Best H3 fog bulb

[CDNsurf]

Alright so I searched and got some mixed results.

I'm looking and upgrading my current fog lights (headlight matched white) to a yellow fog (2500k-3000k).

Options

HIDS - I've considered a 35w 3000k but I'm not sure if I want to mess around with that.

LEDs- anyone tried this route? Some vendors carry a yellow led not sure on the results.

Halgoens- from what I gathered the Norkya and PIAA 55w yellows seem to be the best.

Thanks in advanced!

 

[Unner]

I've got the Hella Optilux H3's in my fogs and they are a great shade of yellow. I was very impressed by them. I think I paid like $13 on amazon. This is the only picture I really have of them, and it was taken during the day. I can try and remember to grab one at night tonight. They look great when I pull up to the garage door. They make a lot of light and it is very yellow.

 

[4Runner4TW]

I've been wanting the same thing. This is great thank you!

 

[THatfield]

x2 on the Optilux. They are the only bulbs I'll run in my fogs.

IMGP0643 by THatfield95, on Flickr

 

[CDNsurf]

x2 on the Optilux. They are the only bulbs I'll run in my fogs.

IMGP0643 by THatfield95, on Flickr

Awesome those look good! Thanks.

I'm leaning towards the Halgoens right now.

Keep them coming! and if any LED applications have been used.

 

[THatfield]

Be sure to AIM your factory fogs up the road! Mine were pointing way too low when I bought it from the PO, just illuminating the ground a few feet in front of the truck, might have just drifted down over the past 12 years. Turned the adjusting crews (alot) and now puts a good amount of usable light on the road for a factory projector fog.

this. mine are all jacked up since i've been fiddling with them (actually need new bulbs). I'll be sure to give them the aim treatment!

 

[BrianSD_42]

KC Headlight $12 130W bulb

http://www.amazon.com/KC-HiLiTES-2766-130w-Halogen/dp/B0002MADZ8/

I've had them in for 2 years now, actually its lasted 2x as long as the much more expensive PIAA bulbs I had before.

I run them in my PIAA Fog Lights and it has never been a problem.

 

[BrianSD_42]

Yikes, 130W says the package. Don't put those in the *factory* projector housings unless blown fuses, dead relays, and possibly melted wiring or lamp housings are your thing. Those are designed for a much larger lamp housing with better thermal dissipation.

Ummm the fuse would blow if there is any major risk. I wouldn't worry about Burnt wiring. But of course I am not running a stock housing or wiring so I am not worried. I have PIAA housings.

As far as PIAA Plasma Bulbs go.... I've had them as well and have since decided:
1) they barely last 2 years even if the lights are only used once ever two months. It is as if they just vibrate apart after 18 months.
2) they are ridiculously overpriced
3) most of the text you posted is just marketing hype

 

[BrianSD_42]

I would also say that the local 4x4 shop only had $12 KC Lights H3 bulbs or PIAA hyper super something something bulbs that were (not joking) $80 a pair.

That is when I switched over.

Previously I had always run PIAA bulbs.

 

[CDNsurf]

Alright here is a list of the current H3 bulbs being discussed about in decreasing price (not sure if the prices are different as they are in CDN)

PIAA 13556 H3 Style Plasma Ion Crystal Yellow ($67 for both free shipping)

http://www.amazon.ca/PIAA-13556-Pla...8&qid=1422551087&sr=8-10&keywords=H3+fog+bulb

NOKYA Hyper Yellow H3 55w ($22.94+18.95 shipping for both)

http://www.amazon.ca/NOKYA-Hyper-Ye...id=1422551157&sr=8-1-spell&keywords=H3+Norkya

KC HiLiTES 2766 130w H3 ($19.29 for both free shipping)

http://www.amazon.ca/KC-HiLiTES-276...e=UTF8&qid=1422565591&sr=8-40&keywords=H3+fog

Optilux H71070662 XY Series H3 12V/55W Xenon Yellow ($17.08 for both free shipping)

http://www.amazon.ca/Optilux-H71070...TF8&qid=1422551224&sr=8-1&keywords=H3+Optilux​

So there is obviously a big price difference here, any comments on longevity?

 

[CDNsurf]

BrianSD and I shared a few comments in two posts above. If you're wheeling hard grinding the front end into stuff go with the cheapies. If mostly street use, different situation. Bulb reliability seems to be like people reliability where ymmv is usually the deal. Scour the Amazon reviews (and other sites) for comments.

Right I must have skipped over that when making the last post:tsk:

Yeah I think I had some PIAA's in my Jetta and with the car being so low and the roads being terrible here, they didn't last to long with the constant jolts. Like you said I bet everyones experience of the bulbs are different depending on the use. Thanks!

 

[Mgyver1]

I'm wondering if anyone has put a 3000k HID bulb in there yet. I've thought about doing that plus putting yellow film over the glass (Hella sells it), but I'm wanting to use mine as a dust light so they wouldn't be on regularly.

 

[CDNsurf]

I'm wondering if anyone has put a 3000k HID bulb in there yet. I've thought about doing that plus putting yellow film over the glass (Hella sells it), but I'm wanting to use mine as a dust light so they wouldn't be on regularly.

See here

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-gen-t4rs/146978-[how-]-sealed-hid-factory-fog-lights.html

I was pretty close to buying a 3000k 35w kit from DDM but I'm not sure if I want to go that route yet, makes it a bit of a pain to go back to halogens down the road.

 

[BrianSD_42]

KC Headlight $12 130W bulb

http://www.amazon.com/KC-HiLiTES-2766-130w-Halogen/dp/B0002MADZ8/

I've had them in for 2 years now, actually its lasted 2x as long as the much more expensive PIAA bulbs I had before.

I run them in my PIAA Fog Lights and it has never been a problem.

You forgot to put these in your list

 

[CDNsurf]

You forgot to put these in your list

Too me a bit to find them on the CDN version of Amazon but the list is updated.:eyebrows:

Won't I run into issues with these in the factory fog with factory wiring as they are 130W?

 

[BrianSD_42]

Not sure but they also make a 100w version if you would like.

 

[CDNsurf]

So after some more research, I decided to go with the moderately priced H3 yellow fogs - Nokya H3 Hyper Yellow.

Got them for $32 shipped from eBay instead of Amazon, will post results once they come in and get installed.

Looking forward to them!

On the side note: I decided to get some Amber LED's for my clear corners, I think the two will look awesome together.

 

[ben6parker]

i purchased H3 leds, not what i expected and low light compared to halogen bulbs, i also didn't research well (this time) probly doing the 5000k hid mod in the near future

 

[BrianSD_42]

5000 and 6000 bulbs put out less LIGHT than 4000 bulbs.

 

[Unner]

UPDATE: I posted in this thread about the Hella Optilux bulbs. I loved the amber color they had, but I had one burn out on me just a day or so ago, and they were only in there since January. I think this time I will be putting in some regular halogens unfortunately because I like to run with my fog lights on and apparently these Hella's don't last very long.