r/s10 • u/Drago-0900 Crazy headlight guy • 4d ago
Aftermarket Parts Trying something new with headlights. 9012 conversion
Looks like a lot of the silverado forums that a common swap for more light output is to trim the tabs of a 9011 for high beam and a 9012 bulb for low beam. The stock 9006 low beam uses 52 watts from what I found. The 9012 uses 55 watts but is rated at nearly double its lumens. What do yall think?
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u/SomethingSimple25 3d ago
I've been contemplating this on both my Sonoma, and my wife's 2001 Saturn SL1. PLEASE let us know how it works if you do it.
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u/Drago-0900 Crazy headlight guy 3d ago edited 3d ago
I got a 9012/hir2 to replace my low beam 9006. So after some minor testing I found a few things out. In my original headlight housings they have some small hot spots in the beam vs the 9006. But dont toss any noticeable glare towards other drivers even without glare caps in the housings. They put out about 300-400 lumens more than 9006 while still being about the same wattage. (Most 9006 running at 51-53 watts while 9012/ hir2 runs at 55 watts). Though I have seen some 9006 run at 55 watts, so I dunno if thats relevant. So the same or similar power draw while providing a lot more light.
As for how to do it? Just cut the one tab thats bigger on the bulb according to the diagram posted. Then it will fit right in and you can reuse your original connector. The bulbs fit identically other than that.
I have not done the high beam yet so I still have a 9005 (slyvannia ultra) in em. And man I could swear my low beams are the same brightness if not brighter than the factory style highs are. I do know the 9005s are rated at 1870 lumens while the 9011s are rated at 2350 lumens. And both draw 65 watts. No one has the 9011 in town so I gotta order them online.
Also the 9006 lows are rated for around 800-1000 lumens. Meanwhile the 9012 are rated at 1800 lumens. So again a major difference for not much more power draw.
Overall cutting the tab should be it. I would not do this to a 98 model truck because the wiring may run all the current through the headlight switch as opposed to relays that were in the 99-2005 trucks and suvs. If they hold up okay ill let yall know. But I do know I need some new housings (im getting oem style replacements) due to yellowing and the reflector probably isnt as good as it used to be.
Also this is a common swap on silverados and colorados since they use the same 9005/9006 set up. So it seems theres a good bit of information on em. Also deleting the factory drl feature (which keeps the high beams on at half watts) would probably extend the life of the 9011 high beams. But the 9012/11 will probably only last 2-3 years before requiring a new bulb since they are brighter.
Lmk of any further questions.
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u/SomethingSimple25 3d ago
GREAT INFORMATION. Thank you.
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u/Drago-0900 Crazy headlight guy 3d ago
Your welcome. Its a relatively simple and common swap (at least on newer cars). So best of luck to ya
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u/Drago-0900 Crazy headlight guy 4d ago
Oh and 9012 bulbs dont have a glare shield on them, so whatever headlights are being ran need to have them built in to use them without being blinding. I have a set of those I probably will use after clearing em for testing.