I have a relatively new, to me, 2011 Subaru Forester X Premium, Japan-built for the US market, with stock halogen reflector headlamp assemblies and generic H11 and 9005 bulbs in low and high beams, respectively. It also has the fog lamp option, fitted with 9006 bulbs. The lamp assemblies are in good condition with no visible signs of polymer degradation (yet), but I find the low beams to be a bit inadequate, the highs acceptable, and the fogs just weirdly ineffective.
To the questions: I've seen conflicting information on this model, as to whether it has a reflector good enough to make the seemingly common H11-H9 swap without producing excessive glare. A years-old thread here mentioned that the 2010 model was unsafe with H9's, but the 2011 received a facelift, new grille, and new engine, and I'm unsure whether, among everything else, they also included headlamp updates. With the stock lamps on the 2011, can I safely make that upgrade? If not, is there a specific recommendation for a good H11 bulb nowadays?
I see no reason why the 9005 high beam bulbs couldn't be changed to a 9011 if I so desired, since glare isn't an issue with highs, and have found no conflicting information here or elsewhere. Nonetheless, I'd still like to know if my research and thinking is correct on that. I have no immediate plans to change them, because they work well enough, but I'd like to know if that's a reasonable upgrade anyway.
As far as the fog lights...is it me? Are mine particularly badly aimed, or are these sort of sad even for fog lights? They seem glare-y, very low and odd in light pattern, and not very effective in adding useful light. From my admittedly little testing, in fog, I can confirm that they do not help perceptibly (except possibly in visibility to oncoming traffic?) so their ostensible purpose is defeated right out of the factory. Is there any remedy for this, any aftermarket unit that could be swapped in without significant bumper modification, or is that just the way it is?
To the questions: I've seen conflicting information on this model, as to whether it has a reflector good enough to make the seemingly common H11-H9 swap without producing excessive glare. A years-old thread here mentioned that the 2010 model was unsafe with H9's, but the 2011 received a facelift, new grille, and new engine, and I'm unsure whether, among everything else, they also included headlamp updates. With the stock lamps on the 2011, can I safely make that upgrade? If not, is there a specific recommendation for a good H11 bulb nowadays?
I see no reason why the 9005 high beam bulbs couldn't be changed to a 9011 if I so desired, since glare isn't an issue with highs, and have found no conflicting information here or elsewhere. Nonetheless, I'd still like to know if my research and thinking is correct on that. I have no immediate plans to change them, because they work well enough, but I'd like to know if that's a reasonable upgrade anyway.
As far as the fog lights...is it me? Are mine particularly badly aimed, or are these sort of sad even for fog lights? They seem glare-y, very low and odd in light pattern, and not very effective in adding useful light. From my admittedly little testing, in fog, I can confirm that they do not help perceptibly (except possibly in visibility to oncoming traffic?) so their ostensible purpose is defeated right out of the factory. Is there any remedy for this, any aftermarket unit that could be swapped in without significant bumper modification, or is that just the way it is?