LED High Beams

[Pedro367]

Performance and opinion are 2 different things if one understands the way the halogen reflector and a burning halogen filament work together vs how a halogen reflector and a LED drop in bulb that does not emit the same arc range in that reflector.
My opinion may or may not be the same as others, but when performance is noticeably different/diminished, that was enough for me.

Again, I'm not arguing "what's meant to be in the OE reflector housing." If they experience better performance and feel it's worth their investment than the "understanding of how a halogen reflector works and arc ranges" is erroneous. I'm sure what you are saying is correct, but I'm just playing devil's advocate that maybe those doing this upgrade don't care that it's not "right"....or even know...or care.

Now I'm curious as to what your experience is. Are you saying you have tried an LED drop in bulb and found that light output/performance was worse than a standard halogen bulb? What bulbs and what didn't you like/not like about them?

Keep in mind, I have no skin in this game. I don't have LEDs and don't have an opinion either way. I'm running the OE halogens and just trying to do some research. I want to understand if people who like them are actually right or if the "principles of halogen projectors" that you and others are discussing truly make an LED bulb worthless (even when people say they like them).

Forums are full of contradictory information on a lot of things based on experiences of some, opinions of another, and some people that try to make things way more complicated than they need to be. It's amazing how one person can say something and automatically that part is the best of the best or the worst of the worst. Sometimes until you try it yourself, you'll go nuts.

 

[Saker]

Again, I'm not arguing "what's meant to be in the OE reflector housing." If they experience better performance and feel it's worth their investment than the "understanding of how a halogen reflector works and arc ranges" is erroneous. I'm sure what you are saying is correct, but I'm just playing devil's advocate that maybe those doing this upgrade don't care that it's not "right"....or even know...or care.

Now I'm curious as to what your experience is. Are you saying you have tried an LED drop in bulb and found that light output/performance was worse than a standard halogen bulb? What bulbs and what didn't you like/not like about them?

Keep in mind, I have no skin in this game. I don't have LEDs and don't have an opinion either way. I'm running the OE halogens and just trying to do some research. I want to understand if people who like them are actually right or if the "principles of halogen projectors" that you and others are discussing truly make an LED bulb worthless (even when people say they like them).

Forums are full of contradictory information on a lot of things based on experiences of some, opinions of another, and some people that try to make things way more complicated than they need to be. It's amazing how one person can say something and automatically that part is the best of the best or the worst of the worst. Sometimes until you try it yourself, you'll go nuts.

I’m not thinking you are arguing, nor am I.

IIRC, they were DDM’s.
Output in front was bright and close in, coverage seemed good. Out in front, performance diminished.
So, I went with Morimoto HID’s instead.

There may be newer LED drop ins now that have more chips that may give better coverage.

 

[Pedro367]

I’m not thinking you are arguing, nor am I.

IIRC, they were DDM’s.
Output in front was bright and close in, coverage seemed good. Out in front, performance diminished.
So, I went with Morimoto HID’s instead.

There may be newer LED drop ins now that have more chips that may give better coverage.

You're right. Arguing wasnt the right word and I know we weren't. Appreciate the review on the DDMs. That's what I'm looking for!

 

[Saker]

You're right. Arguing wasnt the right word and I know we weren't. Appreciate the review on the DDMs. That's what I'm looking for!

All that said, nothing against DDM’s‘....
I have DDM sabers in my highbeams. It’s a 21 & it came with LED low beams so I’m not downing DDM‘s.

 

[Axix23]

Off topic but how’s your 2021 led fogs?

 

[Birddog1911]

[MENTION=646541]Birddog1911[/MENTION],
That will be interesting to say the least....!

Keep us informed if they actually do that and if they do, ask them how it was done.

[MENTION=103267]Saker[/MENTION] I finally got to pick it up, but I'll need to go back on Saturday to finish the paperwork. They didn't give me the parts list yet, and forgot my owners manuals. But, they did install LED highs as required by me. They seem to be factory? They are bright as hell, with great throw.

I'll add more info as I can.

 

[BettysNephew]

OP here, I initially also tried LED's in my low beams, won't say who from but they sucked, reduced output and poor beam pattern. I then opted for HID's to replace the LED units and was very pleased with the results. I got good cutoff and much better beam spread. I chose a warmer color also so it was close to the output of what was being offered in OEM on other cars not the blue light specials. I did lower the beam cutoff by a bit to compensate for the increased brightness as I felt the stock halogens were also disturbing to folks in small cars and I would randomly get flashed. I could see them lighting up the interiors of the cars ahead so knew it was too high even in the stock position. My 4R is not lifted. I would really like to find a high beam LED with improved output but closer to the 4500-5000 Kelvin light temperature but there do not seem to be any in that range. I would much prefer to not go to 6000 Kelvin.

 

[Cndnmax]

Drop-in LED's a typically regarded as junk by people in the know.

The issue with led replacement bulbs is a mismatch in alignment between the light beam and the reflector. I have not been impressed with LEDs in the low beam projector.
High beams are a little different, no real cut off, no glare reduction, just “all the light everywhere” type of reflector (overly simplified). I have a no-brand pair of led high beams bulbs that I got for free off Amazon and they are bright as daylight, there’s barely a difference between them and my led light bar which actually makes me question my light bar a little... they do flicker on DRL but it’s really not that noticeable. I never run DRL anyways.

 

[Saker]

[MENTION=103267]Saker[/MENTION].........But, they did install LED highs as required by me. They seem to be factory? They are bright as hell, with great throw.

I'll add more info as I can.

So here is my question, is the low beam and the high beam in 1 module? IE: In the low beam location.

If not and your high beam is in the earlier year model high beam location, then you have the same headlights that I have .... all they did was put a drop in LED bulb in the high beam spot.

Now, if your low beam and the high beam are in the same module, then they changed the whole headlight assembly with a TRD Pro or Limited headlight system.
I would like to know if they changed a harness to achieve that.

 

[Birddog1911]

I think I know what you mean, but I'll take a picture later today. Even if they did just drop an LED in, I'm happy with it.

 

[Birddog1911]

A little more reflection that I would have liked, but you should be able to make them out.

ETA: Having some sort of issue attaching photo. Standby.

 

[Birddog1911]

Finally got it to work.

 

[Rainier42]

Finally got it to work.

So did they just put in an LED bulb? If so, what brand/part number?

 

[Saker]

Finally got it to work.

So did they just put in an LED bulb? If so, what brand/part number?

My question is this, did they replace the OEM assembly with one that has the high and low in one module?

If they did not and only replaced the OEM halogen bulb with a LED drop in, then when you (@Birddog1911) , turn on your high beams, that LED you took the photo of comes on, is the same as I did and didn’t change the complete headlamp assemblies. Therefore, no harnesses had to be changed or modified.

 

[Birddog1911]

Ok, I did find out that they're aftermarket. Will call the place on Monday to find out just which brand, and I'll take a picture.

 

[Rainier42]

Ok, I did find out that they're aftermarket. Will call the place on Monday to find out just which brand, and I'll take a picture.

Aftermarket LED Bulbs and not complete headlight units, correct?

 

[Birddog1911]

Aftermarket LED Bulbs and not complete headlight units, correct?

Sorry, yes, that is correct. Just aftermarket bulbs.

 

[Birddog1911]

Went out to try and get some comparison photos.

ETA: Fog lights were on, as well.

 

[ltsatch]

Off topic but how’s your 2021 led fogs?

They are great in my 21 TRDOR, LED low beams are nice, halogen high beams are annoying as everything is bright white, then the high beam kicks me back to my 2012 Trail which I just traded in, lol.

 

[Axix23]

They are great in my 21 TRDOR, LED low beams are nice, halogen high beams are annoying as everything is bright white, then the high beam kicks me back to my 2012 Trail which I just traded in, lol.

HAHA, one thing i noticed on the 2021 4 runners, the rear tag light is still halogen. Its like Toyota cheaped out on some stuff. But at least they finally got led low beams