I'm not sure if I posted the right link but I'll look today and re-post if not.
In short: To replace your 9006 low beams you buy (2) 9011 (High beam bulbs)bulbs from finemotoring.com or Daniel Stern Lighting(not sure contact info for him.)
You will need to look at the directions on the site for exactly how to trim them, but you just take a good nail clipper, or a Dremel tool and snip the tabs as indicated. (You'll see the difference if you hold your old 9006 next to the new 9011.) The locking tabs are oriented differently. Also with the high to low swap you will take the little o-ring off of your old 9006 and slip it over the shaft of the new 9011 bulb. (Basically you're just adding another o-ring that seals up the bulb into the housing.)
There are little guides on the new 9011 bulb that need to be filed off. Again, look to the directions and it will be obvious. Two little raised guides.
Once that's done(all of 5 minutes once you see how easy it is) you just stick them into your low beam housings like any other bulb. Nothing is ever touched on the vehicle itself so don't be afraid. Just pay attention when you snip the tabs off because if you're watching kids or TV at the same time, you may take off the wrong one then you're buying another bulb.
I'll check shortly to get the right link up. Max explains it a lot better than me.
I'm on the road at night constantly and have yet to be flashed by oncoming traffic. The reason it's not offensive to others is the pattern stays the same. If you put some aftermarket high output bulbs in, your lenses can shine light up and directly at traffic rather than down and out on the road. I'm sure someone more techy than me can elaborate, but look to "Cary's" comments on the IH8MUD site I linked to. He sums it up the best I've seen.
The only drawback I've seen is a little more reflection in a blizzard when the snows really coming down, but not an issue that outweighs the benefits in m y book.
Trust me, you'll be amazed at how much light you get for $50. And it's light you can actually use since it's your low beams that you typically probably use 90% of the time. The 9011's as high beams are great too, but the stock highs already do a pretty good job. Do them both and be done, but the lows will make the biggest impression.
http://hirheadlights.com/index.htm
Waiting for the right link for the high low swap, but here is the site for background/spec info on the bulbs themselves.
Per Max: See below.
This is the single-step procedure for stock replacement trimming:
http://shnu.us/HIR Trimming Stock.htm
To do the hi-lo conversion, there are three steps-
1) Trim the top tab to fit in a low housing socket (remove the side opposite to the white section, approximately). If the bulbs are not marked, refer to your current 9006 low bulbs and trim the new ones to match.
2) Cut the double guide rails out of the plug section of the bulb. Dremel, utility knife, soldering tip all work well.
3) Double up the o-ring, putting your old o-rings on the barrel of the 9011 bulb behind the existing ones. This centers the bulb and keeps it watertight.
You can use the foam shipping tube as a holder for trimming.
http://shnu.us/HI-LO2.htm
Also, there's an issue affecting some vehicles (including some Hondas) where the hole in the housing has a taper or ridge in it, for no clear reason. This can make it difficult to push and turn the bulb into position. The fix is to bevel the nose of the barrel a little; see pic for my quick and dirty approach. You simply file down the area above the o-ring a little bit, on an angle. Neither of these things present much of a hurdle, and the trimming is still quick and easy (and worth the result)
edit: I can't upload the pictures Max is referencing. I can email it if someone needs it. Simple sanding/filing if necessary.
