2018 + headlight options
Thread Starter
5 Year Member
Joined: Apr 2014
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2018 + headlight options
Hi all, I’m really struggling with finding an option for upgrading my oem halogen headlights. I’ve done hours of online searches and here’s what I have, maybe I’m missing something...
Here’s the options I was able to find
-OEM SE halogen heads with LED conversion bulbs - poor beam pattern and blinding to other drivers. Cost effective.
-Morimoto XB headlights - love the look but expensive. Hearing of issues, considering how much work it is to replace I’m not ready to pull the trigger. Also you lose radio reception? Would be a deal breaker for me.
-ANZO headlights - DRL strip looks weird to me. Good price. Not sure what the beam pattern looks like with LEDs
-OEM LEDs w/conversion harness - does it run like factory trucks with the LED strip DRL? Also very expensive but seems to be the best option so far.
any other options you guys have done? Would love to see pics.
Here’s the options I was able to find
-OEM SE halogen heads with LED conversion bulbs - poor beam pattern and blinding to other drivers. Cost effective.
-Morimoto XB headlights - love the look but expensive. Hearing of issues, considering how much work it is to replace I’m not ready to pull the trigger. Also you lose radio reception? Would be a deal breaker for me.
-ANZO headlights - DRL strip looks weird to me. Good price. Not sure what the beam pattern looks like with LEDs
-OEM LEDs w/conversion harness - does it run like factory trucks with the LED strip DRL? Also very expensive but seems to be the best option so far.
any other options you guys have done? Would love to see pics.
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2017
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The exact same position I'm in, except I also have retrofit on the table since I still have all the parts from my last retro.
I'd like to go OEM LED myself, with a harness for the missing pins, but I'm still torn... LEDs don't have the output of a proper HID system, and the only two ways to get proper HID, is a retrofit in the halogen housings, or buy the Anzo's and swap in a HID projector. So I either pay considerably more for factory LEDs with lower output than a retro but look better, or pure light output for considerably cheaper but doesn't look as good.
I'm also considering buying a set of Anzo's and doing a better retrofit in them...
I'd like to go OEM LED myself, with a harness for the missing pins, but I'm still torn... LEDs don't have the output of a proper HID system, and the only two ways to get proper HID, is a retrofit in the halogen housings, or buy the Anzo's and swap in a HID projector. So I either pay considerably more for factory LEDs with lower output than a retro but look better, or pure light output for considerably cheaper but doesn't look as good.
I'm also considering buying a set of Anzo's and doing a better retrofit in them...
Junior Member
Joined: Jun 2018
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Anzo is supposedly going to have a led version of their new headlights coming pretty soon. I’m probably going to lean that way unless they suck. Then I’ll probably just go for the regulars with upgraded bulbs. I would prefer to go to the oem special edition led lights but I can’t bring myself to spend $2500 on lights when I could put that money towards lift/wheels/tires. Maybe the oem ones will drop in price overtime but who knows.
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2018
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I retrofitted HID’s (quality set) into my 2004 F-150, had OEM LED’s on my current 18, and currently have the Morimoto XB’s. Light output has been great on all of these. You dont have the sharp cutoff on the factory LED’s but i’m not even sure what benefit the cutoff actually is. The XB’s have been the best in light output, then factory LED’s, then my retrofitted HID’s. FWIW a new driver to eliminate radio interference is being developed for the Morimoto XB’s and are expected to be ready near the end of the month per TRS.
Thread Starter
5 Year Member
Joined: Apr 2014
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I retrofitted HID’s (quality set) into my 2004 F-150, had OEM LED’s on my current 18, and currently have the Morimoto XB’s. Light output has been great on all of these. You dont have the sharp cutoff on the factory LED’s but i’m not even sure what benefit the cutoff actually is. The XB’s have been the best in light output, then factory LED’s, then my retrofitted HID’s. FWIW a new driver to eliminate radio interference is being developed for the Morimoto XB’s and are expected to be ready near the end of the month per TRS.
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2018
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thanks for that info. I didn’t know there was a fix coming for the radio issue. Morimotos might be on the list again. How is everything running? Heard of issues with the DRL not working, fitment issues and turn signal issues. Any of that for you? Also did you notice the radio issue?
My passenger side lowbeam projector is ever-so-slightly rotated counter-clockwise, barely. Minor annoyance.
My lights shipped with the EMI harness already installed in the light and I do in fact still have FM radio interference. It's not REALLY bad but it does render my HD radio useless. If the new drivers do not remedy this then I'm going to have to return them. I would hate to part with them because they look awesome and the output is fantastic.
It would seem these lights do suffer some QC issues but TRS has been really helpful and responsive so if you like them I would definitely give them a shot.
Another route you could go is take a look at PrecisionRetrofit. They have pretty decent prices on OEM LED housings considering that you can have custom paint work done. They do some really cool stuff with these headlights.
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5 Year Member
Joined: May 2013
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From: San Antonio, Texas
I went with the LEDs from 4x4truckled's for the stock halogen housings. I had them in my 2014, great cutoff line, never got flashed by other drivers, bright as hell. So I got them again fro my 18. I'm installing them this coming weekend.
2018 XLT FX4
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 2,151
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From: Maricopa, AZ
This is the way to go: Easy Headlight Mod Been running it for 4 years (on my '15 and now my '18) with zero issues and great results! LED retrofits **** people off and nothing but halogen headlights are designed to work in your stock housings.
