Need to figure out a headlight dilema with 2015 Impala

[i6pwr]

My dilemma is stick with OE or upgrade to LED like the GTR Ultra 2, but I don't want to blind oncoming traffic but I hear these are good especially in a projector housing. Here's where it gets complicated...We bought this used and there was minor repairs done to the front and the RH headlight housing was replaced. The production date is 9/2014 and is a 2015 model year which based on our VIN uses a 9012 bulb. However GM changed the housings after January 2015 and the body shop replaced with a 2015 housing and now the RH side is a 9005 and the OE LH side is a 9012. Not only are the tabs different, the electrical connector is different also.

I would like to choose one but I'm finding that the cost of these housings may put that on hold unless I can find a nice used one. I assume the 9005 is the better bulb and if so should I switch the LH to a newer housing and go with the 9005 or are we splitting hairs? The lights on this car are not great so another option is keeping the mismatched housings and just going with new LED's like the GTR Ultra 2 as previously stated, stock low beams are not great.

Curious to what others may have tried with this vehicle.

 

[slacktide_bitog]

For the 9005 side, use a slightly higher performance bulb like the Sylvania Xtravision, Philips Vision or Vision Plus. This should give the 9005 side very close if not the exact same output as a standard 9012 bulb on the 9012 side. See this page

DO NOT put a 9011 in the 9005 housing, as this will make the output too much higher than the 9012!

 

[97prizm]

My dilemma is stick with OE or upgrade to LED like the GTR Ultra 2, but I don't want to blind oncoming traffic but I hear these are good especially in a projector housing. Here's where it gets complicated...We bought this used and there was minor repairs done to the front and the RH headlight housing was replaced. The production date is 9/2014 and is a 2015 model year which based on our VIN uses a 9012 bulb. However GM changed the housings after January 2015 and the body shop replaced with a 2015 housing and now the RH side is a 9005 and the OE LH side is a 9012. Not only are the tabs different, the electrical connector is different also.

I would like to choose one but I'm finding that the cost of these housings may put that on hold unless I can find a nice used one. I assume the 9005 is the better bulb and if so should I switch the LH to a newer housing and go with the 9005 or are we splitting hairs? The lights on this car are not great so another option is keeping the mismatched housings and just going with new LED's like the GTR Ultra 2 as previously stated, stock low beams are not great.

Curious to what others may have tried with this vehicle.

Go with osram night breaker for the highest halogen bulb output. They aren't tinted blue like the silver stars. I put a set in my neon and had significantly better light output.

 

[HighHy21]

For the 9005 side, use a slightly higher performance bulb like the Sylvania Xtravision, Philips Vision or Vision Plus. This should give the 9005 side very close if not the exact same output as a standard 9012 bulb on the 9012 side. See this page

DO NOT put a 9011 in the 9005 housing, as this will make the output too much higher than the 9012!

9005 is already a 1700 lumen output, much higher than 9012's 1000 lumen and 9011 1350 lumen

 

[Sequoiasoon]

My experience in different vehicles is that the projector helps a lot IF you have it aimed correctly. If snow/ice is a concern then LED is less desirable for me. Possible with the new Morimoto 2Stroke 4.0 that circulate heat in housing but they are NOT in expensive. I also find that the really white from LED, factory or aftermarket, glares a lot more off wet roads. I prefer my HID's with lower color temperature.

No matter which way you go, confirm correct aim. 25ft from wall on level surface. The top of the "lower" stepped flat cutoff should be 1-2" lower than at vehicle.

 

[slacktide_bitog]

9005 is already a 1700 lumen output, much higher than 9012's 1000 lumen and 9011 1350 lumen

9012 is 1870 lm
9011 is 2300 lm

 

[Stumpalump]

In the country or dark backroad you need a more yellow light to preserve your ability to see outside of the headlight beam. You only think you can see better with those bright high kelvin bulbs because they bring out more color. Problem is they constrict your iris and that reduces light to your retina. Leave those bright white bulbs for those that do not care what they hit at night because they have lost peripheral vision outside of the direct light path.

 

[i6pwr]

In the country or dark backroad you need a more yellow light to preserve your ability to see outside of the headlight beam. You only think you can see better with those bright high kelvin bulbs because they bring out more color. Problem is they constrict your iris and that reduces light to your retina. Leave those bright white bulbs for those that do not care what they hit at night because they have lost peripheral vision outside of the direct light path.

I agree. The reason I like the GTR Ultra 2 option is they are avail in different color temps. I don't like the very bright white and definitely not the ones with a bluish hue, the super bright white is fatiguing to the eyes. I want to stay around 4500K max, preferably 4-4300K, so much easier on the eyes and you can see better IMO.

 

[Carmudgeon]

I would like to choose one but I'm finding that the cost of these housings may put that on hold unless I can find a nice used one. I assume the 9005 is the better bulb and if so should I switch the LH to a newer housing and go with the 9005 or are we splitting hairs? The lights on this car are not great so another option is keeping the mismatched housings and just going with new LED's like the GTR Ultra 2 as previously stated, stock low beams are not great.

Odd that they'd spec a 9005 for a main beam application; it's usually used for high beams.

A 9012 has a slightly higher output, but a substantially higher rated lifespan.

The HIR bulbs (9011/9012) were originally developed to address the performance deficiencies in cars that needed a higher-output bulb to compensate (the Viper, IIRC) , but still had an adequate lifespan.

The base construction and dimensions are basically the same between 9005/9006 and 9011/9012, so modding them for interchange is a common trick.

 

[i6pwr]

Odd that they'd spec a 9005 for a main beam application; it's usually used for high beams

That also could have been modded when we bought it.

However, this vehicle when transitioning from low beam to high beam, uses the headlight socket to rotate up inside the housing, then back to resting position for low beam. Could be why the single filament bulb works.

 

[f355spider]

Odd that they'd spec a 9005 for a main beam application; it's usually used for high beams.

A 9012 has a slightly higher output, but a substantially higher rated lifespan.

The HIR bulbs (9011/9012) were originally developed to address the performance deficiencies in cars that needed a higher-output bulb to compensate (the Viper, IIRC) , but still had an adequate lifespan.

The base construction and dimensions are basically the same between 9005/9006 and 9011/9012, so modding them for interchange is a common trick.

I use these, they work great, and price is reasonable.
https://www.rallylights.com/hella-9012ll-12v-55w-long-life-bulb-each.html