2021 XLT FX4 Halogens - Help!

[ViperVette]

I’ve spent the better part of this entire evening using the search feature (and YouTube vids) looking for the best recommendations to replace these yellow poor excuse for headlights on my new Expedition. And I still am not sure what the BEST thing is to do because what worked for one member was a failure for another etc or the vehicle wasn’t a 2021 XLT, etc, etc. And then, many suggestions seemed to work on one model year but not another. Weird.

I at first even considered asking my dealer to just order the light assemblies from the platinum trim but that may be a ridiculous price it seems. So my options seem to be some sort of replacement LED or Halogen or uplevel HID setup?

So here we are at the end of 2021 and I have a new 900 mile vehicle that has lights as bad as an ‘86 F250 I used to own. What is the BEST and BRIGHTEST plug and play bulb replacement option for my 2021 Expedition?

SOMETHING/ANYTHING has to be better, right? I would prefer to hear about what you bought, installed and used on a 2021 (or 2020?) XLT. Has anyone actually bought factory OEM Platinum assemblies and changed them and if so, what did the change really cost?

Thanks for any and all replies. I need brighter lights and I need them before I head south in January.
Steve

 

[keny01998]

You don't gain much from factory OEM LED and each LED assembly will cost around $3k plus installation. Why don't you buy LED bulbs? I have been using Katana 9005 bulbs for almost 2 years. Search old threads and you will see many options for LED bulbs.

 

[Soliyou]

I’ve spent the better part of this entire evening using the search feature (and YouTube vids) looking for the best recommendations to replace these yellow poor excuse for headlights on my new Expedition. And I still am not sure what the BEST thing is to do because what worked for one member was a failure for another etc or the vehicle wasn’t a 2021 XLT, etc, etc. And then, many suggestions seemed to work on one model year but not another. Weird.

I at first even considered asking my dealer to just order the light assemblies from the platinum trim but that may be a ridiculous price it seems. So my options seem to be some sort of replacement LED or Halogen or uplevel HID setup?

So here we are at the end of 2021 and I have a new 900 mile vehicle that has lights as bad as an ‘86 F250 I used to own. What is the BEST and BRIGHTEST plug and play bulb replacement option for my 2021 Expedition?

SOMETHING/ANYTHING has to be better, right? I would prefer to hear about what you bought, installed and used on a 2021 (or 2020?) XLT. Has anyone actually bought factory OEM Platinum assemblies and changed them and if so, what did the change really cost?

Thanks for any and all replies. I need brighter lights and I need them before I head south in January.
Steve

Haha, your post reminded me of my shock during the first drive at night three years ago!

Just get a good quality LED bulb and you will be happy. It also won’t blind anyone. The correct bulb number is printed on the headlight and foglight lenses.

 

[Anthony DeVor]

I’ve spent the better part of this entire evening using the search feature (and YouTube vids) looking for the best recommendations to replace these yellow poor excuse for headlights on my new Expedition. And I still am not sure what the BEST thing is to do because what worked for one member was a failure for another etc or the vehicle wasn’t a 2021 XLT, etc, etc. And then, many suggestions seemed to work on one model year but not another. Weird.

I at first even considered asking my dealer to just order the light assemblies from the platinum trim but that may be a ridiculous price it seems. So my options seem to be some sort of replacement LED or Halogen or uplevel HID setup?

So here we are at the end of 2021 and I have a new 900 mile vehicle that has lights as bad as an ‘86 F250 I used to own. What is the BEST and BRIGHTEST plug and play bulb replacement option for my 2021 Expedition?

SOMETHING/ANYTHING has to be better, right? I would prefer to hear about what you bought, installed and used on a 2021 (or 2020?) XLT. Has anyone actually bought factory OEM Platinum assemblies and changed them and if so, what did the change really cost?

Thanks for any and all replies. I need brighter lights and I need them before I head south in January.
Steve

I have been using Auxito's leds for a while in my 2017 Expy EL XLT. This is the set that I got:
https://www.amazon.com/AUXITO-Headl...id=1640788385&sprefix=mini+dis,aps,237&sr=8-7

I looked up the bulbs for yours and they match mine so that set and the set below for your fog lights should work for you.

Amazon.com

 

[Tmg115]

I’ve spent the better part of this entire evening using the search feature (and YouTube vids) looking for the best recommendations to replace these yellow poor excuse for headlights on my new Expedition. And I still am not sure what the BEST thing is to do because what worked for one member was a failure for another etc or the vehicle wasn’t a 2021 XLT, etc, etc. And then, many suggestions seemed to work on one model year but not another. Weird.

I at first even considered asking my dealer to just order the light assemblies from the platinum trim but that may be a ridiculous price it seems. So my options seem to be some sort of replacement LED or Halogen or uplevel HID setup?

So here we are at the end of 2021 and I have a new 900 mile vehicle that has lights as bad as an ‘86 F250 I used to own. What is the BEST and BRIGHTEST plug and play bulb replacement option for my 2021 Expedition?

SOMETHING/ANYTHING has to be better, right? I would prefer to hear about what you bought, installed and used on a 2021 (or 2020?) XLT. Has anyone actually bought factory OEM Platinum assemblies and changed them and if so, what did the change really cost?

Thanks for any and all replies. I need brighter lights and I need them before I head south in January.
Steve

My first night driving my expedition I thought the same thing. Those stock lights are a disgrace.

I bought some led bulbs for my lows, highs, and fogs and now my expedition has the brightest lights out of all my vehicles.

Amazon has several bulbs you can buy. Installation is very easy and there are YouTube videos on how to do it.

Good luck

 

[ViperVette]

I have been using Auxito's leds for a while in my 2017 Expy EL XLT. This is the set that I got:
https://www.amazon.com/AUXITO-Headlight-Brighter-Wireless-Replacement/dp/B088ZT28XY/ref=sr_1_7?crid=3JBD1H3FJHR23&keywords=auxito+h11+9005+kit&qid=1640788385&sprefix=mini+dis,aps,237&sr=8-7

I looked up the bulbs for yours and they match mine so that set and the set below for your fog lights should work for you.

https://www.amazon.com/AUXITO-9005-...31&sprefix=auxito+9005+kit,aps,78&sr=8-7[/URL

Thanks. What did you do for DRLs because from what I read on that listing the bulbs are not able to be DRLs?

 

[ViperVette]

So these are the issues that seem to have no clear answer from what I’ve seen. So if anyone can answer this I would really appreciate it… Some bulbs say they can’t be used with/as daytime running lights, some bulbs require additional harnesses to avoid throwing a fault code for a bulb out, and so forth.
What I would like to know is if there are any LED bulb replacements I can buy and just plug-in and not have to worry about other issues like not having daytime running lights or throwing fault codes?
And not have a flicker issue?

I’ve searched and read and read and searched and maybe I’m picky but - I’m just looking for a simple plug and play LED lightbulb upgrade for my 2021 expedition with no other changes needed. Is that even possible?

 

[Pawpaw]

Following this because I'm in the same boat!!

 

[PNWExpy]

So these are the issues that seem to have no clear answer from what I’ve seen. So if anyone can answer this I would really appreciate it… Some bulbs say they can’t be used with/as daytime running lights, some bulbs require additional harnesses to avoid throwing a fault code for a bulb out, and so forth.
What I would like to know is if there are any LED bulb replacements I can buy and just plug-in and not have to worry about other issues like not having daytime running lights or throwing fault codes?
And not have a flicker issue?

I’ve searched and read and read and searched and maybe I’m picky but - I’m just looking for a simple plug and play LED lightbulb upgrade for my 2021 expedition with no other changes needed. Is that even possible?

I have a 2020 xlt. I got it with 10k so idk if the bulbs were stock but they were absolutely terrible. I could barely see to drive in a campground. I’ve tried different LEDs from Amazon. This is the current set up. Plug and play, no codes or problems. They are a vast upgrade for sure but honestly still looking for a bit more. It could be I won’t be happy with anything because my last rig I had a light bar connected to the brights.

Alla Lighting 9005 H11 LED Bulbs Combo High/Low Beam Headlight Bulbs 6000K Xenon White Replacement HB3 H11 Upgrade, 12000 Lumens Xtreme Vision https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0849PBMH...abc_DECNRN8VE90KZMCHY24Z?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1

 

[ViperVette]

I think I’m going to give the Allas a try. I believe this is the kit I need?

 

[ViperVette]

View attachment 71577

 

[PNWExpy]

I think I’m going to give the Allas a try. I believe this is the kit I need?View attachment 71579

Yep, those are what I’m running now

 

[ViperVette]

Yep, those are what I’m running now

Thank you!

 

[sjwhiteley]

Several people are running LEDs in the Halogen housing, without issues. The only slight annoyance is an occasional fliker every so often, which is tolerable but can be eliminated using Forscan (have not done it myself, yet).

Changed out halogen for LED today

I finally changed out the ugly halogens for LEDs on my 2018 limited today. So much cleaner looking and much more crisp going down the road at night. I used switchback bulbs for the fog lights. I had already used these on my Honda Pilot. They work great and are really distinct in rain/snow/fog...

www.expeditionforum.com

 

[ViperVette]

Several people are running LEDs in the Halogen housing, without issues. The only slight annoyance is an occasional fliker every so often, which is tolerable but can be eliminated using Forscan (have not done it myself, yet).

Changed out halogen for LED today

I finally changed out the ugly halogens for LEDs on my 2018 limited today. So much cleaner looking and much more crisp going down the road at night. I used switchback bulbs for the fog lights. I had already used these on my Honda Pilot. They work great and are really distinct in rain/snow/fog...

www.expeditionforum.com

Great! Thank you.

 

[chuck s]

I initially replaced the headlight bulbs with brighter halogen bulbs from the auto parts store. Plug-n-play and fairly inexpensive. Done this for decades especially with the high beams. Heck I can remember when halogens were the new wonder bulbs! Halogens have a life expectancy inversely proportional to their light output/power consumption. Wattage is often limited by law. "Off road" bulbs used responsibly are much brighter. No modifications to the housings needed.

LEDs last "forever" but unless replacement LED bulb "filament" placement matches that of the halogens you'll get horrible light output patterns in reflector type housings. LED placement gets better every year. I had HID lows and LED highs professionally installed two years ago. Light pattern is excellent. YMMV.

Note my truck is a 2017 XLT (reflector housings) but the concept is universal.

-- Chuck

 

[jnymac414]

I’ve spent the better part of this entire evening using the search feature (and YouTube vids) looking for the best recommendations to replace these yellow poor excuse for headlights on my new Expedition. And I still am not sure what the BEST thing is to do because what worked for one member was a failure for another etc or the vehicle wasn’t a 2021 XLT, etc, etc. And then, many suggestions seemed to work on one model year but not another. Weird.

I at first even considered asking my dealer to just order the light assemblies from the platinum trim but that may be a ridiculous price it seems. So my options seem to be some sort of replacement LED or Halogen or uplevel HID setup?

So here we are at the end of 2021 and I have a new 900 mile vehicle that has lights as bad as an ‘86 F250 I used to own. What is the BEST and BRIGHTEST plug and play bulb replacement option for my 2021 Expedition?

SOMETHING/ANYTHING has to be better, right? I would prefer to hear about what you bought, installed and used on a 2021 (or 2020?) XLT. Has anyone actually bought factory OEM Platinum assemblies and changed them and if so, what did the change really cost?

Thanks for any and all replies. I need brighter lights and I need them before I head south in January.
Steve

Bought LED lights for 2018 XLT on Amazon. Was issue getting right bulbs that company quickly resolved. Watched YouTube to figure out how to do it. Took a little time but well worth it.

 

[TexasRed]

Haha, your post reminded me of my shock during the first drive at night three years ago!

Just get a good quality LED bulb and you will be happy. It also won’t blind anyone. The correct bulb number is printed on the headlight and foglight lenses.

OP check your bulbs for the part number my lenses are marked H9 but they are 9005 bulbs in the housing. I would suggest Headlight Revolution get HID kit.

 

[Shakillohtrill]

Ebay and Amazon my brotha

 

[ROBERT BONNER]

LOL. I had an '86 F150. The Halogen Sealed Beams on that truck were far superior to the standard Halogens on my 2020 XLT!

I converted to 55 watt HID's. The XLT low beam lens/reflector system is parabolic. Parabolic's are designed to use a spherical light source. HID's are the best shaped light source for parabolics because HID's are spherical light sources, even better than Halogens, which tend to be a geometric arrangement of cylinders intended to imitate a sphere rather than being ideally spherical. LED bulbs are geometric arrangements of flat single directional rectangles, which work very well with reflectors shaped to take advantage of the "bulb" geometry; but, they don't imitate a sphere at all. The High beam and fogs would probably work well with any type of bulb. I just changed my Low and High beams to HID's and left the fogs as Halogen which gives me a broader spectrum.

There are lots of different brands and "heats" available. I went with the lowest heat available because that happens to produce the most lumens, it's also the heat that OEM's use, for the same reason.

A couple of other notes that may be in addition to what has already been listed above:

1. I don't know about the '21 owners manual; but, my '20 owners manual actually lists the WRONG bulb sizes for the XLT. I would suggest removing and visually verifying the bulb sizes before buying any replacements.
2. I mounted the transformers and other components using a combination of 2 sided tape and a SS bolt to the front fender brace located a few inches below the headlamp assembly. It's well protected by the fender inner and easy to access when pulling back the fender inner to access the bulbs.
3. I hate day-time running lights anyway; so, I disabled them from the I/P menu when I purchased the vehicle. I don't know how well the HID's would work in that mode.
4. HID's do require a finite amount of time to "warm-up", maybe 5 seconds. Once warmed up, the High beams stay warmed up when switched off for oncoming traffic for a significant amount of time (~30 minutes+).
5. I installed mine 18 months and 18,000 miles ago and haven't had any issues or complaints since then. They took the forward illumination on my '20 XLT from one of the worst I've ever driven to the best I've ever driven.