New 4500 Luman LED Headlight option from VLED

[crackiswack]

bit of an overreach. and a massive sweeping generalization.

assuming the rendered light pattern isn't so sloppy that it better resembles a fractal, if your headlights are adjusted properly no one will be bothered by your specific light source. i've been running the H9 & HIR combo for almost 5 years and my lights aren't bothering anyone because i adjusted them down—perhaps overly so. but the hysterics would have you believe this has left a ditch full of blinded drivers in my wake. simply not the case.

in contrast, the other night a douche-nozzle in his Audi TT was driving me bananas with his super poorly adjusted, super-purple HID-LED-WTF lighting—and i'm lifted.

How so? Explain to me in detail how distributing 4500 lumens, 3X the amount of light a stock bulb puts out, which likely doesn't have the right focal point, is going to happen? People need to understand that that proper lighting is more than just about keeping the light below the cutoff, because drivers get caught below your cutoff all the time as well.

 

[sandcrawler]

How so? Explain to me in detail how distributing 4500 lumens, 3X the amount of light a stock bulb puts out, which likely doesn't have the right focal point, is going to happen?People need to understand that that proper lighting is more than just about keeping the light below the cutoff, because drivers get caught below your cutoff all the time as well.

all i've got for you is my personal experience of the last five years distributing 4200 lumens via H9 bulbs in the stock halogen reflectors (equipped w/ built-in glare shields). i'm not getting flashed; not bothering anyone. that said, other people's crappy headlights bother me all the time, but i'm not getting my knickers in a twist over it.

look, it's the "Heavens-to-Betsy"-Tennessee-Williams-heroine-fanning-herself-as-she-swoons-onto-her-fainting-couch hysterics i take exception to. you simply can't say wholesale that people looking for improved lighting via "legit alternatives to a [projector] retrofit really don't care about others on the road." you can't. not true. as stupid as saying "people who drive 4Runners don't care about the environment." :doh:

i don't know how these VLED units will work out any better than you, but i'm reasonably certain that if the reflector output/pattern is sketchy most people here won't buy them. and irrespective of that fact, i'm quite confident that the paltry number who actually buy these $250 replacement headlight bulbs won't constitute a mass threat to our interstates and roadways.

 

[dekeman]

I also have the H9s in my 14 LE projectors. Also using 9011 in highbeams (very bright set up) and H11s for fogs. Been flashed once in the past year - even then only because I was on an incline. Have driven many new Audis too, most recently an A7 (not as fun as the RS 7!) with LED headlamps and was surprised how rarely I got flashed considering the light output of those bad boys puts the sun to shame. I didn't get flashed because, as sandcrawler points out, the lights are properly adjusted to keep the cutoff line just below the chins of other drivers.

 

[crackiswack]

all i've got for you is my personal experience of the last five years distributing 4200 lumens via H9 bulbs in the stock halogen reflectors (equipped w/ built-in glare shields). i'm not getting flashed; not bothering anyone. that said, other people's crappy headlights bother me all the time, but i'm not getting my knickers in a twist over it.

look, it's the "Heavens-to-Betsy"-Tennessee-Williams-heroine-fanning-herself-as-she-swoons-onto-her-fainting-couch hysterics i take exception to. you simply can't say wholesale that people looking for improved lighting via "legit alternatives to a [projector] retrofit really don't care about others on the road." you can't. not true. as stupid as saying "people who drive 4Runners don't care about the environment." :doh:

i don't know how these VLED units will work out any better than you, but i'm reasonably certain that if the reflector output/pattern is sketchy most people here won't buy them. and irrespective of that fact, i'm quite confident that the paltry number who actually buy these $250 replacement headlight bulbs won't constitute a mass threat to our interstates and roadways.

Where are these magical H9 bulbs that produce 4200 lumens each that you use? Last time I checked they put out 2100 lumens :crazy:

 

[sandcrawler]

i clearly meant in total. note i wrote "H9 bulbs", meaning 2100 X 2 = 4200. but you already know this. in the same way that when you wrote:

Explain to me in detail how distributing 4500 lumens, 3X the amount of light a stock bulb puts out, which likely doesn't have the right focal point, is going to happen?

i knew you weren't asking for a literal description of "how distributing 4500 lumens ... is going to happen?" but i didn't get all cutesy with a sarcastic response.

back to your fainting couch, Blanche.

 

[crackiswack]

i clearly meant in total. note i wrote "H9 bulbs", meaning 2100 X 2 = 4200. but you already know this. in the same way that when you wrote:

i knew you weren't asking for a literal description of "how distributing 4500 lumens ... is going to happen?" but i didn't get all cutesy with a sarcastic response.

back to your fainting couch, Blanche.

Fine, then instead of being cutesy, answer the question you know I was asking, how someone could think that 9000 lumens total for headlights is going to be a good idea for anyone else on the road, especially in optics meant for halogen projectors?

 

[Jhalko]

I had h9's in my low beam for awhile, there was a noticeable bleed up in light compared to the stock h11. I never got flashed and I'm sure it's better than the crappy HID's for oncoming traffic. All the same when I lifted my truck I went back to stock for the lows even adjusting them for the lift I didn't feel comfortable with the extra light for oncoming traffic.

I'm really interested in these for highs but if they actually put out the claimed lumens I don't see how they couldn't cause issues for oncoming traffic in the lows, projector or not.

But if you've got a spare $250 you can help us all decide!

 

[Jhalko]

I also have the H9s in my 14 LE projectors. Also using 9011 in highbeams (very bright set up) and H11s for fogs. Been flashed once in the past year - even then only because I was on an incline. Have driven many new Audis too, most recently an A7 (not as fun as the RS 7!) with LED headlamps and was surprised how rarely I got flashed considering the light output of those bad boys puts the sun to shame. I didn't get flashed because, as sandcrawler points out, the lights are properly adjusted to keep the cutoff line just below the chins of other drivers.

The lights in my wife's Audi are awesome, but it rides so low to the ground I don't think it could compare to a lifted runner...

 

[sandcrawler]

Fine, then instead of being cutesy, answer the question you know I was asking, how someone could think that 9000 lumens total for headlights is going to be a good idea for anyone else on the road, especially in optics meant for halogen projectors?

like i said, i don't know how these VLED units will work out any better than you, just that VLEDs is a reasonably respected source and when they develop and market these "for headlights and fog lights" it piques people's interest. again, i don't think most people will take them at their word 100%, and will instead make a reasoned decision when they see what the actual output is like. (the function of this thread, really.) i do imagine that the advertised output is under optimal lab conditions and won't realize that figure in practice.

this aside, and still, my initial comment was directed to the overreaching, massive generalization implicit in your saying

People who think these are legit alternatives to a retrofit really don't care about others on the road.

you don't know that—literally any of that. moreover, those snobbish, passive-aggressive hysterics contribute nothing productive or positive and contradict your claim—as you now appear to be saying—that your aim is to better educate people. if that's truly so, why not start a thread breaking down this subject in detail? the "crackiswack Lectures on Optics". i'll subscribe to that thread. seriously, i'm not kidding.

(incidentally, CalTech has released all the Feynman lectures on physics free online for all. super cool.)

The lights in my wife's Audi are awesome, but it rides so low to the ground I don't think it could compare to a lifted runner...

kinda funny considering i just related that exact experience just a few posts above...

in contrast, the other night a douche-nozzle in his Audi TT was driving me bananas with his super poorly adjusted, super-purple HID-LED-WTF lighting—and i'm lifted.

 

[nevetsvsx]

Patience fellow 4runner owners (arguing above)... I'll explain all about my newfangled high beams once they are in...Hopefully the 9000 lumens is like aiming the sun at the road ahead for the $$ so my explanation to my wife for buying these holds true.

And, I'll be sure to take before and after pics like a creeper in the dark section of a nearby neighborhood.

 

[Jhalko]

like i said, i don't know how these VLED units will work out any better than you, just that VLEDs is a reasonably respected source and when they develop and market these "for headlights and fog lights" it piques people's interest. again, i don't think most people will take them at their word 100%, and will instead make a reasoned decision when they see what the actual output is like. (the function of this thread, really.) i do imagine that the advertised output is under optimal lab conditions and won't realize that figure in practice.

kinda funny considering i just related that exact experience just a few posts above...

I don't think everyone will make reasonable choices, as seen with the number of folks driving around with crappy hid's. But to a degree I agree with both of you, I think you can bump output without blinding people, but I struggle to see how you can double true output through a bulb without the negatives, the housing has to play a factor.

My wife's hid are factory not something I did, and not that blue crap.

 

[mugenrios2k]

Patience fellow 4runner owners (arguing above)... I'll explain all about my newfangled high beams once they are in...Hopefully the 9000 lumens is like aiming the sun at the road ahead for the $$ so my explanation to my wife for buying these holds true.

And, I'll be sure to take before and after pics like a creeper in the dark section of a nearby neighborhood.

Standing by for your review nevetsvsx

 

[nevetsvsx]

Standing by for your review nevetsvsx

They should arrive tomorrow... I'll keep you guys posted.

 

[mugenrios2k]

They should arrive tomorrow... I'll keep you guys posted.

cool thanks. There must have been a huge list of people order them all at once...


The Tax return money is already burning a hole in my pocket...:flame:

 

[nevetsvsx]

cool thanks. There must have been a huge list of people order them all at once...


The Tax return money is already burning a hole in my pocket...:flame:

On my way home for the install... UPS says there on the door step

 

[mikey's2010SR5]

What about putting these in the fogs?

I was thinking of ordering the Morimoto drop in LED fogs but the output is way lower. Already have them in my Corolla so I know how they perform.

 

[hoe_nah]

What about putting these in the fogs?

I was thinking of ordering the Morimoto drop in LED fogs but the output is way lower. Already have them in my Corolla so I know how they perform.

i agree on the drop in led fogs. got them on my tacoma n bleh, if my taco still had halogen headlights then it might be better but my retros overpower the fogs lol. im thinking of throwing in a retrofit for my fogs in the 4runner

 

[nevetsvsx]

There in...Uploading pics now.....

 

[nevetsvsx]

Before:

After:

I found horizontal to be the best placement for them in the reflectors:

Sorry for the crappy cell phone pics, but I can assure you the difference is pretty darn impressive in person from stock to these! I would recommend these for your high beams if your looking, but they may be too bright for the low beams in my opinion.

 

[Engineer]

Very impressive but I agree it seems if you got the same improvement in the low beams you would be a hazard on the road. Can you take a head on/3/4 shot to show the color (might not work well with a cell phone camera)