2011 Fusion: Bulb options?

[Klutch9]

My wife's Fusion has the factory halogen projector headlights and fog lamps. The fog lamps are quite focused and provide nice light output, but the headlights leave something to be desired. The "throw" and aim of the projectors is nice, it just seems that they aren't very bright. Has anyone replaced the bulbs in their newer-model Fusion? This is the first car I've ever owned with any sort of projector headlights, and I know they work quite differently than reflector housings. Any advice?

 

[Hokiefyd]

Sylvania Xtravision. They come in the H11 application for your projectors. My current '05 MDX and my previous '11 Camry also had H11 projectors, and I've used these Xtravision bulbs in both with positive results.

 

[Klutch9]

Good to know. I like the XtraVisions a lot too.

 

[sciphi]

You could get Osram NightBreakers in H11. They're about double what XtraVisions would run, however.

http://store.candlepower.com/bconibr90ulh5.html

 

[ffhdriver]

Check the headlight aiming. Instructions are in the owners manual. Fusions seem to come from the factory set low. It made a nice difference when I aimed mine.

 

[sciphi]

Originally Posted By: ffhdriver
Check the headlight aiming. Instructions are in the owners manual. Fusions seem to come from the factory set low. It made a nice difference when I aimed mine.


Both the Chevy and Honda came from the factory with the headlamps functionally useless due to improper aim. After adjusting they made the headlamps quite usable with regular bulbs.

 

[HTSS_TR]

I agree with the above. First check and adjust if it's needed, then buy Osram Night Breakers if it's still not what you like.

 

[Nick R]

Originally Posted By: sciphi
Originally Posted By: ffhdriver
Check the headlight aiming. Instructions are in the owners manual. Fusions seem to come from the factory set low. It made a nice difference when I aimed mine.


Both the Chevy and Honda came from the factory with the headlamps functionally useless due to improper aim. After adjusting they made the headlamps quite usable with regular bulbs.


The headlights need adjusted, really? Hmmmm. Hadn't thought to check, assumed that they would be correctly aimed from the factory.

 

[The Critic]

Buy a set of H9 bulbs, an exacto knife, and metal snippers. Modify the H9 bulbs to fit into the H11 sockets. The light output will nearly double. Just keep spare sets on hand...

 

[UG_Passat]

Originally Posted By: The Critic
Buy a set of H9 bulbs, an exacto knife, and metal snippers. Modify the H9 bulbs to fit into the H11 sockets. The light output will nearly double. Just keep spare sets on hand...


this.

2100 lumens from an H9 bulb. Very easy to do the modification.

 

[sciphi]

Originally Posted By: Nick R
Originally Posted By: sciphi
Originally Posted By: ffhdriver
Check the headlight aiming. Instructions are in the owners manual. Fusions seem to come from the factory set low. It made a nice difference when I aimed mine.


Both the Chevy and Honda came from the factory with the headlamps functionally useless due to improper aim. After adjusting they made the headlamps quite usable with regular bulbs.


The headlights need adjusted, really? Hmmmm. Hadn't thought to check, assumed that they would be correctly aimed from the factory.


Mine definitely weren't. They were all sorts of useless. An adjustment of about 2" up at 25 feet was a good compromise between seeing further on low beam, high beam aim, and not blinding folks. I adjusted them higher, but the high beams became useless so I adjusted them down to the compromise between good range on lows and useful high beams. I'm still undecided between a spendy HID projector retrofit (Morimoto Mini H1's) or just getting XtraVisions and living with it.