HIR (Not HID) Headlights

[03v8sport]

I just purchased some HIR low and high beam headlights on ebay after doing some research and was wondering if anyone else had some experience with them. They're toshibas (I think the only legit maker of HIR headlights) but the website said for some makes and models you may have to take some nail clippers or a small knive and cut out just a little extra room in the plastic around the bulbs. Hopefully this isnt true for the 4runner.

If you do have them, how do you like them so far?

 

[Uneek]

Is it possibly the 9005 to 9006 conversion? Some people have cut off the tab in a 9005 bulb so it can be used in the 9006 headlight socket. 9005 are 65w, whereas 9006 are 55w. This way they have a brighter lowbeam. Bulb life is shorter with the conversion though.

 

[kimboy]

If your using 9006 sized bulbs, as a future upgrade can I recommend you move over to a d4r/d4s HID retrofit kit for your reflectors. (d4s for projectors)

These are the new HID systems made by toyota's subcontractor for the Lexus headlamps. These lights produce an increase in lumen output and the 5000K kit puts out more lumens than a d2r/d2s 4300K kit.

This kit should last you years. I'm hoping that I'll never have to replace my headlight bulbs with the HID kit.

I have a d2r 4300K (9006) kit in my stock reflector housing and love the results. If you lease a 4runner, you can attach the ballasts to the frame using industrial strength velcro for easy removal.

 

[mysticz]

If your using 9006 sized bulbs, as a future upgrade can I recommend you move over to a d4r/d4s HID retrofit kit for your reflectors. (d4s for projectors)

These are the new HID systems made by toyota's subcontractor for the Lexus headlamps. These lights produce an increase in lumen output and the 5000K kit puts out more lumens than a d2r/d2s 4300K kit.

This kit should last you years. I'm hoping that I'll never have to replace my headlight bulbs with the HID kit.

I have a d2r 4300K (9006) kit in my stock reflector housing and love the results. If you lease a 4runner, you can attach the ballasts to the frame using industrial strength velcro for easy removal.

What brand of HID's are those again?

 

[03v8sport]

Is it possibly the 9005 to 9006 conversion? Some people have cut off the tab in a 9005 bulb so it can be used in the 9006 headlight socket. 9005 are 65w, whereas 9006 are 55w. This way they have a brighter lowbeam. Bulb life is shorter with the conversion though.

I bought the 9005 size and 9006 bulbs (9011 & 9012 for HIRs) so I'll try to post pictures after I replace one side to give a good comparison. I really couldnt find a downside to buying HIRs - they have nearly the same life as the dimmer OEM bulbs (800 vs 1000) compared to the 125 hour life of silverstars and while HIDs have a very long life, for 800 hours I probably wont replace them for at least 6 years or so and high and low beams cost me 100 as opposed to 400 for HIDs plus the lenses.

Earlier I said that I may need to make room by cutting some plastic around the sockets but this isnt the case. Instead, for only a few vehicles out there, you have to cut around the edge of the plastic of the bulb itself which is a relief to me.

The other problem I had with HIDs was the cut-off effect you get from having a powerful, focused beam. I like to be able to see things that arent in the direct beam out to the side. The super high intensity of the HIDs would contract the pupil more, most likely making darker things even harder to see so I'll report back around monday or tuesday if i get them and can install them by then.

 

[TRD04RUNNER]

dude dont waste your money of pos bulbs! get some real HID you will not regret it!

 

[khaug]

So after all your research, illuminate us: WTF are "HIR" headlights?

Thanks.

 

[kimboy]

ebay link

Here's a link to an auction for a d4r kit. I bought from this seller prevoiusly, and his 99.9% positive feedback rating really shows he has a good product. The ballasts are made by Denso and the hid bulbs are XenEco 4800K.

I thought he sold the 5000K bulbs, but i am mistaken.

I could have gone cheaper with a no name brand kit off of ebay, but all my research pointed to this guy.

Here's a pic showing a silvania silverstar bulb compared to a d2r bulb.

 

[kimboy]

The reflector headlamps create some glare do to the light reflecting within the housing. I'm ok with that.

I do get flashed once or twice a month, but that's usually when I'm going down a hill, or when I'm coming over a crest.

 

[03v8sport]

dude dont waste your money of pos bulbs! get some real HID you will not regret it!

Well unlike the bulbs that require extra wattage which will damgae your electrical system, not to mention generate extra heat (I'd consider those POS bulbs), HIR bulbs - like HID bulbs, generate more light per watt than their standard halogen counterparts by being more efficient (although HIDs are even more efficient and bright).

For someone like me who is interested in only being safer at night and not having the brightest lights possible that could blind others - our vehicles have reflecter, not projector headlights so simply getting HID lights with the ballasts would really produce a ton of glare for other drivers - HIR bulbs produce around 75% more light than the brightest halogen bulbs with HIDs prodcing around 3 times more than halogen. I'll report on how HIRs work for me.

It's kind of odd that people here ask "So after all your research, illuminate us: WTF are "HIR" headlights?" because we all have the internet and when you google "HIR Headlights" you'll get all the info you needed to know. hirheadlights.com/ is the site from the ebay seller who also has a 99.9% feedback rating and this site explains the technical side and history of the techology. Just do a google search and you'll see plenty of people who have put them in a variety of vehicles.

reviews.ebay.com/quot-Xenon-quot-and-quot-HID-quot-and-quot-Plasma-quot-bulbs-the-truth_W0QQugidZ10000000001832221 has some info comparing a few different types of headlight technoledgy. If it werent for the cost, I'd probably consider it more and wind up getting some kind of lense to focus the beam to reduce glare but considering its going to cost me just over $105 to replace my low and high beams with HIR bulbs and not 400+ for the lowbeam HIDs + lenses alone, it's really not a bad compromise. If I can see much better at night, my goal has been reached.

Not trying to knock HIDs but for those of us who dont want to spend so much, 55 bucks or so can buy you a set of lowbeams with great life (equal to standard OEM bulbs) compared to silverstar/nighthawk type bulbs and brightness that is second only to HIDs. I decided to get the high beams as well so it set me back just over 105. If these bulbs last 5-6 years, it would take over 20 years of use to equal the cost of replacing the low beams with HIDs but for those who do have the cash to burn or just have to have that HID look, this thread is irrelevant

 

[skipdup]

If your using 9006 sized bulbs, as a future upgrade can I recommend you move over to a d4r/d4s HID retrofit kit for your reflectors. (d4s for projectors)

These are the new HID systems made by toyota's subcontractor for the Lexus headlamps. These lights produce an increase in lumen output and the 5000K kit puts out more lumens than a d2r/d2s 4300K kit.
...

kimboy- Do you have any further info on this kit? Or, could you point me to the info?

I just bought an '07 and I'm very interested in increasing the light output.

Thanks!
Skip

 

[jeober]

03v8sport:

Ignore some of the uninformed posts here.

HIR is a halogen bulb based technology where the inside glass surface has an infra-red reflective coating. This coating reflects back otherwise lost heat energy to the filament allowing it to radiate visible light using less energy.

For reasons unknown to me the technology didn't catch on - perhaps costs, perhaps because of patent ownership rights.

I went with 85w bulbs for all four lamps because I could get them at a low cost and am using an home made relay harness to maintain a good voltage level.

Let us know of your findings. I think the HIR bulbs are an interesting option.

 

[03v8sport]

03v8sport:

Ignore some of the uninformed posts here.

HIR is a halogen bulb based technology where the inside glass surface has an infra-red reflective coating. This coating reflects back otherwise lost heat energy to the filament allowing it to radiate visible light using less energy.

For reasons unknown to me the technology didn't catch on - perhaps costs, perhaps because of patent ownership rights.

I went with 85w bulbs for all four lamps because I could get them at a low cost and am using an home made relay harness to maintain a good voltage level.

Let us know of your findings. I think the HIR bulbs are an interesting option.

Yeah I think it had to do with the fact that GE developed it and patented it but didnt use it for headlight applications but more recently toshiba bought the rights to use it for headlights. Other car forums have had positive experiences with em so I'm pretty optimistic.

That's pretty interesting that you made your own relay harness. I wouldnt attempt such a thing since I'd probably jack it up.

 

[jeober]

As I recall there was only one internet source for these bulbs and these were about $30 each. Has anything changed here?

 

[03v8sport]

Not sure how many places there are that sell them.
The best place I found last week was going to ebay and typing "Toshiba HIR" (The link will probably change over time so I'll make it easy to search for it)

and yeah they go for 26.95 a piece but the 5 dollar shipping is a flat rate for up to 8 bulbs. He sells low and high beams so I bought four and then emailed him to specify my order and usps.com shows that my order is enroute. Communication with him has been very good so far and I got my questions answered within a couple hours.

Here's a link with a good comparison between the high intensity standard Halogens and HIRs http://www.bmwcca.org/members/AM/Template.cfm?Section=Let_There_Be_E36_Light

 

[kimboy]

silverstar vs. hid

I found a picture that contrasts the light output difference between a silverstar bulb and a 4300K d2r HID bulb.

I think the pic speaks for itself.

 

[PolkManiac]

Any update on this? Did you get your bulbs, do you like them?

 

[LSUMBA]

OK, I am a little confused by this thread. From what I have read, 03v8sport claims that the HIR bulbs fit in our T4R like any stock bulb & are somewhere between OEM bulbs & HID performance. Kimboy is trying to hijack the thread by pimping the HID option and comparing them to Silverstars, which is an apples to brussel sprouts comparison since we are talking about HIR vs HID. And TRD04RUNNER is just angry at the world. does that sum it up?

I would really like to see a comparison picture like the one Kimboy posted with the side by side of the OEM vs the HIR. I am not interested in testing my mad shadetree electrician skills on my T4R and risking my headlights exploding on the interstate one night because I could not tell the difference between the red wire & the blue wire. so if HIR bulbs would give me HID performance without any kind of alterations, it sounds like a pretty good idea to me.

 

[03v8sport]

sorry for the lag in gettin back to this. I took a picture with one installed and you can see a difference. I need to get that uploaded so sit tight. I'll get that up by tomorrow.

This thread was about trying an alternative to an expensive HID kit and cheaper high intensity bulbs that burn out more quickly.

 

[LSUMBA]

sorry for the lag in gettin back to this. I took a picture with one installed and you can see a difference. I need to get that uploaded so sit tight. I'll get that up by tomorrow.

This thread was about trying an alternative to an expensive HID kit and cheaper high intensity bulbs that burn out more quickly.

Any chance you did a side by side comparison picture with OEM vs HIR? I have seen OEM vs HID, but I would like to see the HIR comparison.

Like I said, I am not interested in doing all the work required for an HID conversion kit. But if I can get better performance (near HID) from just dropping in a new bulb, and it will only cost about $50, I am all over that.