3rd Gen HID vs LED vs Halogen H11 projector headlights

Possibly the lightest blue tint I have ever seen? Hard to tell though, did you have anything blue near the bulb that could be casting a reflection?

 

An HIR bulb doesn’t typically have a blue coating, it is an iridescent one to reflect IR light back to the filament to overdrive it for higher output without using more power. Typically has a slight rainbow look under a light. Not all HIR bulbs use an IR coating though, many have gone to more traditional methods to meet the output spec.

 

I don't think there was anything blue when I took the picture. There was no blue coating on the bulb, it looks like a small hazy film on the glass just at the filament part. It didn't look like a "rainbow" either.

 

Question from a newbie changing head lights do I have to replace the H11, H9 and H8 bulbs?

Or do I just replace the H11 for Low, High and Fog?

 

You can change whichever in whatever combination you want, however, H9s go in the high, not H11

The bulbs go:

Low + Fog: H11, unless you want higher output H9s in the lows, a LOT higher output than stock. You can do that in place of the H11s with a minor 2 min. modification to the bulb itself.

High:H9

 

Thank you.

 

Please do not use H9 in your fog lamps with ANY oncoming traffic. Crash has already noted that going to a higher output H11 causes more glare with oem fogs. The H9 is not glare capped like the H11 and will be Extremely dazzling to oncoming traffic.

 

It’ll also be blinding to you the driver if you’re in any condition you’d need fogs...

edit - I speak from experience as I ran h9’s in my fogs about half of last winter. I really noticed the glare when I pulled up to my kid’s daycare and the fog’s glare clearly illuminated the second floor...

 

I was literally just about ready to pull the trigger on 3 sets of H9 Phillips but decided to come in here to ask the "should I run the H9 conversion in all 3 places (low, high, fog) question...Low and behold, the answer is right here....

@crashnburn80

So, H9's with an adapter harness to H11 for lows, H9's for highs, and Nightbreakers (H11) for the fogs is the best call ?

I want bright fill light from the fogs for the long dirt road drives up to our property, where the over growth and canopy makes for some pitch black at night driving... I like to run the fogs to illuminate the ground right in front of the truck when I am making that trip late night/early morning, so let me know what you guys think...

Here is what I have in my shopping cart right now.. :

H9 Bulbs per first page:

$11 Philips 12361B1 H9 Standard Halogen Replacement Headlight Bulb, 1 Pack

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003YMPN3A/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&psc=1

H11 to H9 Harness

$8 iJDMTOY H11 H8 H9 Extension Wiring Harness Sockets Wires Compatible with High/Low Beam or Fog Lights Use

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00TXRWOPA/ref=ox_sc_act_title_2?smid=A1LGDXCZMXB2CW&psc=1

H11 Bulbs : Fogs:

$32 OSRAM NIGHT BREAKER LASER H11, next generation, 150% more brightness, halogen headlamp, 64211NL-HCB, 12V, passenger car, duo box (2 lamps)

https://www.amazon.com/generation-b...+xenon+h11&qid=1601181062&s=automotive&sr=1-1

 

You can do without the adapters. Modding the bulb so the stock plug fits it takes less than 2 min per bulb with a razor blade and a pair of snips. Just cut out the plastic tab with a razor blade in the socket and take just a bit (maybe a dimes width) off the larger of the 3 metal tabs.

When you’re done the factory plug will connect to the bulb and the bulb will go in and twist into place in the headlight low beam socket just like the factory H11.

No point in putting an extra point of failure (the harness) especially if you commonly drive down dark roads when it’s unnecessary.

I actually bought a second set of the Hella Perf. 2.0 H9s, modded them as described, put them back in the package, and stowed them in the back seat under seat compartment as insurance if away from home at night and one decides to go out at the wrong time.

 

Thanks brother, I already pulled the trigger on everything I had listed. The adapter harnesses were less than $7.00 so sending them back is not going to break the bank. I will look in to modding the bulbs to forgo the harness. I definitely want to go with the H9's in the low position to get the higher performance in low beam mode, so either way, im only out an additional $7.00

Thanks for the reply !!

 

For the fogs I'd look at the GE Xenon +120 or the GE/Tungsram Megalight +130 for high performance halogen, both are pretty challenging to find right now though. Nokya 75w H11s are also another option for higher power. Philips is launching a new H11 +150 Pro next month which I will be sure to review. The far better option for the fogs thought is to switch to SAE LED assemblies that have both higher intensity output and better pattern control, the best of which are Diode Dynamics SS3. Selective yellow is most ideal for use in poor weather conditions, and you can get a semi-close halogen match by getting the selective yellow lights and swapping a clear lens for 4000k output.

 

Because the subject of excessive foreground light comes up so much, especially with switching to replacement LEDs in halogen projectors leading to increased foreground light and less distance light, I thought I would cross share this post comparing AlphaRex vs Morimoto on the topic:

 

I'm holding out for those new +150 beasts mentioned earlier....

 

Stock high beams are already H9’s, so trim the second set you ordered and keep them for backups.

I have

$16 Nokya h11 Car Headlight Bulb (S1) NOK7618.

Nokya h11 in amber in my OR fogs, my dad has the DD SS3 Pros on his wrangler. The SS3’s are incredibly bright and he loves them, but I’m actually pretty happy with my overall light output. H9’s in the low beams, with a slight re-aim, and higher performance h11’s in the fogs handles just about any low speed situation I need. If I need more light, I’ve got Hella 700FF’s with 100w bulbs.

 

Just committed to a 2021 green Tacoma Off-Road, with (alas) projector rather than LED headlights. Not too many 4x4s to choose from these days!

You can upgrade to a LED 'bulbs' in the projector headlamp housing, but does anyone know if you can replace the entire headlamp assembly with the original Toyota equipment LED setup?

From a quick look at the parts catalog it seems like the two are mechanically compatible (projector part #81110-04251 looks like LED part #81110-04300) and the cost is not prohibitive ($672 per side).

Does anyone know if the two versions are electrically compatible (i.e., have the same voltage and connections)?

Thanks!

 

I’m in the same boat. I figured I’d give the Philips H9 and/or GE Xenon 120+ a try before going LED headlight swap.

 

plenty of guys doing that, on all years of the third gen. You’ll likely need the adapter however that’s available to convert your factory harness to the OEM led assemblies.

 

See this for harness and this for info.

 

Thanks for the link to the thread and the harness!