LED Highbeam/Foglight swap on 2014 LE

[Swarty]

That's not the system Audi currently uses..

Talk about complex!

View attachment 133057

Ha! yeah...Everything looks complex in an exploded view, only 3-4 things on that view aren't plastic shrouds...US won't let them use that here. They'd have to change the DOT rules.

So this is what Audi runs currently:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5IDXLu2ir-U
All solid state. We run similar LEDs and drivers where I work and get 10k hours out of them in harsh conditions with dirt, heat, and vibration. Insane reliability and ridiculous amounts of light.

 

[philsey]

I will try to get some pictures of them projecting on the wall tonight with one side having the stock halogen bulb, again, these are my high beam/DRL bulbs, the low beams are a 55W HID setup. I will leave the low beams on for some of the pictures for comparisons sake, but the cutoff on the low beams is nice and sharp with the projector lenses.

Posted on 10/1. @OP what happened to the output pics?

 

[mdogg]

mdogg stated that high power LEDs are unreliable and that to do it right you had to do a retrofit.

My intention was actually to state that high power LEDs have been shown to be unreliable in headlight applications. I assume that this is due to heat issues as most of the LED units for headlight bulbs have fans and the fans are known to go out fairly early in their life. Anecdotally, once the fan goes out, it is a matter of time before the LED (or perhaps the board/controller?) goes out.

I understand that LEDs themselves are quite durable, but heat is a major concern when the entire unit, including the heatsink, is located inside the engine bay.

I'd take my own DIY retrofit over any LED bulb for a headlight. I haven't done it on the 4Runner just yet, but it's only a matter of time I'm sure. I miss having that type of illumination in front of me. There's no comparison after having already had it installed on prior cars.

 

[Swarty]

My intention was actually to state that high power LEDs have been shown to be unreliable in headlight applications. I assume that this is due to heat issues as most of the LED units for headlight bulbs have fans and the fans are known to go out fairly early in their life. Anecdotally, once the fan goes out, it is a matter of time before the LED (or perhaps the board/controller?) goes out.

I get that. The designs so far have been mediocre that I've seen too, but it's the same problems retrofits started with. There are some good companies but we don't know who they are because there are no stds so we have to rely on the companies very short reputation. Technically if they get the heat sink correct they shouldn't need a fan.

 

[DRICHEY]

Definately not the expert on the matter. However, almost all newer model vehicles here in germany are running some sort of LED light system. As well as most new construction...seems most buildings are equipped with LED lighting. And if there is one thing I'm sure of.. German engineering is far superior to anything else I've seen.