How To: Headlight Bulb Conversion (H11 to H9 & 9005 to 9011)

[Jhalko]

Frankly my dear, I don't give a damn if you believe me or not

Same bulb form-factor in the same housing. How COULD the beam pattern change???

As mentioned, the Low-Beam housing itself contains the light shield (unlike the Fogs). You do the math if you are that worried about it. I'll continue to enjoy the safety benefits every night (and without a single high-beam flash my way in over 2 years now)...

As you were

Beam pattern might not change but since there is still some bleed you are most definitely increasing the light that bleeds up, just not as much as a HID swap. When I did this mod I never got flashed either, doesn't mean more light wasn't going up into sight lines. It was completely obvious more light spilled up based on reflection on street signs. When I lifted my truck I took them back out because of the higher output and installing dedicated LEDs for offroad.

 

[Jono.ful]

And I bet you NEVER get brights flashed back at YOU, eh? I don't

Not even once

 

[Randyman...]

I have a properly aimed HID setup, I'm not suffering for lack of light.

And I bet you NEVER get brights flashed back at YOU, eh? I don't

Not even once

Touche. I can certainly admire a PROPER HID conversion (you are the exception to the rule in most cases). I just happen to be satisfied with the low-cost H9 + 9011 conversion from the cost-to-performance aspect, and certainly don't feel I am hindering oncoming traffic as a result.

The difference in light output from the H9 is noticeable on-axis, but still not likely to be a safety concern for other drivers (and no reason to "Cringe" as you mentioned previously - which prompted me to reply). Cheap HID's crammed into inappropriate reflectors or even improperly aimed stock lights due to a lift can cause way more harm IMNSHO.


I actually re-aimed my lights down when I did the teeny 0.85" 5100 install as a "belt and suspenders" assurance I was not pissing off any oncoming drivers I still feel my low-beam reach and color is superior to stock for a measly $15. That's all I'm getting at...

Keep on keepin' on :hatsoff:

 

[ECBMCC]

Touche. I can certainly admire a PROPER HID conversion (you are the exception to the rule in most cases). I just happen to be satisfied with the low-cost H9 + 9011 conversion from the cost-to-performance aspect, and certainly don't feel I am hindering oncoming traffic as a result.

The difference in light output from the H9 is noticeable on-axis, but still not likely to be a safety concern for other drivers (and no reason to "Cringe" as you mentioned previously - which prompted me to reply). Cheap HID's crammed into inappropriate reflectors or even improperly aimed stock lights due to a lift can cause way more harm IMNSHO.


I actually re-aimed my lights down when I did the teeny 0.85" 5100 install as a "belt and suspenders" assurance I was not pissing off any oncoming drivers I still feel my low-beam reach and color is superior to stock for a measly $15. That's all I'm getting at...

Keep on keepin' on :hatsoff:

Randyman, what did you do with your fogs? Did you swap those as well? Thanks.

 

[Randyman...]

Randyman, what did you do with your fogs? Did you swap those as well? Thanks.

I left the fogs stock. I had spare bulbs and was pondering the swap, but since the H9's don't have the masked tip like the stock Fog bulbs do, and the Fog housing doesn't have a shield of its own, I didn't want to piss off other drivers I generally leave my fogs on, so courtesy was a concern of mine. Not a problem IMO.

The H9 low-beam swap helps quite a bit and is one of the easiest mods out there...

 

[honda99ex]

What tool is best for above H9 modification? I tried a pocket knife on the plastic with little success and I thought the metal tab would thinner so failed with my snips too. Dremel? Thanks in advance.

Touche. I can certainly admire a PROPER HID conversion (you are the exception to the rule in most cases). I just happen to be satisfied with the low-cost H9 + 9011 conversion from the cost-to-performance aspect, and certainly don't feel I am hindering oncoming traffic as a result.

The difference in light output from the H9 is noticeable on-axis, but still not likely to be a safety concern for other drivers (and no reason to "Cringe" as you mentioned previously - which prompted me to reply). Cheap HID's crammed into inappropriate reflectors or even improperly aimed stock lights due to a lift can cause way more harm IMNSHO.


I actually re-aimed my lights down when I did the teeny 0.85" 5100 install as a "belt and suspenders" assurance I was not pissing off any oncoming drivers I still feel my low-beam reach and color is superior to stock for a measly $15. That's all I'm getting at...

Keep on keepin' on :hatsoff:

 

[Scoobs]

Dremel works best for the plastic and the metal. You can get harness adapters so you don't have to dremel the plastic tab in the base. Mentioned earlier in the thread.

 

[Jhalko]

What tool is best for above H9 modification? I tried a pocket knife on the plastic with little success and I thought the metal tab would thinner so failed with my snips too. Dremel? Thanks in advance.

I used a dremel, make sure you have the proper stuff to clean the bulb after as it'll be tough to keep it clean from debris. Maybe cover it well before...

 

[honda99ex]

Thank you Scoobs and Jhalko! Will try that!

I used a dremel, make sure you have the proper stuff to clean the bulb after as it'll be tough to keep it clean from debris. Maybe cover it well before...

 

[Repsol13]

Any other 5th Gens with the projector setup do this mod? Only one I saw said it wasn't worth it but a ton of non-projector saying it is.

 

[AZrunner11]

Necessary bulbs- I have a set of each of the bulbs needed for this mod. PM if interested. I upgraded to LED and these halogens are still in the packaging.

 

[honda99ex]

Hmmm I always just assumed it would help (not realizing they were non projector opinions). I have a 2014 with the projector. Just to check - The wiring is the same and not likely to damage anything right? Will be doing this within the week and will report back.

Any other 5th Gens with the projector setup do this mod? Only one I saw said it wasn't worth it but a ton of non-projector saying it is.

 

[honda99ex]

2014 TE

Did the mod last week but just got to go on a sustained long drive yesterday night.

I have bad night vision so I have no objective data but subjectively this upgrade helps TREMENDOUSLY. The stock headlights wash out in basically every situation where there was even a bit of light (other cars headlights, overhead street lamps, dusk/dawn), so much so that I constantly turned the lights on and off just to verify they were working. I used to drive with the fogs on just to get some light on the road... With the new bulbs, there is no doubt the lights are on even in those situations mentioned above. So much so that I no longer needed the fogs on any more.

things I noticed
-There is a blacked out portion of the beam. there is a distinct pattern (like the fogs would throw, in fact follows the same footprint except slightly less wide) in front of the truck, then a black strip, then another lit pattern. Don't think it's the bulbs (philips), I think the black area is actually lit just less relative to the other lit areas.
-I didn't temp the stock lights before but after 2 hours plus, the new headlight made the covers feel warm...
-I did a half swap initially (only changed Driver's side) and I admit I thought I'd be disappointed. It doesn't look like vastly different. (Maybe the overlap altered the perspective) but when both are done, again HUGE improvement.

Need to drive in the rain to judge inclement weather performance still.

 

[pjbrownva]

I'm interested in moding low beam part of the headlight enclosure itself and the car's connector too so that you don't have to mod the bulb.

Here's my question:

Has anyone thought about or tried modifying the headlight enclosure itself so that you don't have to modify the H9 bulb at all (even though it's a minor mod)? Thoughts or experiences on if it would work or what problems it might cause would be appreciated.

The scenario in my mind is Mod-once, and be done with it. So, for example, if the 4R is at a shop and the mechanic advises me a bulb is out, I can tell him to replace it, but to use an H9 even though the book says H11. I'll tell him that's it's truly plug & play in my car, and I'd even make up a sheet showing what bulbs go where in my car.

Same thoughts on the upgrade to high beams. Would it work well to open up the hole in the headlight case itself, rather than trim down the tab. The tab trim is easy, but it's the same thought process. Do the mod one, and be done with it for good, even when the bulbs later blow out!

-Phil

P.S. -- For convenience, I've relisted the links to buy H11 to H9 wiring harness that were posted by other members in this thread.

The links are here and here.

I also like [MENTION=118099]fatcat23[/MENTION]'s mod to the truck connector itself, but I'm on the fence as wether to mod the connector, use a harness, or try to buy the factory high-beam plug and install it in place of the low beam... that would be cleanest, and still look factory.

It made me nervous to break/cut the socket tab out so I decided it would be easier to modify the plug. Just break off a small tab (green plastic) on the top of the plug and the bulb base wont need any modification. The socket leg will still need to be cut off.
Here are the pics. The last pic shows the cut leg tab compared to the uncut tab.
No wiring problems. I've been running this conversion for two years so far.
If you question whether your wiring can adequately supply your lights check out http://danielsternlighting.com/tech/relays/relays.html. He helped me convert my 66 VW Bus to 12v and completely revamp my wiring to support 200 watts on the front end.

 

[fr4c]

Question for those that did the swap. After trimming the metal tab, did the H9 bulb give a "click" sound when fully turned? The stock H11 clicks in when fully turned but the H9's Ive modified does not. Comparing the 2 it seems like the H9's are in the correct fully locked in position, and I've fully trimmed it to match the H11.

 

[CNJ Runner]

Did this earlier today Noticable difference. to the above poster. I wouldnt worry about the bulbs turning loose, as long as the harness is attached I cant see them coming out, especially since they are kinda held down at the 6 oclock position.

 

[CNJ Runner]

either doing the fog part next week or putting in some hids i have laying around with lamen-x over them

 

[dekeman]

Just be careful about moving 55w H11s into fog housings.

See why here.

 

[CNJ Runner]

Just be careful about moving 55w H11s into fog housings.

See why here.

shit, thanks for the heads up. i will not be putting those 55w hids in the fogs!

 

[00Sebby]

I was a little skeptical about doing this conversion but after some long night drives from Wisconsin to Tennessee, I was tired of the dim yellow light of the low beams. The original bulbs were Osram H11. I replaced with the basic Philips H9 since I couldn't find anything like an Extreme Vision or Nightbreaker. Anyway, the difference is significant even in daylight. The driver side has the H9, H11 still on passenger side. The light is whiter and definitely brighter from the H9. Can't wait to try them out at night.:thumb: