3rd Gen HID vs LED vs Halogen H11 projector headlights

For what it’s worth I installed the 2stroke 3.0 last week and lighting seemed to be better and the cutoff still looks great. Worth it to have the DRL’s and projectors match in my book.

 

Keep in mind the cut off in a projector is due to the light shield in the projector assembly, not the light source. Any light source will maintain a great looking cut off in a projector.

 

Thanks crash. Certainly don’t have the knowledge you do when it comes to this stuff. I was just glad to see that in terms of on coming traffic there wasn’t a noticeable difference.

 

I say that just to help educate, so now you know. It is reflector assemblies where things can end up poorly with increased glare. Those are nice LEDs, definitely a good choice.

 

just wish they weren’t $175 and I’d put them in the highs too!

 

HIDs have more parts, but a quality, properly installed system with a relay, quality ballasts, igniters and bulbs shouldn’t be problematic.
There shouldn’t be any bounce in an HID projector, with HID bulbs. Now those who stick HIDs in their halogen projectors and get bounce shouldn’t be counted against HIDs.
Depending on how much you drive at night, the HID bulb could last a year or many years. Changing out an HID bulbs takes, what 5 mins total for both sides?
You will typically get higher lumen output with HIDs over LEDs.
As far as warmup, yes it takes a few seconds for full output, but I’ve never gotten in any car with HIDs and been delayed due to waiting for my HIDs to warmup.
The same con of HIDs could be a pro, if something falls. If any part of the HID system fails, you replace it. If the LED light fails, you’ll have to replace the entire housing.
Both LEDs and HIDs have their pros and cons.

 

So I’ve looked at the forum a bit. What’s the final verdict on the H11 Phillip HID from XenonDepot that are back in stock?

https://www.xenondepot.com/h11-philips-capsule-hid-bulbs?quantity=1

 

Not sure if this is allowed here, but I see a lot of people linking to Amazon for the Phillips H9's. I found that RockAuto has them at less than half the price, but they don't do free shipping. Still, if you're buying 2 or more I'd imagine it'd be cheaper to pay for shipping on $5 bulbs than get free shipping on $11 bulbs.

 

woosh over head

 

I plan on putting 2stroke 3.0's in the high beam reflector bowls. who cares about glare from a high beam?

 

glare = scatter

scatter = less distance projection

less distance projection = can't see farther

can't see farther = defeats purpose of high beam

EDIT - although no specific testing of the 2stroke 3.0's in the high beam, perhaps the thin pcb might work, but not omnidirectional.

 

Are the rock auto ones made in Germany or China?

Thanks

 

Looking at the rockauto ones, they have printed on the back made in China.

 

Glare isn’t a concern for LEDs in a reflector high beam. I

To be fair, LEDs don't perform as well as performance halogens in a halogen low beam assembly either, but some people still prefer the LED look. Glare from the standpoint of oncoming traffic won't be an issue with high beams since you obviously don't use them with oncoming traffic. Any testing I can do will likely only be a relative comparison to Hikari, I don't have a great way to compare high beams at extended distance to get accurate numbers.

The Philips H9s used to be cheaper on Amazon, then as demand went up from them being linked here, the prices increased. You can find them cheaper elsewhere, Amazon is just easy. Philips doesn't distinguish the China vs German bulbs in their part numbers, so regardless of where you buy them you could receive either.

 

yes. understood that you don't use HB with oncoming traffic.

However doesn't the principle apply? That glare is a symptom of light scatter?
Does light scatter not diminish what is illuminated at distance?
If not, I stand to be corrected.

Regardless, I suppose if the source is bright enough, it wouldn't matter where it scatters and distance may still be illuminated. I would have assumed the high beam reflector was designed for a halogen bulb, to put the light where it was intended to go.

S

 

Your statement is correct.

 

Can someone kindly advice me

1. For my High Beams, when I did the BHLM mod, I blacked out my High Beam's reflector too, and because of that, when I put on my High Beams, it's worse than Driving lights. So given this reason, can somebody please recommend a solution for my High Beams like an LED spot light perhaps to put there? SOmething that may not need a reflector or has it's own prism reflector? (not going to change my black reflector)
2. a good quality HID set for my tacoma's driving lights. For past 5 years I have been on stock head lights.

 

Half of the people in my area seem to have not gotten this memo.

 

You did what?

Well, yeah. At that point you may as well just spray the inside of the clear lens assembly to completely black them out.

Nothing that will be street legal. You could conceivably stuff SAE driving lights in there, but I'm not sure if auxiliary high beams are allowed to replace components of a DOT compliant factory housing. I'd venture to say no. Any other pattern (spot, flood, etc.) would definitely be illegal. You've completely sacrificed functionality for aesthetic, so you're kinda on your own there.

Wouldn't recommend any. Try the halogen bulbs mentioned in this thread.

Alternatively, you could go with a bi-LED or bi-HID projector grafted into the stock low beam location, as some boutique retrofitters have done (Kustom 54 etc.). That will take some time, parts, and money (or a lot of money to entirely replace your assemblies) to get working correctly. They won't be legal but they will have correct low and high beam optics and will no longer rely on your blacked out reflector bowls.

 

Instead of gambling with LEDs or trying to seek out the German made Philips, I went with the H9 Hella High Performance 2.0 bulbs for my 2019. What size bulb do I need for oem fogs?

Anyone have any recommendations for a good H7 for the wife's BMW x1? Daniel Stern has German made 65w halogens that are supposed to be a replacement for the popular Osram Rally that was discontinued a while back. I am leaning towards those, but the cost is almost $30 per bulb. That seems high for a halogen.