
Click to expand...

You're good.
 
Are HIRs available/suitable for the fog lights?
I have Morimoto projectors to install for the main beams and have been looking for something to beef up the fogs as well.
Anyone put HIRs into the fog lights?
 
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