Replacement Bulbs - Headlights

[JExpedition07]

Halogen(left) vs led(right) in a reflector headlight. Anyone see an issue here?

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This is what I was having trouble explaining before. The LED is an intense white light but lacks focus and a cutoff point, just kind of shoots wherever. This is why it seems to die out on the ashphalt quick in comparison to halogen and HID.

 

[lbv150]

I don't know what all the fuss is about. My OEM headlights in the '16 are fine and they don't blind on coming drivers on low. On dark roads the highs are perfect.

 

[sjwelds]

Yeah I don't have any problems with the lights on my 08 either. Far as I know everything's stock.

 

[JExpedition07]

Yeah I don't have any problems with the lights on my 08 either. Far as I know everything's stock.

Same here no issues.

 

[gixer2000]

My 07 headlights are mint!

 

[ExpeditionAndy]

If I bought these HIDs would I get the fast blink light out warning?
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Sorry for the late response, @JExpedition07 we were on a Masonic Lodge visitation tonight.

I went with the Moon Series Canbus Ballasts and have no problem with. Start with by selecting the ballast, then select the right bulb for your truck and the color that you want. I didn't need the cancellers so I didn't order them

Here is the link, start here: https://www.xenonhids.com/35w-ac-canbus-ballast-hid-kit.html

 

[Muddy Bean]

I've done a ton of reading on the science of LED vs HID for automotive headlamp applications and in every aspect, LED's are indeed superior with the sole exception of the distance throw. This hasn't been scientifically studied a ton from what I've read, but having had both high quality expensive LED lights in my truck and then switching over to HID's the difference in forward distance light throw was pretty noticeable. Cars today with LED headlights have engineered projectors and reflectors as was previously mentioned which gives them a definite edge. Popping in an LED bulb into our projectors will likely not give the same success as an engineered LED headlight assembly. That being said, most of today's off-road light bars are LED and they throw a ton of light and are capable of throwing it a long distance. So I think this discussion should be limited to LED replacement bulbs replacing halogens in halogen housings vs HID bulbs in halogen housings.


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[gixer2000]

I've done a ton of reading on the science of LED vs HID for automotive headlamp applications and in every aspect, LED's are indeed superior with the sole exception of the distance throw. This hasn't been scientifically studied a ton from what I've read, but having had both high quality expensive LED lights in my truck and then switching over to HID's the difference in forward distance light throw was pretty noticeable. Cars today with LED headlights have engineered projectors and reflectors as was previously mentioned which gives them a definite edge. Popping in an LED bulb into our projectors will likely not give the same success as an engineered LED headlight assembly. That being said, most of today's off-road light bars are LED and they throw a ton of light and are capable of throwing it a long distance. So I think this discussion should be limited to LED replacement bulbs replacing halogens in halogen housings vs HID bulbs in halogen housings.


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"Cars today with LED headlights have engineered projectors and reflectors"

And Thats the part no one seems to understand. I'm glad you said it because I've said it 100 time before and always seem to a get resistance around here

 

[GeezingInVA]

I don't know what all the fuss is about. My OEM headlights in the '16 are fine and they don't blind on coming drivers on low. On dark roads the highs are perfect.

I think the issue with my poor-performance OEM low beams might be because my '16 has the factory mechanical rear-leveling. Perhaps my beams were aimed at the factory when the leveling was in "rest" (so the rear was slightly squatting, and the front was sitting higher than when it's underway). My beams' "hot" spot is cut in half horizontally at the top, masked by the trim line, thus minimizing the reach when out on the road with the rear leveling "up". Just speculation on my part. My low beams certainly don't affect oncoming drivers, and I have the same results you do with the highs being perfect on dark roads. Cheers!

 

[ExpeditionAndy]

I think the issue with my poor-performance OEM low beams might be because my '16 has the factory mechanical rear-leveling. Perhaps my beams were aimed at the factory when the leveling was in "rest" (so the rear was slightly squatting, and the front was sitting higher than when it's underway). My beams' "hot" spot is cut in half horizontally at the top, masked by the trim line, thus minimizing the reach when out on the road with the rear leveling "up". Just speculation on my part. My low beams certainly don't affect oncoming drivers, and I have the same results you do with the highs being perfect on dark roads. Cheers!

One thing I liked about my 09 Mercedes ML350 was that bi-xenon headlights had built in auto leveling so it didn't matter if you had weight on the hitch or people in the back they always pointed at the same spot on the road.

I honestly think that that the factory just installs the headlights as the come from the manufacturer and the dealer is supposed to check the aim as part of their inspection before delivering the vehicle. I suspect most don't have a rack for checking headlights or they just don't use them if they do.

 

[GeezingInVA]

One thing I liked about my 09 Mercedes ML350 was that bi-xenon headlights had built in auto leveling so it didn't matter if you had weight on the hitch or people in the back they always pointed at the same spot on the road.

I honestly think that that the factory just installs the headlights as the come from the manufacturer and the dealer is supposed to check the aim as part of their inspection before delivering the vehicle. I suspect most don't have a rack for checking headlights or they just don't use them if they do.

My 2005 Mercedes SLK350 roadster also has auto leveling bi-xenons, and they work perfectly every drive.

Here in VA, during the mandatory annual safety inspection, I suspect as long as my '16 Limited's headlight alignment doesn't stray too far into the oncoming traffic lane quadrant, they don't recommend any adjustment for optimum distance. If the alignment is off even a tiny bit into oncoming traffic, though, they red-flag at the inspection, and you have to get them re-aimed.

 

[ExpeditionAndy]

My 2005 Mercedes SLK350 roadster also has auto leveling bi-xenons, and they work perfectly every drive.

Here in VA, during the mandatory annual safety inspection, I suspect as long as my '16 Limited's headlight alignment doesn't stray too far into the oncoming traffic lane quadrant, they don't recommend any adjustment for optimum distance. If the alignment is off even a tiny bit into oncoming traffic, though, they red-flag at the inspection, and you have to get them re-aimed.

Our headlights only have Up and down adjustments so you really can't adjust for left and right. The only thing you have to worry about is if they are up too high they might be a little bright to someone approaching in a sports car.

 

[Adieu]

My 2005 Mercedes SLK350 roadster also has auto leveling bi-xenons, and they work perfectly every drive.

Here in VA, during the mandatory annual safety inspection, I suspect as long as my '16 Limited's headlight alignment doesn't stray too far into the oncoming traffic lane quadrant, they don't recommend any adjustment for optimum distance. If the alignment is off even a tiny bit into oncoming traffic, though, they red-flag at the inspection, and you have to get them re-aimed.

All factory stock HIDs are self-levelling, its a federal requirement.

Its a pita when you replace control arms on vehicles with those, if you mount the leveller back kinda halfassed, you get an annoying "cutoff shudder" effect

 

[Adieu]

Do you recommend one halogen bulb brand over another? My 2012 bulbs are up for replacing as they don't seem to be throwing as much light anymore. Don't halogens degrade over time?

Some of the worst offenders like Sylvania rate their high-output halogens for as little as 65 ...HOURS

.... yes hours!!!!

 

[Muddy Bean]

Speaking of which ^ I just got paid from a class action lawsuit against Sylvania for their false claims of brighter bulbs when in reality they were whiter not brighter and whiter doesn't necessarily mean brighter and the class action lawsuit is perfect proof of this. So their "extreme" halogen bulbs from back in the day were most definitely whiter (noticeably) but didn't actually provide greater lumen output and thus weren't deemed actually brighter and the courts agreed. So we all got some money back. Mine was to the tune of nearly $40.


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[chuck s]

All factory stock HIDs are self-levelling, its a federal requirement.

Since when? (A question, not a challenge!)

-- Chuck

 

[gixer2000]

All factory stock HIDs are self-levelling, its a federal requirement.

Its a pita when you replace control arms on vehicles with those, if you mount the leveller back kinda halfassed, you get an annoying "cutoff shudder" effect

Adaptive lighting is 100% not required with Hid but a good portion of manufactures are going that way but it is not required. Pretty sure it is required in Europe though

 

[ExpeditionAndy]

Adaptive lighting is 100% not required with Hid but a good portion of manufactures are going that way but it is not required. Pretty sure it is required in Europe though

I agree. I know in Germany it is absolutely required and probably everywhere else in Europe, but I do believe it is optional here but, if you buy a vehicle built here and sold with HIDs in Europe it comes with it.

 

[Adieu]

Adaptive lighting is 100% not required with Hid but a good portion of manufactures are going that way but it is not required. Pretty sure it is required in Europe though

Wasnt "adaptive" when it turns with the steering wheel or some such crap?

 

[gixer2000]

Wasnt "adaptive" when it turns with the steering wheel or some such crap?

Some do just up and down others do both (U,D,L,R). Every manufacturer has their own name for things like this and adaptive is the general term but any direction it's going it's adapting to conditions of the road