Upgrading Envoy/Ascender headlights

[DAlastDON]

Previous car came with HIR 9012 bulbs in projectors. They were pretty damn bright. They were not as bright as the HID's i replaced them with over the years of ownership but comparable in light output in my opinion.

 

[Paul Bell]

I've changed over to four of them. Although I think the 100 watt bulbs were just a touch brighter, the 9011 bulbs seem whiter. However, like the 100's, they don't seem to last more than a few months.

 

[dmanns67]

Use the elusive search function. They've been discussed many times.

That and this is one of those threads that is pointless without pics.

 

[Paul Bell]

Folks, I have an update!

Although when I was using the 100 watt Hella lamps there was no heat damage to the housings, I've discovered there was. But not to the plastic.

In front of the bulb is that clipped in metal shroud with slots in it. The arms that clip into the rear of the housing are a spring metal. It's these arms that were affected by the heat. The arms wandered closer together and the shroud dropped into the housing.

As the HIR 9011 lamps I switched to are high beam bulbs, they don't have a shrouded tip and the metal shroud of the housing keeps it a low beam housing. To continue using these bulbs, I had to open the housing to get the thing back in place. I bent the arms out so it'd stay in place again.

While I was at it I foiled over the slots in the shroud.

Cutting the housing open was a pain, about a half hour with the Dremel tool. I drilled two tiny holes on opposite sides for some safety wire to hold it together then sealed it with Ultra Blue silicone.

 

[Paul Bell]

I must say although I'm happy with the 9011 bulbs, they don't seem to last very long. At most they last two months. I estimate my night driving is a third of my total driving.

When I can afford it, I'm gonna make the upgrade to Morimoto mini HID housings.

 

[Blckshdw]

Some output comparison shots are needed.