My JDM headlight install [Archive] - Subaru Legacy International

Wiscon_Mark

11-02-2006, 11:24 AM

So I did it all as soon as I got the package. It was a major PITA with all the wiring.

I upgraded all of the harnesses for the 100watt high beams. Ended up having a few grounding issues and took out two fuses :lol: The low beams work great, haven't been able to test the highs. The left high beam seems to be out, and I can only come to the conclusion that the bulb was damaged in shipping, because it was loose when I opened up the package.

Anyways, pictures:

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2006/11/Front21-1.jpg
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2006/11/Front1-1.jpg
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2006/11/Projectorclose1-1.jpg
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2006/11/frontshotnight-1.jpg

Low Beam pattern:
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2006/11/LowsPattern-1.jpg

Overall, I'm very satisfied with the lows, much better light, great cutoff. I haven't even tested the highs, but just the one light on was f**kin bright! I didn't look directly into it and got blinded for a couple minutes :shock:

:twisted:

Huffer

11-02-2006, 11:36 AM

Nice, pics of the harness?

could do with a polish on the lense too, then consider some rock blocker or similar to protect your investment.

badbasser98

11-02-2006, 11:36 AM

so hot :cool:

Wiscon_Mark

11-02-2006, 11:40 AM

Yep, I'm going to order bulk rockblocker and cut some out.

Harness pictures to come. gotta recharge the camera.

Wiscon_Mark

11-02-2006, 12:33 PM

These are the relays. I gotta go out there with some zipties and fasten everything down now that I have all the kinks worked out.

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2006/11/Relays-1.jpg

And another shot of the car:
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2006/11/DrivewayFrontangled-1.jpg

Huffer

11-02-2006, 12:41 PM

Should use some of that flexible plastic piping they use on computer cables...?

Wiscon_Mark

11-02-2006, 12:42 PM

how do you mean?

Project LGT

11-02-2006, 01:27 PM

Nice lights!

Nice, pics of the harness?

could do with a polish on the lense too, then consider some rock blocker or similar to protect your investment.

I assume the headlights are plastic.. what would you use to polish it with?

Wiscon_Mark

11-02-2006, 01:29 PM

wax? The headlights are actualy crystal clear, the fogginess seen in the photos is entirely the camera catching glare.

Project LGT

11-02-2006, 01:50 PM

wax? The headlights are actualy crystal clear, the fogginess seen in the photos is entirely the camera catching glare.

wouldn't wax make it even worse though? And they look crystal clear from the night shots you took. :grin:

Huffer

11-02-2006, 01:59 PM

Should use some of that flexible plastic piping they use on computer cables...?
http://www.action-electronics.com/grc/rcslth.jpg

Huffer

11-02-2006, 02:00 PM

Nice lights!
I assume the headlights are plastic.. what would you use to polish it with?

3M plastic polish... then regular car wax unless you are rock-blockin'.

I wax my windows, especially the rear glass because of the lack of a rear wiper...

Wiscon_Mark

11-02-2006, 02:16 PM

ah, okay :grin:

badbasser98

11-02-2006, 03:36 PM

I wax my windows, especially the rear glass because of the lack of a rear wiper...
Interesting... I always thought that would make for some crazy glare :shock:

Plays_with_Toys

11-02-2006, 03:42 PM

Take your turn signal bulbs out and coat them with a single coat of silver spray paint. Thats what moclovflop did to his bulbs and he doesn't have the orange visible when the lights are off, but they light up bright orange still.

Wiscon_Mark

11-02-2006, 03:58 PM

well, there's a reflective piece in there too, and I don't really feel like taking them apart. I don't mind the orange, I just didn't like the orange reflector in the stock headlights. These are fine the way they are :cool:

Huffer

11-02-2006, 04:06 PM

I wax my windows, especially the rear glass because of the lack of a rear wiper...
Interesting... I always thought that would make for some crazy glare :shock:

Nah. I wax the side windows too.

Perdue

11-02-2006, 04:55 PM

Glad to see my babies...I mean my favorite mod...found a good home. :grin:

My appologies for the high-beam bulb though. I thought I had everything secure before shipping. I'm 99% sure the bulb listed as part number HL78140 on Rallylights.com is the bulb I ordered. They're about $5/bulb. http://www.rallylights.com/hella/H3.asp

xcntrk75

11-02-2006, 05:52 PM

Okay I'm dumb, what's the 100w high-beam modification you made here? My high-beams SUCK...! :-?

Wiscon_Mark

11-02-2006, 06:34 PM

Okay I'm dumb, what's the 100w high-beam modification you made here? My high-beams SUCK...! :-?

100watt Hellas, with upgraded wiring harnesses to handle the juice.

I was concerned about the housings having problems with the heat, but Pat Olsen has been running them for a while, and he hasn't had any problems.

badbasser98

11-02-2006, 06:42 PM

Wiscon_Mark

11-02-2006, 06:53 PM

I ordered :smile:

Plays_with_Toys

11-02-2006, 07:53 PM

I've ordered 3 times from rally lights. Received orders within 4 days each time. Sorry you're having bad luck with them.

Wiscon_Mark

11-02-2006, 07:55 PM

I just ordered rockblocker as well.

Perdue

11-02-2006, 10:21 PM

Okay I'm dumb, what's the 100w high-beam modification you made here? My high-beams SUCK...! :-?
Basically, using two 40amp hella dual post relays, you make a wiring harness much like that you would do for aux lighting. I chose 40 watt relays because my original plan was to wire the fogs and lows to one relay, and the highs and a set of driving lights to the other. It never happened.

A 100w bulb will pull 8 amps, so you could get by with a 20 watt relay if you just plan on running the two 100w high beam bulbs. Just put the bulb in, wire up your relay/harness, and you're good to go. I didn't have a chance to run the lights much, as I ended up trading my car in, but the 100w bulbs were definately nice.

SilentRacer

11-03-2006, 10:39 AM

I'm 99% sure the bulb listed as part number HL78140 on Rallylights.com is the bulb I ordered. They're about $5/bulb. http://www.rallylights.com/hella/H3.asp
I think I would think twice about ordering from them. I placed an order on the 20th of October and have yet to see anything. My account has been charged and They have yet to respond to my email asking for a status update on the order... :smt019 Boo on shitty service!

I ordered my yellowstars from there and i just got it 2 weeks later. I did email them once and they responded that they went to pack them and realized they were out of stock. They should really know whats in stock before taking your money.

xcntrk75

11-03-2006, 10:59 AM

Specifically which relays are you guys running 100w bulbs using and how are you wiring them? So roughly 10 amp per bulb (100w/12v=8.5a), integrated diode version I would imagine, are you continuing to use the stock high-beam control switch and if so, are you using an opened or closed relay given that the grounds are switched? :-?

Wiscon_Mark

11-03-2006, 11:16 AM

There are (2) relays, I'm running 1 for the high beams and 1 for the low beams. Each relay has a 30amp fuse protecting it. They are indeed diode relays, with a switched ground. I'm using the stock wiring as a switch for each relay.

http://www.rallylights.com/hella/hella%20images/RelayDiagSPDTwD-R-S12.jpg

30 is the input from the battery.
85 is the ground (switch)
86 is the power
The 87s are the outputs for the lights. I put the left on one and the right on the other, but I can easily change that and add on the Hellas later.

Wiscon_Mark

11-04-2006, 11:27 AM

Everything's all worked out now. Turns out the high beam was just a grounding issue (a bitchy one to find too) and I'll now have 2 spare bulbs :lol:

I reaimed the left projector beam lower and to the right, so I'll take it out extensively tonight and see how I really like the lights.

So far, the brights pretty much light up anything no matter the sunlight, so... :twisted:

d1giPhux

11-04-2006, 01:59 PM

Should use some of that flexible plastic piping they use on computer cables...?
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/

tis' called 'split loom' in case you wanna look for it anywhere =]

Nice lights man, wish i had some! How much better is the lighting over stock? A lot brighter? Prolly cause u added the hellas... i wonder how much better they are stock? Looks nice man!! :grin:

Wiscon_Mark

11-04-2006, 04:37 PM

Even with standard bulbs, they are much nicer. I'll give everyone my "review" when I take an extended drive tonight.

Plays_with_Toys

11-04-2006, 07:36 PM

Now buy some JDM projector fog lights to match! :lol: :roll: Sorry mark, I had to.

badbasser98

11-04-2006, 08:42 PM

Now buy some JDM projector fog lights to match! :lol: :roll: Sorry mark, I had to.
:smt046

Let us know how the "test" goes! :wink:

Wiscon_Mark

11-04-2006, 11:30 PM

Now buy some JDM projector fog lights to match! :lol: :roll: Sorry mark, I had to.

I am tempted, I'll tell ya that...

Because of my test.

Well, the projectors need some aiming. The left side is perfect. I wouldn't change a thing. The right side is too low and too far to the right. Brightness is perfect, the cutoff is very accurate, and the light goes to the both sides very well without being aimed too high. The light pattern gets lower as it goes farther out, so it's pretty much perfect for oncoming traffic, IMO. I didn't get flashed once.

The High Beams.

Oh dear god, they're awesome. I could see for...just wow.

I don't even think I'll need the Hellas, but why the flip not?! :lol: Seriously folks, they're amazing, I could see so well, I'd feel comfortable going much much faster than 60mph along those back roads (suspension permitting of course) while with the old lights, I wanted to go no faster than 50mph due to the lack of light in many areas (ie: deer spotting light to the side). They are aimed perfect (I only finnagled with them a bit).

Perdue, you are my friggin hero.

SOA-just suck my dick for making such horrible lights for our cars.

:twisted:

Perdue

11-05-2006, 10:45 AM

Glad to know you like the lights. They make a huge difference in nighttime driving. The 100w bulbs are only that much better. Enjoy!

d1giPhux

11-05-2006, 11:54 AM

Did you already install the 100w bulbs? If not.. are you talking about good lighting gains without them? I wanna get a pair of JDM headlights.. as sometimes i have a hard time seeing in the pure dark we get around here. hahah. Maybe i'll save up and buy a set.. as long as they arent a huge pain in the ass to install, and worth it. They sound awesome to me though, and they look cool! :cool:

Wiscon_Mark

11-05-2006, 12:02 PM

Perdue shipped them to me with 100watt bulbs in them.

But I can tell by how the light is layed out there that they're much better than stock as it is...it just wouldn't be as bright.

Perdue

11-06-2006, 09:01 AM

These lights are completely different than a housing using a dual filament bulb. With a reflector for both high and low beams, the light is more specialized. Instead of just being a slightly higher, slightly brighter low beam pattern like with the stock headlights, these high beams are actually like driving lights, and reach off into the distance. Very impressive.