3rd Gen HID vs LED vs Halogen H11 projector headlights

I have Phillips H9’s and had zero issues putting the bulbs in and didn’t have to trim any tabs.

 

Good for you guys. How much manipulation did it take, can you describe your technique?
Ever see any posts on TW of folks who did have issues? I have.

 

I think I tilted the bulb slightly and got the big end of the metal tab started in its slot, turned the bulb just a touch, and then it and the other tabs fell into place and then I twisted the bulb until it got to its final position. I had seen other posts where other people had troubles, and I saw posts where others said they were able to do it. I tried it before I went to trim mode and got them to work without much trouble.

 

No manipulation, turned them right in. Not sure why you are dropping so much attitude? Relax dude lol.

 

Thanks for the info. I'm one of the several on TW who had trouble, I have a pair of diagonal cutters (small dykes) and it took just seconds to cut the metal tab off the H9 as per the picture I posted, and then they went right into the low beams like regular H11 bulbs, no angular gymnastics required, that's why I recommend that method as most of the posts I've seen on the internet do. If you get them in with your method that's fine too, but cutting the metal tab is fool proof and will work every time for every one.

https://forums.nasioc.com/forums/sh...7bce00e1bd340f395003&p=42666565&postcount=462

https://www.driveaccord.net/threads...o-h9-halogen-bulb.111066/page-10#post-6139985

https://www.f150ecoboost.net/threads/how-to-h11-to-h9-9005-to-9011-headlight-conversion.76918/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_mrbdQmck7E

 

haha I'm cool, but still throwing the BS flag on your response anyway, you most certainly didn't just 'turn them right in" like a standard H11. I give @jimmerheck points for a real answer.

 

Not only did I just turn them right in but I have done it twice because I’m on my second set. Nothing wrong with trimming if you need to but I didn’t and not everyone has had to.

 

Putting the h9 in my 19 taco was smooth without cutting the metal tab. My buddies 16 taco was not nearly as easy.

***both were philips h9 bulbs

 

They would not go in the housing on mine without trimming.

 

I hear if you trim around the base, it makes the bulb look bigger.....

 

.. and brighter!

 

I do not like to make YouTube videos, but here is one demonstrating the H9 mounting.

https://youtu.be/FXL8LahHiuI

It would be interesting to note if those that had trouble were running the German bulbs, or the China ones.

 

^^ That was super helpful. I found it difficult to feel my way through it with my hands and the somewhat tight/dark space. I think it took me 7 or 8 tries to get it to lock in place properly. I probably just got lucky with the angling, I think I was trying a bit more of a vertical angle than would be ideal at what looks like something near 10:30 on the clock face.

 

Glad you found it useful, it is definitely much easier when the assembly is out of the vehicle.

 

For me, it was why not trim? I’ve already got the Dremel out..,

 

What is everyone using as a second best since the ge 130+ H11s are nowhere to be found

 

I agree good video for those wanting to try this method. Also think this video explains why some of us had trouble even discounting other possible factors, we didn’t have our headlamps in our hands in good lighting to try out various techniques lol. It was hard enough in poor light reaching down to install any bulb in a relatively tight space so even watching the video I can imagine some will still have difficulty doing it this way at times.

Same here, so easy to remove the tab and not have to worry with trying to angle the bulb just right while reaching down in an awkward position in a tight space. I’ll stick with the common method around the internet of just trimming the H9 tabs and inserting normally as you would the H11, that works for everyone every time, no parlor tricks required.

 

So I think I may pick up just a set of Phillips H9 bulbs then, do the modifications as shown above and worry about MAYBE picking up the harness/adapter later. Thanks for all the videos and pictures guys, very big help!

Still looking at KC Gravity fogs in the future, maybe for my birthday next year, haha.

 

The GE/Tungsram +130 were second best, the GE Xenon +120 were first. Third would be the Osram Nightbreaker Laser +150. However you can still find the GE/Tungsram bulbs on eBay out of the UK:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/193553243494

 

Link for the headlights?