Troponin

So I made the stupid mistake of buying LEDs and installing them in to my reflector headlight assemblies. It's "bright", but it is too much of a burst effect and it doesn't travel very far. It's so bad, that there is no difference between high and low beams, and this is with a 7200 set up. I feel like the advertising and internet reviews of this set up are all stemming from one particular company trying to push their product. Regardless, moving on...

So, I was looking at what my other options are.

I have been searching and I am finding it extremely difficult to find what I need. Some of these kits are only bulbs, while others are the entire assembly. Meanwhile, not all assemblies will connect up to the factory harnesses if you don't get the right one (Projector upgraded OEM or base reflector set up).

1. So, what are my options that will work for my 2014 reflector headlights? I am willing to change out the entire thing for a projector. In fact, I kind of preferred it, however...

2. Will HIDs work in a reflector headlight? If so, I could end up just needing to buy a bulb and kit, which would be cheaper.

3. I Love my wife's Odyssey's lights. They are projectors, and I assume LEDs, because they are very concentrated in one area and provides incredible vision.

I bought a pair of LED headlights, but they turned out to be cheap and probably less bright than my OEM Halogens, so I am sending them back.

THis is why I am so confused. I am willing to spend the money for a decent set up, but I want to get it right. I am tired of being mislead by advertising and too little information on the items I am looking at.

alpinestar1123

I had hids in my reflector lenses they were extremely bright a few patches not to bad. My wifes 2014 Honda accords v6 coupe has the projector headlights and they are halogen bulbs with led running lights. I swapped them our with hids. The cut off on her car is perfect.

alpinestar1123

Now if you want the oem ford projector headlights there probly gunna run you 2000$ unless you do a retrofit in your stock reflector housing. The retrofit source has them and there's plenty of videos to show you how it's done. I have led bulbs in my reflector housing and I love them

Troponin

The OEM are out of the question. Just too expensive.

I have seen the retrofit options, but not sure I want to go that route yet. Was hoping I could just find a quality plug and play set up for under $1000

kchill93

OEM HIDs shouldn't run you $2k. $1200 with bulbs and ballast and buying a wiring harness is very possible if you hunt eBay for awhile. I got mine for a good deal at $700 or so and then just picked up a harness for $100 (still ridiculous for headlights but considering prices now...) when they first started coming out in 2013 and have been great

Troponin

Appreciate the reply. There are lots of options in the aftermarket around $500-750. Is the OEM still worth $1200 compared to these other ones?

This is part of my dilemma. What is good and what isn't. They don't show illumination ratings on any of the products and the reviews aren't helpful

How is Recon?

STingray1300

But you said you were willing to pend the money... And spend the money you will - to get a "quality" and "correct" set up.

NO other lighting source (LED, HID) can or should be used in a reflector/housing designed for halogens. It is illegal, and as you found out, ineffective at best. Not to mention the danger of glaring into oncoming traffic, possibly momentarily blinding another driver, who can possibly drive right into you or someone else, or into a ditch. Homicide is not an easy rap to fight. Dramatic? Yes. Real? Definitely.

To answer your questions directly:
1- Phillips X-treme Vision bulbs. They work well in my wife's halogen-equipped car.
2- No.
3- Assume HIDs. LEDs are not widely used in headlights - yet.

Anything "retrofit" into an existing housing is junk. The individual components may very well say "Hella", "Philips", "Toshiba", whatever, but those companies did NOT put the set up together, and the components were never designed to work as retrofitters are using them (this statement excludes a complete rebuild of a housing to projectors and optics specifically designed for HIDs).

The comment about "cut off lines" being sharp is misleading. The cut off line is created by the "door" that drops to facilitate high beam. Nothing more. It does nothing to change the optics. If one puts an HID bulb in a halogen *projector*, 1- you will not get the full benefit of HIDs; and 2- the flood of light close to the front of the vehicle will ruin your distance vision in the dark. These are scientific facts, proven over and over.

Want to do yourself a huge favor? Do some reading:

http://www.danielsternlighting.com/t...s/Hid/HID.html

http://www.danielsternlighting.com/t...nversions.html

These articles are a few years old, but don't believe anyone that there is "new" information or kits. Physics won't change for anybody.

Don't be offended, but here's one of my favorite photos:




Of course, you could always do what GM has done:

kchill93

I just find that those are cheaply made upgrades. But I have no personal experience with them

Plug in play HID kits will be bright but they are gonna throw light everywhere. And not necessarily where you want it to go (I.e. It'll light the tops of trees)

The OEM HIDs are outstanding in my opinion. For the clean look and the improvement over the halogens and ease of install. I picked up a new truck and reinstalled my Oem HID after driving the halogens for a couple days and that reaffirmed my feelings about them being so much better

Troponin

I have already figured out that LEDs suck in a reflector/Halogen housing. Mine aren't blinding though. Had my wife check for me and she said it wasnt bad. Unfortunately, the light isn't focused enough. I discovered that;s where the projector comes from.

So now I feel like I should just go back to my stock Halogens and throw away the idea of an upgrading. I have already wasted enough money. I fear that I dont know enough to get all the right parts for the OEM set up and will simply get screwed and be out of more money

astrand1

I tend to agree. I got the LED lights on Amazon with the metal heatsink ribbon. At first the light seemed bright but after driving with them for the last week or so I'm not impressed. When the brights are on its just washed out and bluish. Mine are going back and I'll stick with the halogens until I put enough scratch together and then I'm getting the OEM hids.