LED bulbs
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Malcolm99
Member
AFAIK if it didn't come with LED headlights it is illegal to add them in North America to a halogen headlight bucket unless for off-road only use, as it will blind on coming traffic which could lead to an accident or head on collision and even if the LED's are not the cause of the accident and they look into it you could be considered at fault. But saying that any aftermarket lights above the bumper in many areas are suppose to have a cover over it for public road use and I don't see anyone getting pulled over for that.
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Devbot
New member
Here's a crazy idea, totally out of left field: swap them out, and be courteous to others.
In regards to our vehicles, they work out fine I believe, a friend of mine had LED headlights before he sold his 4R. The law is actually more because halogen housings usually projects LEDs horribly, but some people are able to get away with it more than others. "Not all light is the same," as they say. As said it's something that almost definitely won't be a concern unless you're involved in a wreck where it possibly could've contributed. It's fairly common to do where I live too, and I have some a**hole cops around but I've yet to know anybody that's been pulled over for having them
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gamefreakgc
Elite Member
The LED's have two modes: shine in other driver's eyes, and light up the treetops. They don't work in our halogen housings and spray light everywhere. Everywhere you don't want it, that is.
Most cost efficient lighting upgrade is to buy a set of aftermarket headlamp housings and put over wattage bulbs in it. Stock is 60W/55W. You can find 65W/60W that are a bit brighter.
Most cost efficient lighting upgrade is to buy a set of aftermarket headlamp housings and put over wattage bulbs in it. Stock is 60W/55W. You can find 65W/60W that are a bit brighter.
Ed_C
Senior Member
This. Some good info here Drop-in headlight upgrade?
The reason people think "plug and play" LED (and HID) bulbs is brighter is due to the increase in glare/scatter from the beam pattern being screwed up by those light sources. Think of it as basically driving with your high highbeams all the time...yup you can see better at the expense of oncoming drivers.
If you want more highbeam performance you can hide a 14" or so LED light bar behind the grill. I have a spot/flood combo from Harbor Freight wired to a relay triggered by the highbeams, going to wire a switch to it though since it's overkill for driving through the suburbs or flash-to-pass in the daytime.
Before medical school, I was an EMT. I've scraped more than a few folks (or what was left of them) off the asphalt that "weren't worried about it." You're not likely to get a lot of good recommendations for headlights that are going to present a hazard to other drivers from the forums. If you want to increase your light output for safety, consider retrofit projectors.
Boognish_Forever
Member
I use to agree that LED bulbs do not work in halogen housing units. Till someone came over to buy my running boards and pulled up in his 02 4runner with these LED bulbs installed.
AUXITO H4 9003 LED Headlight Bulbs, 12000LM Per Set 6500K Xenon White for High and Low Beam Hi/Lo Plug and Play, Pack of 2 Amazon.com: AUXITO H4 9003 LED Headlight Bulbs, 12000LM Per Set 6500K Xenon White for High and Low Beam Hi/Lo Plug and Play, Pack of 2: Automotive
I immediately asked him where he got those LED’s because they weren’t pointed into the sky or way off. Shortly after, I bought a pair and they work great, including the high beams! In the last 3 months I’ve had them installed I have not been flashed once by oncoming traffic at night. Only thing left to do is the fog light mod, because when I try to turn on my fog lights they don’t work and my high beams come on.
jgue467
Senior Member
I too use auxito and hikari leds, both are designed to mimick the light output of halogens so the oem reflectors can do their job of not lighting up trees or rear view mirrors.
I've installed them on my runner, camry (03), sequoia (15), used them for about 3+ years and not once has anyone flashed the lights at me. Far more light dispersion, even cutoff left to right, much brighter and provide confidence down a dark highway.
I've installed them on my runner, camry (03), sequoia (15), used them for about 3+ years and not once has anyone flashed the lights at me. Far more light dispersion, even cutoff left to right, much brighter and provide confidence down a dark highway.
T4Rscott
New member
These are what I bought. So far I’m impressed. No one has flashed me yet.
AUTOONE H4 9003 HB2 Hi/Lo LED Headlight Bulbs, Adjustable Beam 12,000LM Canbus Plug and Play for High Low Beam 6000K White, Pack of 2 Amazon.com: AUTOONE H4 9003 HB2 Hi/Lo LED Headlight Bulbs, Adjustable Beam 12,000LM Canbus Plug and Play for High Low Beam 6000K White, Pack of 2: Automotive
AUTOONE H4 9003 HB2 Hi/Lo LED Headlight Bulbs, Adjustable Beam 12,000LM Canbus Plug and Play for High Low Beam 6000K White, Pack of 2 Amazon.com: AUTOONE H4 9003 HB2 Hi/Lo LED Headlight Bulbs, Adjustable Beam 12,000LM Canbus Plug and Play for High Low Beam 6000K White, Pack of 2: Automotive
JZiggy
Senior Member
LED projector retrofit and be done with it. Not that expensive or that hard. My BX Built projectors are absolutely amazing with 3x or more the visibility of stock headlights.
jross20
New member
DO NOT put led's in reflector lamps!!!
This will just make them ridiculously glaring to everyone else and will look aweful.
if by chance you like me and you don't want to swap out the original headlights, just either get some slightly brighter bulbs, or just get yourself some kind of auxiliary lights that you can turn on and turn off
This will just make them ridiculously glaring to everyone else and will look aweful.
if by chance you like me and you don't want to swap out the original headlights, just either get some slightly brighter bulbs, or just get yourself some kind of auxiliary lights that you can turn on and turn off
Trophy_Rock
New member
Another vote for BxBuilt
fullmoonguru
New member
I use Beamtech. The pattern is fine.
MarkamisPrime
New member
Do it. They work great. Yes people will flash you but those idiots would flash you even with regular halogen bulbs.
thenightman
New member
I have some Sealight retrofit led bulbs in my 2000. The pattern is good, the cutoff looks almost like a projector. Maybe 1% of the lights scatters out of the intended area. I tried them on a whim, knowing I could return them, and was shocked at how good the pattern is. Many (Most) LED replacements are awful. Somebody figured out how to make them not suck. Just get ones that don't suck, and aim them properly.
Too Stroked
Member
Anybody even thinking of installing "drop in" LED bulbs in housings designed for halogen bulbs should take a look at this:
Why Most LED Headlight Upgrades Don't Really Work: An Expert Explains
If that doesn't convince you, here's something a little closer to the (Toyota) home:
Why LEDs should not be run in Halogen reflectors | Tacoma World
I've been experimenting with improved lighting on vehicles since I bought my very first new car - a 1976 Toyota Corolla SR5 Liftback. I can't tell you how many different lights, bulbs, harnesses and other stuff I've tried over the years. LED bulbs are just the latest fad and although some of them are barely passable, most of them are just junk. (BeamTech and Auxbeam are just a few of the poorest.)
The excessive glare issue has been somewhat solved by a few of the better manufacturers as of late. The cheap stuff still has this problem. Funny thing though. People who bought these cheap bulbs used to stand in front of their vehicle and take pictures to show "how bright" their new bulbs were. What they were actually showing was how much more glare they had installed.
The new problem that has been created is excessive foreground light. The better manufacturers have dramatically reduced glare by directing light downward. Most users don't see this as a problem though because they say "Look at how much light is in front of my vehicle and nobody flashes me." What they don't realize is that they have lost almost all distance projection. Is that bad? Not if you don't mind cruising straight into the deer standing in the road just out of your new headlight bulb's range.
If you want my 2 cents, although the better drop in LED bulbs are better than the cheap junk, they're not actually better than a good halogen bulb. Oh, and they're still illegal. No reputable manufacturer will sell you a set.
Why Most LED Headlight Upgrades Don't Really Work: An Expert Explains
If that doesn't convince you, here's something a little closer to the (Toyota) home:
Why LEDs should not be run in Halogen reflectors | Tacoma World
I've been experimenting with improved lighting on vehicles since I bought my very first new car - a 1976 Toyota Corolla SR5 Liftback. I can't tell you how many different lights, bulbs, harnesses and other stuff I've tried over the years. LED bulbs are just the latest fad and although some of them are barely passable, most of them are just junk. (BeamTech and Auxbeam are just a few of the poorest.)
The excessive glare issue has been somewhat solved by a few of the better manufacturers as of late. The cheap stuff still has this problem. Funny thing though. People who bought these cheap bulbs used to stand in front of their vehicle and take pictures to show "how bright" their new bulbs were. What they were actually showing was how much more glare they had installed.
The new problem that has been created is excessive foreground light. The better manufacturers have dramatically reduced glare by directing light downward. Most users don't see this as a problem though because they say "Look at how much light is in front of my vehicle and nobody flashes me." What they don't realize is that they have lost almost all distance projection. Is that bad? Not if you don't mind cruising straight into the deer standing in the road just out of your new headlight bulb's range.
If you want my 2 cents, although the better drop in LED bulbs are better than the cheap junk, they're not actually better than a good halogen bulb. Oh, and they're still illegal. No reputable manufacturer will sell you a set.
19963.4lsr5
New member
I wish PA State Troopers still had a hardon for aftermarket lights like they did in the 80’s and 90’s. The worse for me are the blazers and cherokees with the led headlight replacements, or people running their led light bar. I see it all the time.
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AUXITO.COM
New member
Recommend AUXITO Y13 series H4 LED headlight bulbs.
H4 LED Bulbs
To view other series of products, please click here.
H4 LED Bulbs
To view other series of products, please click here.
