2017+ headlights upgrade for 2013-2016 models?
 

I was looking for and unable to find any images of 2017+ 86 headlights installed on an FR-S, nor any posts involving the retrofitting facelift lights to the earlier models. I realize that pin reconfiguration would be required, but can't find out if the newer parts even fit with an older front fascia.

Yes it's been done plenty of times.


No parts required other than potentially headlight brackets

I'm not an expert as I've never done it, but my understanding is that the only thing needed is converting the 8 pin harness on the 2017+ lights to a 6 pin harness that most if not all pre-2017 cars had. Special editions or BRZs may have had an 8 pin - I'm sure someone else will chime in on that.


Someone here on the forums used to sell a 6 pin to 8 pin adapter. You can also find them on eBay, but if you want something quality (remember, you're playing with the electronics on a fairly expensive device) you're probably best off pinning it yourself. There are threads here that point out what pins go to what.

Not that it's difficult to do, but doesn't saying this is "quality" assume everyone knows how to properly pin an electronic device? I'm not sure I'd refer to my first couple of attempts at pinning something "quality". :)

I installed new 2017+ 86 headlights on my FR-S last month because my old Winjets had become yellow and scratched. I did not need any special brackets.

However, I ran into a couple of issues, one of which I still need to correct.

I made the mistake of buying a 6pin/8pin adapter from eBay that claimed to be plug-and-play for 86 headlights on the FR-S:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/234974462311 Do NOT buy this unless you want headaches.

The truth was that the DRLs would only come on if side-indicator / parking lights were on and NOT if you took the car out of park without any other lights on. On the adapter I bought, it was just sending power from the side-indicator / parking light wire from the turn signal connector to the DRL.

Remember that on the FR-S the factory headlight uses a single bulb for both DRL and high beam. It just sends less power to the bulb when in DRL mode than in high-beam mode.

I modified the adapter so that the DRL and high beam pins on the 8pin connector would get power from the same DRL / High beam wire from the FR-S' 4 pin headlight connector.

In DRL-mode, just the DRLs come on. In high-beam mode, both come on. I'm not sure if that's consistent with how the 86 behaves (probably not), but it's better than before. I admit that I never bothered to check what voltage the DRLs on the new headlights require. It's entirely possible that the FR-S is going to send too much and burn-out the LEDs, especially if I leave the high-beams on too long.

So there's just one more problem left. My fog lights don't work anymore. I didn't realize it and didn't think to inspect all of the wires on the adapter and test the fogs until after I had put the bumper back on. The issue is that if you have the OEM fog lights, those lights share a common 4-pin connector with the turn signal light just above it. The adapter did not pass-through the fog-light wire.

To fix the fogs, I *think* I might be able to get enough access to the adapter to make modifications via the wheel well liner behind the bumper so I won't have to take the bumper off again, but I've been too lazy to try. It's something that might wait until just before I have to get an inspection sticker next year.