LED replacements for headlights

[BradB]

I’ve want to improve the overall lighting of my 2008 Limited and want to start with the headlights and fog lights. I’ve done a lot of searching on this forum and found a couple threads with forum members doing upgrades but the posts are pretty old and some links to products are dead. I have to assume this technology changes pretty quickly so I was hoping to find more current references. Thoughts anyone?

I can find lots of vendors on Amazon, etc but I can’t trust the fit or claims without a recommendation. Are there any go-to vendors that are reliable and of decent quality? This is a budget build but I’ll pay a bit more if someone has confidence in a product.

Thanks a lot. :help:

 

[y=mx+b]

I’ve want to improve the overall lighting of my 2008 Limited and want to start with the headlights and fog lights. I’ve done a lot of searching on this forum and found a couple threads with forum members doing upgrades but the posts are pretty old and some links to products are dead. I have to assume this technology changes pretty quickly so I was hoping to find more current references. Thoughts anyone?

I can find lots of vendors on Amazon, etc but I can’t trust the fit or claims without a recommendation. Are there any go-to vendors that are reliable and of decent quality? This is a budget build but I’ll pay a bit more if someone has confidence in a product.

Thanks a lot. :help:

Had a pair of the recommended LEDs in my 06-09 headlights and wasn't really satisfied. The color temperature of most LED lights is not a warm enough color to project effectively in inclement weather. All the midrange options seem to be fairly "blue" instead of "white" which also made them strain the eyes a bit more at night.

I ended up switching back to a set of halogens and I am much happier. I do still have the LEDs in the high beams because they're great for flashing idiots or seeing a lot when the weather is perfectly clear

 

[Keros]

I'd suggest to contact Daniel Stern Daniel Stern Lighting Consultancy and Supply to get a set of halogen bulbs. His prices are pretty good and he'll tell you what you need.

He's done the research... with the market pretty saturated with products, it's tough to know what to buy.

 

[Bluesky 07]

I replaced the LED headlights in my '07 Sport with Boslla Bullet B4s a little over a year ago and couldn't be happier. These are unique in that they offer 3 color modes - normal white, yellow/white for rain & light fog, and straight yellow for heavy fog - plus caution flash. You change colors by turning the lights off and back on within 5 seconds. Otherwise, they revert to white the next time the lights are turned on. Easy installation and they work as advertised. I was backed into my garage and the slope of the driveway turned out to be a good test surface.

White (normal driving) - I wanted these to be as bright as my last ones and they are.

Yellow/White (rain/light fog/snow)

Yellow (heavy fog) - Just realized I had my yellow LED fogs on for this pic also. The Bosllas are lighting the area above the nearest driveway seam.

I was curious to see them in action in bad weather and they definitely help, especially at night.

 

[Zero0575]

+1 for Bosla. I don't have the same ones, but do have Bosla brand led bulbs. Very happy with the output.

 

[BradB]

Thanks for info, guys. I agree about disliking “blue” lights but just assumed better quality LED distributors might have options. So I will look into Bosla to check the offerings. What is temperature is considered less blue. I was thinking 5000. But I’m not sure.

And that’s a point worth considering about good quality halogens. I’ll also look into what Daniel Stern has to say about this.

Thanks a lot for offering up solutions for me to look at. VERY helpful.

 

[blkexp98]

If your open to more work there are always hid lights. I put them in my 2007 with a 4300 temp and have been happy. I used morimoto parts. I do have to say though those leds posted that can switch to yellow is pretty cool.

Sent from my SM-G975U using Tapatalk

 

[blackjackck]

Plug and play

Was not looking for anything special but so I got this to try out as the LED are cheap enough that if it sucked, my wallet doesn't yell at me. I literally just installed the thing 2 days ago. Haven't driven at night yet but from the looks of it in the early evening, it an upgrade from stock. Also I did scrubbed, clean, polished my head light glass. That definitely helped.

Amazon.com: Fahren H11/H9/H8 LED Headlight Bulbs, 60W 12000 Lumens Super Bright LED Headlights Conversion Kit 6500K Cool White IP68 Waterproof, Pack of 2 : Automotive

 

[BradB]

Was not looking for anything special but so I got this to try out as the LED are cheap enough that if it sucked, my wallet doesn't yell at me. I literally just installed the thing 2 days ago. Haven't driven at night yet but from the looks of it in the early evening, it an upgrade from stock. Also I did scrubbed, clean, polished my head light glass. That definitely helped.

Amazon.com: Fahren H11/H9/H8 LED Headlight Bulbs, 60W 12000 Lumens Super Bright LED Headlights Conversion Kit 6500K Cool White IP68 Waterproof, Pack of 2 : Automotive

Let me know what you think about the lights after a nighttime test. I’m interested in what you think about the brightness and color.

Also, I read all your “build” thread. Good stuff! I may have questions for you on that head unit but don’t want to derail this thread.

 

[blackjackck]

Couldn't be happier

Let me know what you think about the lights after a nighttime test. IÂ’m interested in what you think about the brightness and color.

Also, I read all your “build” thread. Good stuff! I may have questions for you on that head unit but don’t want to derail this thread.

The lights are white and its bright. They're brighter than my high beams. My stock High Beams looks yellow compared to my low beams that I switched to LED. They're under $40 and now my lights looks modern compared to all the new cars. They can see me now and I can see the road significantly better. No regrets thus far. I just hope it'll last.

 

[Wile Kyote]

I just ordered all the LED bulbs for an 8k change over inside as well as some new led fogs. Honest after seeing the Boslla Bullet B4s, I want those! As stated, white is best for clear visibility, as weather goes crap, more yellow is best so having the ability to control is the best it gets!

 

[yourfriendcasey]

I replaced my headlight assemblies and bulbs a little over a year ago and I'm reasonably happy with what I bought (for the price, of course). My old assemblies were super yellow and cracked so i just got these ones from amazon that are blacked out and look great: Amazon.com: AKKON - For Toyota 4Runner Sport SUV Replacement Black Headlights Driver/Passenger Head Lamps Pair New : Automotive

I live in socal so this isn't a huge issue but they will need some silicone to seal from rain/ condensation. I will say theres a layer on the outside thats started to peel off a bit around the edges, probably from the amount of intense UV they've endured. But overall not bad for $105 (on sale at the time.

For bulbs I got these: Amazon.com: SEALIGHT 9005/HB3 9006/HB4 LED Bulbs Combo, Super Bright Cool White, Plug and Play, Pack of 4 : Automotive

HUGE upgrade in brightness over stock, with the new clear housings it was night and day. $30 (on sale ) when I bought them. Only downside is they are TOO bright and I often have people flashing me at night thinking I have my brights on. But if that doesn't bother you, (it bothers me a bit), they're a good value.

For <$150 I think it was a great upgrade to my night driving and daytime look of the car.

 

[aemravan]

this has been covered a bit more extensively in other threads... but basically if you're not doing projector retrofits into your lights you're not getting better output. I don't care what other people say, it's just a fairly proven fact.

The LED design is not proper for the reflector-type housing, and even within a projector the LED bulb is less than desirable.

A lot of people associate brighter with better output, which for the most part is not the case. A properly aimed halogen will give you better visibility than a super bright LED that isn't shining where it's supposed to.


Projector retrofits aren't all that costly and are fairly doable for just about anyone at home, just have to pay attention to getting them centered up properly within the bowl so you don't run out of adjustment later or have rotated pattern.

 

[rhoyneriver]

this has been covered a bit more extensively in other threads... but basically if you're not doing projector retrofits into your lights you're not getting better output. I don't care what other people say, it's just a fairly proven fact.

The LED design is not proper for the reflector-type housing, and even within a projector the LED bulb is less than desirable.

A lot of people associate brighter with better output, which for the most part is not the case. A properly aimed halogen will give you better visibility than a super bright LED that isn't shining where it's supposed to.


Projector retrofits aren't all that costly and are fairly doable for just about anyone at home, just have to pay attention to getting them centered up properly within the bowl so you don't run out of adjustment later or have rotated pattern.

If he has a 2008 Limited, I'm fairly certain he's already got projectors in his housing

 

[aemravan]

If he has a 2008 Limited, I'm fairly certain he's already got projectors in his housing

That's a step-up. But even with projector housings, the LED bulbs do not provide proper output to properly project out of the said housing. There are several articles and test reports showing why. Primarily it is because most LED bulbs are flat and only shine from top/bottom surface which is not ideal for concentrating the beam via the projector lens.

Either way you spin it brighter /= more output. I've messed with various options on all my cars over the past 20 years and can say that as far as overall road visibility, it is hard to improve significantly without doing a proper hid/projector setup.

 

[Wile Kyote]

That's a step-up. But even with projector housings, the LED bulbs do not provide proper output to properly project out of the said housing. There are several articles and test reports showing why. Primarily it is because most LED bulbs are flat and only shine from top/bottom surface which is not ideal for concentrating the beam via the projector lens.

Either way you spin it brighter /= more output. I've messed with various options on all my cars over the past 20 years and can say that as far as overall road visibility, it is hard to improve significantly without doing a proper hid/projector setup.

Is this true for the low beams and fogs? I'm keeping halogen in my highs, but ordered B4s for my lows and fogs. I was sold on the color changing ability for inclement weather.

 

[aemravan]

Is this true for the low beams and fogs? I'm keeping halogen in my highs, but ordered B4s for my lows and fogs. I was sold on the color changing ability for inclement weather.

To be honest I haven't tested much with fog lights. I will say that the more yellow you can go on the fog lights the better you'll be so its quite possible that though the actual output isn't better because of the LED vs Halogen you still will be in the positive increase of visibility due to the light temp difference.