3rd Gen HID vs LED vs Halogen H11 projector headlights

From what I can find, LED headlamps came standard on 2014+ models.

 

Update. I installed some Lasfit No Hyperflash 7443 front bulbs. Yellow / White Switchbacks. When your headlights are on the DRLs are White. Blending the H9s together with the LED DRL. And it puts out a little extra light low in front. Makes it look like LED Headlights without the problems. And it adds to the Morrimotos looks

 

After much research, skepticism and gnashing of teeth, I have upgraded.

New Setup:
High: Hella H9's from Rallylights
Low: Phillips HID 4300k 35w from XenonDepot
Fog: GE +130's from Powerbulbs

I set up my Nikon D200 with a tripod on the roof. I chose a manual setting for all shots.
f8 with an 8 second exposure.

Here ya go:

Bone stock Low and Fog


Bone stock High and Low


New Setup Low and Fog


New Setup High and Low


WHOA!, yea, big difference.

The projectors are aimed a little high in these shots. I took them down some when I got home.

I also have some gremlins with the HID system. Occasionally, the left light doesn't fire. Turn them off/on and it fires. Some troubleshooting needed. I'll get to that over the next few days.

-Kirk Out

 

The last of the halogen bulbs I plan on testing at this time are due in this week. 2 more H9s and one final H11. The H11s arrived today. Question is, can the GEs be unseated by... the GEs.



These are the Nighthawk Xenon +120s which have less blue coating. Nighthawk is GEs domestic performance brand vs Megalight as their international performance brand.

 

that is similar what I have:

low: diode dynamics harness, 4300k Philips and 35w ballast
high: Hella H9s
fogs: Ge +130 Ultra Megas

thanks to crashnburn80 for all the help and assistance

 

It is very close, but the GE +120s inch out the GE +130s for highest performing H11.

This is likely due to the larger glare cap and more blue coating reducing performance on the +130s. This is similar to the Hella Osram Hypers vs the Philips Vision series, where the Philips are slightly higher performers but cost substantially more. The GEs +120s are slightly higher performers but cost 2x the price. However their domestic availability is a major plus. The +130s are just slightly whiter, thanks to the higher amount of blue coating.

GE +120 left, +130 right


+120 left vs +130 right

 

The plus 120s get horrible reviews. The plus 130s much better.

 

Based on what? I've read the reviews on Amazon and the negative ones seem to fall into 2 camps. 1) I was expecting HID color due to the Xenon name. Well, no, it doesn't work like that and "Xenon" is perhaps a poor name choice if people expect an HID color look. 2) Bulb life is short. Short bulb life fell into, it lasted about year and it lasted less than a month. Clearly if the bulbs lasted less than a month that would be a major issue. I could in theory run a week long test to see which fail first. I can say the +120s are slightly brighter, though maybe not worth the additional cost over the +130. But looking at the bulb itself it isn't hard to see why the +120s do a bit better in output.

 

I knew that would be your first question.......i would have won a fortune if i had bet on that ......hehehehe.......

 

My impressions of the 130 are that they're very bright but the field of view is somewhat reduced. I assume this is due to the glare cap length?

 

I was just thinking that they would have better reviews. And I get that most people want bulb longetivity and color almost more than actual output. Are both bulbs manufactured in the same place ? And how do the plus 120s compare to the Hyper H9s ?

 

To muddy the waters, there’s a $15 mail in rebate on the Nighthawk Xenons if you order from Amazon.com (make sure Amazon is the seller, not a 3rd party). That puts them at the same price as the +130s.

GE Lighting H11 55NHX/BP2 Nighthawk Xenon Halogen Replacement Bulb, 2-Pack

GE Lighting 69865 H11 55NHX/BP2 Nighthawk Xenon Halogen Replacement Bulb, 2-Pack

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00GZHC2L2/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_XO-HCbMJ91ZWC

The rebate expires March 31.

When you get a chance, can you post the specs, and how they compared to the 130’s and the hella H9’s?

 

Has anyone had a chance to install and run an HID Low Beam conversion kit from Diode Dynamics? Which color did you choose?

https://www.diodedynamics.com/low-beam-hid-conversion-kit-for-2016-2019-toyota-tacoma.html

 

yep......35w ballast, 4300k Philips CN1 bulbs, and their harness....super set up and no issues....great to work with...

edit: no bouncing at all for over 2 years

 

This is due to focus. Remember the bulb doesn't generate much if any more light, the light is just far more focused and concentrated for better projection. The main part of a light assemblies projection is light reflected back off the internal projector to collect and concentrate the light. This is where the Hella Osram Hyper or Philips Visions H9s do a bit better, because they have the higher power they have a bit fuller pattern rather than relying solely on enhanced focus like the GEs.

It is hard to say. Always take the Amazon reviews with a grain of salt, you really need to read over the reviews to understand why they received negative ratings. Penalizing the product because the package says Xenon but it doesn't look like the color of HIDs is really a ding on the customers product understanding not the product itself IMO. Bulb life is short, that is true. I'd speculate these are similar 150 hour rating to the +130s, though I have not yet searched for the specs. That is pretty short, but if you understand that ahead of time and understand the trade off for performance, it is an informed decision. If you don't you are then annoyed they didn't last like your factory ones, and rate it poorly. There are a number of people who report the bulb burnt out after a few days though, they don't say whether or not they were careful to not touch the bulb, so that is a bit of an unknown. Obviously frustrating for an expensive bulb. I did put GE Xenon's in my father-in-laws Ranger and they did go out within the first week. The backup set lasted multiple weeks before the truck was totaled. However, I purchased the bulbs off ebay, and the seller "opened the package to add stuffing for shipping", so I was skeptical if the seller touched the bulbs. Could certainly play it safer and cheaper with the +130s. The performance difference is only a few percentage points, price alone may be worth it for the +130s.

The +120s have higher lux hot spot rating than the Hella Osram Hypers, by roughly 3%, but not as high as the Philips Vision H9s. But again that comes from extreme focus, the Hella Osram Hyper H9s will have a fuller pattern. I'd personally favor the more light output of the Hellas than the 3% gain of the GE +120s. But it is all about options, for those wanting the brightest plug and play H11, the GE +120 look like it. Though early bulb failure may or may not be an issue. The +120s are made in Hungry, which I believe is the same as the +130s.

There is also a 15% off all of ebay coupon code today, good till 7pm PST! Not as much as a $15 rebate but allows options. Need to use an ebay app, the code if PSAVETODAY. Could use it to order the Philips Vision +30 H9s. Just be sure to buy factory sealed boxes.

Yes, I'll post up all the specs soon. I was kinda hoping the last bulbs would arrive today, and I could just do a large update/finalizing everything. But no such luck today.

 

Rally Lights hit my credit card today for the H9's. My order still shows "pending" though.

 

My Hellas were delivered today. I hope to install tomorrow but may be Thursday before I can put them in. I’ll update when I get the chance.

 

That's great! When did you order? Still waiting on mine.

 

I ordered February 26. Unfortunately the vendor I ordered from was out of stock and I had to wait on hella. It took longer than it should have IMO, but they are here now so it’s all good.

 

The coupon on Amazon for the GE Xenon shows an expiration date of 2018 if you look closely at that pic.