I recently backed the front end of my 02 Impreza into a friend's parked truck, breaking my headlamp housing and lens.
In looking for a replacement assembly I discovered that there are aftermarket projector assemblies available.
Specifically these 2:
http://www.аnzousa.com/headlights/subaru-impreza-02-04-projector-h-l-halo-black-clear.html
(Available from amazon in for around ~$215)
http://www.spеcdtuning.com/lhp-wrx02jmtm.html
(Available from ebay for around ~$190 but the amazon reviews here:
https://www.аmаzоn.com/dp/B016RXOOU0/ indicate some problems)
A friend of mine says he has projectors and loves them, and a cursory overview of the technology seems to suggest that it has some important advantages over reflectors.
I'm especially interested in the first pair mentioned as they take a 9005 bulb so it seems there would be the potential to upgrade to an HIR1 if I find the lighting insufficient.
A quick note on my use scenario: I live in Fairbanks, Alaska where it is very cold most of the winter, and dark for much of the winter. I will make a few road trips to Anchorage this winter (360 road miles) which is mostly unlit 2 lane highway with indigenous moose. It's not unusual for people who do a lot of highway driving here to install off road lights ("moose lights") to help spot them early at highway speeds. The principal danger from moose isn't so much when they are standing in the roadway, as when they are on the shoulder and decide to dart across it before oncoming traffic. I don't think I have the budget for moose lights, but I might be able to swing it, if I can get a buddy to help me with the wiring. I think I'm looking into trying to get better performance out of my primary assemblies now that I need to replace them. I found the stock ones to be very inadequate with Philips Xtreme Visions (9007 stock) installed -- I didn't feel like I had enough visibility *on* the roadway to drive at highway speeds, much less being able to detect possible moose on the shoulder in time to stop. My stock reflectors were very likely fogging, and may have been aimed sub-optimally for long range moose detection. I will note that I had improved clarity from the intact headlight reflector after the lens/airscreen was removed by the impact, but even then I don't think that felt like it was quite sufficient. (The surviving parts of the lens are currently held back in place with clear Gorilla tape while I try to figure out a more permanent solution. This is mostly just to try to keep moisture out as I know it's unlikely to hold up to thrown gravel.).
What do I need to know about projectors that I can't find out in the articles I've read giving a general comparison between the technologies?
Does anyone have specific experience with either of those manufacturers, or those specific products? (I don't have a lot of knowledge about this, but it looks to me like the low beams on the spec - d tuning part lack bulb shields, or whatever the cap that goes over the bulbs on reflectors is called, which I understand could cause more glare than when the shields are present?)
I've read some posts on this forum where people have been very skeptical of aftermarket parts. Are there specific reasons for that? Do they apply when the aftermarket parts meet the relevant DOT or ECE standards?
(And is there a list of standards compliant assemblies that I could check to see if either of those models is on? Surely there is some paper trail about which assemblies are standards compliant?)
Thanks for maintaining this forum as a resource for everyone.
In looking for a replacement assembly I discovered that there are aftermarket projector assemblies available.
Specifically these 2:
http://www.аnzousa.com/headlights/subaru-impreza-02-04-projector-h-l-halo-black-clear.html
(Available from amazon in for around ~$215)
http://www.spеcdtuning.com/lhp-wrx02jmtm.html
(Available from ebay for around ~$190 but the amazon reviews here:
https://www.аmаzоn.com/dp/B016RXOOU0/ indicate some problems)
A friend of mine says he has projectors and loves them, and a cursory overview of the technology seems to suggest that it has some important advantages over reflectors.
I'm especially interested in the first pair mentioned as they take a 9005 bulb so it seems there would be the potential to upgrade to an HIR1 if I find the lighting insufficient.
A quick note on my use scenario: I live in Fairbanks, Alaska where it is very cold most of the winter, and dark for much of the winter. I will make a few road trips to Anchorage this winter (360 road miles) which is mostly unlit 2 lane highway with indigenous moose. It's not unusual for people who do a lot of highway driving here to install off road lights ("moose lights") to help spot them early at highway speeds. The principal danger from moose isn't so much when they are standing in the roadway, as when they are on the shoulder and decide to dart across it before oncoming traffic. I don't think I have the budget for moose lights, but I might be able to swing it, if I can get a buddy to help me with the wiring. I think I'm looking into trying to get better performance out of my primary assemblies now that I need to replace them. I found the stock ones to be very inadequate with Philips Xtreme Visions (9007 stock) installed -- I didn't feel like I had enough visibility *on* the roadway to drive at highway speeds, much less being able to detect possible moose on the shoulder in time to stop. My stock reflectors were very likely fogging, and may have been aimed sub-optimally for long range moose detection. I will note that I had improved clarity from the intact headlight reflector after the lens/airscreen was removed by the impact, but even then I don't think that felt like it was quite sufficient. (The surviving parts of the lens are currently held back in place with clear Gorilla tape while I try to figure out a more permanent solution. This is mostly just to try to keep moisture out as I know it's unlikely to hold up to thrown gravel.).
What do I need to know about projectors that I can't find out in the articles I've read giving a general comparison between the technologies?
Does anyone have specific experience with either of those manufacturers, or those specific products? (I don't have a lot of knowledge about this, but it looks to me like the low beams on the spec - d tuning part lack bulb shields, or whatever the cap that goes over the bulbs on reflectors is called, which I understand could cause more glare than when the shields are present?)
I've read some posts on this forum where people have been very skeptical of aftermarket parts. Are there specific reasons for that? Do they apply when the aftermarket parts meet the relevant DOT or ECE standards?
(And is there a list of standards compliant assemblies that I could check to see if either of those models is on? Surely there is some paper trail about which assemblies are standards compliant?)
Thanks for maintaining this forum as a resource for everyone.
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