3rd Gen HID vs LED vs Halogen H11 projector headlights

Thanks @crashnburn80 that’s what I was thinking but you never know with Amazon. Also thanks for providing one of the most informative threads I’ve ran across since I stumbled into Tacomaworld.

 

I ended up going with the Phillips H9 for the lows and the GE H11 nighthawk xenons for the fogs.

I went ahead and used the modified H11 to H9 harness for ease when it’s time to replace.

Never would have believed picking out bulbs could be so stressful!!

Thx to everyone who took the time to answer my questions. Your shared knowledge is much appreciated.

 

I'm really curious as to how the GE xenon compares to the GE Megalight. Interestingly, the blue and clear ring is opposite on these two bulb versions.

 

It is in post #2 of this thread. The Xenon is brighter, although it does also cost a fair amount more.

 

I did the same for the lows. Wouldn't they work in the fogs too?

 

H9s? No because the are not glare capped, and the OEM fogs already do a poor job of controlling glare.

 

Gentlemen, go to bulbfacts.org and look at their led selection. Go to the chart and compare brands. Hikari H11s in the low beams and fogs do great. Just put them in new 2019 tacoma sport today and tested them in the dark this evening. They are great. Had the same lights in 2018 tacoma SR5 for about a year before trading it. No issues with them. About a 20 min installation for beginners. Really easy. 89 dollars for 2 on Amazon.

 

Hikaris are one of the better LEDs, they still produce glare and should not be used in a reflector and definitely not a foglight. Bulbfacts makes money off selling you their recommended products, click the Amazon link next to a product on their site and they get paid. Not a good site for unbiased information.

Here is the Hikari left vs a glare capped H9 halogen that is 2x brighter than stock halogens right.



Only someone that knew nothing about lighting would recommend the Hikari in a reflector housing, or someone trying to sell you a product to make money off their recommendation... like Bulbfacts.

 

I’ll stick with my phillips h9’s. They are incredible and 7.91 per bulb lol. Seriously huge improvement, and actual data to back it up. This thread has all the bulb facts I need

 

Well, of course you've already addressed this. What was I thinking. Thanks, crash!

 

LEDs look clean, but that glare on street signs is incredible.

 

Crashnburn80, you are probably right about the Amazon kickback, but if the thread readers want really good lighting without getting flashed, try my recommendation above. Easy, fast, and only about 2 days shipping time to really safe driving at night.

 

Got that covered too. Hikari is no match for sub $8 Philips. Tested in the 3rd Gen Headlight below. Of course at distance the Hikari will fall off much quicker than the Philips which will project better.

 

I’m not stating opinion, it is fact. How do I know, because a company I know that employees this model on that specific site has encouraged me to do the same. It doesn’t look like just a basic Amazon kickback, it appears the highest paying kickback LED company can get the highest ratings and the recommendation. Their LED recommendations make it very clear this is the case by promoting lower performing LEDs that have aggressive marketing over better performing ones with non-existent marketing. So are you really getting “facts”? Certainly doesn’t seem like it. And I do have the data to back the claim.

You did see the LEDs you recommend cause excessive glare in the fogs? Not sure how you could call that “really good lighting”. Not getting flashed is not a adequate test of glare. This thread is a much higher caliber definition of lighting upgrade than the usual stuff promoted by most LED companies.

 

2019 Tacoma Sport. Canadian so not sure we get different bulbs from the factory. Replaced OEM Osram with Osram Nightbreaker Unlimited 110%. Noticeable improvement. Photos are tough to take but you can see the improvement on the left.

 

Oh yeah, forgot the OEMs fogs don't have a glare shield like the low beams. Thank you.

 

I have been running the Hikari bulbs in high and low for at least a year. I have better vision than I had the prior 2 years with halogens. The cutoff is excellent. I have never been flashed by an oncoming driver. I do have the BD fogs and they are way too bright for street use. Fine on country roads but, even aimed downward, are way too bright for oncoming traffic. I am awaiting the new sae approved BD fogs before deciding on replacements.

 

In the 3rd Gen projector the cut off is from the projector, not the bulb design. You can put garbage in there and the cut off will be fine. As I mentioned the Hikaris are one of the better LED designs, but they still shouldn’t be used in a reflector as they will cause excessive glare.

You can’t aim your way out of the glare problem with the BD lights because they are bright, it is because they don’t have cut offs, which is what they are working on adding with the upcoming SAE model. You can see the explanation with photos here:
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/the-led-sae-j583-fog-pod-fog-light-review.554813/

 

I just don't understand this fascination with LEDs when this thread proves beyond a shadow of a doubt that they don't work effectively or efficiently with the stock reflectors. For the amount of money some people spend on modding a Toyota pick-up truck, they could buy a vehicle with LED's and any other trick item they feel compelled to have.

Me, I'm going for the carbon fiber deer whistle mod.