HID's
Driver
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 129
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From: California
I've been working on a headlight upgrade for another car with Daniel Stern: www.danielsternlighting.com. He told me the new HIR bulbs would work in my '94 GS. I've ordered a pair from him.
Rookie
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 62
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From: CA
Last edited by Acuraelin; Nov 16, 2006 at 09:42 AM.
Driver
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 129
Likes: 3
From: California
From Daniel Stern...
They are the HIR 9011-9012 items. The new bulbs are not some tinted or overwattage version of 9005 and 9006, but rather employ a relatively new technology called HIR, Halogen Infrared. The mechanical dimensions of the bulb are all virtually identical to the 9005 and 9006 bulbs, but the bulb glass is spherical instead of tubular, with the sphere centered around the filament. There is a "Durable IR Reflective" coating on the spherical glass. Infrared = heat, so the coating causes heat to be reflected back to the filament at the center of the sphere. This causes the filament to become much hotter (producing more light) than it can by passing electricity through it, *without* the shorter life or greater heat production that comes with overwattage bulbs (to say nothing of overwattage bulbs' incompatibility with stock wiring.)
Here's a comparison:
Low beam stock: 9006, 12.8V, 55W, 1000 lumens, 875 hours
Low beam compare: 9006+50, 12.8V, 55W, 1090 lumens, 300 hours
Low beam new: HIR2, 12.8V, 55W, 1875 lumens, 875 hours
High beam stock: 9005, 12.8V, 65W, 1700 lumens, 320 hours
High beam compare: 9005+50, 12.8V, 55W, 1830 lumens, 175 hours
High beam new: HIR1, 12.8V, 65W, 2530 lumens, 320 hours
These bulbs are spendy - $27/ea - but their cost is worth considering in context: Any number of companies will charge you more than this for a tarted-up 9005 or 9006 with blue colored glass (PIAA and Sylvania Silverstar come to mind) that doesn't produce more light and has a veryshort lifespan.
The HIR bulbs have a double-wide top ear on the plastic bulb base, this is to comply with the law requiring different bulbs to have different bases. The extra-wide plastic top ear is easily trimmed or filed to make the bulb fit your headlamp's bulb receptacle. Once that's done, they go directly into the headlamp, and the existing sockets snap on.
They are the HIR 9011-9012 items. The new bulbs are not some tinted or overwattage version of 9005 and 9006, but rather employ a relatively new technology called HIR, Halogen Infrared. The mechanical dimensions of the bulb are all virtually identical to the 9005 and 9006 bulbs, but the bulb glass is spherical instead of tubular, with the sphere centered around the filament. There is a "Durable IR Reflective" coating on the spherical glass. Infrared = heat, so the coating causes heat to be reflected back to the filament at the center of the sphere. This causes the filament to become much hotter (producing more light) than it can by passing electricity through it, *without* the shorter life or greater heat production that comes with overwattage bulbs (to say nothing of overwattage bulbs' incompatibility with stock wiring.)
Here's a comparison:
Low beam stock: 9006, 12.8V, 55W, 1000 lumens, 875 hours
Low beam compare: 9006+50, 12.8V, 55W, 1090 lumens, 300 hours
Low beam new: HIR2, 12.8V, 55W, 1875 lumens, 875 hours
High beam stock: 9005, 12.8V, 65W, 1700 lumens, 320 hours
High beam compare: 9005+50, 12.8V, 55W, 1830 lumens, 175 hours
High beam new: HIR1, 12.8V, 65W, 2530 lumens, 320 hours
These bulbs are spendy - $27/ea - but their cost is worth considering in context: Any number of companies will charge you more than this for a tarted-up 9005 or 9006 with blue colored glass (PIAA and Sylvania Silverstar come to mind) that doesn't produce more light and has a veryshort lifespan.
The HIR bulbs have a double-wide top ear on the plastic bulb base, this is to comply with the law requiring different bulbs to have different bases. The extra-wide plastic top ear is easily trimmed or filed to make the bulb fit your headlamp's bulb receptacle. Once that's done, they go directly into the headlamp, and the existing sockets snap on.
Last edited by JonCAGS300; Nov 16, 2006 at 11:01 AM.
Rookie
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 62
Likes: 0
From: CA
wow i guess u learn somethign every day. I personally don't like the tinted normal light bulbs because they normally don't last long. HIR might be a way to go but I don't know what color light it produces and never seen anyone who has it. I'm getting my Halo 8000K HID today....most people told me just get 6000k but my Sileighty has 8000k and I like it. I will post pics side by side when i get the Halos on. What do you guys think anyways? 8000k or 6000k?
Driver
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 129
Likes: 3
From: California
I left out the most important part of the comparison above, the HIR low beam figures. It's fixed now.
