Can bulbs be swapped out to LED without re-kitting on 2018 Projectors?

Hi all,

New to the forum here, just picked up my 2018 Limited Cement/Black and have already started deleting all the chrome on the fog light bezel, side mirror covers, put a PRO grill, blacked out emblems, Remote Start, and Tailgate Solenoid among other things. Starting off subtle, working my way up.

I've tried searching but can't find a definitive answer on whether I can merely swap bulbs out of my low beam and high beam to LED, without need a kit/harness/etc..if possible, what are the draw backs, what are good brands? I have been snooping around for quite a while and have learned a lot from you great folks! I've noticed some threads about 2017 headlights, and I know they have projectors too, but if all is the same, then some direction, or thread links would be great! Thank you all!

Jay

 

@crashnburn80 right up your alley

 

Hi Jay, welcome to the forum! Lots of information on headlights in the lighting section but in a nut shell the stock lights are rather poor performers. Some have used LED but they usually don't have a hot spot which projectors need to throw light downrange. I had a cheap set of HID lights laying around so I tried them but wasn't really happy with the performance of them either. For now I threw in a set of PIAA bulbs while the search continues. Good luck.

 

@Captqc Are the PIAA's drop in? What temp/color are they? Any links so I can check it out? Thanks!

I searched but all I found is info on 2016 & 2017...without having to sit and compare, I'm assuming 2017 is the same, however, what some of these threads don't outline, is if they are just bulbs or kits. I've already combed through the LED Conversion sticky, but it seems VERY dated, links are no good, and there is 68 pages of replies...so I just started toward the end hoping someone with a 2018 has been inquisitive, to no avail.

 

Yup, drop in. PIAA H11 XTreme White Plus 4000K P/N: 15211

 

@Captqc , Is this LB or HB? I want to change both to match, and is 4000K much different than standard yellow 3000k? Looking for no yellowish hue, and as cool as I can get without sacrificing throw/sight. I know the higher you go in temp, the less output you get. Any suggestions for a matching pair of HB/LB replacement bulbs or is the p/n you gave work for both?

 

Doesn’t this really screw with on coming traffic because the housing weren’t designed for LED’s?

 

I only changed out the low beams H11's, I didn't even look to see what the high beams are as these bulbs cost $75 for the pair! There is improvement over the stock bulbs but not dramatic that's why I stated that I'm still interested in better options.

 

Love the xenon Depot with Phillips 4300k kit.

 

https://youtu.be/SQF5ESBHLrw

This really has some good info in it. It’s kinda long bu the show you a bunch of different company led light kits and explain them. Should help you decide.

 

Trying to keep me busy today!

If you care about performance, do not go LED. LEDs are not an omni-directional light source and will not perform well in a headlight designed for an omni-directional light source. They will not cause glare in the 3rd gen low beam projector, but they will lack distance 'throw'.

Not in 3rd Gen low beam projectors, the cut off shields will keep glare under control. But the performance will be worse than stock.

Good choice for a 3rd gen low beam projector.

Fun video, but all LEDs will lack quality lighting optics in a halogen housing. The LEDs are pointing the diodes to the side of the housing, which is the least important part, and not pointing any light at the top back of the housing which is responsible for distance illumination (the most important part). You can literally see this as a dark spot in a halogen reflector. Meaning LEDs may provide a lot of foreground light (like fogs) but will fail to produce distance illumination, which is their primary purpose.

Recommendations to improve output in an H11 3rd Gen Projector:
1) 55w *Quality* HID kit with low 4000k German Philips/Osram bulbs running a standalone harness
2) High wattage H11 halogens to double output: https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/the-ultimate-h11-foglight-upgrade-not-led-or-hid.435419/
3) Quality stock wattage performance bulbs, Philips Xtreme +130, Osram Nightbreakers +130
X) ALL LEDs are a performance downgrade, not recommended