VLED's LMZ Platinum

***Full Review below on post #16***

Hey everyone I just wanted to give ya'll a heads up that VLED's newest generation LED headlights and fog lights are up for preorder. They are offering a 20% off for preorder and according to their website will be shipping on September 16th.

I just ordered the headlights and fog lights so a review will follow this once my sets arrive!

Headlights
http://www.vleds.com/bulb-type/headlights/h4-9003-hb2/h4-lmz.html
Fog lights
http://www.vleds.com/bulb-type/fog-lights/h10-9145/9005-lmz.html

 

Subscribed

 

sub'd

 

Sub'd

 

Sub'd ... just kidding, but I bet you guys thought I subscribed for a second there!

 

Couldn't help myself I also ordered the headlights and matching license plate lights 5k color temp though!

All these other cars make me jealous with their led/hid lights

 

You guys are going to love your VLEDS! I've swapped just about every bulb on my Taco with VLEDS leds and have been impressed with all of them.

 

Well guys, looks like the website just updated and new ship date is October 5th.

 

Ugh I saw that, I'm thinking of canceling and ordering the opt7's

 

Stay strong brother. Only 17 more days until they ship.

 

Update: Just got an email from VLEDS saying they shipped today. Should be getting them within the next few days.

 

Ahh can't wait! I chose to wait since they're the only reputable company with 5k led headlights

 

With reference to these fogs....are these DOT approved?

 

I cannot find on the VLED website nor anywhere else that states that they have a DOT approval.

Also, my package just made it to my local area so hopefully they will be delivered tomorrow. Review coming soon.

 

Awesome!! If these Fogs are good, I'm in for a pair. I've had good results with other VLED products.

 

Review:

I finally got the VLED LMZ Platinum installed in my 2011 Toyota Tacoma TRD Off Road DCSB.

Package came double sealed in USPS bubble wrap, and the Bulbs, Collars, and Ballasts were all individually boxed. Installation required removing the battery and the windshield washer fluid tank which isn't hard, just annoying. Removing the battery causes another issue which I'll discuss further down.

Headlights-

Pros
-There is a ton of light.
-Decent cut off, much better than HID's in a OEM reflector.
-You can adjust the depth and orientation of the bulb to get better optics. This helps immensely as when I first installed the bulbs the beam pattern looked like absolute garbage.
-The high beams actually work! I was pleasantly surprised to see the high beams are useful in this kit.

Cons
-Installation takes a little bit of trial and error as there is no directions given with the kit
-It is impossible to reinstall the moisture boot that covers the stock bulbs. The cooling fan that is at the base of the LED bulb is too big to accommodate the moisture boot. I do not know if this will compromise the headlights as now there is nothing sealing the rear of the headlights. Having said that, I'm not sure its an issue either so time will tell.
-The stock clips that hold on the bulbs into the headlight aren't the greatest. They are holding the bulbs in just fine, but I wish the bulbs screwed in like the fog lights.
-Finding the right orientation for the bulbs is a total bitch because you must remove the battery. I found the easiest thing to do was leave the battery in place, remove the washer fluid tank, and adjust the passenger side bulb until I was happy with the cut off. Then I copied the orientation on the driver side by removing the battery.
-I have to adjust my headlights as they cut off is higher than the stock cut off. Pictures below.

Fog Lights-

Pros-
-Holy shit these are bright! The fogs are now actually useful for side and area lighting.
-Easy installation, just pop out the old bulbs, screw these in and you are done. I would recommend popping the fog light housing out for easier installation, which isn't hard at all.

Cons-
-I can no longer run my fogs in the city, they are just too bright. They spill light everywhere and sitting in traffic, I could see what color people's eyes were in their rear view mirror. Drivers ahead of me were noticeably annoyed.

Now for pictures.

Fog light bulb on the left, Headlight bulb on the right.



Everything in the boxes as it arrived.



Stock halogen headlight cut off. The truck was approximately 10 feet from the wall.



VLED LMZ Platinum cut off. Same distance as the picture above. This is before I have adjusted the headlights down to compensate for the new cut off.




All in all I am happy with the light. I still need to adjust the headlights down to compensate for the new cut off, which will be done tomorrow morning when its light out. If anyone has any questions feel free to ask, I'll be happy to answer.

***Update after driving below***

 

***Update***

Well ladies and gentleman, after driving around last night, adjusting my headlights, and driving around some more, I have uninstalled the bulbs. I could not find a happy medium. Either the lights were pointed at the ground, illuminating only feet in front of me, and not blinding other drivers, OR the entire road was illuminated, with an excellent amount of usable light, and I was blinding every other vehicle on the road. I also noticed I could not get rid of a "artifact" (a strange beam of light different than the rest of the pattern). I had what look like a small windows logo in the bottom left of the beam pattern.

While I uninstalled the fog lights as well, I was actually happy with those. The fog lights illuminated a very wide swath of area, but also lit up vertically. Like I said above they were unusable in city traffic, but on a dark highway road I think they would have been excellent.

In conclusion I cannot recommend the VLED LMZ Platinum headlights for the 05-11 Toyota Tacoma headlights. There is just too much light spillage to be used responsibly. I also have doubts with the way they mount for the long term (vibration and debris incursion). As for the fog lights, I do recommend those for rural/off road driving. I feel that the stock fog light bulbs are useless, but with the VLED LMZ fog light bulbs equipped, they are quite useful indeed.

Looks like once I get my refund (I will lose 15% of my original purchase price due to restocking fee) I will be hitting up one of our fine Retrofit creators.

 

Thanks for the review. So do you think using just the fogs and passing a car every now and then will be OK?

 

I wouldn't use the fogs unless you are alone on the road. They light up everything. Imagine using the stock high beams but scattering the light everywhere. They are insanely bright.

 

I cancelled my order, either way is it possible the rubber boot could fit between the bulb and cooling fan?