Replacing all bulbs with led, what's your opinion after all ?

[Ron1978]

ive read a lot of this brand and that brand bulbs, I'm looking for a group opinion on full replacement on all bulbs, headlights, fog lights, rear reverse lights, all interior, what's best bulbs you all have experience with to date ?
2014 expedition

 

[Adieu]

JDM Astar seems to be the most trustworthy affordable brand

 

[GAINMOB]

I did it in my truck live it and I went with Oracle LEDs and haven't had any probs been 8 yrs or so

Sent from my SM-G965U1 using Tapatalk

 

[G213]

I've done a full LED conversion on any bulb you can replace, all from superbrightleds.com; some were a little more expensive than Amazon, but I've had zero problems.

However, be aware that LED headlamps are tricky...they simply do not have the physical design to support proper light output on a halogen housing (reflective or projector). I had LED in my lows but switched to HIDs, incredible difference.

See my thread here about LED vs. HID
https://www.expeditionforum.com/threads/any-hid-issues-in-projectors.39380/

 

[Ron1978]

I've done a full LED conversion on any bulb you can replace, all from superbrightleds.com; some were a little more expensive than Amazon, but I've had zero problems.

However, be aware that LED headlamps are tricky...they simply do not have the physical design to support proper light output on a halogen housing (reflective or projector). I had LED in my lows but switched to HIDs, incredible difference.

See my thread here about LED vs. HID
https://www.expeditionforum.com/threads/any-hid-issues-in-projectors.39380/

Did you buy the regular LED or the CAN bus ?

 

[G213]

Did you buy the regular LED or the CAN bus ?

Regular LEDs, non-canbus. No compatibility issues.

However, note that I used ForScan to disable hyper flash on the blinkers.

 

[Adieu]

Ceiling lights emit an ever so faint glow even when shut off on some years ('12 Navigator does, '09 Expedition SSV doesn't --- possibly Lincoln only?)

I think it's a dimmer circuit thing, I got a microwave with an LED swap that glows faintly when the light is set to "off" also

PS No glow when vehicle is sitting parked and off, though

 

[99WhiteC5Coupe]

ive read a lot of this brand and that brand bulbs, I'm looking for a group opinion on full replacement on all bulbs, headlights, fog lights, rear reverse lights, all interior, what's best bulbs you all have experience with to date ?
2014 expedition

My opinion: Waste of time, money, and effort.

 

[1955moose]

We've had more than 1 member here on the forum that's run into problems after swapping out bulbs. Some were able to fix their problems, others resorted back to OEM bulbs. I'd do your homework as to which bulbs work the best, with fewest problems. And above all else, stay away from the cheap Chinese bulbs, price may be tempting, but the extra repair bill when other electrical items go wonky, just doesn't justify the price.

Sent from my N9131 using Tapatalk

 

[G213]

....And above all else, stay away from the cheap Chinese bulbs, price may be tempting, but the extra repair bill when other electrical items go wonky, just doesn't justify the price.

This. Stay away from eBay or the like. If you’re going LED, use a reputable site with a history of quality bulbs and good customer service.

A proper full conversion will add up in price (not including the headlamps) so don’t get sticker shock.

Personally, I absolutely love my LED conversion. I think it adds a great upscale look on the truck. I love seeing those crisp blinks on turn signals. Having that extra light on the puddle lamps or dome lamps really helps at night too. Also having those bright reverse lights gives a great night shot for the backup camera. And even though I’m running HIDs for low beam (but I do use LED for highs) having that color match to the standard LED fogs looks fantastic in my opinion.

But that’s just me.

 

[Black]

My opinion: Waste of time, money, and effort.

Reverse lights and license plate lights are certainly not a wasted effort. Much better camera visibility at night.

Puddle lamps worth it as well. They light the area up around the truck like a landing pad. For those of us who don’t live in city lighted areas makes a huge difference. I wish when I hit unlock my reverse lights would come on. The more light the better.
Especially when this ol’ boy is around.


Headlights are a big improvement over OEM halogens as well. Match the LED fogs and give a better light.

Everything else I agree is a waste.

 

[99WhiteC5Coupe]

Reverse lights and license plate lights are certainly not a wasted effort. Much better camera visibility at night.

Puddle lamps worth it as well. They light the area up around the truck like a landing pad. For those of us who don’t live in city lighted areas makes a huge difference. I wish when I hit unlock my reverse lights would come on. The more light the better.
Especially when this ol’ boy is around.
View attachment 30210

Headlights are a big improvement over OEM halogens as well. Match the LED fogs and give a better light.

Everything else I agree is a waste.

Good points.

The GM vehicles I own turn on the back-up and head lights when the vehicle is unlocked at night with the remote (with the approach feature activated).

I always wondered why my 2015 Ford Expedition Limited cannot be set to turn on all the lights, to light up the area around the vehicle. It is a safety factor and a great feature in areas with no ambient light.

 

[Sly1]

For headlights... Headlight Revolution (and their YouTube channel) has really good info and comparisons on which bulbs work and don't work in halogen/projector housings. Personally I prefer the warm white of halogens with some bright white led accent lights in the grill that help make the road signs pop at night. Just having the different wavelength of light helps even though it's not bright enough to blind anyone.

 

[Anthony DeVor]

I use these 3 brands; Auxito, JKCOVER (going out of business so buy quickly) and ZDATT (benefit of color filters) for headlights. JDM ASTAR or Alla Lighting for brake/rear turn signals. JDM ASTAR 921 globe looking bulbs for backups. SOCAL Switchbacks (I cut the plug off that comes with them and buy the appropriate 3157/7443/1157 plug for the vehicle itis going in) Synticausa also makes switchbacks with the correct plugs but haven't gotten to long term test them yet. And hikari 194 bulbs. Livetee interiors only as long as the fit.

Hope this helps anyone, and please feel free to contact me regarding any other questions you have about LED lighting, I am more than willing to help. Oh and btw I buy all of my lights from amazon only, I am in the process of long term testing Sylvanias brand leds as well

 

[GAINMOB]

i changed every bulb to LED and love it...all cree led bulbs...reverse...turn signal led amber/white switchbacks...dome...maps...overhead...rear...led tails assy...mirror turn signals...all i had to do to not have hyperflash was swap my flasher relay to LED flasher relay and normal turn signal blinking...i even made a post about it YEARS ago

 

[Anthony DeVor]

i changed every bulb to LED and love it...all cree led bulbs...reverse...turn signal led amber/white switchbacks...dome...maps...overhead...rear...led tails assy...mirror turn signals...all i had to do to not have hyperflash was swap my flasher relay to LED flasher relay and normal turn signal blinking...i even made a post about it YEARS ago

Yea but yours has an actual flasher relay where any expys past 2006 don't and it is electronic in the body control module

 

[CubSmurf]

Just to add to the convo, I added LEDs to the Brake Lights, Top Middle Brake Light, Reverse Lights, Headlights, Puddle Lights, and all interior bulbs.

Puddle Lights: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07RVKTWDB/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o04_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Headlights: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0885RQQ4R/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Everything else: https://www.superbrightleds.com/veh...ehicle-led-lights?make=28&model=780&year=2017


I would have purchased everything from Super Bright LEDS but they didn't have the puddle lights and their headlights seemed a bit underpowered. I used the headlight brand on my last vehicle with no issues and the light output seems just right.


A word of caution if your Expedition lives outside in the heat. The plastic on the puddle lights and license plate lights on mine were already weak/brittle and mine is a 2017. If I was just trying to replace the bulbs in the puddle lights I would have been in trouble. Ended up buying new license plate bulb lenses because the plastic was so brittle and broke. (extra $20, not a huge deal).


I do have hyperflash blinkers but it doesn't bother me. Overall, I think it really updates the look of the truck for minimal investment.

 

[Thunderbirdsport]

I did an LED swap for headlights and fogs, all interior dome, license plate lights, puddle lamps, and of course the tail lights are aftermarket and they already have LED tails/turns/brake, but I did update the back light with LED in those as well. Also I have a smoked LED 3rd brake light.

I want to update the front turns to LED, I have the forscan adapter but haven't connected to the vehicle yet. Still learning about it...

In any case, it needs an alignment before I worry about turn signals LOL

The LED dome lights are awesomely bright. Probably a bit much but when I want to see, dammit, I want to see.

 

[Anthony DeVor]

A good switchback brand for the front is SOCAL switchbacks - you will need the correct plugs for the end 3157 plugs, 7443 plugs, synticausa 7443, synticausa 3157 granted they have resistors built in but it doesn't matter with forscan