3rd Gen HID vs LED vs Halogen H11 projector headlights

Thanks for the clarification. So I only need two bulbs, for the low beams, and it is fine that they won't be white as long as they are *brighter* so I can see better at night.

EDIT: there's SO much information here, especially in the first few posts, that it would be nice to find a Cliff's Notes edition that skips the awesome details and just gives a few recommendations in certain combinations.

 

That is correct.
To make it fit, you will need to modify the H11 plug (remove plastic), or trim the H9 bulb base to fit, or buy a conversion harness.
The first option seems to be the easiest.

S

 

Sounds good. I was also looking at these (Tungsram Megalight Ultra (formerly GE) H11 +130) but there is so much more to read about in this thread that I will put that off for another day...or year...or two..

 

post #2 achieves that goal
it gives specific recommendations and how to install them
there is even a hyperlink at the top of post #1 at the top that says "latest product recommendations"
3rd Gen HID vs LED vs Halogen H11 projector headlights | Tacoma World

I started with GE Megalight 130 as I wanted whiter - they didn't last long
Now using Nighthawks, but are relatively expensive especially in Canada, but still not really that expensive when you consider the other wear items and gas
H9's are dirt cheap

 

Just pop out the green center plastic, 3s and it's out, bulb fits right in, no need to mod anything on the base. Trim the metal tab if desired, or get the right angle and it goes in without trimming.

 

Cliffs notes:

1. Buy Philips H9 (rock auto may have best pricing at $6/bulb) for both low and high beam
2. Don't stress about China vs Germany as far as country of origin
3. Pop out center plastic on H11 or order H9's from me and de-pin/re-pin or just swap yellow plastic for green plastic
4a. If still unsatisfied, OEM LED at a rough cost of $1200-$1600 and some labor but genuinely considered worthwhile, just not cheap and won't melt snow
4b. Morimoto xb v2 but accept lousy build quality and no light above cutoff and beam issues in return for max output possible and their self proclaimed "badass startup sequence" which I find a total turnoff.

4a needs a harness, 4b doesn't but will require add-a-fuse for drl, no way to turn off drl.

 

You can also do the Hella High performance 2.0 H9s, about $25 for 2 on Amazon. I actually have those in the rig right now. They have a slightly whiter color but are very halogen looking and by no means all that white like an LED/HID. They are a massive improvement over the stock H11s but are the slightest bit less output than the Phillips due to the blue tinted glass. I have no regrets with them and was blown away going from the stock bulbs to the Hellas

 

Well snap! Somehow I thought they were in partnership with Diode Dynamics and that these might be different than the SCJ you referenced.

Oh well, guess I’m back to drooling over OEM LEDs.

 

Thanks for all great imfo, I will definitely be upgrading the bulbs in my stock OR housings

 

Do you mod the bulb for the buyer? If so, I need 2!

 

https://fbchs.square.site/product/h9-connectors-one-pair-/15

 

The emitter body looks similar to Beamtech (review post #1885 here). Complete. Absolute. Pathetic. Garbage. A major safety hazard to anyone running those lights making it so they cannot adequately see the roadway in front of them at any safe distance. Those in no way whatsoever remotely replicate a halogen bulb. It isn't worth any slightest bit of your time to troubleshoot, those belong straight in the trash. It is highly unfortunate companies like that continue to exist making peoples vehicles far more dangerous to drive while falsely selling their products as a lighting upgrade.

No, Form is a Diode Dynamics owned company that is for 'price conscious buyers'. They are relabeled Chinese imports, the same thing that TRS does with their GTR product headlight line. They will be no-where close to OEM performance, and not up to par with Morimoto.

 

I definitely 2nd this previous post. Before finding this great thread and crashes research, I fell for the marketing ploy for beamtech LEDs. They didn’t last a week in my halogen lens. Went with the H9 upgrade and have never turned back.

 

I agree. I was only troubleshooting to stop the flickering (basically a strobe light) until my H9s arrive....supposed to get them tomorrow. After discovering this thread, the concept of LEDs making you out-drive your lights perfectly described my impression of the low beams. Just pure foreground light. So as I said, I'm almost always using my high beams when I can. I've had my truck for a year, but don't drive too much at night so my lights have been a lower priority. But I'm looking forward to the upgrade!

 

Hey @crashnburn80 have you tried or tested that new version of the Hikaris yet? I think they’re called the hyperstars.

I remember the old ones weren’t great but not horrible. Wondered if they’d be any better.

 

I’m curious as well. as led tech gets better I’m keeping an eye on it as a potential upgrade for the stock housing. That is until I get fed up and just upgrade to the new oem led’s lol

 

Intentionally no. The design is poor, it is not optically compatible with a halogen bulb. They double stacked the emitters for more output, which also means less focus and more foreground light and not replicating a halogen filament. It is a significant downgrade in design vs the Hikari Ultras.

 

Bummer. It always annoys me when companies that make high end stuff, also make low end stuff. Some bike manufactures used to be primarily high end, but then started leveraging their brand reputation for greater volume on lower end stuff. Booooo. But I guess I could say the same thing about Land Cruiser vs Yaris. I’m just salty over $1300 for the OEM solution I’m too cheap to execute. Sub $1k seems to be my emotional barrier.

 

I’d rather pay more for a very high quality excellent performing part, instead of still paying a lot for something of substantially lower quality and lower performing. But yes, the price isn’t cheap, but can be had much cheaper if selecting the LED option when ordering/buying the vehicle. Obviously that isn’t helpful if you already have the truck now. Best affordable option is to watch the market place for someone “upgrading” their headlights to something else.