3rd Gen HID vs LED vs Halogen H11 projector headlights

If it's a good aftermarket LED than it will have a warranty. Morimoto Bi-LED MLED 2.0 projectors and their XB LED headlights both have 5 year warranties. The AlphaRex LEDs have a 2 year warranty. I'd be happy with a 5 year warranty on a product.
Toyota's bumper to bumper warranty is 3/36,000, I'm assuming their LED headlights are included as part of the bumper to bumper, but not 100% sure. If so, the aftermarket warranty with Morimoto is actually better than Toyota's.
If the truck is 10+ years old, I'd expect minor issues.

 

I have not. But retrofits are a highly customized product with a lot of variables vs an off the shelf top quality OEM grade solution. While higher peak intensity output would be achieved with a quality retrofit using OEM components, I'd advocate for the OEM LED solution between the two. Also note that retros are not legal, so if your state does inspections they would likely not pass.

 

coming from a state that does inspection I can shed some light on this.

there are laws about exhaust noise. If it’s anything BUT what comes from the factory it can get you nabbed for a fix it ticket (I think we don’t do those in RI I think it’s just a fine and you have to show up to traffic court regardless).

lights - same way. As long as they are the same or similar to OEM you’re fine. So an HID ballast in halogen housings is a no go.

in RI at least. 3.5.17.B.2 says

So you can go out and get an SAE headlamp assembly no problem, but once you start fiddling with it at all, it’s illegal. Tint, retrofit, etc. all illegal.

practically speaking, last time I went for an inspection (before they implemented the cameras recording) I was worried about my tires being at the minimum or a hair below minimum tread. They plugged in and didn’t even turn on my lights. As long as it isn’t obnoxiously obvious, you’re good.

 

Retros are illegal for Hawai’i state inspections. Drop in LEDs will also fail you.

 

Actually. Now that I read it...

http://www.dmv.ri.gov/documents/manuals/Official_Manual_Motor_Vehicle_Inspections.pdf

This does not prohibit the bulbs, this is explaining the assembly only in this section. You cannot use a non DMV approved (probably defacto SAE approved) headlamp assembly. You cannot tint over headlamp assemblies.

There's nothing, I guess, that says you (in Rhode Island) cannot use a non-oem headlight bulb in the approved headlamp assembly.



From Hawaii:
http://hidot.hawaii.gov/highways/files/2013/11/HAR19-133.2-10-22-2013.pdf

Actually. 19-133.2-32 is similar to RI. They restrict the lamps, but nothing about the bulbs shall be OEM level or similar. They can't reject for non-OEM bulbs. "Not of an approved type or color" is the lamp itself, so the same deal - SAE/approved housings. In theory, Hawaii has no leg to stand on to reject non-OEM bulbs. They may have some candle power ratings they would violate, but just because it's non-OEM (LED, etc) is not a rejectable reason.

PS - I am an Aerospace Quality Engineer. Reading through specs and regulations to find how to conform and the ways where these requirements don't make sense. It's boring as hell.

 

I’m chuckling to myself thinking about you trying to argue your point to a Kamehameha grad police officer or judge.

 

I wouldn't. I know it would be an uphill battle and the end result wouldn't be: You can use your lights, it would be: We've changed the laws or had an official interpretation that you're an idiot.

BUT as they're written.

More hassle than it's worth. Grab some cheap-o H11s to put in during inspections if you're that dead set on not using normal H11s.

 

Judge is either Punahou, St Louis, or I’olani grad lol. Police for sure Kamehameha lol

 

RI does have fix it tickets. I got one once that said I had 10 days to get the problem fixed and the car inspected at a state owned inspection facility. I was able to get around it though. I've never had an issue with aftermarket exhaust.

 

Can someone please tell me which bulbs I can toss in my factory housings to brighten up my high beams?

 

Pretty sure that’s been covered...In crash’s testing I think he found the stock H9 is the best option in the stock high

 

Everytime i read Kamehameha, Dragon Ball is the first image that comes to mind.

I'm like, what does Goku have anything to do with headlights?

 

I never had issues in Hawaii getting my motorcycle to pass inspection with aftermarket HIDs. They were more interested in ensuring all the lights actually function, they didn't really care what type of lights they were.

 

Same for me in Texas. They just ensured that the lights came on and didn't care about the bulb type. Easy pass every year with my HID units.

 

Just so much data, i’ve re read the first post several times. I’m not sure what product his testing results are pointing to

 

You know, I wish my province in Canada did inspections. I know people advocate for smaller government, and I generally agree. However, the amount of obviously illegal headlight/tailight/wheels etc make driving here a nightmare. SO MANY aftermarket LED lights in reflector housing. I'm sick of being blinded when I'm working at night. The only thing cops routinely nab people on is front side window tint.

 

Basically all of his testing points to:
H9 for lowbeam being the best bang/buck spent.

H11 GE/Tungsram brand Megalight +120 or +130 for about 13-15% higher max intensity than the Philips H9 in low beam. However, these are 1- significantly more expensive than the H9. But the trade off is that the H9 will put more light throughout the total beam pattern, whereas the + focus rated H11's should keep overal lighting the same, but provide further reaching low beams.

The rebased HID kits for h11/H9 lowbeam suffer from a few problems, they tend to "bounce" in the housing, they're illegal, and along with being the brightest option for low beam (basically 2x the max intensity of the + rated H11's) theybl also cause MASSIVE amounts of glare for oncoming traffic.

The highbeam already uses H9's. There are no + focus rated H9's because H9's are already a high spec bulb. If you need more light with highbeams, you really need to look at aftermarket SAE compliant auxiliary highbeams/driving lights.

 

I live in RI, near the MA border and grew up in NH and ME, also near the MA borders.

I can tell you....our inspections solve none of that.

 

The more you know!

 

And also....public service announcement.....please just replace your $5-20, whichever you may choose to install, low beam bulbs rather than simply using your high beams at night because you’re too fking cheap or lazy to stop at autozone.

Apparently that is a becoming a common thing here in Central FL, and I can imagine other places, as you can clearly see a low beam is burned out on their car because one low is on and the other is not along with their high beams being on. I will continue to return the favor with my much brighter than your high beam light bar in the hood scoop.