[marvinstockman]

Ody, see the attached wiring diagram for my 2010.

 

[tigger240]

HIR1 won’t fit in the low beam. It will be a really loose fit, the O.D. of the sealing O-ring is too small for use in a low beam.

Having a single high beam HIR1 bulb doesn’t really do much, either.

Most people just spring for a pair of HIR2’s (9012} for the low beams and enjoy the heightened regular beam output. Philips CrystalVision 9012’s are surprisingly good (we’ve used them.)

Also, Gen 2 and 3 Odysseys have the full beam current go through tiny contacts in the control stalk, and then same current (with attendant voltage drop) runs through multiplexer-controlled relays as the switched current. Talk about a setup for limiting bulb circuit current.

Between worn control stalk and relay contacts, the voltage drop can be so significant that no bulb can help … I’ve fixed that in other cars by using the O.E. headlight sockets to trigger relays with switched current fed directly from the battery. That alone was enough to make beam output “better than new“ with OEM bulbs, and better yet with upgraded bulbs.

OF

I know the post was over the place, I put the HIR1 9011 in the low beam and was able to get it to fit without it wiggling. From my research the 9011 have more lumens than the 9012 and the filament looked to be in the same place as the low beam bulb that I pulled out. I did have to move all the Phillips screws a little bit but tightened them equally and the bulb was solid and mounted flush. I figured I would have to swap orings or mess with the housing but it was good enough to have a look regardless

You bring up a good point about voltage drop, I'll power the bulb directly and see if there is any improvement...

The stock high beam is a single element as well and it is pwm modulated at a low voltage to be the daytime driving light and given full beans to be the high beam. I was only going to put a 9011 in the high beam if that bulb in the low beam proved fruitful

All of my tests were done on the low beam circuit

 

[0dyfamily]

To make a 9011 “fit“ in a 9012 socket you need to replace the O-ring with one that has a 1.0mm larger cross sectional diameter.

Yes, I measured it. A 9011 in a 9012 socket, without that O-ring change, will have a tiny, imperceptible droop that will soften the emitted headlight pattern.

Also, the filaments are not in the same place. The 9012’s filament is located, by a small amount, axially closer to the bulb tip (farther away from the base) than the 9011’s filament to facilitate use in a low beam reflector. That slight difference will cause a 9011 placed into a low beam to have a more diffuse, less-well-aimed output.

Most people don’t even bother with 9011’s in the high beams. For most, 9012’s with proper voltage are a good solution for the main beams.

OF

 

[mikef95]

Looking at upgrading our 2010's headlights to 9012 bulbs. Do any 9012 bulbs work, or is there a prefered brand?

 

[0dyfamily]

All of the major brands (Philips, Hella, Osram, Vosla, etc.) make a good 9012 (HIR2) low beam bulb. I have heard nothing negative from these brands. I think Sylvania now makes a 9012 (HIR2) bulb, but I haven't seen any feedback on the interwebs. I suspect their's would be fine, as well.

OF

 

[mikef95]

So as far as the best way to upgrade these lights, assuming the housings are able to be cleaned up, is the consensus to upgrade the low beams to basically any 9012 bulb, and leave the high beams alone until they otherwise need replacing?

 

[0dyfamily]

It seems so, @mikef95 . Also, polishing the the headlights is a great help.

OF

 

[dvpatel]

All of the major brands (Philips, Hella, Osram, Vosla, etc.) make a good 9012 (HIR2) low beam bulb. I have heard nothing negative from these brands. I think Sylvania now makes a 9012 (HIR2) bulb, but I haven't seen any feedback on the interwebs. I suspect their's would be fine, as well.

OF

Which is your brand of choice?

I saw Sylvania Silverstars in 9012 flavor online. Must be new.

 

[0dyfamily]

Which is your brand of choice?

Philips, but only because I bought a bulk tray of HIR2 bulbs from r3seller on ebay when he had those great prices for a while. I've since then used those on nearly a dozen different cars over the years (family vehicles and friends' Hondas as gifts). So, I've had numerous years of good lighting with durability proven over many vehicles and years.

OF

 

[Fer b16]

Hi greetings, from Mexico.

My dad has an 2006 odyssey, I`ve been reading all the comments and suggestions which makes me think the HIR is or was the best option when this post was originally created, I know that technology has evolved, so I don know if HIR is still an option or it is outdated, so I have got more confused to what can be the best option, so these below are my options that come around to upgrade the low beams:

Then my next doubt between these 2:

And finally new led for option pnp by osram/sylvania (Mexico has no restrictions with the beam patern, so we can use these like Canada)

 

[thscott]

Hi greetings, from Mexico.

My dad has an 2006 odyssey, I`ve been reading all the comments and suggestions which makes me think the HIR is or was the best option when this post was originally created, I know that technology has evolved, so I don know if HIR is still an option or it is outdated, so I have got more confused to what can be the best option, so these below are my options that come around to upgrade the low beams:
View attachment 183442


Then my next doubt between these 2:
View attachment 183443 View attachment 183444
And finally new led for option pnp by osram/sylvania (Mexico has no restrictions with the beam patern, so we can use these like Canada)
View attachment 183445

I think the 9012 HIR bulbs are still the best option. Remember you have to snip away a small portion of one of the plastic tabs.

 

[WiiMaster]

Reviving this thread to say that I just finished installing the 9012 HIR2s in my Accord. Fairly simple install, a pair of toenail clippers worked great for snipping off the excess part of the tab. Outside of that, only hard part was getting access to the bulb, which in the case of my Accord is done through the fender well.

Haven't taken it out at night yet to see how it does, but I expect good results.

 

[WiiMaster]

Reviving this thread to say that I just finished installing the 9012 HIR2s in my Accord. Fairly simple install, a pair of toenail clippers worked great for snipping off the excess part of the tab. Outside of that, only hard part was getting access to the bulb, which in the case of my Accord is done through the fender well.

Haven't taken it out at night yet to see how it does, but I expect good results.

Got some photos of the HIR2s.

Definitely a nice upgrade.

 

[0dyfamily]

Have been asked by a couple 9th Gen Civic and 8th Gen Accord owners about using HIR1 (9011 high beam) instead of an HIR2 (9012 low beam) to replace the original 9006 non-HIR low beam. Observations I've given them, noted here:

Trimmed properly, 9011 (HIR1) will fit into a 9006 low beam socket; I'm not the only one who's tried it ...

I know the post was over the place, I put the HIR1 9011 in the low beam and was able to get it to fit without it wiggling.

• Caveat: it will not be weather-resistant, even if the bulb flange is tight in the socket (no wiggling), but the O-ring O.D. is still too small

From my research the 9011 have more lumens than the 9012 and the filament looked to be in the same place as the low beam bulb that I pulled out.

• You can't get better performance even with the higher-lumens 9011 bulb ... it will be worse. The filament is axially in the wrong place by millimeters, fore-aft compared to the original 9006 bulb, and that throws off how the reflector manages the light dispersed from the filament.

I had an old 6th gen Accord headlight in one of my garage cabinets, and before chucking it, recently compared 9006 versus 9012 versus 9011 in the low beam socket in my darkened garage. Observations:

1. 9006 == standard beam pattern that decently throws light down the road
2. 9012 == notably brighter (and tighter) hot spot, better light throw (have used these in low beams on 3 Accords, 5 Civics, all family vehicles)
3. 9011 == whole beam pattern is thrown wider, hot spot is diffuse; it's scattered and not as bright. Makes for a great flood light in my garage, though.

3rd Gen Odyssey owners, just stick to 9012 (HIR2) in the low beam. If you feel compelled to upgrade the high beams, that's where the 9011 (HIR1) shines (pun intended.) I've got a set in my 2nd Gen Acura high beams to complement the TL's OEM D2R HID headlights; superb illumination even on wet, dark asphalt.

OF