Headlight low beams

[jsvizijr]

Hi-

I read on one of the recent posts; "Best upgrades for $50.00 or less" that one could install replacement bulbs #9012. I have only been able to locate 9006. Do 9012's exist? Where can I find them? Will I need to make and electrical upgrades to my 1995 525i?

TIA
Joe

[BigKriss]

#9012 are the high beams, while the 9006's are the low beams, me thinks. get the 9006's. no electrical upgrades necessary

[zmuff]

Last July I put in a set of 9012 HIR2 low beams in my car. Yes, they do exist. I got mine from Daniel Stern Lighting. They are not listed on his website but give him a call and ask for them. He also has the 9011 HIR1 high beam bulbs. The light output is somewhat brighter than using the modified 9005 high beam in the low beam socket. The base of the 9012 will have to be modified basically the same as a 9005 to fit properly... piece of cake.

Here's a little info that I had saved on these bulbs:
They were invented by General Electric a few years ago. An HIR bulb differs from a standard Halogen bulb by the fact that they have a reflective infra red coating with primary purpose of reflecting heat back to the filament. They are being markeded under these names:

• 9011 HIR1, high beam, 2500lm bright at 13,2 (+/-15%) Volts
• 9012 HIR2, low beam, 1875lm bright at 13,2 (+/-15%) Volts

http://www.danielsternlighting.com/home.html

[632 Regal]

just use the 9005 bulbs and crack the little piece of plastic on it so it will plug right in...BIG difference, actually driveable now.

[cary]

There are two sources for the Toshiba/Harrision Lab HIR Bulbs, Daniel Stern lighting and hirheadlights.com. The guy from HIRheadlights also posts them on Ebay under 9012 and 9011 HIR. I believe he trims the tabs for you.

[jsvizijr]

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...e=STRK:MEWA:IT

[liquidtiger720]

Those bulges sure do look funny.

[cary]

The bulb has to be shaped that way to function as intended. The coating is an infared reflective coating that reflects heat back to the filament while allowing light to pass through unaffected. The bulb has to be shaped to focus the reflected IR back at the filament to cause it to burn hotter and in turn put out more output per watt.

[John B.]

I ordered a set of the 9011s for my low beams from the Ebay link yesterday. Exchanged several emails with Bill, the seller, who seems like a real nice guy. He's trimming them for the conversion & I should have them in a few days. Currently using the standard 9005 conversion but could definitely use more light as the low beams are pitted & I'm not ready to replace them yet. Might try the polishing route next.

[MantecaBMW]

how they work.....I'm interested in these as well.