new headlights

[Least]

Alright, seeing as the stock headlights on my 95 legacy are really fucking foggy, my dad is going to buy me a new set of headlights for it.

It's a 95 L Sedan and I am wondering what should I go with. The normal USDM, the JDM, or perhaps some other aftermarket part? I am looking for good quality, and I guess the price shouldn't be too high, but list anything you might think would be good for this car.

Thanks.

[Huffer]

Ebay usually has some sets of each.

Nothing wrong with the USDM ones, and they'll fit without messing with crap.

Course, if you want to go all "JDM" then go for it.
The payoff isn't worth it IMHO. You could just get a set of driving lights and wire them into your high beam switch.

[Wiscon_Mark]

You could just get a set of driving lights and wire them into your high beam switch.

the route I'm taking.

you can also make the headlights clearer by doing a wetsanding project that takes half an hour if you have the use of a dremel tool for polishing (what I've already done, it helped noticeably, but they still suck).

[Least]

no, i'm not really looking to just be all JDM-y. I'm just looking for a good set of headlights. I'm assuming the standard ones are much better than mine new (as they don't have 236,00 miles of.... stuff hitting it).

...What do you mean by driving lights?

[Wiscon_Mark]

Driving lights like hellas that assist (and usually outdo) your regular headlights


There's a pair of Hella 500s on this wagon:

http://www.cbe.uidaho.edu/ibc/team10/images/sideways.jpg

and also, you can get most of the fogginess and scratches off your old headlights if you do a wetsanding technique...there's a thread somewhere in the exterior forums that I started dealing with that...

[Least]

true, though why do that when i don't have to? I mean, come on now. I imagine if i sanded it, the entire thing would be gone considering the mileage :lol:

Those are pretty sweet, though I don't know how that'd go with my car. Anyway. i don't think that's exactly what my dad had in mind when he said "new headlights."

...but if i were to get some driving lights, what would you suggest? These hellas?

[Plays_with_Toys]

I wouldn't suggest driving lights. They aren't street legal. Technically foglights are illegal unless weather conditions permit. Any decent driving lights, aimed correctly will blind on coming traffic.

I believe I remember mark saying the JDM bug eyes have better projection due to the lense. I would imagine the later model, split lights (turn signal piece and headlight piece) that have a clear screen and mirror behind the bulb would be able to produce more light, since it has to impede through less plastic.

[Wiscon_Mark]

they're only illegal if you're using them ;)

No, I think if they're aimed right, they'll project farther due to the higher light output (less cutoff). Also, have them put on your high beams...think about it this way:

when you have your lows on, other cars are around, so you're using their headlights as well as your own....but when you're alone, you use your high beams and the driving lights won't blind anyone and you can see farther...just turn off the driving lights off during the day and a cop will be less likely to nab you for it (I really doubt they'd try anything, its kind of a pointless law unless you're blinding someone...its not like deer spotting lights are legal).

Just my .02

[Huffer]

FWIW, the stock lights on the later GT's (pre-2000) are very similar in design to the Impreza GC ones. Their light output is about the same, depending on bulb selection.

I found that my GC lights were great - but they were clean and scratch free. The lights on my GT are very pitted and rough, even sanding them won't improve it much.

Also, I have compared the GC output with the JDM GT projectors, and I honestly couldn't determine a vastly improved throw or illumination. They look cooler, sure, and they do throw light a little better, but they're not the "starlight scopes" everyone expects them to be.

I'm from NZ so I've had plenty of opportunities to tail projector-fied cars through twisty roads at night...and also sit shotgun in them.

I think the cheapest and best option for the majority of us is to simply buy new UDSM headlights, fit good bulbs and apply some kind of rock blocker if we live in harsh environments.

[Plays_with_Toys]

If you get a decent brand (ie hella), the driving lights project for something like 2000 feet or some rediculous distance like that. My dad handed his hella 500's down to me, and he used them for his cruises from CO to CA. He said they were rediculously awesome, however, that much light output could blind someone at any close distance (less than 1000 feet).

Here's an example:

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/ (http://img111.imageshack.us/my.php?image=IMG_0530.jpg)https://sl-i.net/FORUM/ (http://img111.imageshack.us/my.php?image=IMG_541.jpg)

I had them wired to high beams as well, though, I as a driver, never drive with highbeams around where I live. Too densely populated. It'd be high beams on, off... on. off. on.... off. on-damn. off. No point. But I would gladly take higher output at the lowbeam setting and a clearer projection.

Having said that, if you get some USDM ones, the silvania silverstars are amazing! Tons of light output. I took them off for the winter and replaced them with some yellow bulbs to make wet condition driving easier on the eyes.

[Superu264]

and also, you can get most of the fogginess and scratches off your old headlights if you do a wetsanding technique...there's a thread somewhere in the exterior forums that I started dealing with that...

Cant find it.. do you know where to point me on this? I'm just weighing all my headlight options.

[ivwarrior]

Ok, I don't really have anything to add, but I was reading the OP again, and just realized something that suprised me. We don't have a "swear filter" on the site. Or, if we do, it's not very effective......

[Wiscon_Mark]

Ok, I don't really have anything to add, but I was reading the OP again, and just realized something that suprised me. We don't have a "swear filter" on the site. Or, if we do, it's not very effective......

:lol: We haven't had too much of a problem with it, but it's on the "to do" list for adjusting.

Rick- I'll see if I can dig it up, and I'll edit this post.

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/viewtopic.php?t=3 ... headlights (https://sl-i.net/FORUM/viewtopic.php?t=344&highlight=headlights)