3rd Gen HID vs LED vs Halogen H11 projector headlights

Just installed the Hella H9s in my low beams. Might aim the projector slightly higher. It is an improvement. But I just feel like i want it to be brighter. Cannot wait to see the results for the Diode Dynamics. I might just do a HID retrofit. Had that in my Si. It was like night and day.

 

What if you have a camera that you can set everything to manual?

 

DSLRs are certainly better. However you can still have issues where higher color temp light appears to be higher intensity in pictures, due to color, not output. Which goes back to the importance of accurate tools to measure the output for compatible data and not just relying on photos alone.

 

Ok so I'm straight lost as a newborn here, so what is the best lights to replace my stock headlights without crazy modification or killing my warranty? If it's the bulbs u have to make a harness for is there a video?

 

Good morning, you have 3 options without “extensive modification”.
1.) You could buy the GE 130 bulbs. Those are a direct swap in your factory H11 low beam.

2.) But, the hella h9s can also go into the factory low beams and they emit a bit more light.
In order to use the h9s. You can buy an H11 extension from Amazon. People have used the ijdmtoy one. You modify those. Takes 30 seconds. Go back in previous pages and you will see where to cut. With this method you do not need to trim the actual halogen bulb and it will just be direct swaps in the future.

3.) xenon depot makes h11b HID kits with the philips 4300k bulb. That would be the brightest option available. But by far the one that requires most work since you need to set up the HID kit.

I hope this somewhat helps.

 

One thing I would add about #2 is the phillips h9 is a higher performance bulb than hella h9. Check out the second post on this thread for a super clear graph of performance. I love how mine look.

 

Yep, and the GE Xenon +120s are a bit higher in output than the GE Megalight +130.

XD has released a new HID Philips XV2 bulb that they claim is even better than the Philips 4300k bulb, I may have to try that one out at some point to see how it compares.

 

This is where you’ll post that me buying RX350 retros was stupid.

 

I’d bet money that proper Toyota RX350 retros perform better. I’ll have the Morimoto output data soon.

 

I was just looking at that. It's an extra $130 over the normal price.

 

Ok so what about these SL1 led lights by diode dynamics? They say that they are true plug and play without modification, they show hot spot charts as well. Thoughts?

 

I’ve got the data for those too, just haven’t put it together for a review
post yet. Coming soon.

 

Give us a sneak peak. are they promising?

 

I have no doubt the RX350s would outperform them. HIDs are fantastic.

You are the worst.

 

sub'd

 

Just arrived today.

 

Sometimes when you really want the data, you need to be creative. How thick is a halogen filament, exactly? Need to remove the glass but preserve the filament.



Halogen bulbs are pressurized, so I had it covered, even so the pop was quiet loud.

 

I see a piece of that glass in my foot. Happens all the damn time, the bad side of being bare foot most of the time.

 

Destructive testing? You do a great deal for the community. Thanks so much.......... Frank