One such company is Lumens. For between $100 and $200, they’ll sell you a xenon kit to replace the bulbs in virtually any vehicle. The kit typically includes xenon lamps that install in place of the standard halogen bulbs, wiring harnesses, and a set of ballasts.
I picked up a Lumens H7 xenon kit to replace the low-beams on his father’s 2006 Subaru Legacy GT Wagon as a birthday present. This is a popular style of light bulb, and my local custom auto shop had the kit in stock. After “stealing” Dad’s car for the evening and arriving at my friend’s garage, we started the install.
On the Legacy, the airbox and washer fluid filler neck require removal to access the factory bulbs. These came out in a minute or so, and we separated them from their wiring harnesses.
Those harnesses plug into the Lumens ballasts (voltage transformers) which ramp up factory wattage to power the xenon lamps. We mounted the ballasts using zip-ties near the headlight housings and away from moving parts.
Wiring built into the ballasts then plug back into the Lumens xenon lamps, which fit back into the headlight socket just like the standard bulbs.
In effect, you’re basically inserting a ballast between the factory headlight switch and the new xenon lamp. It’s very plug-and-play.
The Legacy uses a screw-on cap to seal moisture out of each headlight housing. For this install, we needed to drill a three-quarter-inch hole into each cap to run the modified wiring through, though Lumens included a rubber grommet to maintain the seal after doing so.
No wiring diagram was included with the kit, though the connections were fairly straightforward and easily figured out. No splicing, soldering or electrical tape required.
Installation took in about 90 minutes, including frequent stops to sip a large double-double and find the right kind of zip-ties to secure the ballasts.
A quick before-and-after nighttime drive revealed a brighter, lighter and cleaner-looking light discharge from the Legacy’s projector-style housings, thicker light saturation ahead of the car, and a notable improvement in light dispersion to either side.
Translation?
They cast more high-quality light ahead of the vehicle, as well as off to the sides to help reveal any roadside animals. Plus the Legacy looked more upscale and sophisticated for the upgrade, too.
Dad commented, “The new bulbs provided significantly improved night driving visibility on our dark Northern roads. Driving in drifting snow was more comfortable knowing I could be seen by oncoming traffic earlier, and the low beams provided significant power to cut through the snow. This gave me an overall improved feeling of safety. Overall, conversion was a huge improvement over the originally installed headlight system.”
Dad liked his present, and agreed that the Lumens bulbs improved his Legacy’s looks and safety at the same time. Not a bad deal for about $130.
Bref, mon père a adoré son cadeau. Les phares au xénon Lumens H7 rehaussent à la fois le look et la sécurité de sa Legacy, dit-il. Pas mal pour 130 $...
I picked up a Lumens H7 xenon kit to replace the low-beams on his father’s 2006 Subaru Legacy GT Wagon as a birthday present. This is a popular style of light bulb, and my local custom auto shop had the kit in stock. After “stealing” Dad’s car for the evening and arriving at my friend’s garage, we started the install.
On the Legacy, the airbox and washer fluid filler neck require removal to access the factory bulbs. These came out in a minute or so, and we separated them from their wiring harnesses.
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| Photo: Justin Pritchard |
Those harnesses plug into the Lumens ballasts (voltage transformers) which ramp up factory wattage to power the xenon lamps. We mounted the ballasts using zip-ties near the headlight housings and away from moving parts.
Wiring built into the ballasts then plug back into the Lumens xenon lamps, which fit back into the headlight socket just like the standard bulbs.
In effect, you’re basically inserting a ballast between the factory headlight switch and the new xenon lamp. It’s very plug-and-play.
The Legacy uses a screw-on cap to seal moisture out of each headlight housing. For this install, we needed to drill a three-quarter-inch hole into each cap to run the modified wiring through, though Lumens included a rubber grommet to maintain the seal after doing so.
No wiring diagram was included with the kit, though the connections were fairly straightforward and easily figured out. No splicing, soldering or electrical tape required.
Installation took in about 90 minutes, including frequent stops to sip a large double-double and find the right kind of zip-ties to secure the ballasts.
A quick before-and-after nighttime drive revealed a brighter, lighter and cleaner-looking light discharge from the Legacy’s projector-style housings, thicker light saturation ahead of the car, and a notable improvement in light dispersion to either side.
Translation?
They cast more high-quality light ahead of the vehicle, as well as off to the sides to help reveal any roadside animals. Plus the Legacy looked more upscale and sophisticated for the upgrade, too.
Dad commented, “The new bulbs provided significantly improved night driving visibility on our dark Northern roads. Driving in drifting snow was more comfortable knowing I could be seen by oncoming traffic earlier, and the low beams provided significant power to cut through the snow. This gave me an overall improved feeling of safety. Overall, conversion was a huge improvement over the originally installed headlight system.”
Dad liked his present, and agreed that the Lumens bulbs improved his Legacy’s looks and safety at the same time. Not a bad deal for about $130.
Bref, mon père a adoré son cadeau. Les phares au xénon Lumens H7 rehaussent à la fois le look et la sécurité de sa Legacy, dit-il. Pas mal pour 130 $...