LED headlights in stock housings - My Install and feedback

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RichardCranium

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There are tons of threads, some have tons of replies. I really researched this forum for several days, it was really hard to find any conclusive feedback on LED's. I pondered between Spyder headlights and a projector retrofit, I even bought $400 worth or Morimoto to retrofit my stock headlights......but the biggest drawback and handicap to us all is the lack of adjustment, not being able to really dial in and aim our headlights properly. I gave up on the bi-Xenon retrofit, I didn't want to JB Weld the projectors in place......which would have been necessary for proper alignment.

So, here is my thread with OEM replica housings and LED low beams. I have always been a critic of LED's in stock halogen housings. We've all been blinded by many different makes and models with this setup. I decided to try it, since I didn't see a lot of folks giving feedback one way or another about them in our headlights.

Low and behold, I've never been flashed by oncoming traffic with these LED's.......there is a distinct beam pattern with our OEM headlights. It isn't astray and distorted, like pretty much every other LED/reflector setup on the road. It has a similar pattern to the stock halogen bulbs, similar distance/visibility as far as the projected area goes......just much brighter and much more useful. No more driving down the road with what feels like candlelight, with the dim and yellowish halogens. Nice bright white, and much better illumination.


My setup:

Ebay link to OEM replica headlight housings from AM-Autoparts - I purchased a set of these to retrofit the bi-Xenon setup. They are great quality and fit well. For $100ish, they can't be beaten. Even if you want to replace your faded/foggy headlights, its worth the money. New headlights really make your vehicle look a ton better.

Here are the LED bulbs I went with - You'll find LED's range from about $40 to well over $100 for a pair. I was happy with the feedback on these, and ended up buying the anti-flicker harnesses with them also. You can fit these in your housings with no modification! You don't need to trim the core supports like you would with other brands. Speaking of, I actually have clearanced my core supports already for the bi-Xenon, as it was necessary with how far the projectors protruded out of the back. I can clearly see behind the headlights though, and there is plenty of clearance with no modifications needed.

You do the math, I am in new headlights with LED low beams installed for about $200. Win win win.


Pics are attached. If anyone would like to see anything specifically, let me know.

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GranPrix

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You wouldn't happen to have any pics of the halogens up against your garage?
 

Bucky1

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I ended up going through Amazon for some Auxlamp LED replacements. They were obviously brighter right from the get-go. But they seemed to be aimed lower somehow. So my distance vision was actually worse. I raised the aim of the lights, and it is an obvious improvement in night vision over stock for sure. I was concerned that I would be blinding others. But as of yet, not one person has flashed me. For the $50 spent, this seems like an obvious improvement that was worth it.
 

GranPrix

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Yea a side by side I think might sell it, at least for me.
 

iamdub

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Change one side back to stock (whichever's easiest) and snap some pics. I like the "one side stock, one side LED" comparisons in addition to the full "before" and "after" pics.
 
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RichardCranium

RichardCranium

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Yea a side by side I think might sell it, at least for me.

Change one side back to stock (whichever's easiest) and snap some pics. I like the "one side stock, one side LED" comparisons in addition to the full "before" and "after" pics.
I'll try to toss in a halogen tonight after I mow the grass, then I'll get a garage pic and pull it out in the driveway to get a comparison shining on/in the garage.
 
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RichardCranium

RichardCranium

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Pics coming, got the drivers side swapped back to a normal H11 halogen bulb. If this doesn't convince anyone enough I don't know what will. This is about 25 feet out, the camera/phone is about 3 feet off the ground. Ideal level for adjustment, so you aren't blowing out the passenger car's mirrors in front of you at a stoplight. You can't even tell the halogen is doing anything, the LED is so bright.

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RichardCranium

RichardCranium

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Some of the headlight and the LED's, comparison to show the mounting depth. In the picture of the LED installed with just the back end showing, you'll notice my core support that is clearanced for the former bi-xenon Morimoto projectors.

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