DIY: Converting an H9 bulb to fit H11 fog light socket.
06-11-2007, 09:16 AM
#1
Utopia Taco Bell
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DIY: Converting an H9 bulb to fit H11 fog light socket.
I recently replaced my H11 foglights with H9 bulbs. My reason for doing this was because the H9 bulb produces 2100 lumens and the H11 bulb only creates 1350 lumens. However, in order to do this the H9 bulb needs to be modified to fit the H11 socket and plug. Please refer to the pictures below to modify the H9 bulb.
For H9 bulbs I decided on Mtec H9, 65W, 4350K. The stock HIDs are 4300k so the color match is near perfect. I will post pictures of the end result. I would've liked to have bought the Hoen H9 bulbs but they have not been available on the website recently. I will keep you guys informed about the lifespan on my Mtecs.
So the question remains... Is there more light? Bottom line: Yes. However, I still would not feel comfortable driving around at night with just my fogs on. They don't project light forward (as the reflector in the fogs disperses the light low and wide). However, they are significantly more brighter than the H11 bulbs. I decided against removing the reflector in front of the bulb for two reasons: 1. The glare from the extra light would bother my fellow drivers and 2. I'm a lazy ***.
If you guys are planning on replacing your H11s I'd tell you to swap up to an H9 bulbs because for the little work you put into it, you get a whole lot more light for free!
Here are the How-To pics:
UPDATE: I have been running this set up for exactly 3 years now and there is no damage to the harness, socket, gasket, nothing. I have deemed this mod to be completely safe.
For H9 bulbs I decided on Mtec H9, 65W, 4350K. The stock HIDs are 4300k so the color match is near perfect. I will post pictures of the end result. I would've liked to have bought the Hoen H9 bulbs but they have not been available on the website recently. I will keep you guys informed about the lifespan on my Mtecs.
So the question remains... Is there more light? Bottom line: Yes. However, I still would not feel comfortable driving around at night with just my fogs on. They don't project light forward (as the reflector in the fogs disperses the light low and wide). However, they are significantly more brighter than the H11 bulbs. I decided against removing the reflector in front of the bulb for two reasons: 1. The glare from the extra light would bother my fellow drivers and 2. I'm a lazy ***.
If you guys are planning on replacing your H11s I'd tell you to swap up to an H9 bulbs because for the little work you put into it, you get a whole lot more light for free!
Here are the How-To pics:
UPDATE: I have been running this set up for exactly 3 years now and there is no damage to the harness, socket, gasket, nothing. I have deemed this mod to be completely safe.
Last edited by 416to212; 06-09-2009 at 01:08 PM.
07-11-2007, 08:33 AM
#3
Utopia Taco Bell
Thread Starter
So I finally got around to taking some pictures of the Mtec H9 bulbs I replaced my fogs with. I wanted to show how much more brighter the H9s were than the stock but I didn't take a stock picture before the install. I'd be curious to see a stock photo just to compare.
This picture was taken with the camera on the roof of the car. It shows what just the fog lights look like at night (main lights are off).
This picture shows both the main headlights and the fogs to show how well the fogs match the color of the stock HIDs.
It's been a month since I had these Mtec bulbs in and they have been fine thus far. No melting wires (I use fogs as DRL), no discoloration, no problems at all.
Update. Installed the modified H9 in June 2007 and it's now Feb 2008 and everything is still running perfectly. Really enjoying driving with just the fogs on when driving into my neighborhood at night - super stealth!
This picture was taken with the camera on the roof of the car. It shows what just the fog lights look like at night (main lights are off).
This picture shows both the main headlights and the fogs to show how well the fogs match the color of the stock HIDs.
It's been a month since I had these Mtec bulbs in and they have been fine thus far. No melting wires (I use fogs as DRL), no discoloration, no problems at all.
Update. Installed the modified H9 in June 2007 and it's now Feb 2008 and everything is still running perfectly. Really enjoying driving with just the fogs on when driving into my neighborhood at night - super stealth!
Last edited by 416to212; 04-11-2008 at 01:49 PM.
03-22-2008, 11:30 AM
#4
HIDs back in business!
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I'm going to be doing this next weekend. I used the same MTEC's as my high beams and replaced my parking lights with the polarg's. Nice uniform look all the way around. I'm a bit concerned about the extra power draw from the H9's being used in place of H11 bulbs, but since you've had them for a year that seems like proof enough.
03-22-2008, 01:10 PM
#5
So I finally got around to taking some pictures of the Mtec H9 bulbs I replaced my fogs with. I wanted to show how much more brighter the H9s were than the stock but I didn't take a stock picture before the install. I'd be curious to see a stock photo just to compare.
This picture was taken with the camera on the roof of the car. It shows what just the fog lights look like at night (main lights are off).
This picture shows both the main headlights and the fogs to show how well the fogs match the color of the stock HIDs.
It's been a month since I had these Mtec bulbs in and they have been fine thus far. No melting wires (I use fogs as DRL), no discoloration, no problems at all.
Update. Installed the modified H9 in June 2007 and it's now Feb 2008 and everything is still running perfectly. Really enjoying driving with just the fogs on when driving into my neighborhood at night - super stealth!
This picture was taken with the camera on the roof of the car. It shows what just the fog lights look like at night (main lights are off).
This picture shows both the main headlights and the fogs to show how well the fogs match the color of the stock HIDs.
It's been a month since I had these Mtec bulbs in and they have been fine thus far. No melting wires (I use fogs as DRL), no discoloration, no problems at all.
Update. Installed the modified H9 in June 2007 and it's now Feb 2008 and everything is still running perfectly. Really enjoying driving with just the fogs on when driving into my neighborhood at night - super stealth!
.
04-02-2008, 05:21 AM
#7
is adjusting valve lash
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good job 416 to 212.
there was a similar mod popular among honda owners for brighter headlights when 9005 are 50% bigger than 9006 headlight bulbs.
the process and construction are the same. which gets me wondering if the H9 are similar to 9005's. hmmm.......
but i'm broke anyway. it'll just be a project thats a waste of $$ for me, but just for fashion/pleasure. but for those interested,
compare H9 to 9005's. they may be identical and worth the time to use...?
there was a similar mod popular among honda owners for brighter headlights when 9005 are 50% bigger than 9006 headlight bulbs.
the process and construction are the same. which gets me wondering if the H9 are similar to 9005's. hmmm.......
but i'm broke anyway. it'll just be a project thats a waste of $$ for me, but just for fashion/pleasure. but for those interested,
compare H9 to 9005's. they may be identical and worth the time to use...?
04-11-2008, 01:54 PM
#8
Utopia Taco Bell
Thread Starter
Picture links have been repaired.
Oh and as for concerns about current draw increasing. It's April 2008 and I'm still sitting pretty. I've checked the socket and the foglight housing and they still look as fresh as the day I installed the bulbs. No need for concern with this mod.
One more thing. I figured out a way to cut out the top lug of the H9 bulb with more ease. Take a very small slot screw driver (one for eye glass repair). File the tip of it to a sharp edge and use it to score the top lug until it cuts out. It's pretty easy and safer, cleaner and faster than anything else I've tried.
Oh and as for concerns about current draw increasing. It's April 2008 and I'm still sitting pretty. I've checked the socket and the foglight housing and they still look as fresh as the day I installed the bulbs. No need for concern with this mod.
One more thing. I figured out a way to cut out the top lug of the H9 bulb with more ease. Take a very small slot screw driver (one for eye glass repair). File the tip of it to a sharp edge and use it to score the top lug until it cuts out. It's pretty easy and safer, cleaner and faster than anything else I've tried.
05-21-2009, 09:32 AM
#14
Utopia Taco Bell
Thread Starter
Kafta - sorry for leaving you hanging.
I'm on my 3rd year with this H9 mod and have had no problems at all. Everything runs normally, just that my fogs are brighter.
I'm on my 3rd year with this H9 mod and have had no problems at all. Everything runs normally, just that my fogs are brighter.
05-21-2009, 10:19 AM
#15
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too late...I got Nokya H11 for the safety reason since I dont get a response...but THANKS for the IDEA!
I will probably go for a H9 one next time, H11 HYPER YELLOW already looks wicked with the metal cap off hehe
btw, are you still on your FIRST set of MTEC in year 3???? WOOT!
I will probably go for a H9 one next time, H11 HYPER YELLOW already looks wicked with the metal cap off hehe
btw, are you still on your FIRST set of MTEC in year 3???? WOOT!
Last edited by Kafka; 05-21-2009 at 10:21 AM.
03-26-2010, 08:43 AM
#16
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Great DIY. Which site did you buy the H9's from? Also, would that application work for the high beams? I have a Canadian RX8 and the brights run off the DRL's at half power...not sure of that changes anything but ya. I'm no good with electronics.
12-12-2011, 08:52 AM
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Thanks for the DIY. Put the same ones in over the weekend and they look great. Very easy to mod the bulbs. I used a dremel with a small grinder tip to take the center tab out, and to clean things up after the tin snips on the metal.
05-08-2013, 10:31 AM
#19
Lurker/Research Raider
Seconded - I love using my dremel for modding anything like this. Just be sure to watch out for metal debris getting on the bulb. I'll probably do this in a month or so, but I prefer my fogs yellower for functionality - I deal with fog and heavy rain quite a lot down in South Florida.
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