XLT LED headlight conversion
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 1,747
Likes: 220
From: Ontario, Canada
That is NOT an upgrade. The very fact that you have to aim them down to match the cutoff to the existing halogen pattern should speak volumes to anyone who is actually concerned aboot good lighting. And it tells you just how far off the emitter position is from the reflector design focal point. You also have no width to speak of. Fail. Sorry. There is a reason it's frowned upon. Even TRS admits that these bulbs are good for nothing other than the high beam positions - where precision is less important. The specify not to use these in any primary low-beam application. Luckily - these usually do not last long due to the poor emitter and driver quality and crappy thermal management that 99% of these POS chinglish designs feature. Save up and do it right. Or stay stock. However, I recognize it's futile to dissuade anyone who ignores basic optical principles and plain common sense. BTW- the fogs are a bad joke as well- nothing but glare - that is NOT a foglight's purpose. Proper fogs also have a stringent cutoff as mandated by the DOT. One wonders just how diligent yer research actually was.... but I believe there is always hope, lol. Don't be a-shootin' the messenger, aight? http://www.danielsternlighting.com/ http://www.theretrofitsource.com/led...l#.VSCoLfzF_m4 MGD
former member
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 3,092
Likes: 857
BTW - the 'yellow' is actually a more desirable colour in terms of all-weather visibility. The higher the kelvin, the greater the wavelength absorption by water, hence the less available illumination.
Try the shorter-life, higher kelvin premium halogen bulbs - no brighter but do have a less yellow appearance. At least the design beam pattern governed by the reflector geometry and emitter position is preserved and not destroyed with light scattering to everywhere but where it needs to be by using garbage PnP drop-ins.
Save up and perform an HID projector retrofit as discussed elsewhere. You'll find nirvana. A win/win.
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 579
Likes: 98
From: Louisiana
Sadly - it's not about looks - it's about safety - for both yerself and oncoming drivers. I will not argue appearance as such should never trump what is truly important. BTW - the 'yellow' is actually a more desirable colour in terms of all-weather visibility. The higher the kelvin, the greater the wavelength absorption by water, hence the less available illumination. Try the shorter-life, higher kelvin premium halogen bulbs - no brighter but do have a less yellow appearance. At least the design beam pattern governed by the reflector geometry and emitter position is preserved and not destroyed with light scattering to everywhere but where it needs to be by using garbage PnP drop-ins. Save up and perform an HID projector retrofit as discussed elsewhere. You'll find nirvana. A win/win.
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 660
Likes: 79
while i think the HID projector are great, the price tag is not. jut like the led upgrades raptor retrofit is selling. would never spend $1800 on headlights. I would rather just buy a hid kit from ebay for $60. even without having the light cutoff at certain height its still a ton brighter than factory, also has the bright white most people like.
Junior Member
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 29
Likes: 1
Having had both on my previous truck, I can say there is def pro's an cons to each. The standard halogens work great around town and in traffic, if you're not looking to annoy people. The LED's which I prefer the look of, are horrible on city streets both with visibility an bothering other drivers. Though they make a huge difference in non-populated areas where the roads aren't lit and in the woods I hafta say they outperform the halogens by far. Being I'm moving from the city to the country somewhere, I'll def be making the swap myself
former member
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 3,092
Likes: 857
while i think the HID projector are great, the price tag is not. jut like the led upgrades raptor retrofit is selling. would never spend $1800 on headlights. I would rather just buy a hid kit from ebay for $60. even without having the light cutoff at certain height its still a ton brighter than factory, also has the bright white most people like.
As to costs - you do realize that, if you did the work yourself, it's only 2-300 dollars or so. For magnificent, safe, uniform, precision lighting for in-traffic conditions, and massive high beam output when needed.
Not interested in argument - I've acknowledged long ago that it's pointless to attempt to convince folks if they are not willing to remain open-minded.
I do continue to recommend folks give Daniel Stern's website a thorough read, though. Miracles do happen, lol.
MGD out.