what is good quality LED low beam purchase? 2016 trail H11 style

[rockwind1]

my 2016 trail has some super fancy after market led's in just about every light,, courtesy of previous owner. which i really liked,,,,,UNTIL, a low beam went out,,,,,discovered that going to autozone and buying replacements was not going to happen... gotta go online,,,and jeeez,,,, 120 bucks for 2 bulbs? pretty sucky but ok,, i was going to buy these,,, any other recommendations for quality but less expensive alternatives? the ones that are in there now are ddm's from aidenjames,,, one went out,,like 120 bucks everytime a bulb goes out is pretty sucky. especially when they only last 30k miles apparently.

Amazon.com: DDM Tuning Saber 50W H8/H9/H11 LED Headlight/Foglight, 10000LM, 6000K, Pair, 2 Year Warranty: Automotive

 

[SpeedyKevin]

my 2016 trail has some super fancy after market led's in just about every light,, courtesy of previous owner. which i really liked,,,,,UNTIL, a low beam went out,,,,,discovered that going to autozone and buying replacements was not going to happen... gotta go online,,,and jeeez,,,, 120 bucks for 2 bulbs? pretty sucky but ok,, i was going to buy these,,, any other recommendations for quality but less expensive alternatives? the ones that are in there now are ddm's from aidenjames,,, one went out,,like 120 bucks everytime a bulb goes out is pretty sucky. especially when they only last 30k miles apparently.

Amazon.com: DDM Tuning Saber 50W H8/H9/H11 LED Headlight/Foglight, 10000LM, 6000K, Pair, 2 Year Warranty: Automotive

Just a heads up that the H9 would provide more light output. That being said, Hikari LEDs seem to be the best performing LEDs out there

See the read up here (its GTR review but the lighting engineer talks about the Hikaris at the end)
3rd Gen HID vs LED vs Halogen H11 projector headlights | Page 141 | Tacoma World

Hikaris can be found for $90
Amazon.com: HIKARI Ultra LED Headlight Bulbs Conversion Kit -H11(H8,H9), Prime LED 12000lm 6K Cool White: Automotive

 

[rockwind1]

Just a heads up that the H9 would provide more light output. That being said, Hikari LEDs seem to be the best performing LEDs out there

See the read up here (its GTR review but the lighting engineer talks about the Hikaris at the end)
3rd Gen HID vs LED vs Halogen H11 projector headlights | Page 141 | Tacoma World

Hikaris can be found for $90
Amazon.com: HIKARI Ultra LED Headlight Bulbs Conversion Kit -H11(H8,H9), Prime LED 12000lm 6K Cool White: Automotive

thank you very much speedykevin,,,ironically, my name is also kevin. i thought for some reason that H11 was the "physical" shape of the bulb as to how it fit in the lens,,,, like in this case, mine has 3 lugs that turns clockwise to lock into place,,, apparently it must mean something else. i will check out the hikaris,,,, i really am not too concerned about brightness overall,,, more about longevity.

 

[delloro]

I thought for some reason that H11 was the "physical" shape of the bulb as to how it fit in the lens,,,, like in this case, mine has 3 lugs that turns clockwise to lock into place,,,.

You are correct. H9 bulbs must be modified to fit.

 

[rockwind1]

You are correct. H9 bulbs must be modified to fit.

Why are they better, how tough is the modification do you just have to trim some lugs a little bit?, Why can’t the H 11s be just as bright as an H9 if it’s just the way they fit into the housing?

 

[SpeedyKevin]

Why are they better, how tough is the modification do you just have to trim some lugs a little bit?, Why can’t the H 11s be just as bright as an H9 if it’s just the way they fit into the housing?

Some h11s are pretty close in brightness to the H9s. They just have a slightly different color temp (not much) and shorter life. See chart below for output.

Regarding modifying, not too difficult to modify. Some use a dremel. I personally found it pretty easy with this tool --> Micro Cutter: Side Cutting Pliers: Amazon.com: Industrial & Scientific

See this for mod instructions--> Cheap and Easy Halogen Bulb Mods for more Output | IH8MUD Forum

 

[ElectroBoy]

Why are they better, how tough is the modification do you just have to trim some lugs a little bit?, Why can’t the H 11s be just as bright as an H9 if it’s just the way they fit into the housing?

H11s are 55W bulbs, output = 1250 lumens
H9s are 65 W bulbs, output = 2200 lumens

People who want better headlights have been doing the modification of H9s to fit into H11 low beam projector headlight housings for at least 15 years. I saw it being discussed in 2003. You won’t melt wires or headlight lenses. Do the mod, make sure your contacts are clean, plug the socket onto the bulb snug and tight. Enjoy more light.
There are hundreds of posts on this site about it that you can search.

Here’s the mod. See post 122.
How To: Headlight Bulb Conversion (H11 to H9 & 9005 to 9011)

See post #38:

H11 to H9 - if you did this let me know

People use cutters like this:
Micro Cutter Micro Cutter: Side Cutting Pliers: Amazon.com: Industrial & Scientific

 

[rockwind1]

H11s are 55W bulbs, output = 1250 lumens
H9s are 65 W bulbs, output = 2200 lumens

People who want better headlights have been doing the modification of H9s to fit into H11 low beam projector headlight housings for at least 15 years. I saw it being discussed in 2003. You won’t melt wires or headlight lenses. Do the mod, make sure your contacts are clean, plug the socket onto the bulb snug and tight. Enjoy more light.
There are hundreds of posts on this site about it that you can search.

Here’s the mod. See post 122.
How To: Headlight Bulb Conversion (H11 to H9 & 9005 to 9011)


See post #38:

H11 to H9 - if you did this let me know

People use cutters like this:
Micro Cutter Micro Cutter: Side Cutting Pliers: Amazon.com: Industrial & Scientific

It seems that the measurement of 1250 lumens is so much less than the h11’s in an LED style that claims 12000 lumens. The hIkari. Surely that r not over 10x brighter

 

[ElectroBoy]

Search the forum. There are thousands of posts about LED drop-in replacements in the 4Runner halogen projector housings. They are all crap. Just search and read. All the info is already here.

 

[SpeedyKevin]

It seems that the measurement of 1250 lumens is so much less than the h11’s in an LED style that claims 12000 lumens. The hIkari. Surely that r not over 10x brighter

Read through that linked thread, alot of the lumens readings are marketing and not actually accurate measurements. The lighting engineer in that thread measures a lot of the LED options available. Also high output isnt the end all as beam pattern and hot spots are key. All explained in that thread.

See Hikari data here --> 3rd Gen HID vs LED vs Halogen H11 projector headlights | Page 81 | Tacoma World

 

[rockwind1]

Read through that linked thread, alot of the lumens readings are marketing and not actually accurate measurements. The lighting engineer in that thread measures a lot of the LED options available. Also high output isnt the end all as beam pattern and hot spots are key. All explained in that thread.

See Hikari data here --> 3rd Gen HID vs LED vs Halogen H11 projector headlights | Page 81 | Tacoma World

i just ordered the hikari's, they seemed simple to install, i hope. my old aidenjamescustom setup is a friggin nightmare of wires and modules and what a pain,,, the hikaris don't have a module so the harness can go inside it looks like,, under the dust cap i mean. applying the KISS principal here. and i don't want to read a 200 page thread on headlights. geeez. hopefully the rest of the aidenjames stuff will last but i will have a spare hikari led in case the other low beam goes. i guess i should find a spare high beam set up now,,,, geeezzzzz,,,, will start another thread i guess,,, since the higbeams are also the drl lights,,,the led's need some sort of module,,,

any recommendations for a spare set up for the high beams?

 

[Rpede]

I’ve heard good things about this one: ahren H11/H9/H8 LED Headlight Bulbs, 60W 10000 Lumens Super Bright LED Headlights Conversion Kit 6500K Cool White IP 68 Waterproof - 2 Years Warranty Amazon.com: Fahren H11/H9/H8 LED Headlight Bulbs, 60W 10000 Lumens Super Bright LED Headlights Conversion Kit 6500K Cool White IP68 Waterproof, Pack of 2: Automotive

 

[SpeedyKevin]

i just ordered the hikari's, they seemed simple to install, i hope. my old aidenjamescustom setup is a friggin nightmare of wires and modules and what a pain,,, the hikaris don't have a module so the harness can go inside it looks like,, under the dust cap i mean. applying the KISS principal here. and i don't want to read a 200 page thread on headlights. geeez. hopefully the rest of the aidenjames stuff will last but i will have a spare hikari led in case the other low beam goes. i guess i should find a spare high beam set up now,,,, geeezzzzz,,,, will start another thread i guess,,, since the higbeams are also the drl lights,,,the led's need some sort of module,,,

any recommendations for a spare set up for the high beams?

Just know that most LEDs perform slightly better in some cases than OEM H11s but higher performing H11s and the H9s perform much better by putting light where its needed.

That being said, for high beam halogens the 9011 HIR is hard to beat. Easier than modifying the H9s for lows and dont have to worry about flicker with a LED in DRL use.

 

[uh0h50]

Would have been better off just closing your eyes and making your selection on amazon. All LED drop in bulbs are terrible for our halogen projectors.

 

[rockwind1]

I’ve heard good things about this one: ahren H11/H9/H8 LED Headlight Bulbs, 60W 10000 Lumens Super Bright LED Headlights Conversion Kit 6500K Cool White IP 68 Waterproof - 2 Years Warranty Amazon.com: Fahren H11/H9/H8 LED Headlight Bulbs, 60W 10000 Lumens Super Bright LED Headlights Conversion Kit 6500K Cool White IP68 Waterproof, Pack of 2: Automotive

well dang,,, just after i ordered the 90$ hikaris! i read in one of the reviews that the fahren comes with the + and - wires in reverse polarity,, like you have to switch the wiring harness,, that seems problematic to me,,, of course only one person mentioned it so that's weird.

but typical amazon craziness,, these look great at 1/3 the price of the hikaris,,,,can they really be the same quality? who freakin knows!

alot of reviewers mentioned an allen key so you can position the led in the right spot,,, seems like a brilliant feature,,,, do all led's let you do that? for those of us with the projector type lights,, seems important

does anyone know if the hikari's allow micro adjustments of led?

 

[rockwind1]

Would have been better off just closing your eyes and making your selection on amazon. All LED drop in bulbs are terrible for our halogen projectors.

what do you run? have you tried a lot of bulbs,,, i was just going to go to autozone and get a HID type but they were 25$a piece! so i figured why not try the hikari's for not much more. the aidenjamescustom setup that came on my used 2016 trail were working great and i was quite happy. i bought the rig at 28kmiles and at 43k miles,, well,, the low beam just quit. i doubt if i would have paid for the set up on my own but the guy who owned the 4runner before me defintely like to put good stuff on it.

kind of reminds me of the LED lightbulbs i buy at costco for my house,, they claim 12,000 hours,,,,meanwhile,,, i have like a stack of 15 bubls that didn't last more than a month.

 

[rockwind1]

Just know that most LEDs perform slightly better in some cases than OEM H11s but higher performing H11s and the H9s perform much better by putting light where its needed.

That being said, for high beam halogens the 9011 HIR is hard to beat. Easier than modifying the H9s for lows and dont have to worry about flicker with a LED in DRL use.

what are you running on your rig?, bulbwise?

 

[SpeedyKevin]

what are you running on your rig?, bulbwise?

All the ones I listed except H9s, at the moment I'm testing the Nighthawk 120 H11s and liking em.

Tried some LEDs before but on the 395 (eastern sierra) they just didnt project as far down the road (with cutoff) as the H9s/H11s. Made it rough driving some parts on a new moon.

 

[pointman]

well dang,,, just after i ordered the 90$ hikaris! i read in one of the reviews that the fahren comes with the + and - wires in reverse polarity,, like you have to switch the wiring harness,, that seems problematic to me,,, of course only one person mentioned it so that's weird.

but typical amazon craziness,, these look great at 1/3 the price of the hikaris,,,,can they really be the same quality? who freakin knows!

alot of reviewers mentioned an allen key so you can position the led in the right spot,,, seems like a brilliant feature,,,, do all led's let you do that? for those of us with the projector type lights,, seems important

does anyone know if the hikari's allow micro adjustments of led?

Yes, they do.

 

[rockwind1]

thank you very much speedykevin,,,ironically, my name is also kevin. i thought for some reason that H11 was the "physical" shape of the bulb as to how it fit in the lens,,,, like in this case, mine has 3 lugs that turns clockwise to lock into place,,, apparently it must mean something else. i will check out the hikaris,,,, i really am not too concerned about brightness overall,,, more about longevity.

well, just an update,, the Hikaris that I ordered,,,, DO NOT FIT THE LOW BEAM PROJECTOR HOUSING. despite amazon's fitment thing saying they do. just an FYI for anyone else who has a 2016 4runner trail version. the large part of the bulb housing,, where it mushrooms out to have the little fan,,, totally hits the part of the projector housing,,, no way to get the h11 lugs into the slots,,,it needs about 5mm more clearance,,,no way to shave housing either as it is super thin plasticy material.

they would appear to fit highbeams,,,EXCEPT I NEED THEM FOR LOWBEAMS. GEEEZ,, what a hassle. now i have to do the whole amazon return schlep. left negative review.