The Morimoto XB Hybrid 12-15 LED headlight review

OP - Is there any chance you got a Morimoto unit from an early or bad production batch?

 

Getting misaligned horizontally is a horrible PITA to fix as there isn’t a cut off line to adjust by like the vertical adjustment. Good lights shouldn’t need horizontal adjustment as they should be centered forward from the factory. Vertical adjustment will vary depending on the rake of the truck, so there is variability that needs adjustment to account for in each vehicle, but that isn’t the case horizontally. Take caution in horizontal adjusting as a few degrees isn’t noticeable at a short range wall horizontally, but does make a significant difference in down road projected light.

 

Thanks for the excellent write up!
Is tapping into the fuse box required to get these headlights to work at all or is that only needed for some added control of the DRL?

Also, I noticed on Morimottos website they show pictures of these 2nd gen XB's with both amber and white lights under the DRL bar. I'm not sure if that is the parking light or turn signal. Is that a bulb I can change myself? I'm not seeing an option to pick online like with the DRL.

I was given a set of Spyder headlights years ago as a gift and this past weekend I finally installed them. I'm sure no one is surprised that I am very unimpressed with the performance.

Thanks in advance!

 

The light under the DRL bar is your turn signal, parking light is on the side of the DRL. You need to reuse your original bulbs which is why the headlight is listed as a hybrid and not a full LED.

 

Maybe en ignorant question, but how do you tell the difference in reflectors? I.e. halogen, led, projectors

 

LED does not have interchangeable components. LED units are completely sealed with nothing removable or serviceable, there are no bulbs to change. A halogen projector or reflector will take a halogen bulb type, such as H11 of H4. An HID lamp will take an HID bulb type, such as D2s. If a lamp takes a halogen bulb such as H1, and you have to buy a special aftermarket Chinese HID bulb built on a halogen base (not legal) like Morimoto H1 HID, well that is a major red flag. No HID lamps take an Hx or Hxx (halogen) bulbs, they all take Dxx (HID) bulbs.

 

O.k. the led would be basically sealed and non serviceable. Got it.

My question is how to reconize the difference between a projection light and reflector light. More spacifically on my 06 Sienna factory HIDs. These are HID low with halogen 9005 high and factory 9005 fogs.



On another thread you really helped me along huge with bulb identification and choice but am still uncertain if these are projectors or reflectors lens. Not that it matters, I'd just like to know. What visably defines each type?

I'm still running the o.e. HIDs but am looking to find the Phillips +150 D2r's. I've tempararily run Vosla +120 9005 highs and 9006 (with new fog lens'). Until locating the recommended phillips 150+ 9005 and 9006. I'm really liking the improvement. I added the relay harnesses but not the AGM upgrade as i had just put a Costco interstate in.

 

Reflector headlights have that chrome bowl and you will see the bulb protruding from the bowl. Projectors look like sealed magnifying glass.

 

So my Sienna must be both? The low (HID) has a cap with no bulb visible. The 9005 high beam is visible

 

The lens doesn't mean it's HID. Just that it's a projector type housing. It's possible it is. Just look up your replacement bulb on a autoparts site and see what it says for replacement. OEM HID bulbs have a different designation for the bases. ie, D2S is an OEM HID bulb.

 

If you can see mirrors in the lamp, it is a reflector. If you can only see what appears to be a glass orb it is a projector. Your lamps are reflector low beam and reflector high beam. Low beams typically have a glare cap that covers the end of the bulb in a reflector to prevent uncontrolled light escaping and causing glare to oncoming drivers, that isn't an issue on high beams so they do not.

 

OEM HID D2R

O.k. the low HID D2R on my 06 Sienna has a glare cap therefore is a reflector.
Which makes me wonder, and am I correct is noticing the D2R is not as common as D2S?...
Does the little built in reflector on the D2R bulb itself have coralation to the reflector housing as an engineered package? I read in that an emergecy the more avalible D2S (NO small built in reflector in the bulb) will temporarily work in a reflector housing designed for D2R's? Although it must effect the pattern

 

This is getting pretty far off topic of Morimoto LED headlight assemblies.

Your lights are reflectors, hence the R designation in the D2R bulb. D2S is for projectors, which you do not have. You need a D2R. HID reflectors are much less common than projectors, so not as many bulbs are offered for the HID reflector platform.

 

Super happy with those Morimoto amber: definitely an upgrade from the stock headlights and very nice finish touch if you like amber.

Question for who knows here ... do you know if any installation option when you can turn off when driving?
When no contact, they are off as I followed the installation instructions but I wonder if the we can turn them off (DRL) while driving: mine are always ON.

 

Did these ever get manufactured?

 

Would like to know if there is an option for this as well. Not that it really matters but it would still be nice to have that option.