Any & All LED/HID Questions!

Hey There Crew!

My name is Caleb, and I represent Xenon Depot! For nearly two decades we have been on the leading edge of Aftermarket Automotive Lighting Technology. While our product line has continually changed over the years, one thing remains the same; our commitment to quality customer service.

We admit we've got a thing for Toyota trucks but don't worry, we've got answers for all! I wanted to kick off this thread with a little Q&A for anything Lighting-Related. Were you looking to upgrade your Headlights? Drop a comment and let's look into some options! Tired of those Dull Reverse lights? We know just the trick! We can replace just about any bulb out there on any vehicle!

Have somebody else's product but still have a question? Let me know and I'd be happy to help how I can! I just want to see more people improve their lighting and enjoy their purchases!

It's a hectic market, this whole LED thing. With soooo many choices, it's tough to know what is worth your time and what isn't! Let's hear those Questions!

Thank You & Stay Safe!
-Caleb @ XD

 

Good timing, I have a non Tacoma related question. I've seen a lot of questions about HID bulb compatibility with OEM ballasts. I have a 2003 IS300 that has OEM D2R bulbs, they're getting weird colored and occasionally flicker. It's time for new bulbs, how do I choose ones that won't stress or otherwise freak out my old ballasts.

 

You asked the perfect person, I used to own an 03' IS300 5-Speed! Most comfy daily car ever haha. I personally upgraded my headlights to the Osram Night Breaker HID bulbs without altering my Ballasts. Straight Plug and Play, the Color is a very clear White, and the install wasn't tough at all. I think you'd love the upgrade personally! Is there a specific color you'd prefer?

Here are the most common HID colors:
***-4,300k:*** OEM Yellow/White Color
***-5,000k:*** Pure White Color, no Yellow or Blue. -Brightest option
***-6,000k:*** Pure White on the Road with a Slight Light Blue hugh from the Front -Brighter option, most popular. Matches LEDs!
***-8,000k:*** Deeper Blue, more for Show/Display. Not the brightest output
***-10,000k:*** Deep Deep Blue, not very bright, not legal for road use. Used for Show/Display purposes.

 

Sounds like ideally I'd like to get the 5000k then. They're pretty weird colored right now from age.

 

The Night breakers do a really good job with maintaining that White color, there won't be a trace of Blue in the beam pattern at all! Another good alternative would be the Philips D2S 85122 WHV2 White Vision Bulbs (5000k) bulbs. Your lexus calls for D2R, and these state D2S, but they will fit without issues!

The "S" and "R" in D2S/D2R stands for Reflector or Shielded!

 

Okay, my inquiry is this: I have a 2012 Prerunner TRD Sport V6 Double cab with the standard reflector headlights but a coworker gave me these.

Spoiler

.

How would you go about installing them, what type of refitting/retrofitting would be needed to avoid harming other drivers?

Sam

 

Sure thing man! The nice thing about these trucks is that those housings are MASSIVE. You can fit really anything you'd like in there Projector-wise! Personally, I would look into either a Mini H1 HID Retrofit setup or the Mini D2S 5.0 Setup from Morimoto. You'd have to find a shop to get that installed at, or look into some other projects to see about doing it yourself. (I'd be happy to help you source a near-by Shop!)

The Mini H1 and the D2S 5.0 from Morimoto are Awesome Projectors. Every little bit of Quality is there and honestly I have yet to find a better projector. The Retrofit Source would be your best niche with a Custom headlight setup!

TRS Projector Retrofit Kits: https://www.theretrofitsource.com/projector-kits/retrofit-kits-universal

Those are 55w Ballasts in your photo with an AMP Igniter connection that is commonly found on aftermarket ballast setups. You can use those with your Retrofit if you prefer, but I know Morimoto HID Kits are about $150 for the full setup and they pair well with their Projectors.

Let me know if you have any more Qs on this one - I know it's an In-Depth topic!

 

Hey there,

Got any picture differences of the HID low beam kit with the 4300k Phillips bulbs vs the 4300k XD bulbs? Wondering if the Phillips bulbs are worth the extra cash.

Thanks

 

I don't have any photos Off-hand, I'd have to snag a Photo next time I'm in the building! I know that the Philips bulbs did do better in terms of Output and Color, it wasn't a Huge game-changing difference but it is noticeable!

 

Keep them Qs coming guys - I'm always happy to help!

 

I just purchased a 2020 Off Road and noticed that the low beams are weak and too orange. Looks like around 5000k would meet my requirement.

I'm confused though. There's a (great) massive thread here concerning headlights. From what I can deduce, LED is pretty much a no-go in terms of output. Seems to be attributed to the casing, dimensions, basically the reflection(s). HID, I think is optimal in terms of light output, but not in terms of (electrical) efficiency. Halogen replacements seem to be okay, the easiest/cheapest route.

Questions:
- Which is better? HID, LED, Halogen? (Note: I just want optimal distance/output with zero orange, yellow, and/or blue.)
- Additional hardware required w/any of the different type installs?
- Any hardware mods required w/any of the different type install?
- What would my typical cost be for:
> LED Low and High
> HID Low and High
> Halogen Low and High
- Also need to know the pros & cons of each vs the OEM config. I.e., LED's look brighter at shorter distances, but do not perform as well at a distance in halogen housings.

Prior to this, I thought it was as simple as just putting in new LED bulbs. Recently learned it's just not that simple.

If I can understand the perceived/proposed upgrade and see value in it, I might jump.

Thanks for stopping by. Look forward to hearing from you!

 

It's not that LEDs are "a total no-go in terms of output." More correctly, LED's - simply dropped into a housing not designed for them - are a no-go in terms of output. There are actually some pretty awesome LED lighting solutions out there, but they're definitely hard to find in the sea of cheap Chinese junk with fabulous (or should I say glorious) marketing claims as to performance. The best LED lighting solutions are designed from the ground up as a system (light source, reflector, lens and housing) where the parts work together.

 

I’ll ask...
Low beam/high beam options for 2012 TRD And prices please. Also, Low beam/high beam options for 2019 Highlander XLE. Do you have any first responder discounts or group buys?

 

Thank you. That makes perfect sense.

 

Awesome awesome Questions my man, let's dive into this! I'll answer your Qs right down the line.

Questions:
- Which is better? HID, LED, Halogen? (Note: I just want optimal distance/output with zero orange, yellow, and/or blue.)
A. It really comes down to Application. As a rule of thumb, LED is best for Reflector, HID is best for Projector units. LEDs emit light Left to Right in a 180° pattern, so when paired with a Reflector, its main goal is to gather that light in the Reflector and cast the beam pattern on the road for you. Your beam pattern is mainly going to come from the Left/Right sides of your housing, making LEDs the perfect pair! Projectors have a 360° Reflector bowl inside them, this is where the Light is gathered to then be fed through a Lens/Cut-off shield, developing your Beam pattern! HID kits work best in a Projector due to them most being like a traditional Halogen bulb, emitting light in a full 360° pattern! HIDs will make the most of a Projector due to this reason, as LEDs will only emit in the 180° pattern, choking that Projector of it's full potential! There certainly are Exceptions here and there, again it comes down to the Application/Parts being used.

- Additional hardware required w/any of the different type installs?
A. LED kits are typically the most basic and simplest kits to work with. They typically only consist of the LED bulb itself + a corresponding LED Driver (a little In-line box). That LED Driver takes the inputted power and streamlines it, allowing the LED to properly make use of it and without the Error messages/Flickering! Some vehicles have what we call a CANBUS System (Feel free to read up on Canbus here: https://betterautomotivelighting.com/2018/10/12/how-canbus-modules-work-with-led-headlight-bulbs/). If your vehicle makes use of a Low/High beam DRL, or you have a more complex CANBUS system, then we'd need to make use of PWM Modules (Pulse-Width Modulation). You can think of these modules as a Dam in a River. A Dam's job is to slow the inputted water and regulate how much is allowed to flow through. The PWM is the same concept, taking the inputted power and revising it so the LED can more readily accept it & trick the vehicle into thinking the OEM bulb is installed!
HID Kits are a little more involved with installs typically. You usually have a Relay Harness, Ballasts, Igniters, and HID Bulbs. You may have a couple other odds and ends too depending on the application. They do require more of a hands-on install, but paired with the right headlight/projector, it will be well-worth it!

- Any hardware mods required w/any of the different type install?
A. Depending on the application, you may need to do some modifications to a Dust Cover to allow the LED/HID kit to properly be installed while keeping the headlight properly sealed to prevent Condensation/Dirt/Misc. from entering, Nobody wants that! Typically, these mods only require you to drill a 7/8'' - 1'' Hole in your Cover to route the HID bulbs inside the Headlight Housing. The HID bulbs have a Rubber Grommet built onto the wiring, allowing you to easily seal that hole back up! LEDs sometimes are nicer to install, as there is much less hardware for an install and typically you can tuck it all inside the headlight housings and close the Dust Cover overtop of everything. If the LED that is being installed is too big, you may need to get a Pass-through harness. This harness is a Connection/Bridge harness that just routes through the Dust Cover with a Grommet attached. This is typically done for those who need to use PWM modules but cannot fit them into their headlights.

- What would my typical cost be for:
> LED Low and High - If you did our kits, this will normally run around the $240 Range. Other quality kits would average around the $300-$400 range, this is common to see!
> HID Low and High - This would total around $300 flat for our kits. Others range quite a bit in price, I'd say roughly around $400-$500 for the Pair of HIDs.
> Halogen Low and High - Halogen upgrades are very affordable, but just simply cannot compete with LED/HID typically. Good halogen bulbs from Philips will run you around $20-$50 for a Pair.

- Also need to know the pros & cons of each vs the OEM config. I.e., LED's look brighter at shorter distances, but do not perform as well at a distance in halogen housings.

LED Pros:
- Easy installations
- Longevity
- Lower power draw
- DRL-Compatible in some applications

LED Cons:
- Not as warm Temperature-wise (Good or Bad depending on local conditions)
- May be finicky in certain vehicles due to Age, CANBUS, wiring/etc.
- Color output is a Fixed Color (6,000k Diamond White)

HID Pros:
- Awesome in Projector housings
- Offered in multiple configurations/Colors/Power levels. You get Variety!
- oftentimes will be brighter than LED
- Great for winter driving, they run warmer than Halogens, keeping your Headlights clear from Ice build-up

HID Cons:
- More hands-on Install processes usually
- Higher stress/Power running through the kits leads to shorter life span than LED
- More failure points with a bigger system

Halogen Pros:
- Great for Year-Round driving due to Color (4,300k OEM)
- People are used to this on the Roads (You aren't "That Guy" with aftermarket lighting)
- Basic installation process
- Reliability & Relevance for Replacements

Halogen Cons:
- Dull color
- Poor output most of the time
- There is not a Good aftermarket for them



I know this is a lot, so Please let me know if you have any Further Qs or if I missed anything.
-Caleb @ XD

 

We have a bunch of options for a 2012 my man! Check out the website, it'll show you every kit for your specific truck!
Link: https://www.xenondepot.com/buyer-guide-by-vehicle/2012_Toyota_Tacoma
- Personally my #1 recommendation will always be the Morimoto XB LED Housings, the simplicity and output of those things is unreal, especially for being a Right out of the Box setup! Plus cmon, those things just look sweet!

- Second off, the Xtreme LED Pro kits would whoop butt in your OEM Housings, and would save a good chunk of change! We absolutely do offer discounts to First Responders! We're more than happy to help out those who help us every single day, please email us so we can get that all sorted out for you!
Email: Info@Xenondepot.com

 

Yeah, that is a lot! Thank you!! Will take me some time to digest, but my knee jerk reaction is LED. Then, in 2nd place, halogen. HID's just seem kind of weird to me.

From what I've gathered regarding LED's, aftermarket bulbs are not engineered to perform optimally in the OEM housing. I don't want to spend > $1k on housings, etc... So, would I effectively be 'that guy with aftermarket headlights' by going with LED bulbs in OEM casings?

If the answer is eh, not totally that guy to everyone. It may cross the minds of some though. Then I guess a better halogen (vs. OEM) is the way to go. What brand bulb do 2020 Tacoma's come with? What XD replacement would you recommend? I don't want to replace the OEM, warm color bulbs w/another set of similiar bulbs.

Again, many thanks for the detailed reply!!

 

Your best bang for your buck is a quality halogen bulb that was designed for your reflective housing. The data shows this to be the case over drop in LED's. Yeah the color is cool blah blah blah. The data proves it doesn't perform as well as a decent halogen bulb as @crashnburn80 has shown with his tests.

 

The short answer is yes, you would be "that guy." See below:

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/why-leds-should-not-be-run-in-halogen-reflectors.454371/

 

Thank you. I spent some time in crash's threads and have been leaning toward halogen replacements. But, there's enough marketing, install threads, pics, etc., out there (here) about LED's to make a man think twice.

Is the Phillips H9 an ideal replacement? What brand are the stocks (H9 & H11)?