If your 2007 sti headlights are looking a little foggy these days, it's probably time to give them some attention before you're stuck squinting at the road during a midnight run. The "Hawkeye" design is arguably one of the most iconic looks Subaru ever produced, but those plastic housings haven't exactly aged like fine wine. Between the sun beating down on the lenses and the heat from the high-intensity discharge (HID) bulbs inside, most of these cars are starting to show their age right where it hurts the most—the eyes.
It's a bit of a bummer because a crisp set of headlights really defines the front of the GD-chassis. When they're clear, the car looks aggressive and modern. When they're yellowed and hazy, the whole car just looks tired. If you're looking to refresh your front end, you basically have three paths: restore what you've got, buy some aftermarket replacements, or go down the rabbit hole of a custom retrofit.
Why They Fade and How to Fix It
Let's be real—the main enemy of your 2007 sti headlights is the sun. Subaru used a polycarbonate lens with a UV coating that was great back in 2007, but after fifteen-plus years of sitting in driveways or bake-ovens (also known as parking lots), that coating is toast. It starts to flake off, and then the plastic underneath oxidizes, turning that gross yellowish-brown color.
If the internal components of your lights are still good—meaning the ballasts work and the reflectors aren't burnt—restoration is the cheapest way to go. You've probably seen those "magic" wipes or toothpaste tricks online, but honestly, don't waste your time. If you want them to look new, you've got to get in there with some sandpaper.
I usually start with 800 grit and work my way up to 2000 or 3000 grit, wet-sanding the whole time. Once you've polished them back to a shine with a high-speed buffer, the most important step is a new UV clear coat. If you don't seal them, they'll be yellow again in three months. A lot of guys use a dedicated 2K clear spray, which is a bit of a project but gives you a finish that actually lasts.
The OEM Replacement Nightmare
If your lights are cracked or the internal wiring is fried, you might start looking for brand-new OEM replacements. This is where you might want to sit down before checking the price tag. Genuine 2007 sti headlights from a dealership are eye-wateringly expensive. Because the STI came factory with HID projectors and a manual leveling motor—unlike the WRX of the same year which had halogens—the housings are specialized pieces of equipment.
Finding a "clean" set of used ones on forums or marketplace is getting harder by the day. Most of them are either as beat up as yours or the sellers want a small fortune for them. If you do find a pair, make sure they actually come from an STI. While the 2006 and 2007 WRX headlights look similar from the outside, the internal mounting for the ballasts and the wiring harness are different. You don't want to buy a pair of WRX housings only to realize your STI ballasts won't bolt up without a bunch of "jerry-rigging."
Going Aftermarket: Is It Worth It?
This is where things get a little controversial in the Subaru community. You'll see plenty of aftermarket 2007 sti headlights on eBay or Amazon for a fraction of the cost of OEM units. They often come with fancy LED strips, "halo" rings, or smoked lenses.
While they look cool in the pictures, the build quality can be hit or miss. The biggest issue is usually the optics. The projectors in cheap aftermarket lights often have a terrible beam pattern. You might end up with "hot spots" on the road or, worse, you'll be blinding oncoming traffic because the cut-off line is about as sharp as a butter knife.
Also, watch out for seals. Cheaper lights are notorious for leaking. There's nothing more frustrating than spending a Saturday afternoon pulling your bumper off to install new lights, only to have them fog up the first time it rains. If you go this route, a lot of guys recommend running a bead of high-quality silicone around the housing seam before you even install them just to be safe.
The Retrofit Route for Maximum Light
If you're the kind of person who wants the best possible performance and doesn't mind getting your hands dirty, a retrofit is the way to go. This involves taking your 2007 sti headlights, putting them in the oven (yes, really), and baking them just enough to soften the glue so you can pull the lenses off.
Once you're inside, you can swap out the aging factory projectors for something modern, like a Morimoto or a Hella unit. These modern projectors throw a much wider, more intense beam of light. While you've got the housings open, it's also the perfect time to do the "blackout" mod. Painting the chrome internal shrouds matte or satin black gives the Hawkeye a much meaner, more "S204" inspired look.
It's a nerve-wracking process the first time you do it—putting $500+ headlights in a preheated oven feels wrong on so many levels—but the results are usually worth it. Just make sure you use fresh butyl rubber sealant when you put them back together so you don't end up with a goldfish bowl in your front end.
Dealing with Ballasts and Moisture
Since the 2007 STI uses an HID system, you've got more to worry about than just a burnt-out bulb. The ballasts are mounted on the bottom of the headlight housing. This was a bit of a design flaw, honestly. If the seals on your lights fail and moisture gets inside, the water naturally drains to the lowest point—which happens to be exactly where the expensive electronics live.
If one of your headlights suddenly stops working, don't just go out and buy a new D2S bulb. Switch the bulbs from side to side first. If the problem stays on the same side, your ballast is likely toast. You can find aftermarket ballasts that are way cheaper than OEM, but you might need to do some minor soldering or buy a patch harness to get them to play nice with the factory wiring.
While you're at it, check the "leveler" motors. The STI has a little dial on the dash that lets you aim the headlights up or down. These motors can seize up if they aren't used for years. It's worth clicking the dial through its range every once in a while just to keep the gears moving.
Wrapping It All Up
Keeping your 2007 sti headlights in top shape is one of those maintenance tasks that pays off every time you drive at night. Whether you decide to spend a weekend sanding and polishing your original lenses or you decide to go all-in on a custom projector retrofit, the difference in visibility is massive.
The Hawkeye is a special car, and it deserves to have that sharp, focused stare that it had when it rolled off the lot back in '07. Just remember to take your time with the clips on the front bumper—those things love to snap, and nobody wants a saggy bumper just because they were in a rush to see better at night. Take it slow, do it right, and your Subaru will look (and see) a whole lot better.