H11 To H9 Conversion

[Mad Maxx]

Did it on my Truck and took a 2 hour round trip ride and had 0 problems.

Light output is alot better than with the H11's.

Only thing that needed "modded" was 1 tab in the Bulb Base where the OE Plug, plugs in. When you get the H11 Bulb out, you'll see what needs shaved down on the H9 for the Plug to fit. I used an X-acto Knife and shaved away little by little until the Plug fit with no problems.

 

[LekGMC]

Very interested in this!!! I'd love to see some comparison pictures if you have any and hear some long term findings. I've heard that the H9 can make the whole headlight assembly significantly hotter. Hope that it can't damage the headlight assembly.

 

[Mad Maxx]

Someone did this conversion over on a Subaru site and did temperature measurements.

With the H9 bulb, the temperature of the projector bowl was only 3* warmer VS the temperature with the H11 bulb. The readings were taken after the car sitting still for 10 minutes.

With the airflow you get from driving, I doubt there would be a measureable temperature difference.

 

[LekGMC]

Someone did this conversion over on a Subaru site and did temperature measurements.

With the H9 bulb, the temperature of the projector bowl was only 3* warmer VS the temperature with the H11 bulb. The readings were taken after the car sitting still for 10 minutes.

With the airflow you get from driving, I doubt there would be a measureable temperature difference.

I'm really wanting to do this. Did you have to shave the part where the metal clamps lock it into the headlight?

Would you say that the H9 makes a BIG difference?

I would like to do the whole HID conversion deal but want it as close to stock as possible. This is going to be my family wagon and like that this is using a normal bulb and keeps all the stick wiring.

 

[jl449]

Why not just go with HID conversion? You can buy a pretty reliable kit for about the cost of 2 Sylvania silverstar H9 bulbs and you don't have to modify it.

I have DDM HID kit installed on one of my cars with no issues. Also my friend installed it on his 2015 Silverado H11 and is pretty happy with the results and no heating issues. He paid about 30 bucks for the kit. Had them on since Oct of last year. He got the 35w 5K and it lights up the road pretty good.

http://www.ddmtuning.com/Products/DDM-HID-Kit-Slim-Ballast-35W-or-55W

 

[Mad Maxx]

I'm really wanting to do this. Did you have to shave the part where the metal clamps lock it into the headlight?

Would you say that the H9 makes a BIG difference?

I would like to do the whole HID conversion deal but want it as close to stock as possible. This is going to be my family wagon and like that this is using a normal bulb and keeps all the stick wiring.

Nope, only thing that needs shaved is inside the base where the plug goes. You can see in the pic I attached. On the H9 Bulb, that tab at the top needs shaved so it looks like the H11 at the bottom.

It makes a big enough difference that it's noticeable. When you put the Highbeams on, the Beam isn't brighter, it's just thrown farther...if that makes sense to you.

 

[Mad Maxx]

Why not just go with HID conversion? You can buy a pretty reliable kit for about the cost of 2 Sylvania silverstar H9 bulbs and you don't have to modify it.

I have DDM HID kit installed on one of my cars with no issues. Also my friend installed it on his 2015 Silverado H11 and is pretty happy with the results and no heating issues. He paid about 30 bucks for the kit. Had them on since Oct of last year. He got the 35w 5K and it lights up the road pretty good.

http://www.ddmtuning.com/Products/DDM-HID-Kit-Slim-Ballast-35W-or-55W

I'm not going to get into my opinion / experiences with DDM. There is not enough room here to write about it, and this thread is about the H11 to H9 Conversion, not HID's.

I have plenty of OE Components here to DIY my own HID Kit that will out perform & outlast even the most expensive Kits from well known companies.

 

[jl449]

I'm not going to get into my opinion / experiences with DDM. There is not enough room here to write about it, and this thread is about the H11 to H9 Conversion, not HID's.

I have plenty of OE Components here to DIY my own HID Kit that will out perform & outlast even the most expensive Kits from well known companies.

Your right its not about HID's was just trying to help out...

 

[LekGMC]

Nope, only thing that needs shaved is inside the base where the plug goes. You can see in the pic I attached. On the H9 Bulb, that tab at the top needs shaved so it looks like the H11 at the bottom.

It makes a big enough difference that it's noticeable. When you put the Highbeams on, the Beam isn't brighter, it's just thrown farther...if that makes sense to you.

Yeah man, that makes plenty of sense. I see what your saying. I think I'm going to give this a go! Did you get any special upgraded bulbs like the Silvania Silverstar or did you just get a regular, cheaper bulb? What name brand bulb did you go with?

 

[Mad Maxx]

Just the basic Philips H9 bulb.

These will do just fine: http://www.amazon.com/Philips-Stand...TF8&qid=1429742857&sr=8-1&keywords=philips+h9

Any bulb with any kind of blue coating on it is going to reduce output (except for the osram, philips bulbs that have a blue coating on them but it has a clear band around the filament. Like these: http://www.osram.com/media/resource/lightboxlarge2/339242/the-night-breaker-plus-limited-edition.jpg)

I've went as far as buying a Lux Meter to do all the testing. I'm def not an expert, but I've done enough testing to see what is actually brighter and what isn't.