Lighting tip: John Deere HIR bulbs

[Nate1]

Hello explorer owners... thought I would share a good tip with you guys from the Toyota forums.

If you use 9006 bulbs (I think most of the 2gen maybe 3gen explorers?) you can switch to HIR bulbs and get a noticeable increase of light output.

These bulbs do not melt your housing, they do not draw more current, and they are not an obnoxious ricer-color. Google HIR if you want more info on them, but they are a proven technology which increases the light output of the bulb without any extra gimmicks. These bulbs are legal and last at least as long. They are better than Silver Stars (and Ultra, al) and don't need the upgraded harness do-dad.

Previously they were expensive, somewhat too expensive... but a guy on the toyota forum I'm on found out that John Deere stocks the bulbs and you can get them at your local JD parts supplier for cheap cheap CHEAP!

The part # is AH211917 and it is a 9012 bulb, meaning you will need to trim about 3mm of plastic from one of the tabs. A pair of nail clippers can do this, and they are otherwise an identical bulb and fit perfectly into a 9006 housing. They are brighter though, I think 1800 lumens as opposed to 1000 lumens, so make sure your housings are aimed correctly.

I ordered a pair for $11.49 each. Previously the cheapest we could find HIR bulbs was about $26 each, so this is a big savings.

Here is a link to the part: https://jdparts.deere.com/servlet/c...earchby=complete_pn&partSearchNumber=AH211917

Just a helpful tip since I know alot of you are always pursuing more light output!

-----Nate

 

[SilverBullet]

Sweet. After doing some research on these bulbs, I placed an order through my John Deere dealer. The bulbs are $9.98/each.

 

[Heavymentill]

If you use 9006 bulbs (I think most of the 2gen maybe 3gen explorers?) you can switch to HIR bulbs and get a noticeable increase of light output.

Year = Bulb
91-94 = 9004
95-01 = 9007
02-05 = 9006
06 = H13 9008

 

[Nate1]

Shame... well if you can modify the tabbing on the bulbs to fit your housing, do it! These HIR bulbs are insanely bright, so much more pleasing that el-crapo silverstars....

 

[toypaseo]

Good bargain find.

I am waiting for some 9003's to fit my Toyota :frustrate

 

[rookieshooter]

John Deere Blitz black paint, now JD HIR lights. What's next?

 

[Nate1]

JD Budget Rockcrawler?

Hey, at least you wouldn't have to worry about the paint

 

[JasonF]

This sounds like a worthwhile mod. Anyone have some results to post before I go take the plunge?

Jason

 

[Nate1]

http://www.bmwcca.org/members/AM/Template.cfm?Section=Let_There_Be_E36_Light&page=3

 

[Nate1]

Well I (finally) got the bulbs today (due to a miscommunication b/w JD and my local parts peeps) and installed them.

I must say the amount of light they put out is retarded. They replaced Sylvania bulbs and the light output from these puppies is definitely without a doubt double.

Those of you fortunate enough to have 9006 lowbeams must try these things out.... $11 a pop and they are insane.

 

[briwayjones]

You mean the Sylvania bulbs are retartded? And the JD HIR bulbs put out double?

 

[Nate1]

I mean that the intensity of light output of the HIR bulbs is visually equivalent to the intensity of light output by my highbeams, just the spread and cutoff are different. I'm yet to try them in the rain but they are seriously brighter in the dry at night. I am very very pleased... easily the best lighting mod I've ever done on a car, way better than a silly upgraded light harness.

 

[Tilt168]

good tip

 

[Nate1]

Here's two shots.... first is down the alley with HIR lowbeams on:

Second is a manually set exposure to the exact settings of the first (IE: the lowbeams are the "fixed" point, anything dimmer will appear dimmer, anything brighter will appear brigher) except this time with the highbeams off to show relative brightness:

If the lowbeams were not close to the highbeam's intensity, the second picture would appear washed out and very bright. However, it is more full of light and a bit brighter, but for an ISO400 shot it shows pretty darn well that the lowbeams are relatively close to the highbeams intensity.

Now, I'm not jerking your chain when I say the highbeams in this truck are extremely bright... it uses good glass housings and they are at least as bright as some good PIAA aux lights, if not brighter. So you can see, these lowbeams are pretty daggum good.

 

[rookieshooter]

Year = Bulb
91-94 = 9004
95-01 = 9007
02-05 = 9006
06 = H13 9008

Anybody know if it would work in a 95-01 that takes the 9007 bulb? Is there that much difference between the 9006 and 9007?
Have to go to Autozone today anyway. I'll check on the two and if I think they will work, then a trip to John Deere. Need some more of that Blitz Black paint anyway.

 

[Nate1]

I doubt it, for reference here is a 9006 bulb

and here is a 9007

 

[rookieshooter]

I doubt it, for reference here is a 9006 bulb

and here is a 9007

Thanks for posting that. I was hoping, but I can plainly see that it won't work.

 

[pope_face]

Just out of curiosity, wouldn't they project light too high to be legal? I know low beams have to end roughly 40m/150 feet past the front of the car... these ones end very high. Any ideas?

Fil

 

[Bill Kemp]

You would, could, maby should adjust the headlight lenses a little lower to compansate for the brighter bulbs.
Not a big job.

 

[Nate1]

Yes, I scrubbed the lenses today and re-aimed them yesterday to ensure that stray light was not being thrown up and that they were aimed low enough.

I love these bulbs though!