3rd Gen HID vs LED vs Halogen H11 projector headlights

Have the latest Morimoto's been tested?

 

100% of the credit is @crashnburn80 for hours and hours of detailed testing and fact based analysis of data without any compensation.

Honestly, the pro OEM LED headlights on a pro truck make the most sense to me. It's also a good excuse to do the trim panels if you can find them in your color somewhere. Conversion harness can be DIY or purchase.

 

If you're referring to the 2nd Gen Morimoto XBs, @crashnburn80 has them presently, but has had some stuff come up in the last little bit. He said he intends to get the testing done. Just gotta be patient.

 

After reading pages and pages and pages, the most relevant text is this:

Recommended setup for best performance
Low Beam:




$11 Philips 12361B1 H9 Standard Halogen Replacement Headlight Bulb, 1 Pack
Philips H9s (bulb base modification or adapter required)

Best 20 bucks you will ever spend. Huge uplift in light. Easy. Cheap. And done. Yes there are many other options but you cannot beat this simple option for value, speed and efficiency. Period.

Thank you for all the research crashburn80. This is truly an amazing thread.

 

You can get those Philips Standard H9s on Rock Auto for $5.40 a bulb

 

I just put these in my low beams today. Trimmed the extra tab off with xacto knife. Took a drive this evening and the output of the low beams is way better! Before this I was driving around with my fog lights on to help the poor output of low beams. This along with Meso's total tail light stage 1 kit and my truck is set in the lighting department.

Thanks @crashnburn80 and Thanks @MESO

 

but with shipping and handling and possibly tax, it may go up to almost 30 for 2 bulbs.

 

Hello again,
For 2 Phillips H9 head light bulbs with shipping and tax to my house in Arizona it cost only $15.17, Rockauto had the best price I could find.
I got lucky, they were made in Germany.
Thanks again,
Robert

 

Wow, thanks for the knowledge!!

so I’ve learned that 6000k has poor output, I just hate how the 4300k looks compared to all my other front facing lights. How does 5000k compare in your opinion? Since you mention Phillips does make those. And wheres the best retailer to obtain them from?

 

What's a badass looking Projector shroud I could possibly buy for my RX350 Projector retrofit ? Need some suggestions TW.

 

Sorry, I was going off what another member paid. I just bought two more from Rockauto as spares and or for the future, and for me, 2 of them shipped to my house was 16.18. Hopefully I get the German ones also.

 

@jimmerheck , no worries, I should have put the details in my first post. From what @crashnburn80 tested not a lot of difference between the ones made in China or Germany. This a great upgrade for a small price. I think I will order a couple more also.

Robert

 

Having run 6000k OEM led headlights, I can tell you the color is poor. 5000k would be better. Personally I like to oder from powerbulbs.com. However, they only sell legitimate products meaning you need a proper retrofit to something like D2S to order a compatible bulb from them.

 

I ordered 4 bulbs for $29 which included shipping and tax to Texas

 

Would you mind elaborating on what specifically you mean by “poor” regarding 6000k vs 5000 or 4000?

I’m assuming that you mean the wavelength difference creates a driving experience where reflective surfaces are much more visible which is more distracting / confusing?

Or perhaps the eye has more trouble with 6000k wavelengths hence the same output at 4000k performs better? I’m curious to read more on that. I know many of us intuit reading lights in warmer colors as preferable and the whole night shade shift to go to sleep but I’m not as read up on any clear weather driving specific impacts of different wavelengths.

I understand how selective yellow is well suited for fog conditions but I’m curious about non fog conditions and low beams.

The Stern articles have some good background on France and their decisions on lighting which I think include accident statistics but I’m similarly not sure accident rates are the ideal or only metric.

Perhaps there is a good article or a previous post which explains more of this?

I certainly notice the difference. I haven’t yet decided how the choices compare. Greater visibility of reflectors would appear to offer some potential advantages in terms of vehicle safety.

 

I find 6000k very eye fatiguing

 

Does anyone have a recommendation for a highbeam bulb replacement?

 

Can't really do any better than what's in there. German-made philips h9

 

Thanks for all the great info. I am definitely going to follow your advice and upgrade my low beams. What is your recommendation for the high beam?

 

The comment was specifically around how 6000k is fatiguing, blue light on black road doesn't offer good contrast and surface glare from short wavelength light in wet environments is also difficult to process, as well as the short wavelength light being more distracting reflecting off of precipitation. In the case of plug and play 3rd Gen lights, the OEM LED 6000k units are the highest performing. But in the case of HID, where 4300k is the industry norm I wouldn't go out of my way to try for a lower output 6000k HID bulb.