Budget LED headlights
New User
Joined: May 2019
Posts: 15
Likes: 0
I don't have pictures to share. I thought I did but I'm unable to find them.
I'd recommend anyone who uses the J1 style to give them a good inspection before they install them. Verify the LED/Heatsink assembly is held securely in place in the lock ring. With them installed in the headlight housing, See if you can feel movement when you move the heatsink up/down or side to side. That was the interface where I noticed some looseness on 3 of the 4 I bought. I'm sure that I would have had noticeable beam bounce if I didn't take steps to eliminate the movement.
I'm very pleased with mine after several months of use. They produce much better light than the OEM halogens. The pattern is good and I very rarely (maybe twice a month) will get flashed by oncoming cars. One thing I'm curious to see is how well they do in a western NY winter. I've heard that the reduced amount of heat relative to Halogens can cause snow/ice build up on the headlight surface.
I'd recommend anyone who uses the J1 style to give them a good inspection before they install them. Verify the LED/Heatsink assembly is held securely in place in the lock ring. With them installed in the headlight housing, See if you can feel movement when you move the heatsink up/down or side to side. That was the interface where I noticed some looseness on 3 of the 4 I bought. I'm sure that I would have had noticeable beam bounce if I didn't take steps to eliminate the movement.
I'm very pleased with mine after several months of use. They produce much better light than the OEM halogens. The pattern is good and I very rarely (maybe twice a month) will get flashed by oncoming cars. One thing I'm curious to see is how well they do in a western NY winter. I've heard that the reduced amount of heat relative to Halogens can cause snow/ice build up on the headlight surface.
Logistics Pro
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 3,924
Likes: 321
From: Lost in the Ozone....
- Low beams.
- Definite improvement over the halogens
- No dead spots. Nice solid, full lighting
- Great cutoff
- Didn't shine into car in front of me
- High Beams
- Really great improvement here!
- This is where I really wanted some improvement and most replacement LED bulbs weren't offering much in this regard
- Really great improvement here!
- Overall - I've been driving for over 40 years and the color temperature change is fairly large but I'm sure I will adjust .
- Will be interested to see how they do in rain. That is the one area where lower color temps are better.
- As has been learned through this forum is replacement LED bulbs need to be installed in a very particular position. LEDs at 3 - 9 o'clock with the low beam at the top. These were easy to install as they are designed to have the power cable directly at 6 o'clock so they are orientated correctly.
- Here's pictures of them against my garage door at a ~25' distance. Low beam and then high beam. The right beam seems slightly higher but the halogen was the same. Must be the adjustment from factory.
New User
Joined: Feb 2018
Posts: 11
Likes: 1
Last night I installed the Beamtech J1 bulbs, they are much better and do not have the wiggle of the S1s. I was able to change out the passenger side in less than 10 minutes. The driver side bulbs took me almost 2 hours. I only removed the filler tube for the washer fluid, but holy cow how strong was the guy that installed them. The fog lights took less than 10 minutes as well. Very impressed with the lighting and the light patterns are almost identical to the stock halogen bulbs.
Thread Starter
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Lead Driver
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 5,943
Likes: 1,357
From: NY/Canada border
Last night I installed the Beamtech J1 bulbs, they are much better and do not have the wiggle of the S1s. I was able to change out the passenger side in less than 10 minutes. The driver side bulbs took me almost 2 hours. I only removed the filler tube for the washer fluid, but holy cow how strong was the guy that installed them. The fog lights took less than 10 minutes as well. Very impressed with the lighting and the light patterns are almost identical to the stock halogen bulbs.
There they will stay unless there's a problem or if the truck is traded again sometime.
New User
Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 21
Likes: 0
I installed the Techmax two days ago and they have great light output. The only issue I have is my radio reception sucks now. I just ordered some ferrite chokes hope it corrects the reception issues.
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Logistics Pro
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 3,924
Likes: 321
From: Lost in the Ozone....
I never listen to regular radio (AM/FM) so don't know if I have same issue. Will test for curiosity and report back. What's the issue you're seeing? Static/interference? Or reduced reception?
Tuned
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 305
Likes: 1
From: Delphos, OH
On the lights, I woke up early this morning (4:30) so I decided to install my headlights. I had to take the grill off and remove the drivers side headlight to change. The passenger side was wide open and easy to access (6.2 gasser). Once installed I took it for a road test. The light is MUCH brighter. I had to aim my lights up a bit which was a problem with the old lights too. On low beam with my old lights it would barely illuminate between telephone poles (roughly 100'). With the new LED's it was "better" but still not casting down the road as far as I would like. Now with lights adjusted up just a bit I'm getting better illumination down the road but not so much that I'll light up an oncoming car. The brights are really impressive! I'll try to remember to update this thread in the future for an idea on bulb longevity.
New User
Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 21
Likes: 0
The static is bad on most of the channels. If the ferrite don't work I'll probably just renew Sirius.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Sep 2017
Posts: 1,136
Likes: 264
From: Southwestern Pa.
From what I see the J1 vs S1 difference in bulbs is fan cooling vs cooling via heat sink...correct? Is it always the fan cooled bulbs that generate FM static or is it the bulb driver that generates the static?
Thread Starter
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Lead Driver
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 5,943
Likes: 1,357
From: NY/Canada border
I had to take the grill off and remove the drivers side headlight to change. The passenger side was wide open and easy to access (6.2 gasser). Once installed I took it for a road test. The light is MUCH brighter. I had to aim my lights up a bit which was a problem with the old lights too. On low beam with my old lights it would barely illuminate between telephone poles (roughly 100'). With the new LED's it was "better" but still not casting down the road as far as I would like. Now with lights adjusted up just a bit I'm getting better illumination down the road but not so much that I'll light up an oncoming car. The brights are really impressive! I'll try to remember to update this thread in the future for an idea on bulb longevity.
As far as longevity, I'll be at 2 years with Beamtech in about 6 weeks. So far, so good. Same bulbs are in the second truck now.
Cargo Master
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 2,616
Likes: 1,190
From: Door Cty/Florida
In my very first attempt I did the grille and headlight housing removal. What a pain. As with most things, time, experience and reading what others did on these forums make life easier. I learned that the filler neck on the washer tank was removable on the driver side. Big time saver along with removing the air intake snorkel on the passenger side. No more messing with grille. Last go round, I removed just that snorkel. Had all 4 headlights, both signal lights and front side marker bulbs changed in about 15-20 minutes.
As far as longevity, I'll be at 2 years with Beamtech in about 6 weeks. So far, so good. Same bulbs are in the second truck now.
As far as longevity, I'll be at 2 years with Beamtech in about 6 weeks. So far, so good. Same bulbs are in the second truck now.
Had my fan Beamtech's for a few months and love them. Great light, no adjustment, never get flashed.
Bruce
New User
Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 21
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After reading about the Techmax, I was getting ready to order...am glad that I saw this. I have Sirius, but I also listen to FM radio for a couple of reasons. Being out in the sticks a bit, FM reception can be marginal an I'd rather not worsen it.
From what I see the J1 vs S1 difference in bulbs is fan cooling vs cooling via heat sink...correct? Is it always the fan cooled bulbs that generate FM static or is it the bulb driver that generates the static?
From what I see the J1 vs S1 difference in bulbs is fan cooling vs cooling via heat sink...correct? Is it always the fan cooled bulbs that generate FM static or is it the bulb driver that generates the static?