For your situation, I'd definitely lean toward a high-quality brand like Diode Dynamics SL1 LED Headlight Bulbs H11. I've spent a lot of time testing different setups on Subarus, and while budget options like Sealight S1 Series H11 LED Bulbs are okay for city driving, they often lack the precise optical engineering needed for the Legacy's projector housings. Honestly, cheaper bulbs can scatter light, which ruins that crisp cut-off line you're looking for and might blind others—something we definitely want to avoid.

In my experience, Morimoto 2Stroke 3.0 H11 LED Bulbs are another fantastic, reliable choice because they're specifically designed to mimic a halogen filament's position. This ensures the beam pattern stays safe and focused. Regarding the dust covers, it's a tight squeeze in the 2017 Legacy, but the SL1s are very compact and usually fit without needing those bulky extended caps. FWIW, spending the extra $50 now prevents the headache of flickering or dashboard codes later. Good luck with the install!

I totally get the frustration—driving those dark backroads with stock halogens in a 2017 Legacy can honestly feel a bit sketchy. Since safety and a clean cutoff are your top priorities, I really have to suggest being careful with the super cheap Amazon sets. In my experience, those often scatter light everywhere and end up blinding people, which is exactly what you're trying to avoid!

For your $100-$150 budget, I'd highly recommend looking at the Morimoto 2Stroke 3.0 H11 LED Bulbs. They are specifically designed to mimic the filament of a halogen bulb, which means they work BEAUTIFULLY with the Legacy's projector housings to keep that crisp cutoff line. Another solid middle-ground option that won't break the bank but offers great reliability is the Hikari UltraFocus H11 LED Bulbs.

Regarding the dust covers, it's definitely a tight squeeze in there! Some guys end up buying extended rubber caps, but the 2Stroke 3.0s are usually compact enough to fit. Just make sure to tuck the wiring harness neatly to the side so the fan can breathe. Also, FWIW, make sure the LED chips are facing 3 and 9 o'clock once installed—if they're tilted, your beam pattern will look wonky. Honestly, the difference in the "throw" of the light is like night and day compared to the yellow stock bulbs. Good luck with the swap!

Hmm, I've had a different experience when it comes to the Legacy housing! While the premium brands mentioned are amazing, I'd actually suggest a different approach for a first-timer worried about fitment. I'm still learning the ropes, but I’ve found that the GTR Lighting Ultra 2.0 H11 LED Bulbs are fantastic because they have a super thin PCB that mimics a halogen filament perfectly. This helps get that sharp cutoff you're looking for!

Another awesome technical option is the Morimoto 2Stroke 3.0 H11 LED Bulbs. They’re unique because they actually use the car's own fan to pull air through the housing—it’s seriously cool tech!

1. **GTR Ultra 2.0**: Amazing light density, but a bit pricey.
2. **Morimoto 2Stroke**: Best for tight dust covers because of the internal cooling design!

Honestly, I love the 2Strokes for Subarus since the Legacy's weather seals are notoriously tight. Does your 2017 have the factory projector lenses? That really changes how the throw looks! Hope this helps!

Honestly, I totally get the frustration with those stock Legacy halogens. Driving at night shouldn't feel like a guessing game! I’ve tried a few different setups on my own Subie, and unfortunately, I’ve had some pretty disappointing experiences with those super cheap Amazon sets—they often flicker or have a terrible beam pattern that just scatters light everywhere.

For your situation, if you want to stay within that $100-$150 range but still get "premium" performance, I’d actually suggest looking at the Morimoto 2Stroke 3.0 H11 LED Bulbs. I know you mentioned seeing the brand, but these are specifically designed to mimic a halogen filament, which is HUGE for maintaining that crisp cut-off line in your projector housings. They also have a unique internal fan that actually blows warm air back onto the lens to help with de-icing in winter, which is a cool bonus.

Another solid mid-range option I've used is the Hikari UltraFocus H11 LED Bulbs. They’re usually around $90-$100 and have a really slim design. Fitment is ALWAYS a tight squeeze with the Legacy weather seals, but these tucked in much better than the bulky budget brands. Just a tip: when you're installing them, make sure the LED chips are facing 3 and 9 o'clock exactly. If they're tilted, your beam pattern will be TRASH and you'll definitely blind people. It’s a bit of a pain to get your hands in there, but it’s worth the effort for that clean white look! Hope this helps you out!

Ive been running LEDs in my 2017 for a few years now and honestly, you dont always have to spend the full 150 dollars to get a solid result. Ive tried a few setups and found that fitment is usually the biggest headache with our dust covers. I really like the HIKARI Ultra Focus H11 LED Bulbs for long-term use. The beam pattern is super focused, which is exactly what you need for the Legacys projectors to keep that sharp cutoff line. Ive had mine in for two winters and they are still going strong without any flickering. Another one to consider is the AUXITO H11 LED Bulbs 20000LM. These are great because they are basically 1:1 in size compared to the stock halogens, so you dont have to worry about the cooling fan hitting the back of the weather seal. They are super bright tho, maybe even a bit overkill for city driving, but perfect for those dark backroads you mentioned. If youre really worried about fan failure inside a sealed housing, the BEAMTECH H11 LED Bulbs are a fanless option. They arent quite as bright as the Hikaris, but they are totally silent and usually last longer since there are no moving parts to break. Just make sure you tuck the wiring neatly so it doesnt get pinched when you twist the cap back on.

I have been running various setups on my Subie for years, and the long-term ownership experience is quite different from the initial install impressions. One thing that gets overlooked is the color temperature. While 6000K looks cool and modern, iirc 5000K is actually much better for those dark backroads, especially when it is raining or snowing. The SV.4 LED Bulbs are my top pick for this because they offer a much more natural white light that does not wash out the road texture like the cheaper, bluer sets do. The 2017 Legacy projectors are decent, but they are very sensitive to the light source position. You need to make sure your bulbs have an adjustable heat sink collar so you can align the chips perfectly at the 3 and 9 o clock positions. Without that, your beam pattern will have huge hot spots and shadows regardless of the brand you buy. Tbh, if you do not index them correctly, you will lose a lot of that actual light throw you are looking for. Ngl, the space behind the weather seals is a real pain. If you want to avoid heat soak issues two years down the road, I highly suggest picking up some larger Universal LED Dust Covers. It gives the cooling fans enough room to actually circulate air instead of just spinning hot air around in a tiny enclosure.

• Focus on 5000K for better depth perception
• Use adjustable collars for a perfect cutoff
• Upgrade to deeper dust covers to prevent premature bulb failure It really changes the car, just make sure you aim the housings properly after the swap so you are not that guy blinding everyone on the road.

Bookmarked, thanks!

Honestly, doing the swap yourself on a 2017 is totally doable if you have even a little bit of mechanical skill, but the real technical hurdle is heat dissipation inside that sealed housing. I've seen so many DIY installs fail because the heat sinks just can't breathe behind the dust covers. If youre going to do this yourself, you need to focus on how the thermal management is handled. Basically, here is what I would suggest looking into:
* Go with XenonDepot, you can't go wrong with there driver designs.
* Just get any of the newer fanless or compact options from Lasfit if you're worried about the tight squeeze.
* Check out the stuff from Hikari if you want a decent balance of tech and price. Anyway, don't pay a pro to do this—Subaru's are pretty easy to work on. Just make sure you check the clocking of the LEDs once they're in. If they aren't perfectly vertical, your beam pattern will be TRASH.