H9 Headlight Photos

SC0TT

SC0TT

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A couple weeks ago I ran across the H11 to H9 headlight conversion thread. Seemed like a quick effective upgrade. Purchased Narva bulbs from Candlepower. The installation took about 20 minutes, used a dremmel to grind the tab and plug.

The difference is pretty impressive, especially considering the cost and simplicity. I didn't take a photo with the H9 and H11 side by side, but the H11 looked brown compared to the H9. There is a wider beam overall; traffic signs and road markings illuminate brighter. But honestly, they may bee borderline too bright for oncoming traffic. After two weeks of use, brights have been flashed at me quite a few times.

Anyways, I'll get to the point of the thread. Was bored tonight, so I went out to take some night shots...

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SC0TT said:
The difference is pretty impressive,

No, No it's not.

traffic signs and road markings illuminate brighter.

No sh!t, so are the retinas of the oncoming drivers.

But honestly, they may bee borderline too bright for oncoming traffic.

No sh!t. Look at your picture below, and how brightly lighted the treetops are. This is what is shining in the eyes of oncoming traffic.

After two weeks of use, brights have been flashed at me quite a few times.

There's a message there... you need to get a clue. You are dangerous.

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You need to spend some time here....

HiDplanet : The Official Automotive Lighting Forum

.... and here

Daniel Stern Lighting Consultancy and Supply

There's a reason those bulbs didn't fit your sockets. Bad idea Bud.
 
Phil so dramatic...

To the OP- Do what you want it's your truck. If it complies with your local and state regulations then don't worry about it and enjoy your truck. Lots of people have done this mod on tons of different toyota models and haven't heard of any problems.

Might just look at aiming your headlights a little better. Mine were pretty bad from the factory.
 
Are you lifted? If so, you need to adjust the headlights. I did this mod and I'm lifted, no flashes at me. It's a simple fix for you, should take minutes to readjust them.
 
mutau052 said:
To the OP- Do what you want it's your truck. If it complies with your local and state regulations then don't worry about it and enjoy your truck. Lots of people have done this mod on tons of different toyota models and haven't heard of any problems.

Might just look at aiming your headlights a little better. Mine were pretty bad from the factory.
Click to expand...

I partially agree. Compliance with laws is necessary but not sufficient. In my opinion, all drivers have an obligation to ensure that their vehicles and modifications do not harm, inconvenience, or jeopardize other drivers.

If oncoming drivers are flashing you it means your headlights are in their eyes and something needs to change. If you can fix that by aiming headlights, great. If not, then it seems the mod may not be a good idea.
 
SC0TT said:
A couple weeks ago I ran across the H11 to H9 headlight conversion thread. Seemed like a quick effective upgrade. Purchased Narva bulbs from Candlepower. The installation took about 20 minutes, used a dremmel to grind the tab and plug.

The difference is pretty impressive, especially considering the cost and simplicity. I didn't take a photo with the H9 and H11 side by side, but the H11 looked brown compared to the H9. There is a wider beam overall; traffic signs and road markings illuminate brighter. But honestly, they may bee borderline too bright for oncoming traffic. After two weeks of use, brights have been flashed at me quite a few times.

Anyways, I'll get to the point of the thread. Was bored tonight, so I went out to take some night shots...

dsc0002qm.jpg


dsc00171280x853.jpg


dsc0030qu.jpg


dsc0023jal.jpg


dsc0007ct.jpg


dsc0015qo.jpg
Click to expand...

It looks like you have a distinct cutoff but then again there seems to be a lot of bleed on the trees as Philsey noted. Particularly bad cause it's in the middle of the beam. Right where oncoming traffic would be. Can you take some pictures up against a wall at about 20 to 30 feet? Could be just a matter of proper aiming.

Are the Narvas standard halogens or high intensity? They are extremely bright and also seem very white in your photos. Are H9s just brighter than H11s by design?

Thanks for sharing...
 
It could be the wet road and reflection making them brighter.

I have oncoming traffic flash me with stock lights. I think I have an aiming issue.
 
I believe that putting a H9 bulb in the low beam position is illegal as they are 65watt and low beams are limited to 55watt.
 
GrantK said:
I believe that putting a H9 bulb in the low beam position is illegal as they are 65watt and low beams are limited to 55watt.
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I noticed that the H9s were 65 watt. So H9s do not come as OE low beams on any street legal cars? I'm not sure what the law is here in Hawaii but they generally do not enforce whatever it is. I just don't want to be one of the *******s blinding everyone else.
 
some people need to calm down here.

The difference in lighting intensity is there, but nowhere near enough where you can be called as "dangerous". Done the mod on low beams and fogs about 1 month ago. I work on the evening shift so I drive a lot by night, and I have not been flashed once.

The thing is to get the light properly aligned (mine were correct from factory, didn't play with it)

I thank the people that made this mod information available to all of us. To the others getting on their high horses saying we are "dangerous", what about minding your own business and letting the cops do our "education" thank you.
 
I think we all need to calm down until we get some more accurate photos to judge by--side by side h11 vs h9 comparisons are a must, each shot at the same shutter speed (and preferably in a more controlled location, wet roads could be reflecting a lot of light back up, etc.) before we can conclude if OP is being an arse on the road or not :)

I could probably snap the same exact picture with the stock h11 bulbs if I kept the shutter open long enough, the wonders of photography :nod:
 
Wow, just wanted to share some photos of a 5th Gen with the H9 bulbs installed. There's been a lot of talk about the swap in the forum. I didnt think it would turn into this...It wasnt my own creative idea of egregiously modifying my headlights to become 'dangerous'. Its a fairly common changeout in vehicles using H11's. :shrug:

Hawaiian4runner - The bulbs are Narva standard halogens. I'll take a shot projected against a wall. The aim was re-adjusted following a .85" level install a few months back.
 
SC0TT said:
Wow, just wanted to share some photos of a 5th Gen with the H9 bulbs installed. There's been a lot of talk about the swap in the forum...
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Thanks for the pics and info.
I realize this is a 5th Gen and I'm hoping to do this HIR mod on my 4th Gen. Just researching sourcing the bulbs in Canada or picking them up in MI. Are they available retail or only online?
 
The reflectors don't change with this minor mod - so proper aiming is all you should need w/o blinding oncoming traffic. I'll be swapping my Low Beams and Fogs this weekend.

I already had to adjust the stock aiming with the stock H11 bulbs as I raised the front a hair (0.85" / 5100's) and my rear is lowered a hair due to weight in the cargo area. My stock H11's were aiming pretty high due to those factors. The H9 bulbs by themselves should't change the dispersion of the stock reflectors assuming they are aimed properly...

FYI - I believe the "HIR's" are only available for HIGH BEAMS... The H9's are not HIR's AFAIK...

:cool:
 
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Randyman... said:
. . . H9 bulbs by themselves should't change the dispersion of the stock reflectors assuming they are aimed properly... . . .
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. . . and also assuming that the filaments of the H9 & H11 bulbs are in the same position relative to the reflector.
 
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