Notices

How good are the standard STI lights????

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Oct 13, 2002 | 05:43 PM
  #1  
ARRON BIRD's Avatar
ARRON BIRD
Thread Starter
Scooby Regular
 
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 3,507
Likes: 0
From: Cambs
Post

As a lot of you will already know I am defecting back to Subaru very soon with an STI.
I am used to Xenon`s on BMW`s and am worried that the standard lights will be **** as winter is coming aswell.
In my last two Subaru`s I used PIAA bulbs but found they only lasted a year before blowing??? Super whites they were.
Any help????
Morrettes???? Are they any better????
Reply
Old Oct 13, 2002 | 05:47 PM
  #2  
Big Goon's Avatar
Big Goon
Scooby Regular
 
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 1,404
Likes: 0
Post

STi has projector lamps and as standard are very good, with a lamp upgrade better still.

If you want to fit HID's for ultimate lighting then look at this thread,

http://www.scoobynet.co.uk/bbs/threa...hreadid=135798
Reply
Old Oct 13, 2002 | 05:49 PM
  #3  
ARRON BIRD's Avatar
ARRON BIRD
Thread Starter
Scooby Regular
 
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 3,507
Likes: 0
From: Cambs
Post

What do you mean by a lamp upgrade???? Do you maen a set of PIAA`s again??? or something cheaper???
What are Morettes??
Reply
Old Oct 13, 2002 | 06:09 PM
  #4  
Big Goon's Avatar
Big Goon
Scooby Regular
 
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 1,404
Likes: 0
Post

Lamp upgrade meaning a pair of upgraded halogen lamps such as piaa's or Phillips Ultra's etc, brighter burning halogens always burn out quicker than standard lamps.

Morettes are replacement headlight units as used by many WRX owners to rid the car off its bug-eye look (with projector lenses), about £450 painted/fitted.

My old car with Morettes -




I like the look of the standard STi lights, prettier than the WRX ones, so I just done the HID conversion on my STi.


Reply
Old Oct 13, 2002 | 07:03 PM
  #5  
ARRON BIRD's Avatar
ARRON BIRD
Thread Starter
Scooby Regular
 
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 3,507
Likes: 0
From: Cambs
Post

You did the convertion as the other thread.
How much better and where can I bau the kit and have it fitted.
Oh and do you keep the standard STI light unit and change the internals??
Reply
Old Oct 13, 2002 | 07:38 PM
  #6  
alcazar's Avatar
alcazar
Scooby Regular
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 40,787
Likes: 30
From: Rl'yeh
Cool

Have a look at upgrading the fogs for driving lights. There are some pretty good kits out there including Cibies from Scoobysport. If you want the ultimate in this department it has to be the Scoobysport HID Xenon kit. Expensive, but incredible!
Alcazar
Reply
Old Oct 13, 2002 | 08:04 PM
  #7  
Big Goon's Avatar
Big Goon
Scooby Regular
 
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 1,404
Likes: 0
Post

Arron, hid's are in a different class to halogens and they last in excess of 3000 hours.

As for fitting, any auto-electrician could do it in under 2 hours, took me just over an hour and a half.

Only the halogen lamp is changed, the lamp units stay the same.

Imo, hid's in foglights are dangerous, at night they are far too bright and if not switched off in time will completely dazzle ppl coming the other way.

Not 100% certain, but I believe the autolamps kit is the best on the market, as used by BMW/Mercs etc etc, its a Philips design + manufactured product.
Reply
Old Oct 13, 2002 | 08:11 PM
  #8  
DR Motorsport's Avatar
DR Motorsport
BANNED
 
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 624
Likes: 0
Post

I've got a JDM STi7 which has the gas dipped headlamps as standard.
They are very good, but when switching to main beam the standard HB3's were a bit poor on distance. So I changed those to PIAA super white 9005 HB3's and it's greatly improved them.
I don't think I need to bother with driving lamps in the bumper now.

David
Reply
Old Oct 13, 2002 | 09:06 PM
  #9  
ARRON BIRD's Avatar
ARRON BIRD
Thread Starter
Scooby Regular
 
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 3,507
Likes: 0
From: Cambs
Post

Whats a JDM STI???
What lights will the standard prodrive version of the STI have???
Reply
Old Oct 13, 2002 | 10:25 PM
  #10  
Big Goon's Avatar
Big Goon
Scooby Regular
 
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 1,404
Likes: 0
Post

JDM = Japanese domestic market, they have Hid's as standard, UK cars dont even have them as an option.
Reply
Old Oct 14, 2002 | 09:00 AM
  #11  
Dave T-S's Avatar
Dave T-S
Scooby Regular
 
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 8,897
Likes: 4
From: Newmarket Suffolk
Exclamation

ARRON
Standard STi lamps are very good (dip basically the same as Morette's, and main beam as good) and are effective as standard.

First and cheapest upgrade is Philips Vision Plus H1 bulbs in the dip, and Philips Rallye 100w HB3 in main beam (£18 pr for H1, £12.95 each for HB3).

Second upgrade is HID dip.

Third upgrade is add driving lamps.

Fourth upgrade is HID driving lamps
Reply
Old Oct 14, 2002 | 09:03 AM
  #12  
ARRON BIRD's Avatar
ARRON BIRD
Thread Starter
Scooby Regular
 
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 3,507
Likes: 0
From: Cambs
Post

Dave I knew I could count on you
Reply
Old Oct 15, 2002 | 04:32 PM
  #13  
Chris D's Avatar
Chris D
Scooby Regular
 
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 41
Likes: 0
Question

Hi Dave,

Two questions - did the Vision Plus H1 bulbs make much difference to the STi dipped lights?

Secondly, same question re the HB3's and have the higher wattage bulbs caused any problems with the wiring melting etc or do these new headlights have wiring thicker than bellwire?

Thanks for your help.

Chris
Reply
Old Oct 15, 2002 | 09:46 PM
  #14  
Dave T-S's Avatar
Dave T-S
Scooby Regular
 
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 8,897
Likes: 4
From: Newmarket Suffolk
Exclamation

Chris

Yes, the Vision Plus are noticeably better. Not 100% better or anything staggering, but worth doing (and relatively good value at £18.95 pr or thereabouts).

Re 100w HB3, very noticeable difference over OEM, and wiring hasn't melted yet (although they've only been in a week ).

(And Powerbulbs said they would be ok in an email, so i'll sue the buttocks off them if my loom melts LOL - joke).

Now got the Prodrive gas discharge drive lamps in mine too, which make the standard lights look like candles, HID dip also going in next week
Reply
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Mattybr5@MB Developments
Full Cars Breaking For Spares
34
Nov 7, 2024 04:10 PM
powerwrx
Subaru Parts
11
Feb 28, 2022 03:07 PM
matt12
Engine Management and ECU Remapping
4
Sep 14, 2015 09:36 AM
blackandz
General Technical
0
Sep 12, 2015 07:01 PM




All times are GMT +1. The time now is 09:19 AM.