2011 WRX HB Base halogen upgrade

[mangostick]

Aftermarket. PIAA / Hella are two popular choices.

^ this lol.. yeah I'm probably the last guy to ask about that since I've put aftermarket DRL lights in my original fog light locations (base car, no fogs just blockoffs) .. That said though, Rally Innovations makes a bumper mounted bar that you can mount some proper fog lights on. Its looks generate a love/hate reaction for most but I like it. If I see the need to run fogs at any point in time I'll go this route, buy some thinner hella's and use my factory wiring to power them.

https://www.rallyinnovations.com/pro...php?prod_id=60

granted this listing is for a 08-10 sti.. but the 11/12 wrx has same body shape as the earlier GR sti's. One thing I'd do with this bar though, is make a proper bracket to mount it to the factory license plate area. RI provides the bar with two tensioners at the top and that I'm not a big fan of.

[N8INCHATT]

^ this lol.. yeah I'm probably the last guy to ask about that since I've put aftermarket DRL lights in my original fog light locations (base car, no fogs just blockoffs) .. That said though, Rally Innovations makes a bumper mounted bar that you can mount some proper fog lights on. Its looks generate a love/hate reaction for most but I like it. If I see the need to run fogs at any point in time I'll go this route, buy some thinner hella's and use my factory wiring to power them.

https://www.rallyinnovations.com/pro...php?prod_id=60

granted this listing is for a 08-10 sti.. but the 11/12 wrx has same body shape as the earlier GR sti's. One thing I'd do with this bar though, is make a proper bracket to mount it to the factory license plate area. RI provides the bar with two tensioners at the top and that I'm not a big fan of.

I guess I'll be one of those that doesn't like the fog light bar. I had an '09 Audi A4 and the fogs on that car were phenomenal! I'm bummed that Subaru put such pitiful lights in a car that is a performance hatch. I used Luminics JDM Yellow on the Audi and just might try them on the Subaru and see if it makes any difference.

[N8INCHATT]

Bringing this thread back from the dead!!! Wanted to update this thread a bit. I originally installed the H9s back in November of '11 and believe it or not, I'm still rockin' those same bulbs! I used the Sylvania brand and they've been fantastic. On a sour note, I am still also rockin' the stock foglights. Oh well.

[jege41]

You have good luck as I have replaced two H9 bulbs on the same side so far, however there pretty cheap.
I had terrible luck with the HIR's

Bringing this thread back from the dead!!! Wanted to update this thread a bit. I originally installed the H9s back in November of '11 and believe it or not, I'm still rockin' those same bulbs! I used the Sylvania brand and they've been fantastic. On a sour note, I am still also rockin' the stock foglights. Oh well.

[N8INCHATT]

You have good luck as I have replaced two H9 bulbs on the same side so far, however there pretty cheap.
I had terrible luck with the HIR's

Guess I did have some good luck with the bulbs. I had wanted to post sooner but I was afraid I'd jinx myself and blow a bulb soon after. Guess we will see if that happens now.

[nopistons93]

I still have my H9 bulbs from the install I did Fall of 2012, little over a year now on the H9's.

[N8INCHATT]

Guess I did have some good luck with the bulbs. I had wanted to post sooner but I was afraid I'd jinx myself and blow a bulb soon after. Guess we will see if that happens now.

Guess what? This morning I turned on my lights and noticed I had blown a bulb. Guess I did jinx myself. Oh well, the bulbs still lasted me 16 months. Guess I get to go and by some new bulbs tonight.

[AFP520]

So I read through this thread and just want to confirm: The only thing I need to do with the H9's is trim the tab on the bulb itself. How about re-installing the light? Something about the tabs on the outside that hold the light in place?

[SomeGoalie]

So I read through this thread and just want to confirm: The only thing I need to do with the H9's is trim the tab on the bulb itself. How about re-installing the light? Something about the tabs on the outside that hold the light in place?

Just trim the tab in the H9 bulb and install the same way you would for any H11.

[N8INCHATT]

So I read through this thread and just want to confirm: The only thing I need to do with the H9's is trim the tab on the bulb itself. How about re-installing the light? Something about the tabs on the outside that hold the light in place?

I can try and post a few pics showing the tab that is trimmed. It was quite simple and only took me around 5 minutes to do with a dremel.

[AFP520]

And are the results that noticeable? People on Nasioc made an observation that MY11-13 were not noticing that big of a difference from MY10 and older were. But then again someone pointed out that they may have been using older halogen bulbs so when you buy new they are always going to look brighter/better.

I'm lined up for 4 H9's on amazon right now.

[kprugbyplaya]

I did a H9 conversion and the output is really good

[SomeGoalie]

And are the results that noticeable? People on Nasioc made an observation that MY11-13 were not noticing that big of a difference from MY10 and older were. But then again someone pointed out that they may have been using older halogen bulbs so when you buy new they are always going to look brighter/better.

I'm lined up for 4 H9's on amazon right now.

I did the conversion on my MY13 with around 200 miles and the light output was noticeably better. Not HID bright, but brighter and retains the nice straight OEM cutoff. For around $15 a pair you can't really go wrong.

[mcdbrendan]

My '09 was noticeably better after the conversion. Highly recommended, but I'll still be moving to a full HID retrofit at some point.

[AFP520]

My '09 was noticeably better after the conversion. Highly recommended, but I'll still be moving to a full HID retrofit at some point.

Agreed. This should hold me over.

Thanks dudes