Order first, ask questions later.
My Resto-Mod Odyssey - '08 Tahoe LT3
- Thread starter 08HoeCD
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08HoeCD
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Installed LED headlight low beam and DRL bulbs.
Shot of headlights shows incandescent on passenger side and LED on driver side. Pattern on garage wall seems pretty darn sharp but it's daylight so can't be sure.
Will view after dark.
Shot of headlights shows incandescent on passenger side and LED on driver side. Pattern on garage wall seems pretty darn sharp but it's daylight so can't be sure.
Will view after dark.
ANDDDDD??????
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08HoeCD
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I couldn't get any photos to show the beam pattern yet. But, WOW, driving to work this morning at 6:30am in the dark rain was a very different experience with these LED low beams.
Huge light output but very well focused. Beam hits the bumper/trunk of car in front of me but does not hit above that point, while street signs almost glow from a great distance.
Very pleased. Will try to get photos soon.
Huge light output but very well focused. Beam hits the bumper/trunk of car in front of me but does not hit above that point, while street signs almost glow from a great distance.
Very pleased. Will try to get photos soon.
Your headlights are reflectors aren't they? I wonder why Vanquish recommends that LED's aren't good for low beams in projectors.
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08HoeCD
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Yes, my headlamp housings are factory reflector-style.
I had always thought that LEDs are bad for this style housing because many bulb designs produce poor beam patterns with tons of scatter. But newer LED bulb designs offer increased light output and very good beam pattern & good cutoff relative to the factory incandescent bulbs, all in a kit that is simpler to install and less expensive to buy than an HID kit, which is still the gold standard for high-performance headlight technology.
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Interested to see nighttime shots. Can't recall offhand, are these the H11/H16 bulb package?
HID in reflectors are not a good idea due to the fact they blind oncoming drivers.
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08HoeCD
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Yes, H11/H16. Here is the link: https://headlightrevolution.com/supernova-v-3-led-headlights-h11-h16-bulbs/
Forgot to mention that the LED beam patterns were properly aimed after just installing the bulbs into my factory housings---I did not have to manually aim. I had figured that I'd have to orient them downward a little, but that was not the case. Could not be more plug-n-play.
I'm impressed.
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Thx info on LEDs.
When you snagged that Air Raid MIT, did you do a separate drop in filter or just leave the stock air box setup and bolt in the MIT? If you used a separate drop in, what did you go with? Still happy with the MIT? Thx man.
When you snagged that Air Raid MIT, did you do a separate drop in filter or just leave the stock air box setup and bolt in the MIT? If you used a separate drop in, what did you go with? Still happy with the MIT? Thx man.
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08HoeCD
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You are welcome.
I just left the stock airbox & filter setup. Still happy with it. I don't think it yields much power---it's much more for the cool sound under heavy throttle. Gives a lot of the sound enjoyment that you get from a nice muffler when you want it, but virtually silent when you don't. ha!
Fosscore
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Good info. Thx.
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08HoeCD
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Go to this YouTube and skip to 9:00 for the LEDs:
Ive seen this video before. Heres the deal the ONLY way an LED headlight can be effective in a reflector type housing is if it has an adjustable beam.
^^^ I couldn't believe they were trying those in a reflector.
Not saying I know everything about headlights, but everyone knows the standard for greatness has been the HID projector for a while, and with the LED emerging, they have been getting better and better, as far as simple bulb swaps into reflector style headlight housings, wether oem or aftermarket, some say the placement of the chips can “closely replicate” the standard halogens, but the only actual way to be more effective than a halogen in a reflector is with an adjustable beam.
I was under the impression they work best in a projector but I'm even less of an expert than you for sure.
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08HoeCD
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You guys know way more about this than I do, but so far I'm happy with these LEDs.
Here are two unedited images from about 7am this morning. One image shows the headlight beam pattern on my garage door from about 15 ft away (driveway slants a bit), and other image is when I parked at work. I gotta find a clear, white wall sometime....
I'm no expert on headlights or lighting technology but I like these LEDs. Beam cutoff is good, spread is good-----both significantly better than with halogen bulbs. No glare towards pedestrians or other drivers. Much longer & brighter throw.
As good as HID? No. Better than halogen bulbs? Yes, and are 100% plug-n-play.
I know there are projector retrofit kits out there for around $1K, but I'm not spending that on headlights when I can get maybe 80% (??) of that performance for under $150 simply by adding good-quality LED bulbs with integrated drivers. Simple, easy, and not expensive.
Here are two unedited images from about 7am this morning. One image shows the headlight beam pattern on my garage door from about 15 ft away (driveway slants a bit), and other image is when I parked at work. I gotta find a clear, white wall sometime....
I'm no expert on headlights or lighting technology but I like these LEDs. Beam cutoff is good, spread is good-----both significantly better than with halogen bulbs. No glare towards pedestrians or other drivers. Much longer & brighter throw.
As good as HID? No. Better than halogen bulbs? Yes, and are 100% plug-n-play.
I know there are projector retrofit kits out there for around $1K, but I'm not spending that on headlights when I can get maybe 80% (??) of that performance for under $150 simply by adding good-quality LED bulbs with integrated drivers. Simple, easy, and not expensive.
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I do know that HID's in reflector housings don't do much other than blind oncoming drivers and was under the impression that LED's were the same but I guess I'm wrong. I do remember reading awhile back, after Vanquish Auto became a supporting vender, that they were saying they don't recommend LED for low beam applications , only high beams, but I'm not sure if they were talking projector or reflector. I'm so confused.
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08HoeCD
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I had always thought that reflector housings and HID and/or LED were a recipe for disaster, but it seems that newer designs in LED bulbs have greatly improved the performance. Less than 6 months ago I swore that I'd never install an LED bulb in a reflector housing, but watching that YouTube made me wonder......and not much later, I figured I'd try it.
I'm glad I did.
