hi/low beam headlight replacement
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2018
Posts: 173
Likes: 38
From: Blissfield Michigan
hi/low beam headlight replacement
I want to replace my factory hi/low beam headlights on my 2000. I just want something better than stock. They don't have to be the biggest and brightest. I don't want to replace any harness and I don't want any other problems. I just want something that is somewhat better than what I have. Something that I can plug in and go. I don't do a lot of night driving. The deer population is heavy in southeast Michigan. Any suggestions?
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 1,496
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From: Little Rock Arkansas
Keep in mind most any modern light bulb you put into the car will help. If you've never changed the bulbs under ownership there's a high chance you're driving around with light bulbs that were developed prior to Y2K... Also as part of cleaning you should raise your headlights and scrub the lenses.
That being said, the HIR bulb conversion is a great cheap and easy upgrade. It involves installing HIR 9011 and 9012 bulbs into the 9005 and 9006 housings. The only modification is a small snip needed for the HIR bulbs as they have a slightly larger mount tab.
https://blog.brianmoses.net/2013/11/...-corvette.html
That being said, the HIR bulb conversion is a great cheap and easy upgrade. It involves installing HIR 9011 and 9012 bulbs into the 9005 and 9006 housings. The only modification is a small snip needed for the HIR bulbs as they have a slightly larger mount tab.
https://blog.brianmoses.net/2013/11/...-corvette.html
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Instructor
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From: Blissfield Michigan
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Keep in mind most any modern light bulb you put into the car will help. If you've never changed the bulbs under ownership there's a high chance you're driving around with light bulbs that were developed prior to Y2K... Also as part of cleaning you should raise your headlights and scrub the lenses.
That being said, the HIR bulb conversion is a great cheap and easy upgrade. It involves installing HIR 9011 and 9012 bulbs into the 9005 and 9006 housings. The only modification is a small snip needed for the HIR bulbs as they have a slightly larger mount tab.
https://blog.brianmoses.net/2013/11/...-corvette.html
That being said, the HIR bulb conversion is a great cheap and easy upgrade. It involves installing HIR 9011 and 9012 bulbs into the 9005 and 9006 housings. The only modification is a small snip needed for the HIR bulbs as they have a slightly larger mount tab.
https://blog.brianmoses.net/2013/11/...-corvette.html
That's what I did last year. Didn't make a huge difference but with the stock lights, anything is an improvement. I did, however, got a set of projectors that will be installed when the car comes out for the summer.
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Joined: Jul 2007
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From: Aiken, SC
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Installed these last year, trimmed the tab to fit:
• Low beam bulbs: Philips 9012CVB2 CrystalVision Ultra (9012 HIR2)
• High beam: Wagner Lighting 9011 Halogen Capsule
• Low beam bulbs: Philips 9012CVB2 CrystalVision Ultra (9012 HIR2)
• High beam: Wagner Lighting 9011 Halogen Capsule
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 1,965
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From: Shell Point (Crawfordville) Florida
I went to the HIRs and it was a significant improvement over stock, but then I went up to HIDs and they are even better, you just have to put up with the warmup time to get to full brightness. Not really any more difficult to install, just a few more steps.
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2006
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From: Hillsboro Oregon
But HIDs in the OEM housings is not a good idea as the OEM housings are not designed for HIDs and if used the beam pattern is likely to be very annoying to drivers approaching your C5 at night. Some Police will also ticket HID users in OEM headlights.
Last edited by jrprich; May 7, 2019 at 05:48 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 2,017
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From: SE VA VA
I tried the Sytvania Silverstars. Improvement (IMHO) was there, but nothing spectacular.
Finally bit the bullet, so to speak, and got Radioflyers HIDs. Should have done it years ago.
So much nicer to drive at night....
Then added both the full LED interior/exterior kit and LED fogs.
The LED fogs are full plug and play,
The bi-xenons take a bit of work, but are not too bad to install.
The LED exterior kit was slightly more difficult b/c of the hyper flash harness.
Finally bit the bullet, so to speak, and got Radioflyers HIDs. Should have done it years ago.
So much nicer to drive at night....
Then added both the full LED interior/exterior kit and LED fogs.
The LED fogs are full plug and play,
The bi-xenons take a bit of work, but are not too bad to install.
The LED exterior kit was slightly more difficult b/c of the hyper flash harness.
Intermediate
Joined: Jun 2017
Posts: 40
Likes: 11
I have yet to see LED replacements with a good light pattern using the factory housings. Some people show pics of a changed light while photographing just the light bulb while facing the car rather than the pattern on a garage 20 plus feet away, or better yet, on a street, at night. If someone has pics with factory housings that show good light pattern with LED lights I'd light to see them.
Last edited by Magnetic Red; Jun 27, 2019 at 10:33 AM.
Le Mans Master
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From: Whitby Ont.