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LED Hi Beams

Discussion in '3rd Gen. Tacomas (2016-2023)' started by WoadWunner, Sep 26, 2020.

  1. Sep 26, 2020 at 8:35 AM
    #1
    WoadWunner

    WoadWunner [OP] Well-Known Member

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    I am looking for a reliable brand of LED H Beams. Also, not looking to break the bank for them either.

    Thanks for the suggestions
     
  2. Sep 26, 2020 at 8:52 AM
    #2
    Ronzio

    Ronzio Well-Known Member

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    Unfortunately the good ones cost bank try VLEDS.com they usually have 15-20 off every few months
     
    Skydvrr likes this.
  3. Sep 26, 2020 at 9:03 AM
    #3
    crashnburn80

    crashnburn80 Vehicle Design Engineer

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    Recommendation from the 3rd Gen headlight thread is the Hikari Ultras. They are the smallest cross section for best focus and performance.
     
  4. Sep 26, 2020 at 9:05 AM
    #4
    SearArtist

    SearArtist Hybird

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    but are they better than the stock H9’s??
     
  5. Sep 26, 2020 at 9:12 AM
    #5
    crashnburn80

    crashnburn80 Vehicle Design Engineer

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    High beam test was a bit inconclusive, preliminary numbers showed just under a 20% improvement IIRC, but the test wasn’t perfect. In the low beam an H9 is vastly superior. The details are in the Hikari Ultra review linked in post #3 of the 3rd Gen headlight thread.
     
    jcmotr likes this.
  6. Sep 26, 2020 at 11:10 AM
    #6
    Provist

    Provist Well-Known Member

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  7. Sep 26, 2020 at 1:43 PM
    #7
    smikec

    smikec Well-Known Member

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    fmb, Rainoffire and crashnburn80 like this.
  8. Sep 26, 2020 at 3:43 PM
    #8
    AMC_Unlimited

    AMC_Unlimited For he is limitless (sometimes)

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    I just recently threw on the Hikari’s, they were a significant upgrade over the cheap Amazon LED lights I had before.

    B75FC8CA-D66A-49F9-9D01-41AAFC65345A.jpg FBF9EE26-64F7-4DC4-A968-6541F5F8955E.jpg 58E54935-BABD-4E75-AD24-79CDAAF5140F.jpg
    (These are the old LEDs, very poor light at distance compared to OEM)

    I believe that @crashnburn80 is 100% correct. They are probably the best LED upgrade you can do short of upgrading to the LED housing. It’s $90 well spent, while I save up $1500 for the OEM LED set.

    HIKARI Ultra LED Headlight Bulbs...
    https://www.amazon.com/dp/B077BT6M6Z/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_9s8BFbH41QC1R
     
  9. Sep 26, 2020 at 4:50 PM
    #9
    VaToy

    VaToy Life Long Member

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    Dideo dynamic LEDs in my low beams, and they are way better than than my stock one and better than the ge mega 130s. Dark country roads here and I swear they are the best In my honest opinion. I know seeing is believing and I'm sure test show otherwise but I'm sold. Getting some DD high beam led next week.
     
  10. Sep 26, 2020 at 5:24 PM
    #10
    taoist

    taoist taoist

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    Have been running these Hikari low & hi bulbs for 1.5 years now and they are a vast improvement over the stock bulbs.
     
  11. Sep 26, 2020 at 5:57 PM
    #11
    Taco_mike73

    Taco_mike73 Well-Known Member

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    I had those sealight bulbs in my Old Jeep. They aren't bad but not super bright. They do have a nice white color.
    I think the beam pattern in the Tacoma with the projector low bean is good. The halogen headlights that came stock are just yellow and not bright enough.
    I was looking at putting in these
    https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07XP24CN7/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_fab_hm-BFbHJYD9HB
    I don't drive at night as much lately so I wasn't concerned about the high beam yet since they are hardly used.
     
  12. Sep 26, 2020 at 11:26 PM
    #12
    crashnburn80

    crashnburn80 Vehicle Design Engineer

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    No, those are cheap Amazon trash that will emit more glare and stray light, so they may initially look brighter, but pattern intensity will definitely be reduced from stock. Not recommended.

    Another Amazon LED fail. "DOT LED Headlight" :rofl:, very clearly another falsified China product. DOT doesn't approve or test anything, the proper term is 'SAE Compliant', meaning it meets SAE pattern testing requirements and is compliant with the regulations. Except ALL replacement LED headlight bulb products are non-compliant, and not "DOT" as they are strictly forbidden by regulation. Another fast one by a cheap China BS seller.

    This is another case of being mislead by foreground light, which is a constant battle for understanding in LED replacement products. The GE bulbs will project much further, and the Philips H9 even further still with more light intensity everywhere in the beam pattern. The Diode Dynamics LEDs are actually less than stock in peak intensity, but they do have a bunch more foreground light due to less focus. People intrinsically rate foreground light higher in driving experience, though that isn't what you actually want. If going with LED you'd be much better off with the Hikaris. While slightly different in application, this post on competing LED headlights covers what I am referring to with foreground light being incorrectly rated better, with examples.
     
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  13. Sep 26, 2020 at 11:32 PM
    #13
    crashnburn80

    crashnburn80 Vehicle Design Engineer

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    Hard pass. Those in no way replicate a halogen filament, the performance will be poor. That is Hikaris cheap 'value brand' model. Instead look at the Hikari Ultras, their flagship model, as mentioned above which have been tested to be the best performing replacement LED bulb, with the smallest cross section for best focus and best pattern intensity.
     
    Rainoffire likes this.
  14. Sep 26, 2020 at 11:51 PM
    #14
    VaToy

    VaToy Life Long Member

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  15. Sep 27, 2020 at 3:35 AM
    #15
    Taco_mike73

    Taco_mike73 Well-Known Member

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    Well I may have to pass on that too. $90 is a lot for headlight bulbs made in China that will probably fail in a year or two at any rate, even $70 for the other ones is a bit much. If DOT approval isn't a real thing also why bother. I don't like being lied to.
    I might just go to the local Wally world and get some Sylvania Silverstar's. Those will be brighter and not mess up the beam pattern.
    https://www.walmart.com/ip/Sylvania-H11-SilverStar-Auto-Halogen-Headlight-Bulb-Pack-of-2/21950000
     
    Last edited: Sep 27, 2020
  16. Sep 27, 2020 at 5:40 AM
    #16
    MannyS

    MannyS Well-Known Member

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    Buy two pairs of Silverstars. Keep the spare set in the truck because you will be replacing a burned out Silverstar in less than 1 year.
     
  17. Sep 27, 2020 at 5:51 AM
    #17
    Taco_mike73

    Taco_mike73 Well-Known Member

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    LoL
    It seems that there is a disadvantage to everything
     
  18. Sep 27, 2020 at 7:28 AM
    #18
    crashnburn80

    crashnburn80 Vehicle Design Engineer

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    The stock H9 is an exceptionally high performing bulb, few LEDs will be able to perform adequately to replace it. Most will result in more scatter of whiter light, but significantly less output and significantly less distance projection. The Hikari Ultras seem to last ~2yrs+ in a low beam application, in a high beam that doesn’t get used nearly as much I’d expect a much longer life span.

    Note that Silverstars have blue coatings which actually reduce light output, the light will be a little whiter, but less output than stock. They also have a short lifespan, so much so there was a class action lawsuit against them for it. Again though, in a high beam application, lifespan isn’t as important.

    If you check out the 3rd Gen headlight thread, post #2 shows the Philips H9 as the highest output H9 available, which also happens to be the stock bulb. To really boost high beam performance aux driving lights are best. Trying add anything decent for under $70 would be a challenge though, Hella 500s fit the price point, but mounting is a challenge and would add cost.
     
    Tullie D likes this.
  19. Sep 27, 2020 at 7:50 AM
    #19
    Taco_mike73

    Taco_mike73 Well-Known Member

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    I was looking for better low beams actually. I am not in doubt the h9 stock are bright. They indeed are. I don't get to drive out at night and use them much. I'm mostly in suburban areas with scattered street lights and enough traffic that you can't use high beam much. I'm trying to figure out if any of these LEDs are worth it for low beams. I know silver stars don't last as long as Sylvania basic or extra vision halogen headlights do. They do have a brighter look but life is a con there.
     
  20. Sep 27, 2020 at 7:55 AM
    #20
    crashnburn80

    crashnburn80 Vehicle Design Engineer

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    For low beams, it is all covered in extreme detail in the headlight thread:
    https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/3rd-gen-hid-vs-led-vs-halogen-h11-projector-headlights.589465/

    See post #2 for halogens and #3 for LED. The only recommended replacement LEDs are the Hikari Ultras. Best performance by far is swapping the low beams for the Philips H9 bulbs, which only costs ~$18/set.
     
    Taco_mike73[QUOTED] and fmb like this.

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