HID vs LED for Headlights

[Ixz72]

5th Gen owners I need advice...

After watching videos of the PRO's and CON's of both HID and LED I was decided to go with LED's to replace my factory headlights.

I went to a local store that specializes in HID and LED replacements and when I told owner the route I wanted to take he told me that HID's are better for the 4Runner because of how the 5th Gen's headlight housing is shaped. He said that the LED does not reflect properly and he said he was not trying to up sell me since he sells the HID's for $20 less than the LED's. He told me he is talking based on experience since his wife drives a 2016 Sienna and he drives a 2016 Tacoma and he has replaced headlights on both vehicles.

What do you guys think?

 

[SlickTRD]

After watching videos of the PRO's and CON's of both HID and LED I was decided to go with LED's to replace my headlights.

I went to a local store that specializes in HID and LED replacements and when I told him the route I wanted to take he told me that HID's are better for the 4Runner because of how the 5th Gen's headlight housing is shaped. He said that the LED does not reflect properly and he said he was not trying to up sell me since he sells the HID's for $20 less than the LED's. He told me he is talking based on experience since his wife drives a 2016 Sienna and he drives a 2016 Tacoma.

What do you guys think?

He is correct on all accounts. If you want a car with LED headlights, get a car that comes with LED headlights.

The 4R projectors are made for halogen but HIDS will upgrade the light output. LEDs at the moment will not upgrade the light output.

 

[e60ral]

HIDs are objectively better at getting light downrange, if you search you can find threads with comparisons although I bet all the comparison photos were lost in the great photobucket purge of 2017

 

[markie671]

He is correct.. Our headlights are designed for HIDS vs the 4th reflector headlights that will benefit LEDs.. HIDS are focus more on a dead center vs LEDS wide spread no focal point

 

[mcarey86]

He is correct.. Our headlights are designed for HIDS vs the 4th reflector headlights that will benefit LEDs.. HIDS are focus more on a dead center vs LEDS wide spread no focal point

careful with this...

there are a few early fifth-geners that will rip your face off with that kind of talk.

 

[Heavy_GD]

Although brighter and more effective, the HIDs put out a terrible light pattern that will blind on comers or anyone you are behind.

I do have LEDs in my highbeams with a light bar and that seems to pair really well IMO.

 

[philsey]

Our headlights are designed for HIDS ....

No, no they're not. You shouldn't post as if you know what you're talking about, because clearly you do not.

 

[philsey]

..... he has replaced headlights on both vehicles.

What do you guys think?

Replaced HEADLIGHTS, or replaced BULBS? Slight Major difference.

 

[dot_tom]

I upgraded my 4R last week to HID. Its a nice improvement. Went with 5000k. I've had cars with factory HID's and this is not like that. It's better, but not as good as say a retro fit would be. Also, make sure you aim your headlights properly after install.

 

[kedging]

Although brighter and more effective, the HIDs put out a terrible light pattern that will blind on comers or anyone you are behind.



I do have LEDs in my highbeams with a light bar and that seems to pair really well IMO.

I upgraded to HIDs and don't get flashed, but I feel like I'm blinding everyone. The cutoff is so noticeable that I'm constantly aware of how far behind a vehicle I am so I'm not shining headlights in their mirrors. The light is so much better, but I'm considering swapping to something different and adding a light bar.

 

[e60ral]

Although brighter and more effective, the HIDs put out a terrible light pattern that will blind on comers or anyone you are behind.

I do have LEDs in my highbeams with a light bar and that seems to pair really well IMO.

HID's in the 5.5gen projectors have great light cutoff

 

[markie671]

No, no they're not. You shouldn't post as if you know what you're talking about, because clearly you do not.

Unless you have any other useful information to add then you should not be posting at all because you clearly do not know what you are talking about. :shrug:
Maybe you have the older 5gen and i have the newer 5th which are designed for HIDS lmao like all luxury vehicles.

And if you are going to correct me at least put some useful information down and not just to correct me.

 

[markie671]

careful with this...

there are a few early fifth-geners that will rip your face off with that kind of talk.

Its okay everyone are keyboard warriors..

 

[Grug556]

I added a set of LEDs to my low headlights. They are far far brighter than stock. Kelvin wise nice whiter blue as well, as opposed to the factory lights which seemed to be maybe high 3k range.

I would recommend them to anybody

 

[philsey]

And if you are going to correct me at least put some useful information down and not just to correct me.

I simply cited this statement from you...

Our headlights are designed for HIDS...

... which is incorrect. Your headlights may be projectors, but they are designed for halogen bulbs, not HID.

You'll probably defend your statement citing the many who put HID in their halogen projectors, but that does not mean your projectors were designed that way, because they were not.

To flatly state "Our headlights are designed for HIDS..." indicates that you are not as knowledgeable as you think, and I so stated. I hope this 'useful information' you wanted is helpful, and you are now better informed.

 

[Grug556]

I simply cited this statement from you...



... which is incorrect. Your headlights may be projectors, but they are designed for halogen bulbs, not HID.

You'll probably defend your statement citing the many who put HID in their halogen projectors, but that does not mean your projectors were designed that way, because they were not.

To flatly state "Our headlights are designed for HIDS..." indicates that you are not as knowledgeable as you think, and I so stated. I hope this 'useful information' you wanted is helpful, and you are now better informed.

I agree. When I researched it I came to the conclusion that for low beams LED was better for my 16 Limited. They are great and very very rarely does anybody flash me at night. They cast a nice clean light far more down road then the factory halogens. Plus I prefer the higher kelvin in colour.

I would perhaps consider HIDs for the highbeams, but that's awhole nother issue. May go LED not sure yet.

 

[SlickTRD]

Unless you have any other useful information to add then you should not be posting at all because you clearly do not know what you are talking about. :shrug:
Maybe you have the older 5gen and i have the newer 5th which are designed for HIDS lmao like all luxury vehicles.

And if you are going to correct me at least put some useful information down and not just to correct me.

Unless your car from the factory runs D-type bulbs, the car is not designed to run HIDs. D-type bulbs being D1S, D2S, D2R, etc. Our cars are designed to use H11 halogen bulbs. H11 HID bulbs are either aftermarket or OEM re-based. Re-based bulbs is just modifying the base of the bulb. While it is acceptable to use HIDs in the 4Runner, it does not mean they are designed for HIDs. A properly designed retrofitted HID headlight is even more suitable than just sticking H11 bulbs into the 4Runner.

 

[meder24]

I agree. When I researched it I came to the conclusion that for low beams LED was better for my 16 Limited. They are great and very very rarely does anybody flash me at night. They cast a nice clean light far more down road then the factory halogens. Plus I prefer the higher kelvin in colour.

I would perhaps consider HIDs for the highbeams, but that's awhole nother issue. May go LED not sure yet.

HID's for high beams are a not a great idea due to warm up time associated with them. Granted both the high and low beams are on, in our vehicles, when you activate the high, but still, you will not achieve the instant full brightness of the HID, which is more times than not what you want out of the high beam.

 

[Grug556]

HID's for high beams are a not a great idea due to warm up time associated with them. Granted both the high and low beams are on, in our vehicles, when you activate the high, but still, you will not achieve the instant full brightness of the HID, which is more times than not what you want out of the high beam.

Agreed, I may just end up with an overboosted LED hi beam and go from there. What bugs me though is when I throw the hi's on it turns off the fogs! Damn so much for triple..blinding power!

Next step...light bar.

For those on the fence about LEDs, revisit them. This isn't ten years ago. LEDs have come a long way. I use them for growing items as well. Years ago they couldn't compete with HPS but now using lights such as those from KIND you can literally blow the HPS out of the water in both lumens and spectral outputs.

I have a lab light meter from Minolta that I use to measure all my lights (its a research grade unit from work so is highly accurate). Anyhow if anybodies interested I can measure actual lumen and kelvin output of the bulb say at controlled 12 inch distances from enclosures.

Plus the final big win, LEDs typically run cooler with less amp draw. Much win if you pick the right LED (LEDs are not all equal..some are pure shit!)

:reddance: :reddance::reddance: dance dance till you shit your pants, hell its Friday!

 

[e60ral]

I agree. When I researched it I came to the conclusion that for low beams LED was better for my 16 Limited. They are great and very very rarely does anybody flash me at night. They cast a nice clean light far more down road then the factory halogens. Plus I prefer the higher kelvin in colour.

I would perhaps consider HIDs for the highbeams, but that's awhole nother issue. May go LED not sure yet.

there are side by side comparison photos showing HID's projecting light further than LEDs

The reason for this is most likely due to the nature of how the light is emitted in the projector lens, the LED has 2 or 4 point sources rather than an omnidirectional light output, this is going to be a disadvantage in a projector lens