LED Headlights
FTE Remembers
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 8,259
Likes: 346
From: Northern California
They only make the +100% in H13. Wonder why they don't make an H13 in the 130% configuration. I have Silverstar Ultras but they really look yellow.Legal issues aside, Changing bulbs to a higher wattage is a bandaid for a worn out or poor quality headlamp assembly.
Even new, not all headlamps are created equal and the light patterns from the el cheapos down right suck. Look for a CAPA or NSF certified part and pair it with the correct bulb. Fwiw.... Rock auto offers CAPA and NSF certified headlamp assemblies.
That said, the Feds have been slow to adopt and approve new lighting technology that does offer better lighting. Did you know that 1/2 of highway deaths occur at night but we only drive 1/4 of our total miles in the dark ? Did you know that Ford was the first to get modular headlamps approved, the old sealed beam lights were the only approved lights until ford convinced the Feds it couldn't meet fuel mileage requirements with them because of aerodynamics. Our current light offerings were not made legal for better light or safety but for fuel mileage.
super dumb
Posting Guru
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 1,758
Likes: 3
From: Colorado
Hmm..Mine are DOT compliant "Lifetime LED H13 LED Headlight Bulbs are a perfect replacement for your vehicle's old or broken headlights. They offer up to 2000 lumens and provide bright lighting to drive through dark trails. These headlight bulbs are designed with an integrated fan for cooling. They have a lifetime of more than 30,000 hours. These bulbs are DOT and Energy Star compliant." On mine, Low beam is on the bottom side, high beam on the top. These can be positioned in the mount to get the correct orientation.
How bright are they ? Anywhere close to HID's?
Posting Guru
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 1,758
Likes: 3
From: Colorado
Perhaps your headlamp assembly is due to be replaced. The lens gets pitted and oxidized which scatters the light as well as the reflectors get oxidized and then do not do a very good job of reflecting the light outward which will cause your lights to look dim and unfocused.
Legal issues aside, Changing bulbs to a higher wattage is a bandaid for a worn out or poor quality headlamp assembly.
Even new, not all headlamps are created equal and the light patterns from the el cheapos down right suck. Look for a CAPA or NSF certified part and pair it with the correct bulb. Fwiw.... Rock auto offers CAPA and NSF certified headlamp assemblies.
That said, the Feds have been slow to adopt and approve new lighting technology that does offer better lighting. Did you know that 1/2 of highway deaths occur at night but we only drive 1/4 of our total miles in the dark ? Did you know that Ford was the first to get modular headlamps approved, the old sealed beam lights were the only approved lights until ford convinced the Feds it couldn't meet fuel mileage requirements with them because of aerodynamics. Our current light offerings were not made legal for better light or safety but for fuel mileage. super dumb
Legal issues aside, Changing bulbs to a higher wattage is a bandaid for a worn out or poor quality headlamp assembly.
Even new, not all headlamps are created equal and the light patterns from the el cheapos down right suck. Look for a CAPA or NSF certified part and pair it with the correct bulb. Fwiw.... Rock auto offers CAPA and NSF certified headlamp assemblies.
That said, the Feds have been slow to adopt and approve new lighting technology that does offer better lighting. Did you know that 1/2 of highway deaths occur at night but we only drive 1/4 of our total miles in the dark ? Did you know that Ford was the first to get modular headlamps approved, the old sealed beam lights were the only approved lights until ford convinced the Feds it couldn't meet fuel mileage requirements with them because of aerodynamics. Our current light offerings were not made legal for better light or safety but for fuel mileage.
super dumbGo drive in Europe, their standards are actually much better.
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 1,108
Likes: 23
From what I gleaned, you have to keep the output type that your headlight was designed for because the reflectors were not designed for the HID or LED scatter type output so it really does create a lot of glare.. That is the big issue. From a purely practical point of view, I wonder if you could change out the entire headlight assembly to one made for an HID or LED. Problem is, no such beast seems to exist that I can find.
You would think it would be a very simple straightforward project to upgrade your headlights but as I found out
You would think it would be a very simple straightforward project to upgrade your headlights but as I found out
FTE Remembers
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 8,259
Likes: 346
From: Northern California
From what I gleaned, you have to keep the output type that your headlight was designed for because the reflectors were not designed for the HID or LED scatter type output so it really does create a lot of glare.. That is the big issue. From a purely practical point of view, I wonder if you could change out the entire headlight assembly to one made for an HID or LED. Problem is, no such beast seems to exist that I can find.
You would think it would be a very simple straightforward project to upgrade your headlights but as I found out
You would think it would be a very simple straightforward project to upgrade your headlights but as I found out
Yup,
Legal issues aside.
The delima when looking to switch out your entire lamp assembly for one with a LED light source and reflector or projector is that many or, possibly even fair to say most of the ones you find on the Internet or aftermarket are simply junk and produce worse light then a good Quality OEM replacement.
That said, LED's are what the current crop of high end vehicle manufactures are offering for their upgraded lighting, typically cost is $1500 and up. Beside the correct optics they have have come up with ingenious solutions to the other challenges such as motorized lens to adjust beam angles, heaters to thaw lenses and melt snow in cold environments, sensors to dim lights and adjust the cut off shade when oncoming traffic is detected. Ect. Let's just say the future is bright for automotive lighting..... Just be wary of hundred dollar solutions .... Me thinks you will just end up $100 poorer and disappointed.
For the record I am not saying that good LED lights are not available aftermarket, I just haven't personally seen any yet. At least not ones that would be use as replacement headlamps on an excursion.
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