LED headlights

[eternal21]

A buddy of mine and I will be ordering 2 sets of these for our trucks: http://www.aliexpress.com/item/Super-bright-50W-3600LM-12V-24V-DC-hi-lo-beam-HB1-9004-LED-headlight-bulb-with/1560435513.html

I'll report back when they come in and we have a chance to test them out. If all works out, it would probably be good idea if we had some sort of g/b on the forums, so that anyone that wants a set can get in and the shipping price could be divided between everyone. Given that there are LEDs being sold on this site for more than twice this amount, these are *very* inexpensive.

And no, I'm not volunteering to host the g/b, b/c we're guinea-pigging the lights :D

[LittleBeast]

You should consider supporting one of our own:

http://www.vehicross.info/forums/showthread.php?t=23692&highlight=led+headlight

[eternal21]

You should consider supporting one of our own:

http://www.vehicross.info/forums/showthread.php?t=23692&highlight=led+headlight


I did consider that, and have purchased from him before, but he's also probably ordering in bulk, from pretty much the same places, and charging us 2.5x his cost. To me, that's price gouging. Given that, please explain how I would be fiscally responsible in purchasing his set vs the sets we found.

[LittleBeast]

I did consider that, and have purchased from him before, but he's also probably ordering in bulk, from pretty much the same places, and charging us 2.5x his cost. To me, that's price gouging. Given that, please explain how I would be fiscally responsible in purchasing his set vs the sets we found.

Yeah, you might be right. Not sure on the details, but looks like you found a great deal. I hope they are quality. Looks kinda weird coming with a fan for the heat, does that concern you?

[yellowgizmo99]

I tried to put some in my foglight housing and they did not last long, the guy said they did not get enough airflow and that was the problem so the fans would help.

[bartmanS4]

I tried to put some in my foglight housing and they did not last long, the guy said they did not get enough airflow and that was the problem so the fans would help.

Are the fans inside the enclosure? Otherwise there is just no chance an electric fan will last. And if it is in the enclosure than there isn't much air to push around.

[eternal21]

Are the fans inside the enclosure? Otherwise there is just no chance an electric fan will last. And if it is in the enclosure than there isn't much air to push around.

I don't think the purpose of the fan is to blow air, I think it's to pull warm air away from the heatsink. If not, a simple wire snip will remedy that ;)


Yeah, you might be right. Not sure on the details, but looks like you found a great deal. I hope they are quality. Looks kinda weird coming with a fan for the heat, does that concern you?

The one's you were referring me to purchase have fans also. You can clearly see the black fan on the bottom of the heatsink. Here's the blown up pic from his site:

http://ep.yimg.com/ay/svx-motorsport-accessories/cree-led-headlight-bulb-5.gif

[FlyingV77]

Let me know how they work out, and if they are plug and play. one of my headlights just went out last night.

[yellowgizmo99]

Are the fans inside the enclosure? Otherwise there is just no chance an electric fan will last. And if it is in the enclosure than there isn't much air to push around.

Yes that was the problem of where the foglights are located, no airflow to get to them, if in fact it pulls air out it may help more than no airflow.

[eternal21]

We ended up going with a different company. This guy, on eBay. http://www.ebay.com/itm/291086022096The price was $78 shipped. My buddy's arrived the other day and he put them in his 2000 Trooper, and it was a night and day difference. My set arrived today. I plan on polishing out my headlights over the next couple days, then taking before/after pics to have an accurate representation.

http://infinitemotion.net/mp/vx/exterior/led1.jpg


http://infinitemotion.net/mp/vx/exterior/led2.jpg

[blacksambo]

Please keep us posted. Thx

[LittleBeast]

Thanks for the info, hope they work out. Did you already have HID Xenon bulbs? Or are you going from Halogen to LED?

[eternal21]

Thanks for the info, hope they work out. Did you already have HID Xenon bulbs? Or are you going from Halogen to LED?


Going from stock headlights, so it'll be a change.

And.....I made a mistake. My buddy and I thought that since the Trooper has 9004 connectors, the VX does, as well. Nope...the VX has 9003 connectors. So, the purchased units are going back. Ordered these 9003s for $77 shipped: http://www.ebay.com/itm/371010587695 They're 1800 Lumens and 25w per side, just like the others, and should be here in a couple days. They are also 6000k, which match the Hella MicroDEs I converted to HIDs to take the place of the regular bumper lights.

[eternal21]

The correct kit arrived:
http://infinitemotion.net/mp/vx/exterior/led/leds.jpg

I started to work on this last night. First, I went to get some "before" pics to have a point of reference. Pre-LED, regular headlights in a dark field, not a lot of light pollution except for what's in the distance.
http://infinitemotion.net/mp/vx/exterior/led/oldheadlights.jpg

Here's what they look like augmented by my Hella MicroDEs I converted to HID (side note: I converted these a few years ago to use on another car project). I noticed that while they're bright, they don't have the sharp beam cutoff normally associated w/HIDs b/c the normal MicroDEs have a lens to disperse the light. Hella is now making HID MicroDEs with smooth lenses, so at some point, I may take these apart and get the backside of the lenses ground smooth and polished):
http://infinitemotion.net/mp/vx/exterior/led/oldwhellas.jpg

Then I went home to start the work. It was a pain in the.....to try and get the headlight bulbs out, so after 45 mins, I wrote it off until this morning. I got up before work and went ahead and removed the bumper so I could remove the headlights. This worked out a whole lot better.
http://infinitemotion.net/mp/vx/exterior/led/ledinstall1.jpg

The fans screw into the base, so I Loc-tited them in place, and then put together the connections. Pretty easy as they're keyed w/a notch and a tab so it slots together correctly.
http://infinitemotion.net/mp/vx/exterior/led/ledkey.jpg

They screw together for a watertight connection junction.
http://infinitemotion.net/mp/vx/exterior/led/ledconnection.jpg

The three prongs, not so much. It would probably be wise to wrap 'em in electrical tape. While I was at it, picked up a few sets of these:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/181291048009 Most likely going to convert the 3 prong male/female connections to make them waterproof, as well.

I'll take "after" pictures this evening and post 'em so we can see the difference.

[eternal21]

Big difference

LEDs by themselves
http://infinitemotion.net/mp/vx/exterior/led/after.jpg

Highbeams
http://infinitemotion.net/mp/vx/exterior/led/highbeam.jpg

With HID fogs
http://infinitemotion.net/mp/vx/exterior/led/withfogs.jpg

The difference between them isn't that noticeable. Since the LEDs face up and down in the housing, the bottom LED functions as the low beam. Therefore, when the high beam is activated, there's a lot more light directed up.

And they look like 5000k, not 6000k.

[Mile High VX]

In the first pictures, what bulbs were you using?

[WormGod]

I honestly would love to modify my headlights to HID. Living in the backwoods of MD, my stockers are garbage, even with hi-beams on. Sadly, I have no experience working with HID kits and with headlight assemblies being a sought after rare commodity these days, screwing up isnt an option. I imagine I could find a shop to do it, but that means 2x the cost.

I did put some PIAA bulbs in my Crosstrek recently (the US got shafted on HIDs in them, boooooooo!) and they are excellent. I am gonna try them in my VX and if that doesnt do the trick, I will probably just bite the bullet on an HID transformation.

I sure do miss them in my old STi....

[eternal21]

In the first pictures, what bulbs were you using?

Sylvania Silverstar


I honestly would love to modify my headlights to HID. Living in the backwoods of MD, my stockers are garbage, even with hi-beams on. Sadly, I have no experience working with HID kits and with headlight assemblies being a sought after rare commodity these days, screwing up isnt an option. I imagine I could find a shop to do it, but that means 2x the cost.


Why not convert the stock fogs to MicroDE HIDs? As you can see in the 2nd pic, it makes a world of difference, and price-wise, it isn't all that bad.

[MSHardeman]

WormGod, switching to HID's is, literally, plug and play. The most difficult thing is trying to find a place for the ballasts that run the lights and getting the actual bulb into the headlight buckets. I had to remove my stock air cleaner box just to get enough room behind the driver side light to get the old bulb out and the new bulb in. There is no alteration to anything on the VX to get the HID's in so you could always go back to stock bulbs any time.

If you would like I can write up a step-by-step so you can see what's involved.

The HID's make a HUGE difference. I know our headlights weren't originally designed for HID's, and they can blind some oncoming drivers, but the light output is incredible even on "low" beam. If you switch over to high beam you could rival the sun.

[Bill Brown]

The correct kit arrived:
http://infinitemotion.net/mp/vx/exterior/led/leds.jpgThe kit I received from Amazon.com ($69, Newsun Super Bright Car H4 LED Headlight High and Low Beam LED Head Lamp 6000k 1800lm 25w Cree-1512 Fog Light Kit Sold by Newsun Photoelectric Co.,Ltd) is identical to this one.

About a year after I bought my then new '99 Ironman, a headlight went out while on the road one night. Pulled into one of those late night auto parts stores, bought a new bulb according to the VX manual and installed it, all within about 15 minutes.

This morning just before dawn went into the garage, couldn't get either of the light bulbs out of their headlight bodies. Didn't know hitting 60 would bring an end to DIY pretty much anything beyond what a 10-year-old could do.

A great relief to see your kit worked fine. Will take mine to Alltech (http://www.alltechautoclovisca.com/) to have their pros install it.

[Bill Brown]

I'll take "after" pictures this evening and post 'em so we can see the difference.Do you have "after" photos of the completed installation? I'm interested in seeing how you secured the 2 drivers. TIA.

[eternal21]

Do you have "after" photos of the completed installation? I'm interested in seeing how you secured the 2 drivers. TIA.

Zip ties are your friend :) I'll get some pics and post them this evening.

[Bill Brown]

Zip ties are your friend :) I'll get some pics and post them this evening.Great! I want to show the Alltech folks how you tied them down before they install mine.

[eternal21]

Do you have "after" photos of the completed installation? I'm interested in seeing how you secured the 2 drivers. TIA.

http://infinitemotion.net/mp/vx/exterior/led/drivers.jpg

http://infinitemotion.net/mp/vx/exterior/led/passengers.jpg

[Bill Brown]

Thanks for taking the time to shoot and post these informative pictures.

[eternal21]

Glad I could help, Bill. I hope all goes well w/your install.

[Bill Brown]

Alltech just called to advise they cannot install these LED lights, because they are not DOT approved. That was an unexpected curve ball.

[VXCanada]

Got mine installed last week. Much brighter and whiter than stock on the low beams.

High beams are so-so. Not much different than low beams.

Can they be used with projectors?

T.

[Audacity]

Did anyone have any issues with overheating?? My bulbs cut out on me but they were from another source so I'm back to the crummy stock ones...

[eternal21]

Did anyone have any issues with overheating?? My bulbs cut out on me but they were from another source so I'm back to the crummy stock ones...

I've had no issues w/overheating, and I'm in south-central Tx. My buddy who has a set in his Trooper has been doing fine, as well.....no issues.

[Audacity]

Still got a source for them? I purchased mine through VLEDs and while customer service was awesome, the product was crap...(along with price compared to what you've got there)

So yeah, I would love to have LED headlights in my VX out here in West Tex again.