Driving Lights

[scouk]

Hi guys,

Surely some of you have had experience with these..

I'm considering swapping out my bugeye fog lamps for a nice set of driving lights for the winter.. Driving to work in the pitch black on twisty country roads would be much better, and safer, with a decent set of lights! (Even better if they vapourise the deer en-route

Question is, will any fog light fit as a straight swap or do you need to get the proper PIAA kit from subaru? (would rather not pay full RRP for this if i can do it cheaper )

Also ideally I'd like to get HiD ones so they are as bright as possible

(edited to add: if it wasn't so expensive I'd be tempted by a full rally style spotlight pod for the bonnet just to take the p***!)

Thanks,

Edited October 10, 2008 by ScoUK

[iainc]

I had a set of PIAAs on the front of my old classic (plus Morettes 'cos the std lights were crap). Made quite a difference, although the main problem was always that it made the dipped beam look even worse IYKWIM.

Don't know about the fitment of other types... would imagine that it would probably be possible to fit other kinds as well, but mounting other types might be a PITA if they don't use the same holes as the fog lights (not sure if the bugeye is the same as the classics for that).

[ur.a.bus]

can you not just fit lower watt bulbs?

in previous cars i have taken out the fog bulbs and replaced them with driving bulbs

[scouk]

can you not just fit lower watt bulbs?

in previous cars i have taken out the fog bulbs and replaced them with driving bulbs

Sadly not that easy.. If anythign I want them brighter... but also fog lights are designed to give a close range wide angle.. where as driving/spot lights are designed for bright, long distance at a narrow angle.. Two compeltely different units as the light reflector is a different shape to give a diffeent angle.. chances are the bulbs are interchangable..

Edited October 10, 2008 by ScoUK

[scouk]

I had a set of PIAAs on the front of my old classic (plus Morettes 'cos the std lights were crap). Made quite a difference, although the main problem was always that it made the dipped beam look even worse IYKWIM.

yeah understandable... same reason i wanted the STi headlights to replace the WRX ones which were crap at full beam. STi ones are much better all round both dipped and full beam, but need more distance

[tommo9375]

I recommend PIAA lights as i had them on my classic and they were really good 'n' bright.

[iainc]

yeah understandable... same reason i wanted the STi headlights to replace the WRX ones which were crap at full beam. STi ones are much better all round both dipped and full beam, but need more distance

As mentioned, the PIAA ones are well worth it then... made a HUGE difference over the Morettes (which were a huge improvement over the std 94 lights).

[ur.a.bus]

Sadly not that easy.. If anythign I want them brighter... but also fog lights are designed to give a close range wide angle.. where as driving/spot lights are designed for bright, long distance at a narrow angle.. Two compeltely different units as the light reflector is a different shape to give a diffeent angle.. chances are the bulbs are interchangable..

i learn something new every day (mainly thanks to this site)

[DR Motosport]

PIAA's are the way to go.

And I've just found you a used set here.

http://forums.sidc.co.uk/index.php?showtop...p;#entry1205053

I've just done myself out a sale for a new set.

Davy

[scouk]

I've just done myself out a sale for a new set.

Davy

Cheers mate! Although may still need the wiring/relay for it.. Got bits lying around but maybe not enough... Would want to wire it in so they can be disabled if necesary.. i.e. "flashing" doesn't blind people during the day Or maybe I do want that

[iainc]

Cheers mate! Although may still need the wiring/relay for it.. Got bits lying around but maybe not enough... Would want to wire it in so they can be disabled if necesary.. i.e. "flashing" doesn't blind people during the day Or maybe I do want that

I just had mine wired directly into the main beam the whole time... ran with the covers on unless I was going out in the dark so it never blinded people.

[tommo9375]

Mine had a on/off switch to the right of the steering column and only worked with full beam on .

[scouk]

Mine had a on/off switch to the right of the steering column and only worked with full beam on .

Yeah that's was kinda the switch I was thinking of....

Although got a slightly different idea for lights.... Not sure how much it woudl affect air getting to the lower part of the radiator though.....

With bespoke covers!

Definately makes the car look more agressive though

Edited October 12, 2008 by ScoUK

[kennyuk300]

hi mate have to say thats a very SWEEEEEET machine you have there

lights look good

[scouk]

Thanks for the feedback mate

Starting to go a bit mad with the idea now... Trying to avoid round lamps because they wont fit snugly anywhere.. By that I mean they stick out a bit when looking fromt eh side... The rectangle ones woudl fit nicely in teh lower grille..

But.....:

Does look a bit mad!

Feedback welcome...

Edited October 12, 2008 by ScoUK

[Smiler AS]

No. 2 for me, I like the idea of the driving lights at the upper front grill (even if they do stick out a bit), just says your set to drive - no matter the weather or time of day!

Plus I used to like them on my folks old xr3i's.

The rectangluar ones just dont look right to me.

[kennyuk300]

i agree with smiler AS with the position but prefer the rectangular as they are

nice and discreet pluss keeps the lower section free for air

[thefastone]

Hmmm, personally I'm not keen, just not my thing right enough... if you coud get a conversion for your fog lights... I reckon that would be the mutts nutts...

[phil_g]

I like the rectangle lights upper and the lower ones.

Here is a link for you, for some ideas.

http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/showthread.php?t=673117

[scouk]

http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/showthread.php?t=673117

LOL! Was looking through that thread the other day before posting the photos above... Got to page 83 I think it was...

[terzo neil]

dont bother

you will ruin the good loks

[bigvern]

Great minds and all that, fitted mine today...wiring tomorrow

[scouk]

Great minds and all that, fitted mine today...wiring tomorrow

LOL! Nice one Does look quite smart there!

I've decided to go with replacign the fogs down teh bottom.. Wasn't too sure about the aerodynamics, into the scoop, wasn't 100% certain I coudl get a solid fixing...

I've got he wiring sorted so the fogs only come on with full high beam but can be disabled using the fog switch so they never come on. That's all done, put new connectors on the fog light loom so the lights are quicly interchangable, just need to make up the bracket for them now.. And it's peein with rain

Fired them up yesterday after fitting the new connectors and even in daylight you could see it was lighting up stuff a few metres away! Just got some Philips BlueVision (xenon) bulbs in the post this morning as well to cut away some of the OEM yellowish colour and gain a bit more distance.

Will definately post piccies when finished.

[bigvern]

I had some 'flutter' but thats pretty much gone now with a bit of fettling and the roads are real tooth chippers round here. But the benefit at night is well worth it. My 'off-road' bulbs arrived last night so the future is looking bright!