Before I get flamed, I have done tons of research and now I am confused more than ever :noidea:. LED vs HID.... can't really find a straight answer. So many opinions. Would like to upgrade my factory light bulbs but now I'm not sure which way to go. What is your HONEST opinion... go with HID or LED?
Confusion about headlights and fog lights
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lyodbraun
New member
I have LED from lasfit.com and couldn’t be happier they work for my needs very bright and don’t have any issues with oncoming traffic flashing me.. this is what I’m using 2014-2020 Toyota 4Runner LED Headlight Exterior Interior Bulbs-LASFIT - Lasfit Auto Lighting good luck I spent a lot of time as well in what works best and it’s a definitely a hard decision, I based mine on price and performance for me didn’t want to spend a bunch of money and not be happy..
SpeedyKevin
New member
Try the H9 bulbs. Pretty good output
3rd Gen HID vs LED vs Halogen H11 projector headlights | Tacoma World
3rd Gen HID vs LED vs Halogen H11 projector headlights | Tacoma World
ForRun
New member
H9 - ~14 bucks and better than $1,100 drop ins
Headlight before/after comparisons
Headlight before/after comparisons
I ended up putting in the GTR Ultra 2s and couldn't be happier.
I was in the same boat. While I think the best thing to do is that HID conversion (you'll get way more responses to this thread soon all about what is better etc etc) but if all you want is something better than stock as well as not worrying about conversion kits and all that, the Ultra 2s are awesome.
I also put in Diode Dynamics SSE Pro Amber fog lights and WOW, what a difference!
I was in the same boat. While I think the best thing to do is that HID conversion (you'll get way more responses to this thread soon all about what is better etc etc) but if all you want is something better than stock as well as not worrying about conversion kits and all that, the Ultra 2s are awesome.
I also put in Diode Dynamics SSE Pro Amber fog lights and WOW, what a difference!
Hans Moleman
New member
I have Morimoto 2stoke led and the throw is terrible. The width is great though.
KingPrat
New member
I just bought an HID kit from TRS. We'll give it a go and see how it is.
I have been back and forth on them but I don't like the idea of not being able to close the dust cover with the LED bulb cooling fans. I've also read a lot of mixed reviews when it comes to actual light output from LEDs and etc.
We shall see
I have been back and forth on them but I don't like the idea of not being able to close the dust cover with the LED bulb cooling fans. I've also read a lot of mixed reviews when it comes to actual light output from LEDs and etc.
We shall see
victormartin01
New member
According to me LED is clear winner here, because of many reasons, as light intensity for halogen and HID (High Intensity Discharge) is quite weak, while LED bulbs have a very tightly focused beam.
In recent years, halogens and HIDs have been preferred among many manufacturers, but nowadays, LED headlights are becoming popular and new standard for headlights because of improvements in LED technology.
In recent years, halogens and HIDs have been preferred among many manufacturers, but nowadays, LED headlights are becoming popular and new standard for headlights because of improvements in LED technology.
A10MileHusker
New member
I'm sure [MENTION=208721]mynameistory[/MENTION] has an input
i concur - i had the same until i switched to gtr lighting ultra 2 earlier this year. such a huge improvement.
KingPrat
New member
This is true if you're using an LED-specific housing/projector. Not sure how they perform in our halogen projectors. I think some of the new ones are getting better but to say that as matter-of-fact as you have is a bit misleading here.
REALLY interesting read if you have 15 minutes to go through.
3rd Gen HID vs LED vs Halogen H11 projector headlights | Tacoma World
SpeedyKevin
New member
I tried his recommendations (h11 ones) and was pleased with the results. I drive around Yosemite a lot and the GE 120s were a nice change.
Eagle62
Member
I think if you took a poll on this forum, HID for low beams and LED for highs and fogs would be the best choice for the headlight housings we have - and I mean the 2014 - current.
I experimented with the H9 low and 9011 high conversion and while it does improve visibility, it also increases current draw - albeit marginally.
After that, I tried LEDs in my low beams and they were a disaster. Maybe there are more companies out there building bulbs specifically for our headlight housing now and they may have improved on it. Issue is, our low beam projectors weren't designed to direct-fit a LED bulb - unless one is custom designed to fit our housing. When I tried the LEDs, I lost all side lighting on the road and visibility was dismal at best. Again, this technology is improving everyday, so it may be worth researching.
I ultimately decided to go HID for low beams and I was very reluctant at first but after I installed my xenon depot kit, I definitely noticed a great improvement over the stock setup. One word of caution, Xenon Depot's customer service left a lot to be desired when I ordered my kit, not sure if they've gotten their act together now.
As for high beams, I went with LEDs and ordered a set of DDM Tuning 50W 9005 LED bulbs - intense bright light when you need it. For fogs, I installed a set of Diode Dynamics H11 XP80 LED bulbs and they have been outstanding.
I'm very happy with the above setup, although I'm sure in the future I'll be looking into LED sets for my low beams, since this technology is developing at a very fast pace and I think some good products will become available for our trucks. HID is an aging technology but in our headlight housings, I've come to realize it is the best aftermarket option. For now, I'm good with what I have and I've had no issues whatsoever and am definitely enjoying night driving again.
I experimented with the H9 low and 9011 high conversion and while it does improve visibility, it also increases current draw - albeit marginally.
After that, I tried LEDs in my low beams and they were a disaster. Maybe there are more companies out there building bulbs specifically for our headlight housing now and they may have improved on it. Issue is, our low beam projectors weren't designed to direct-fit a LED bulb - unless one is custom designed to fit our housing. When I tried the LEDs, I lost all side lighting on the road and visibility was dismal at best. Again, this technology is improving everyday, so it may be worth researching.
I ultimately decided to go HID for low beams and I was very reluctant at first but after I installed my xenon depot kit, I definitely noticed a great improvement over the stock setup. One word of caution, Xenon Depot's customer service left a lot to be desired when I ordered my kit, not sure if they've gotten their act together now.
As for high beams, I went with LEDs and ordered a set of DDM Tuning 50W 9005 LED bulbs - intense bright light when you need it. For fogs, I installed a set of Diode Dynamics H11 XP80 LED bulbs and they have been outstanding.
I'm very happy with the above setup, although I'm sure in the future I'll be looking into LED sets for my low beams, since this technology is developing at a very fast pace and I think some good products will become available for our trucks. HID is an aging technology but in our headlight housings, I've come to realize it is the best aftermarket option. For now, I'm good with what I have and I've had no issues whatsoever and am definitely enjoying night driving again.
Any idea how the stock projectors with HID compare with a retrofit such as OEM HID Projector Retrofit Product & Service Specialists ?
mynameistory
New member
Unless you're doing a proper retrofit, don't bother with either. (A true retrofit means that you graft the optics, power circuit, and light sources from another set of headlights). LED or HID headlights should be completely designed from the ground up- not Frankenstein'd and mashed into a halogen projector.
1. All LED bulbs are junk- I say this with complete conviction. The vast majority of them don't even shine further than your factory H11 halogen bulbs. Notice I said further- not brighter. No matter how efficient an LED emitter is, the power circuitry and heatsink required to operate them means that they cannot physically shrink down to a size that emulates a halogen filament. This tiny focal point of light is what the projector uses to throw light far down the road. LED boards can't shrink down this far- and so their focus suffers. Imagine riding a bike and only looking at the front tire- that's what having drop-in LED bulbs is like.
2. HID kits are better. The small capsules that are ignited with electric current are much better at emulating a halogen filament, so the focus is fine. However, there are a few drawbacks to them that made me decide against them:
All of these reasons are why I decided to stick to halogen bulbs. They may not be the best, but they are what your truck was designed for. There are plenty of performance options discussed in that Tacomaworld thread above. Please do your research.
For fog lights, the best thing is to opt for an entire bucket replacement if you do LED. There is a shootout thread here, but I'll spoil it for you- the SS3 by Diode Dynamics spanks them all.
The LED SAE J583 Fog Pod & Fog Light Review | Tacoma World
1. All LED bulbs are junk- I say this with complete conviction. The vast majority of them don't even shine further than your factory H11 halogen bulbs. Notice I said further- not brighter. No matter how efficient an LED emitter is, the power circuitry and heatsink required to operate them means that they cannot physically shrink down to a size that emulates a halogen filament. This tiny focal point of light is what the projector uses to throw light far down the road. LED boards can't shrink down this far- and so their focus suffers. Imagine riding a bike and only looking at the front tire- that's what having drop-in LED bulbs is like.
2. HID kits are better. The small capsules that are ignited with electric current are much better at emulating a halogen filament, so the focus is fine. However, there are a few drawbacks to them that made me decide against them:
- Kit construction - no reputable company makes HID bulbs that fit into halogen headlights, so they're completely made out of spare parts that are mashed together. Anyone who says their kits are made by Philips or Osram is full of shit. You'll also have to drill holes in your dust caps to fit all the extra junk.
- Ballast issues- I still haven't met or heard from anyone with problem-free ballasts. Sooner or later (and likely when it's the least convenient), the majority of these cheapo kits have a ballast burn up, leaving you with a paperweight instead of a headlight.
- Parts availability - if (and when) a ballast burns up or a bulb fizzles out, you'll need to replace it. Even if the company in question has great customer service and a stellar return policy (spoiler alert: they don't) you'll need to spend a few weeks returning your dead parts for new ones. They don't carry this stuff in auto parts stores.
- Excess glare- all headlights are designed to have a small amount of light "leak" above the horizontal cutoff. This is done intentionally in order to gently illuminate traffic signs, which are reflective. When you add a light source that is several times brighter than the stock one, this "uplight" can be too bright- distracting and dazzling other drivers. This is why some HID users report being flashed by other drivers, even when their lights are aimed correctly.
- Heat output- lastly, halogen bulbs put out a lot of infrared light as wasted heat. This helps the headlights from icing over in snowy weather. HID bulbs only put out a fraction of this infrared light, making them more susceptible to freezing over and requiring hand clearing (LED bulbs have no heat- factory LED headlights are often electrically heated to prevent this).
All of these reasons are why I decided to stick to halogen bulbs. They may not be the best, but they are what your truck was designed for. There are plenty of performance options discussed in that Tacomaworld thread above. Please do your research.
For fog lights, the best thing is to opt for an entire bucket replacement if you do LED. There is a shootout thread here, but I'll spoil it for you- the SS3 by Diode Dynamics spanks them all.
The LED SAE J583 Fog Pod & Fog Light Review | Tacoma World
