Morette + HID in 99 Impreza
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Morette + HID in 99 Impreza
Hi guys,
I've been searching the archives and can't find an answer to this one.
I have a 1999 Impreza 2.5RS in which I recently installed an HID kit. They are 5K bulbs. Really white, but I would recommend 4150K now that I've seen these. Anything higher than 5K is useless for driving in my opinion. Actually the bulbs are 4150K with some coating over them. Anyone know how to remove the coating without damaging the bulb? The reason is that 5K being so white just reflects on any water droplet in the air (rain or snow) and actually makes it harder to see (even with 20/15 vision).
My other thought is that I'm not getting good light because of the stock reflector. About 90% of HID cars out there have round reflectors because they provide the best beam pattern. Would changing to Morette lamps provide enough of an increase to justify their cost? Does anyone know of a shop in the Toronto area where I could purchase a set? Or a good place in general?
Lastly, if I do install the Morette lights how does the adapter harness work? It plugs directly into my H4 harness and converts it to another H4 plus H2? Currently I have no high-beam lights, but is there a way to convert the harness so that my low-beam HIDs will remain on when I go to high-beams?
Thanks,
Anil..
I've been searching the archives and can't find an answer to this one.
I have a 1999 Impreza 2.5RS in which I recently installed an HID kit. They are 5K bulbs. Really white, but I would recommend 4150K now that I've seen these. Anything higher than 5K is useless for driving in my opinion. Actually the bulbs are 4150K with some coating over them. Anyone know how to remove the coating without damaging the bulb? The reason is that 5K being so white just reflects on any water droplet in the air (rain or snow) and actually makes it harder to see (even with 20/15 vision).
My other thought is that I'm not getting good light because of the stock reflector. About 90% of HID cars out there have round reflectors because they provide the best beam pattern. Would changing to Morette lamps provide enough of an increase to justify their cost? Does anyone know of a shop in the Toronto area where I could purchase a set? Or a good place in general?
Lastly, if I do install the Morette lights how does the adapter harness work? It plugs directly into my H4 harness and converts it to another H4 plus H2? Currently I have no high-beam lights, but is there a way to convert the harness so that my low-beam HIDs will remain on when I go to high-beams?
Thanks,
Anil..
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Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 1,912
From: Bahay area, CA
Car Info: RIP: 2000 2.5RS Sedan, BRP Now: 08 WRB WRX Hatch
you can't get the morettes with complex lens (the ones they say that has a better beam pattern) since they use a different bulb size for the low beams i believe. i think the regular morettes use H4's. I think the harness is plug and play, can't remember. I was thinking of getting morettes and HIDs myself, but never have... yet.
Daios (Day-ohhss)
Daios (Day-ohhss)
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Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 99
From: Delta, BC, Canada
Car Info: 2000 Impreza 2.5RS BRP
So the complex lens version of Morettes for the old style uses a different bulb? I know the simple lens version is plug and play as I have them...
The main problem I have with HID is DRL - up here in Canada, looks like I need to retain it, and the ideal way is to hack the DRL to drive the inner pair with lower power (just like they are driving the outer pair right now), and have the inner pair shuts off when the HID is working. Complicated hack that I never got around to check out the wiring to see whether this is possible - hence, no HID on my car, even though the whole point of the Morettes was to have HID eventually and not lose the high beam.
The main problem I have with HID is DRL - up here in Canada, looks like I need to retain it, and the ideal way is to hack the DRL to drive the inner pair with lower power (just like they are driving the outer pair right now), and have the inner pair shuts off when the HID is working. Complicated hack that I never got around to check out the wiring to see whether this is possible - hence, no HID on my car, even though the whole point of the Morettes was to have HID eventually and not lose the high beam.
Registered User
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 141
From: MOCKBA/New York
WHAT???
this is insane....GC8 Morettes are separated so what's the point of using H4 bulb???! It is used only when headlight consists of one peice and so one bulb has to do the job of both low and high beam...that's why mostly people swith to Morettes - to have low beam HID since dual beam kits s00k and cost a lot (otherwise GC8 Morettes are ugly
)
complex lens if I'm not mistaken mean projection lens (it's kinda round thingy in the lens like BMWs have, and like GDA Morettes have) and they are recomended for HIDs if you don't want to light trees around
so bying Morettes without HID I think is useless
KGB, I live (read=study) in Canada too, but I disabled the DRL (I don't want to burn my expensive PIAAs
) so I just somethimes turn parking lights on....just to be cop friendly
this is insane....GC8 Morettes are separated so what's the point of using H4 bulb???! It is used only when headlight consists of one peice and so one bulb has to do the job of both low and high beam...that's why mostly people swith to Morettes - to have low beam HID since dual beam kits s00k and cost a lot (otherwise GC8 Morettes are ugly
)complex lens if I'm not mistaken mean projection lens (it's kinda round thingy in the lens like BMWs have, and like GDA Morettes have) and they are recomended for HIDs if you don't want to light trees around
so bying Morettes without HID I think is useless
KGB, I live (read=study
) in Canada too, but I disabled the DRL (I don't want to burn my expensive PIAAs) so I just somethimes turn parking lights on....just to be cop friendly
Registered User
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 99
From: Delta, BC, Canada
Car Info: 2000 Impreza 2.5RS BRP
Actually, just the Morettes themselves gave much better light output (towards the road and the signs on the side, not the on-coming drivers), not to mention a killer high beam because all 4 beams stay on. AFAIK, complex lens doesn't mean projector lens - or else everybody would have paid the premium for the Morettes in the old style. There isn't a projection version of Morettes for the old style. As for HID - hacking the DRL to drive the inner pair is the ultimate, yet the most complicated job you can do with DRL. Sure you can unplug DRL all together just runs the parking lights...
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I did find out some info from the guys at Z1 Performance. There are two models of the old style.
1. Non-complex lens.
2. Complex lens (NOT Projector). Approx. 35% more light. Probably through better light reflection/refraction.
Since I have HIDs I'll probably go for the complex lens. Now I just have to work out the low/high beam issue.
1. Non-complex lens.
2. Complex lens (NOT Projector). Approx. 35% more light. Probably through better light reflection/refraction.
Since I have HIDs I'll probably go for the complex lens. Now I just have to work out the low/high beam issue.
Registered User
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 50
From: here and there
Hey I'm in Toronto too.
My complex Morettes use a single filament H1 on LOW and a single filament H2 on HIGH.
They are HID ready unlike the regular Morettes which are H4 dual-filament LOW and H2 (I think) high.
They are also complete plug and play unlike the earlier non-complex Morettes which required splicing from what I recall. I think the newer ones have solved that problem.
The complex Morettes are NOT projector based. THey are called complex because they are complex reflector based optics by Cibie on the low beam side only. The high lamp housings are the same.
Email me if you have any questions (I don't check this board often)
will.shum@utoronto.ca
My complex Morettes use a single filament H1 on LOW and a single filament H2 on HIGH.
They are HID ready unlike the regular Morettes which are H4 dual-filament LOW and H2 (I think) high.
They are also complete plug and play unlike the earlier non-complex Morettes which required splicing from what I recall. I think the newer ones have solved that problem.
The complex Morettes are NOT projector based. THey are called complex because they are complex reflector based optics by Cibie on the low beam side only. The high lamp housings are the same.
Email me if you have any questions (I don't check this board often)
will.shum@utoronto.ca
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