Has anyone tried out the new LED Headlights??

[Robb235]

I have a set of Lifetime LEDs from Southeast Overland on my 3rd gen. They're supposed to be 2,000 lumens for the lowbeams, and 2,600 lumens high beams. The low beams are fantastic. They're look just as good, if not better than HIDs. The beam pattern is wider than with the halogens, but it doesn't shine up into oncoming drivers' eyes either. However, I wasn't quite as impressed with the high beams. With as good as the low beams are, the high beams seemed lackluster, and just not very bright. I guess I was expecting the highbeams to blow the night away, but that wasn't the case. I've not done a comparison to the halogen highbeams.

I've also noticed some quirky things with these LED headlights. For one, it screws with my radio reception. I can have the radio going, and the station is coming in nice and clear, then turn the headlights on and the radio goes to static. I've also found that, for whatever reason, when I turn on the factory fog lights, it activates my highbeams. I don't know why. When I do activate my highbeams, it does not light up the blue light in the dash indicating that your brights are on. I think this is because the LEDs draw such a low amount of power that your 4Runner thinks the bulbs are burned out.

 

[BlackCat914]

Anybody know if they make a D2S style LED bulb for us that have projector retrofits? Can't find any.

 

[TheDurk]

I have a set of Lifetime LEDs from Southeast Overland on my 3rd gen. They're supposed to be 2,000 lumens for the lowbeams, and 2,600 lumens high beams. The low beams are fantastic. They're look just as good, if not better than HIDs. The beam pattern is wider than with the halogens, but it doesn't shine up into oncoming drivers' eyes either. However, I wasn't quite as impressed with the high beams. With as good as the low beams are, the high beams seemed lackluster, and just not very bright. I guess I was expecting the highbeams to blow the night away, but that wasn't the case. I've not done a comparison to the halogen highbeams.

I've also noticed some quirky things with these LED headlights. For one, it screws with my radio reception. I can have the radio going, and the station is coming in nice and clear, then turn the headlights on and the radio goes to static. I've also found that, for whatever reason, when I turn on the factory fog lights, it activates my highbeams. I don't know why. When I do activate my highbeams, it does not light up the blue light in the dash indicating that your brights are on. I think this is because the LEDs draw such a low amount of power that your 4Runner thinks the bulbs are burned out.

Whatever it is, it isn't this. If you study the EWD, the blue light is actually a LOW BEAMS OFF indicator, as strange as that may sound. So the low draw has nothing to do with it.

 

[Robb235]

Whatever it is, it isn't this. If you study the EWD, the blue light is actually a LOW BEAMS OFF indicator, as strange as that may sound. So the low draw has nothing to do with it.

That makes sense. The low beams do stay on when high beams are activated.

 

[TheDurk]

That makes sense. The low beams do stay on when high beams are activated.

That's definitely your issue, then. There may be a work around, but I couldn't start without a diagram of what you've done.

 

[Robb235]

I haven't done anything, except add the LED headlights. The headlight harness plugs into a control box, that is then connected to the LED bulb. Low beam stays on by design. It's not a big deal to me that the blue light doesn't come on. The fact that it screws up radio reception, and my brights activate when I turn on the fog lights bothers me more.

 

[TheDurk]

I haven't done anything, except add the LED headlights. The headlight harness plugs into a control box, that is then connected to the LED bulb. Low beam stays on by design. It's not a big deal to me that the blue light doesn't come on. The fact that it screws up radio reception, and my brights activate when I turn on the fog lights bothers me more.

Since you have a '99, and are not in Canada, I assume you do NOT have DRL's and therefore your heads are switched on the ground side and have full-time 12V+ on the common terminal. Are you sure that control box is set up for a ground-switched headlight circuit? Do the instructions talk about that possibility?

 

[lugueto]

I've also noticed some quirky things with these LED headlights. For one, it screws with my radio reception. I can have the radio going, and the station is coming in nice and clear, then turn the headlights on and the radio goes to static.

This is somewhat common with LED lights. It happened to me when I installed Rigid lights. It would interfere with my HAM setup, as well as with radio reception for the stereo and a friend of mine complained about the same issue with a CB.

I asked around on a few board and it turns out LEDs usually emit a lot of white noise, for some inevitable reasons I dont fully understand, and that manufacturers could build the lights to avoid such things happening but as it turns out its more expensive and they simply ignore the issue.

Heres a link to the thread I started on Expedition Portal which has a lot of good info..

Rigid LED light causing radio interference?? [Archive] - Expedition Portal

 

[Robb235]

Since you have a '99, and are not in Canada, I assume you do NOT have DRL's and therefore your heads are switched on the ground side and have full-time 12V+ on the common terminal. Are you sure that control box is set up for a ground-switched headlight circuit? Do the instructions talk about that possibility?

I honestly don't even think my LED H4/9003 bulbs came with instructions... lol. It was all pretty straight forward to install. Well, except the part where the metal headlight retainer broke. I ended up fab'ing another one out of a paperclip, lol.

 

[Mr. B]

Anybody know if they make a D2S style LED bulb for us that have projector retrofits? Can't find any.

Dunno if they make any for D2S.
Ive found that OEM bulbs make a more clear, fine cutoff line. I dont think LED's would do too well in the projector.

 

[02_SE_Runner]

From what I am gathering, are the led bulbs plug n play with stock housings? I really need a new alternative to the stock 02 lighting. How are they in rain and snow?

 

[Robb235]

From what I am gathering, are the led bulbs plug n play with stock housings? I really need a new alternative to the stock 02 lighting. How are they in rain and snow?

Yep, plug 'n' play 100%. You don't modify the headlight housing or anything. It's just as easy as changing a regular halogen bulb.

 

[BlackCat914]

Dunno if they make any for D2S.
Ive found that OEM bulbs make a more clear, fine cutoff line. I dont think LED's would do too well in the projector.

interesting. Doing some research, I found that BMW is testing the water with laser headlights. That would be cool when they come way down in price in like 10 years, lol.

 

[Mr. B]

interesting. Doing some research, I found that BMW is testing the water with laser headlights. That would be cool when they come way down in price in like 10 years, lol.

By that time, our 3rd gen's would be moved to the Classic T4R section :lol:

 

[jgue467]

Have your read the reviews?

When I first started reading this thread a couple days ago, I got Excited, thinking I could get some brighter, whiter lites. Not sure what to think after reading the few reviews on the LED lite site. I'm guessing none of you guys were the ones to write them, they're not exactly 'glowing'. They may not be ready for prime time. :rain:

 

[TheDurk]

When I first started reading this thread a couple days ago, I got Excited, thinking I could get some brighter, whiter lites. Not sure what to think after reading the few reviews on the LED lite site. I'm guessing none of you guys were the ones to write them, they're not exactly 'glowing'. They may not be ready for prime time. :rain:

That's been my conclusion, as well.

 

[rideexileex]

LED headlights? Yuck...

It's a fashion fad. For performance, HID's are not going to be beat.

 

[bubbaleenc]

I did a write up on VLEDS 2000LM LEDs. I am quite happy. Way better than halogen in every respect and way cheaper than the functionally superior HID. Basically, a good step-up. Kind of like getting the mid-level winch instead of top of the line. Sure, nothing beats the Warn $1000 product, but their $500 product works in most every situation but bragging rights!

 

[richardjones]

Do these work on 5th gen (2015) vehicles?

What about HID vs LEDs?

I assume with HID it's a full kit to install (how hard is this?) vs LED where it's just bulbs in existing enclosure?

 

[I_bRAD]

I wouldn't mess up a perfectly good 50k vehicle myself.