3rd Gen HID vs LED vs Halogen H11 projector headlights

That first one is the same one I found a couple months back! See how they even blur out the AlphaRex logo.

The 2nd one isn't AlphaRex's version, but VLands version. Same housing though. But ye, China with insane markup.

 

@crashnburn80
Also, for the OEM LED headlights, is there suppose to be more side light? It feels like there is an additional hotspot slightly angled to the sides. Unusually brighter on my driver side.

 

I agree on ice cream!

Would you mind helping me understand this statement better?

I could reach 90% of the effectiveness of the 2020 OEM LED headlight conversion at a fraction of the cost with drop-in LED's or HID's.

I have read a lot about lighting and the TLDR on LED replacement bulbs is Hikari as your best option. I think crashnburn80 has the raw data now to compare Hikari drop in bulbs with OEM LED and probably already did, I need to go back and re-read his post. However, I’m also not sure about legality of any LED bulb for driving low beams based on recent posts on that subject? The 90% as good figure you state also doesn’t jive with my memory but my memory is quite poor so I don’t naturally trust it.

It’s also my understanding that HID requires a retrofit assembly and is not ideal for a projector but rather reflector? Also highly likely I’m wrong on some or all of that but I remember coming to the conclusion that HID isn’t a convenient or low cost option and definitely not a drop in option?

I believe your best drop in option is Philips H9 w bulb mod and 2nd best is high efficiency H11 bulb. I’ve tried both and currently run H11 130+ which are nice and have a somewhat whiter light which I like. I think either represents a cost effective lighting upgrade properly leveraging the OEM projectors and they both are easily replaced if a bulb fails or as part of routine maintenance to keep performance maximized.

I fully agree that $1500 on lighting upgrades beyond high efficiency H11 or H9 is not a great ROI. But one aspect of that 1500 spend is lower power consumption and another is a whiter light (admittedly I haven’t seen them myself yet so I’m not sure how much I will like or dislike the color) and the last is potentially zero bulb maintenance with significant expected lifetime. These potential benefits are more subjective and harder to judge on a pure cost/benefit scale.

Also, thanks for the thread on the tank. I read through most of it. I understand the thinking and I see some of the appeal.

EDIT: I went back and re read some of the first posts. Looks like there are indeed drop in HID bulbs. My memory does not work so well does it?

 

For comparison, between some of the popular options.

Stock @ 18' (623 lux)
Stock @ 42' (144 lux)
Color Temp: 3071k

GE+130 @ 18' (1086 lux)
GE+130 @ 42' (230 lux)
Color Temp: 3501k

XD HID @ 18' (1553 lux)
XD HID @ 42' (330 lux)
Color Temp: 3854k

Philips HID @ 18' (2104 lux)
Philips HID @ 42' (466 lux)
Color Temp: 4390k

Hikari LED @ 18' ("No Data")
Hikari LED @ 42' (224 lux)
Color Temp: 6269k

Morimoto XB @ 18' (1413 lux)
Morimoto XB @ 42' (265 lux)
Color Temp: 5994k

OEM LED @ 18' (1636 lux)
OEM LED @ 42' (285 lux)
Color Temp: 6164k

 

So is the Hikari led better than stock?

 

I believe the obvious answer is no, but will there be a performance difference between factory LED vs. adding the OEM LED via the harness?

 

lux alone is not the defining characteristic, which is what this whole thread is about imo. You have to take in consideration, beam pattern, color temp among other things

 

Love my Sylvania Zevo's, they dont need the piggyback little box. A true plug and play LED's for your headlights, and 5 years replacement warranty. Made in Italy.

 

Won’t end well. Just was looking at these and they call them H11 fog lights on their web site cause they legally aren’t plug and play for headlights like ours cause of people like crash using actual science.

 

thank you for helping me get the idea of buying those AlphaRexs out of my head

 

@memario1214

I have the sport fogs installed on my truck and live in upper Connecticut where it is dark as hell.

This pic is with my Phillips xtreme vision +130 headlights with diode dynamics SS3 sport fogs on a dark state road.

They do a great job without being excessive with other traffic.

 

So the DD SS3 pro’s beam pattern is both taller and wider than the sport? Do I have that correct?

 

Where did you get your Phillips extremevison +130? I haven’t been able to find them anywhere after looking online.

 

Philips Automotive Lighting H11 X-tremeVision Upgrade Headlight Bulb with up to 100% More Vision, White (12362XVB2) 2 Count

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00U1OIES...olid=1RB7TO4TN77BO&psc=1&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it

 

I got mine on Powerbulb.com end of last year.

 

Looks to me that the VLAND knockoff LED Headlights only have 3 Low Beam LED per side. Compared to the OEM's 5 LED per side.


And from the looks of it, it uses the Halogen Headlight housing. Making these knockoff a "flatter" look.

On the OEM LED headlights, the assembly is pushed inwards a little, more towards the sidemarkers, giving the lights an angled, longer and sharper look. Also allows for more LED space.

 

Great observation. I'd agree that assuming that Alibaba light reflectors are placed in the correct location (might be a big assumption) they do look to only contain 3 low beam emitters. I'd bet my truck that performance is no where near the OEM LED headlights.

 

So VLAND's manufacturer took a close up video for me.


3 Low Beam LED Emitters vs OEM 5 Low Beam Emitters
1 High Beam LED Emitter vs 2 High Beam LED Emitters
They said the Turn Signal is in the parking light reflector. But can be configured to have the entire "C" as a switchback.

Edit: Added some additional info.

 

https://www.philips.ie/c-e/au/car-lights/headlights/xtremevision-pro150.html

Philips is now listing a +150 Xtremevision bulb in H11 format (among others, I also posted about the H4 version in the 2nd gen upgrade thread). Unfortunately their product page for H11 loads their page for the H7 bulb, so perhaps they'll shows the specs soon.

 

thanks for the head's up! Looks like they are available for pre-order on powerbulbs and I'll be picking up a pair of them for sure. I haven't found anything I like better than the Xtreme +100s and given the glare tip and overall design looks similar this may be a welcome upgrade to an already terrific light.

Edit: On second thought they may not quite hit the mark for my needs, but i'll probably try them anyway. There's only a "tiny" ring of blue coating on the +100s but these +150 Pros seem to have a larger blue ring similar others I've tried with less than stellar results. That said, I've always been impressed with the Philips optics so I could be proven wrong...



Specs from Philips UK site:
https://www.philips.co.uk/c-p/12362XVPB1/x-tremevision-pro150-car-headlight-bulb