[Kokoman78]

Thinking on switching from stock to LEDs. .. few questions though, if I switch to LEDs will it void Warren at all??? Also I see that some LEDs are over $200 and some are like $50.. are the cheaper ones worth buying??? Do they die out in a yr even though they say 30,000 hours?? Anyone know??

[riceandpho]

dont do the led plug and play for headlights, retrofit with led projectors if your year can take it. i still suggest using hid projectors instead.

[philsey]

Gee, if only there were some headlight threads ...

[Kokoman78]

I don't see a headlight thread... anyhoo this is general discussion so figured this was the best place to post

[Kokoman78]

What's wrong with the plug n play???

[SendInTheCavalry]

LED bulbs are very direction in general. When you put a bulb like that into a projector it just compounds the problem. If you have ever seem a quality LED flashlight, the lens/reflector have been finely tuned specifically for the diode.

If you want increased lighting, a HID drop in kit is the way to go. Some "lighting purists" will tell you dont do that either. It isnt ideal but with some aiming I think works good.

[Kokoman78]

What's HID????

[Jeffy]

Originally Posted by Kokoman78

What's HID????

HID projector

[Kokoman78]

Just looked .. HIDs I would have to drill shit and mount shit and lots of wires... do they look as cool as leds?? That whitish blue look???

[rihavens]

What they are trying to tell you is that simply changing the bulbs will not necessarily make the lights "brighter." Engineers have spent a considerable amount of time figuring out the light pattern that will be projected from a certain light placement. Stock headlight bulbs cast a pattern inside the housing, that is reflected out through the lens. If you install an LED bulb, it will be in a different position in the housing and cast light in different directions.

Most of the whiteish blue lights you see out there are likely HID, not LED. HID requires a power source for the ballasts and some different wiring. People prefer them as they are brighter. Also, I have seen some LED lights will melt the housing it is inserted into. Which ones, I cannot tell you.

Now if you want HID's and do not have a projector housing, you can retrofit a projector into a headlight. Putting any HID or LED retrofit into a vehicle is questionable with DOT, but generally, no one will bother you. You are less likely to get bothered if you do the projector upgrade. As mentioned earlier, simply changing out the bulb will create a different light pattern. It will be blindingly bright unless it is properly managed. While you may "look cool" with the white-blue light, you are putting yourself and others in danger if someone loses control.

5th Gen HID / Projector retrofit installation (pics).

ALSO, learn how to search the forums. I only responded to this in the off chance someone searches and finds this post.

[mrblah]

To the OP, I wouldn't buy a thing until you understand the difference between a HID system, vs LED bulbs vs Halogen bulbs.

They will all give you that blue ricer look that you crave, but only one of the above options will give you an increase in light output, and pretty much everyone is pretty much pointing you in the right direction (hint: HID).

[Ghostrider]

Originally Posted by mrblah

To the OP, I wouldn't buy a thing until you understand the difference between a HID system, vs LED bulbs vs Halogen bulbs.

They will all give you that blue ricer look that you crave, but only one of the above options will give you an increase in light output, and pretty much everyone is pretty much pointing you in the right direction (hint: HID).

and understand that some of the "solutions" are not legal in some areas. Granted the cops have to be very mad to actually enforce these laws but they do exist for a reason - the light patterns can blind other drivers.

[Kokoman78]

Guess I'll have to do some more research on which to buy... I just don't want to be changing lights all the time if they burn out .. whether they're hid or leds

[RAD4Runner]

Originally Posted by Kokoman78

... this is general discussion so figured this was the best place to post

Not really.

A headlight thread needs to be on the appropriate/specific generation thread because third-gens and later have proprietary housings that are a PITA to upgrade, while first-gens (and I think second-gens) can be upgraded in 20 minutes at a parking lot like I did with DOT-legit and plug-and-play Truck-Lites. Halogen vs LED Comparison on the first/second gen thread here.

Also need to remember that:
1) First to U.S. model (without DRL) third-gen headlight circuits are wired poorly; here and google "convoluted wiring 4crawler"). It is essential to fix that before upgrading bulbs.
2) Some (usually the cheaper non-legit LED headlights that a$$holes use to blind the gods) may not be plug-and-play because of polarity issues.

[philsey]

Originally Posted by philsey

Gee, if only there were some headlight threads in the 5th Gen section

Fixed it for me ...