trying to install HID low beams on my 2018 expedition

[chuck4]

The stock headlights on the vehicle are simply awful,not providing distance or brightness and in fact is dangerous to drive at night. I have been attempting to install MiriMoto HID lamps and we can not have the lights to work for any length of time. The drivers side will invariably fail . We have changed out all of the various parts, bulbs, relays, ballast and main wiring harness and it still is not operating properly. Has anyone out there successfully in stalled HID's in this model truck? If so can you share how you did it?

I bought this truck in Dec 2018 , it has 1000 miles on it and I am ready to sell it and look at the Yukon.

 

[16plati]

The stock headlights on the vehicle are simply awful,not providing distance or brightness and in fact is dangerous to drive at night. I have been attempting to install MiriMoto HID lamps and we can not have the lights to work for any length of time. The drivers side will invariably fail . We have changed out all of the various parts, bulbs, relays, ballast and main wiring harness and it still is not operating properly. Has anyone out there successfully in stalled HID's in this model truck? If so can you share how you did it?

I bought this truck in Dec 2018 , it has 1000 miles on it and I am ready to sell it and look at the Yukon.

This is why LEDs are superior

 

[dlcorbett]

Which model did u get? Did u get the led headlight option. I can guarantee you the headlights or not superior on the yukon, esp the led opt

 

[16plati]

Which model did u get? Did u get the led headlight option. I can guarantee you the headlights or not superior on the yukon, esp the led opt

Well, for starters I have a 2016. I opted for the Diode Dynamics SL1 LED lows and highs. I have seen many ppl, F-150 owners included doing the morimoto upgrade. Super expensive. But DD gives you a great option if you do t want the hassle you’re dealing with in HIDs

 

[RhinoQuartz]

This is why LEDs are superior

Only if you fully retrofit the housings. Using LEDs in housings built for halogens is illegal and unsafe.

 

[stamp11127]

The headlamp circuit is controlled with FET's instead of fuses now. These act as virtual fuses and are supposed to reset with every ignition cycle at least. I would check to see if you are getting voltage out of the BCM(body control module) for the respective circuits. If the BCM is shutting down the circuits it will be from excessive current draw.
I've attached a portion of the wiring diagram so that you will have the pin locations & wire colors to check.

 

[16plati]

Only if you fully retrofit the housings. Using LEDs in housings built for halogens is illegal and unsafe.

It’s not illegal, optimal light output and fitment in OEM projector housing is no different than retrofitting with another projector housing. OEM fitment allows the lights to be fully adjusted to maintain the appropriate angle, and output is night and day difference from OEM halogen. In fact, my neighbor is a state patrol officer. Just asked him about this “illegal” accusation and he said as long as the lights are adjusted properly, and aren’t some odd ball color other than halogen yellow or LED white, no patroller is going to care much. Also, please show me on a state inspection checklist where they say “aftermarket LEDs are illegal”

 

[95cobby]

Just put LED bulbs in ours and the difference is incredible! I’ve had HID kits in past trucks and it’s just not worth it with the LED bulbs you can get nowadays. Lol at the illegal comment also.. no just no.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[stamp11127]

This is splitting hairs but any housing that uses a bulb at a different focal point within the housing is illegal. Brought to you by our Federal Government Standards FMVSS-108.

In reality there will only be one officer somewhere in the entire USA that will check to make sure everything is legal.

Trying to find and read through all the specifications is a typical government read - a cure for insomnia.

Is it something to worry about, not to me. Just be thoughtful to oncoming traffic so they are not blinded.

The following link doesn't address the issue of what is legal - just a read to realize how **** the specifications are.

http://www.intertek.com/blog/2015-10-28-fmvss-108/

 

[edizzle]

absolutely illegal. wait until you get into an accident and a high priced lawyer for a litigious driver or even worse insurance company with unlimited defense finds out you modified your headlamps. You blinded an oncoming driver and caused him to cross center line, etc. god only knows what could truly happen in a worst case scenario.

 

[Grey ghost]

Glad to see this forum can be just as nuts as some others

 

[RhinoQuartz]

It’s not illegal, optimal light output and fitment in OEM projector housing is no different than retrofitting with another projector housing. OEM fitment allows the lights to be fully adjusted to maintain the appropriate angle, and output is night and day difference from OEM halogen. In fact, my neighbor is a state patrol officer. Just asked him about this “illegal” accusation and he said as long as the lights are adjusted properly, and aren’t some odd ball color other than halogen yellow or LED white, no patroller is going to care much. Also, please show me on a state inspection checklist where they say “aftermarket LEDs are illegal”

A cop not caring about enforcing the specifics of the law (what a surprise) is not the same as something being legal. Are you going to get stopped for it? No. Is it illegal? Yes. Is it dangerous? Yes.

Have some consideration for other road users. By putting LEDs into a housing designed for halogens you won't be able to focus your beam properly and there will be light leaking out and dazzling other drivers. I get dazzled at least twice a day from dipshits who use PnP LEDs in their halogen housings because they're too cheap or ignorant to properly retrofit.

Get more powerful halogens, they're better in every way. They'll throw light further and more accurately and will be contained to how you set them.
Its really not that difficult to be a safe road user.

absolutely illegal. wait until you get into an accident and a high priced lawyer for a litigious driver or even worse insurance company with unlimited defense finds out you modified your headlamps. You blinded an oncoming driver and caused him to cross center line, etc. god only knows what could truly happen in a worst case scenario.

I completely agree. It really wouldn't be that difficult to get nailed for distracting another driver because an illegal modification. Unless you swapped out them out at the scene, but then they're properly focused and you're still screwed.
Halogens are superior anyway, but if people are dead set on LEDs, do it properly or not at all.
I wish more people were cited for this shit, it'd make driving a more enjoyable experience.

 

[16plati]

A cop not caring about enforcing the specifics of the law (what a surprise) is not the same as something being legal. Are you going to get stopped for it? No. Is it illegal? Yes. Is it dangerous? Yes.

Have some consideration for other road users. By putting LEDs into a housing designed for halogens you won't be able to focus your beam properly and there will be light leaking out and dazzling other drivers. I get dazzled at least twice a day from dipshits who use PnP LEDs in their halogen housings because they're too cheap or ignorant to properly retrofit.

Get more powerful halogens, they're better in every way. They'll throw light further and more accurately and will be contained to how you set them.
Its really not that difficult to be a safe road user.



I completely agree. It really wouldn't be that difficult to get nailed for distracting another driver because an illegal modification. Unless you swapped out them out at the scene, but then they're properly focused and you're still screwed.
Halogens are superior anyway, but if people are dead set on LEDs, do it properly or not at all.
I wish more people were cited for this shit, it'd make driving a more enjoyable experience.

Well the SL1 LEDs are backed by a ton of R&D to make sure beam is safe, legal, and won’t scatter any light into oncoming traffic. Ive had mine in for over a year now and have never been flashed due to my LEDs distracting other drivers. I did it based off what our member gixer2000 recommended as he actually makes retrofit housings. The cutoff on my LEDs is very crisp and is adjusted appropriately to not blind other drivers. Get a quality set and adjust them properly and it’s not illegal. Still nobody has shown me a law that says I can’t put LED bulbs in my projectors

 

[RhinoQuartz]

Well the SL1 LEDs are backed by a ton of R&D to make sure beam is safe, legal, and won’t scatter any light into oncoming traffic. Ive had mine in for over a year now and have never been flashed due to my LEDs distracting other drivers. I did it based off what our member gixer2000 recommended as he actually makes retrofit housings. The cutoff on my LEDs is very crisp and is adjusted appropriately to not blind other drivers. Get a quality set and adjust them properly and it’s not illegal. Still nobody has shown me a law that says I can’t put LED bulbs in my projectors

Its literally linked on the last page.
Please provide proof of your claims. If they are DOT approved, they will clearly state so. There is no way that the company who made those wouldn't plaster in huge letters everywhere because it would quite literally be a first.

Adjust them as you wish, and they'll look great you, but it's not safe. There will be light leakage.

And "never been flashed" means bugger all. Just because no one flashes their brights at you while your lights are dazzling them doesn't mean they aren't affected. They just aren't as selfish to blind you while driving or others behind you or in front of them to only send you a message.

I get dazzled at least twice a day because of dipshits who do this stupid shit. No cop will ever enforce it though sadly.

 

[16plati]

Its literally linked on the last page.
Please provide proof of your claims. If they are DOT approved, they will clearly state so. There is no way that the company who made those wouldn't plaster in huge letters everywhere because it would quite literally be a first.

Adjust them as you wish, and they'll look great you, but it's not safe. There will be light leakage.

And "never been flashed" means bugger all. Just because no one flashes their brights at you while your lights are dazzling them doesn't mean they aren't affected. They just aren't as selfish to blind you while driving or others behind you or in front of them to only send you a message.

I get dazzled at least twice a day because of dipshits who do this stupid shit. No cop will ever enforce it though sadly.

If they are illegal then why do dozens of companies make them and haven’t been stopped? From diode Dynamics

“Street Legal Output. Don't be fooled by high lumen numbers or "projector specific" bulbs. Your Expedition headlights are designed as a system, to focus light. If the light source in that system is out of focus, it doesn't matter how bright it is. You won't have a focused hotspot of light to shine down the road, you'll just have more glare. To correct this, the SL1 LED headlight bulb was engineered with advanced optical design software, which simulates each ray of light in a process known as "ray tracing." Using this tool, our engineers perfectly matched the filament location, allowing the SL1 LED to focus light just like your original bulb, preserving the focus and hotspot, with no added glare. It produces a functional low beam pattern on the road, with a clear hotspot and wide spread of light. This is a safe, functional output, in compliance with photometric standards, which we call Street Legal.”

They work just fine in OEM projector housing and function just as well as any led retrofit. One could argue a retrofit would be illegal also and cause drivers to be blinded. It’s all in the light output and how they are adjusted. Joe Shmo who buys a ****** eBay pair and throws them in with no adjustment is a lot different than someone who takes the time and spends the money to get ones that have been manufactured with OEM projector housings and tested to meet manufacturer standards so they are safe to use.

And to continue my point, not one person has shown me a federal law stating LEDs in projector housings are illegal.

 

[16plati]

Its literally linked on the last page.
Please provide proof of your claims. If they are DOT approved, they will clearly state so. There is no way that the company who made those wouldn't plaster in huge letters everywhere because it would quite literally be a first.

Adjust them as you wish, and they'll look great you, but it's not safe. There will be light leakage.

And "never been flashed" means bugger all. Just because no one flashes their brights at you while your lights are dazzling them doesn't mean they aren't affected. They just aren't as selfish to blind you while driving or others behind you or in front of them to only send you a message.

I get dazzled at least twice a day because of dipshits who do this stupid shit. No cop will ever enforce it though sadly.

Your “literally linked” article o my addresses the following

Two points in particular remain subject to interpretation in the FMVSS 108 standard. The first relates to LED testing for signal and marking lights such as LED tail lamps or LED lamps on the outside of a vehicle's rear-view mirror. The second is specific to photometric degradation and the calculation of Effective Projected Luminous Lens Area (EPLLA).

Has nothing to do with low beam headlights. You have a thick skull and should read more. You are also super annoying, like a gnat at a bbq... you’re arguments are invalid to me and I choose to not listen to the nonsense that spills from your mouth. Bye bye

 

[RhinoQuartz]

Your “literally linked” article o my addresses the following

Two points in particular remain subject to interpretation in the FMVSS 108 standard. The first relates to LED testing for signal and marking lights such as LED tail lamps or LED lamps on the outside of a vehicle's rear-view mirror. The second is specific to photometric degradation and the calculation of Effective Projected Luminous Lens Area (EPLLA).

Has nothing to do with low beam headlights. You have a thick skull and should read more. You are also super annoying, like a gnat at a bbq... you’re arguments are invalid to me and I choose to not listen to the nonsense that spills from your mouth. Bye bye

Lol OK son. Have fun getting ******.

 

[16plati]

Lol OK son. Have fun getting ******.

Ok! Thanks buddy! Thanks for contributing nothing to this conversation!

 

[dlcorbett]

Welp for the op...i dnt know which bulbs you used or changed, i believe mines are hikaris and they are amazing. No visibility or brightness concerns and way better than the std halogens.

 

[16plati]

Welp for the op...i dnt know which bulbs you used or changed, i believe mines are hikaris and they are amazing. No visibility or brightness concerns and way better than the std halogens.

Those are illegal to put in the headlights... just ask @RhinoQuartz he will tell you