...Another Headlight Thread (Question)

Yes, federal vehicle code says any modification to headlights/lighting such as the use of drop in lights is a violation of federal road laws. all modification must be approved by the DOT to be legal.

Matters not what people do and what is sold, you can buy coke on the web, buy children,etc.... does not mean it is legal. smoked lenses, lp covers, light colors other than stock, all illegal yet all are sold in places like walmart.

it is the end user that is supposed to ensure any modifications stay within legal perimeters if used on road. off-road is totally different, still rules but, not like the street.

 

Yes, all drop in LEDs are federally illegal to use on public roads. The only legal replacement LED headlights are the ones that replace the entire housing and meet SAE compliance standards which are stamped with an SAE/DOT on the lens/body. Vehicles with standardized interchangeable headlight housings like a Wrangler have plenty of legal options for these products. Right now 3rd Gen only has the new Morimoto XB LED headlights as a street legal option. OEM LED headlights are properly designed in housings for the light source to meet the compliance standards and are legal. Anyone trying to sell you a ‘legal’ drop in LED is flat out lying to you.

 

Gotcha, I thought I read somewhere that the "device" must be DOT compliant, meaning that it is compliant in the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards.

 

Interesting, I never knew that, now is this the same situation with HIDs?

 

HIDs are specifically mentioned in the code....LEDs are not as the code does not get updated regularly.

what I used to do is find out if the car I was inspecting was available from the factory with HID/LED in the standard housing, if so then it was about color. failed quite a few guys for blue lights, red tape on tail lights, I only put 2 people on report with the state....attitude.

I just had my state done and they would not pass it till i cut 1/2 inch of tint off the front window.......here in TX they have been cracking down and putting inspectors in jail for passing violators...

 

Damn that's hardcore in TX, NJ use to be bad like that but they changed about 6 years back I believe, they do not check for any of that stuff. My ultimate goal is to upgrade to the new 2020 headlights (if applicable and not raping us on price) to get optimum LED lighting in an actual housing made for them. I'm sure they will be insanely expensive though. I was about to pull the trigger on the Morimoto XB LED Headlight housing but damn, the bulbs are not replaceable and it only has a 5 year warranty, that totally persuaded me to not make the purchase.

 

HIDs are not legal unless the vehicle came with them from the factory. Retrofits are not legal either, neither are over wattage halogens.

LEDs are not replaceable in OEM LED headlights either. We’ll see on the price, Toyota’s new LED fogs are the cheapest LED fogs for a Tacoma, a fair amount less than Morimoto LED fogs while also performing better. Of course Valeo (the supplier) now makes them in China.

 

Infinity has that, OEM HID system, the bulb is 250 bucks, the whole housing is 800 bucks.....
I"m talking with crash about that very thing as far as projector lamps, since the Spyder projectors are crap, I am hoping he has some info on a good projector that will fit.....would go BMW or AUDI, but the housings are to long. if the Mori parts are DOT legal, they might be on the list.

Like the look of the Spyder lights, but out here, deer need to be seen at midnight...

 

Thanks for the info, is it typical for LEDs to not be replaceable in most OEM LED Headlight housings? My fingers are crossed that they aren't too bad. Do you think the new Tacoma LED fogs are better then the current Pro Rigid Industries LEDS? I have them, I am pretty happy with them.

 

LED headlights/taillights are typically ‘lifetime’ parts. They are not serviceable.

The Pro Rigid fogs are better. You can compare the new fogs:
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...fog-light-review.554813/page-37#post-20419703

To Rigid pros and the rest in the output charts here:
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/the-led-sae-j583-fog-pod-fog-light-review.554813/

Note that the Pro Rigid fogs are on the lower end of the scale in general. KC G4’s or the Rigid D-series fogs are quiet a bit higher in output, though with the D-series the light is a bit blue, I would instead opt for their selective yellow D-series light.

 

Oh wow, I never knew. I always thought you could swap them out as you do a halogen bulb and what not. I’m assuming the installation and the way the LEDs are placed are much different when in a true led housing?

Great, thank you I’ll check out that thread, much appreciated.

 

that is why it took so long to get them DOT approved i believe, focus, output,intensity,weatherproofing,load balance, etc all had to be "safe"

LED tech has been out fr many years, HID/LED lights have been in use for several decades, found allot on submersible research vehicles.

then it made its way to autos.....light output at 300 meters is more about intensity.

i know the LED lights on the R1M are replace whole unit, no bulbs......

 

Correct, they are fully integrated into the design of the unit, there is nothing to even open as the units are fully sealed.

 

Makes a lot of sense, thank you.

 

I love my illegal retrofits.

 

This is a morimoto 35w H11b HID I installed.
I’ll try to get a better picture tonight. I was in Mexico.

 

And this is using a proper projector. Just so people can see why it is important.