3rd Gen HID vs LED vs Halogen H11 projector headlights

I went with the Hikuri Ultra in the low beams a few weeks ago based on the OP suggestion from another thread. I feel like they are brighter than stock low beams. I like the white color and the beam pattern seems good as long as you install them with the LED chips facing 3 & 9 o'clock. I didn’t change my Highs I think the H9's are plenty bright and I don't drive in very dark remote places at night enough for it to be of value to spend on something else.
I am thinking about better fog lights, something in Amber. Cali raised or Diode Dynamics SS3 is what I'm looking at now.

 

Diode Dynamics SS3, hands down. Cali-raised lights are offroad only.

 

The inspection mechanic I use isn't that picky. If it's wired to go off with the high beam he would probably pass it regardless. DOT approved still is good to have. So is SS3 sport good enough or are the pro version worth the extra $120.

 

I have the SS3 sport fog in amber and I have to say they are bright enough; I feel bad turning them on without actual fog on the road or heavy inclement weather during the day so people ahead can see extra lights in their rear view. Either way though its a great fog choice I'd say.

 

Sports should be fine. They are for me. I've been flashed a few times by some rich people I work near. I have them adjusted correctly to.

 

the pros throw more light further but at the expense of throwing it wide. Your headlights already do that job, get the sport to fill in the sides and let your headlights fill in the center and distance.

 

Then SS3 sport goes on the list of mods to do.
Not getting pro saves me some coins.

 

My reasoning too.

 

Did you see the example at the very beginning of this thread in the first couple pictures comparing CaliRaised to actual fog lights? It isn’t just about being legal, the CaliRaised pattern is spot and completely wrong for the purpose, they won’t help you at all in poor weather and will just make visibility worse. The SS3s are available in an actual SAE fog pattern and perform exceptionally well.

 

I think that goes for reflectors in general. Projectors are smoother and can more easily control the cutoff point, but that comes at the sacrifice of brightness.

All that being said, I think 2 of the top 3 worst headlights I've ever driven with were all reflectors. #3 being a Ford Explorer when they had projectors. #2 being the Nissan Xterra. But far, and away #1 has to be the Jeep Wrangler without their LEDs.

Best headlights I've ever used though without LEDs has to be my GMC Canyon reflector beams. One part I miss from that truck.

 

I didn't see that until it was pointed out they were for off road. Yet they are marketed on sites like Tacoma Lifestyle as fog lights.
I have seen a lot of good reviews on SS3. I am not even considering Cali Raised for that. Maybe they might make an ok off road light bar.

 

As with all things there are good and bad products. Being a reflector won’t automatically make it better if it is a poor quality reflector. But the late model 2nd Gen had great reflectors. And the Jeep LED headlights suck, I miss the headlight performance of my 2nd Gen compared to Jeeps LEDs, even IIHS rates them with the lowest possible rating, so being factory LED doesn’t necessarily mean they are good either.

CaliRaised lighting products are subpar, it is just cheap China stuff. While there is a market for that, far better options are available. For a very reasonably priced bar high performing bar, I’d check out the Diode Dynamics light bars.

 

@crashnburn80 Off road lights aren't high on my list but point well taken. Diode dynamics seems to be well respected for accessory lights. Many youtubers use them and rate them well, they are talked about here often too.
Baja designs is another brand the I've seen out there but much more expensive than DD.

 

The sports light the sides better than the pros? I thought the beams were equally wide but the pro was taller?

 

I’m an idiot that can’t read the site. The specs are talking about spot and fogs not sport and pro. I looked quickly. Sorry about that, Just me not reading things clearly again.

 

Fresh out of the UK.

 

I’m not liking the glare cap on those. It goes down even further than the little blue ring on the Philips +100’s.

 

Same as the +130s, but yes I agree.

 

I was driving last night on the way home from work (stupid DST, now it's dark leaving work). I didn't realize the HIDs actually had shake...I went over a bumpy road, I just thought it was my suspension/the truck itself being a little bouncy. NOPE, my lights are way more stable now! Bitchin!

 

Tungsram Megalight Ultra +150



GE/Tungsram have the highest performing H11 bulbs in this thread used in the Tacoma projector with their +120 and +130 bulbs. I was very much eager to get my hands on Tungsram's latest performance Megalight Ultra +150 bulb. Given their performance strong history I had high expectations for the latest generation of their performance bulbs.

Comparing the new +150 left vs the +130 right, there are some less than ideal differences. The new +150 bulbs extend the performance robbing blue coating much further up the bulb than the +130s, to the point of covering the base of the halogen filament. The glare cap on the +150 isn't quiet as deep as it is on the +130 but overall the unobstructed/unfiltered window on the +150 is smaller than the +130. While the deeper glare cap on the +130 certainly isn't ideal, light reflecting off the back of the projector bowl at the rear of the bulb is going to have greater impact on output than forward escaping light, meaning the filtration losses from extending the blue coated region are going to be more harmful to output intensity.

Tungsram +150 left vs Tungsram +130 right


Tungsram +150 left vs Tungsram +130 right (The +150s are noticeably whiter/bluer, but do not be deceived by color temp in the picture)



Below you can see the comparison in output measurements between the Tungsram +130 vs the+150. The +130 is superior in output whereas the +150 pays a significant tax for the extended blue coating, as noticeable by the higher color temperature and lower peak intensity output (lux).

+130 left vs +150 right


Here is a spectrometer graph showing the output losses incurred by the +150 bulbs extended blue coating vs the +130. Pretty obvious with those output losses caused by the extended blue filters for whiter light that the +150s stand no chance at matching he output of the +130s.



I had high hopes for the H11 Tungsram +150s as the latest generation performance bulb, but unfortunately based on the data I do not recommend this product. It is easily outperformed by the GE Xenon +120s and the GE/Tungsram +130s, which are the recommended best performing H11 bulbs.