I have a 2002 plate wrx sti and wish to replace my headlight bulbs with xenon bulbs. is it a case of switching the bulbs or is there more to it?

Thanks

 

There's much more to it. Real xenon (i.e. HID) bulbs require a ballast, and in order to pass a UK MOT need the correct reflector/lens unit and auto levelling.

You could buy one of the cheap "HID upgrade" kits from wherever and chuck that in - but unless your headlamp units are e-marked for HID operation, and auto-level, your car is technically not road legal and will almost certainly fail the MOT.

 

ive been looking to do this also because think the standard lights are crap
ive taken the headlight bulb out and looked at buying 100w xenon but my 05 wrx.

The one ive taken out has only i steel plate on bottom for connecting others i have looked at all look like they have 2 or 3

anyone who where i can get the one im looking for

 

How about some 90% brighter Osram bulbs or 80% Phillips. Straight swap and no legal issues. I think 2002 WRX STi has separate bulbs for dip and main and don't know which bulbs they are. I have HIDs (4300K) in the dips of my 03 STi and 50% brighter ordinary bulbs in mains, the dips are well bright and maybe overkill for the trouble of finding homes for the ballasts, especially as its now solely a track car and I'm thinking of removing to save weight. Put 80% Phillips in dips of my Focus runabout
and well satisfied with that. Try a search for powerbulbs, they sell them online.

 

Apex performance do a H1 HID kit for a silly low price ( 4300 K in mine ) to fit the dip beam.

BOB'5 on here does the HB3 main beam kits and the dip as well.... advise a 4300 K for main beam because of the scattering effect of any higher K value bulbs in misty/murky conditions....

Having said all this mine were fine till I reached 400 bhp....

Now have three kits and can light up a couple of football fields if needed.

HTH

dunx

P.S. No MOT fails in the last two years, meow.... wazzat ?

 

thanks dunx
but just got them sorted h1 kit was needed
good job just gone through a mot lol

 

I also have HID on dip lights on my 03 wrx, no issues with MOT and have not had anyone flash me for being to bright, they are a lot better than the std bulbs, if you want to go the whole hog jdm sti headlights are about £500 a pair at jap performance and you would get about £150 back for your own. These have correct HID reflectors but still not technically road legal as no auto dipping.