Replacing Headlight Bulbs! TOO many choices!??

[SubeeTed]

Hi all!

Sooo, I need to replace my headlamp bulb in my 1997 Legacy GT. I thought I might UP-Grade! SOOoo many choices! Just what do these numbers mean!? I do know that I ONLY want a "White" Bulb! I don't like those "Blue" colored bulbs coming at me, I don't want any of those! I THINK my car takes an 9003 bulb.....has the "H4" taken over this part ??? Just what does these 7500K, etc, numbers mean? I see tons of bulbs on Ebay. What can I get and SAFELY AND LEGALY use???

 

 

HELP!!! SubeeTed

[frag]

Hi all!

Sooo, I need to replace my headlamp bulb in my 1997 Legacy GT. I thought I might UP-Grade! SOOoo many choices! Just what do these numbers mean!? I do know that I ONLY want a "White" Bulb! I don't like those "Blue" colored bulbs coming at me, I don't want any of those! I THINK my car takes an 9003 bulb.....has the "H4" taken over this part ??? Just what does these 7500K, etc, numbers mean? I see tons of bulbs on Ebay. What can I get and SAFELY AND LEGALY use???

 

 

HELP!!! SubeeTed

 

What I know:

1) H4 is 9003

2) You have to keep same wattage if you dont want to take chances with wires burning and plastic melting (65-45 or 55 ?)

3) I recently bought a pair of Sylvania Xtravision at Canadian Tire (14$CND each) Same wattage as OEM, claim 30% brighter, street legal. Shorter life than standard but not by much.

4) Dont buy the Silverstar claiming «The look of HID». Whiter light and much shorter life span (by their own admission).

Hope that helps.

[hklaine]

link

 

A lot of information there. I am a happy customer and am in no way associated with this supplier. Worth taking a look. There is a lot there to learn. At least there was for me.

 

-Heikki

[Reason01]

My Silverstars worked longer than my PIAA's I had. This summer will be a year.

[Scottbaru]

We had good luck with Daniel Stern on the Landcruiser group, my brother set up some group buys. Stern is conservative about overwattage, for wiring and plastic lenses. The headlight bulbs I bought required some trimming of the fastening parts, but fit well. They weren't amazingly brighter, but a definite improvement. I'm used to the 100W headlights on my Audi. The taillight results were similar, not as big an improvement since they're not as bright. He sold us Krypton bulbs for the taillights, I already had halogens from JC Whitney, so I wasn't as impressed. I haven't looked at the Subie's taillight sockets, they likely wouldn't take the heat of halogens, Kryptons would be a good choice.

 

Another source of HIR headlights is http://www.hirheadlights.com/, better price and apparently pre-trimmed to fit. This was posted but I don't know if anyone tried it. I'll check into it eventually, but I've barely opened the hood on this Subaru and haven't gotten to the headlights.