Best LED Headlight Replacements

Post by **MrAl** » 15 Mar 2018, 14:26

Hello there,

I think i asked this once before but now i think the prices have come down on these things so the answer might not be the same anyway. I cant remember what was said back then now anyway.

So anyway, what is the best bet for LED headlight replacements for a 1998 v70 non turbo?
Id like them to be as bright as possible as i have aged and night vision is less than it was when i was young.

Also, someone said there might be a "decoder" needed for some cars. Think this car needs one?

Thanks again.

Post by **Rattnalle** » 15 Mar 2018, 15:16

Which part of the headlights are you thinking about?

Low beams will be poor for you and worse for your fellow drivers who'll get blinded. The beam pattern doesn't work with other light sources. Higher quality bulbs like Night Breakers have a slightly more focused point of light and could give you a small boost.

High beams could get pretty decent results with LEDs but xenons still deliver more light AFAIK though the trade off is the delay to reach full power.

Post by **FlyingVolvo** » 15 Mar 2018, 16:02

If you want better lights, look into doing an HID projector retrofit with clear glass. The difference is incredible. Putting any HID or LED into stock halogen housings, especially with fluted lenses will shoot light everywhere. Not safe for other drivers at all. The exception to this is I do use bright LEDs in the high beams, which I only use when needed and traffic isn't a factor.

If you use 35w or 55w HIDs, you don't need a decoder or bulb-out warning eliminator. I've had 35/55w HIDs plugged into stock wiring for better part of 10 years now with no issues.

Some pics of my setup. (The poor bumper has since been painted!)

Post by **MrAl** » 16 Mar 2018, 00:50

Hi,

Very interesting thanks. I'll have to look into the HID solutions too now.

Post by **abscate** » 16 Mar 2018, 04:16

Don't let that medical establishment lie to you Al.it isn't your eyes, the government has turned up the darkness.

Post by **wizechatmgr** » 16 Mar 2018, 17:23

I was happy just going from the headlight setup on my '99 to a slightly more modern ~2003 headlight assembly - the crystal look. The reflector difference alone is worth it.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00OZ ... UTF8&psc=1
Sadly the product isn't offered at Amazon anymore. I'm sure you could track it down though.

Post by **MrAl** » 17 Mar 2018, 04:30

ecbsykes wrote: ↑15 Mar 2018, 16:02 If you want better lights, look into doing an HID projector retrofit with clear glass. The difference is incredible. Putting any HID or LED into stock halogen housings, especially with fluted lenses will shoot light everywhere. Not safe for other drivers at all. The exception to this is I do use bright LEDs in the high beams, which I only use when needed and traffic isn't a factor.

If you use 35w or 55w HIDs, you don't need a decoder or bulb-out warning eliminator. I've had 35/55w HIDs plugged into stock wiring for better part of 10 years now with no issues.

Some pics of my setup. (The poor bumper has since been painted!)

16403054_10154897413325135_9115139587030698270_o.jpg

16463406_10154897413445135_2563204644655729973_o.jpg

Hello there,

You mean you think the LED types are not really that good? What about the 4000 Lumen models, or higher?
What is the highest Lumen rating LED head light?

Post by **Rattnalle** » 17 Mar 2018, 04:34

MrAl wrote: ↑17 Mar 2018, 04:30
ecbsykes wrote: ↑15 Mar 2018, 16:02 If you want better lights, look into doing an HID projector retrofit with clear glass. The difference is incredible. Putting any HID or LED into stock halogen housings, especially with fluted lenses will shoot light everywhere. Not safe for other drivers at all. The exception to this is I do use bright LEDs in the high beams, which I only use when needed and traffic isn't a factor.

If you use 35w or 55w HIDs, you don't need a decoder or bulb-out warning eliminator. I've had 35/55w HIDs plugged into stock wiring for better part of 10 years now with no issues.

Some pics of my setup. (The poor bumper has since been painted!)

16403054_10154897413325135_9115139587030698270_o.jpg

16463406_10154897413445135_2563204644655729973_o.jpg
Hello there,

You mean you think the LED types are not really that good? What about the 4000 Lumen models, or higher?
What is the highest Lumen rating LED head light?

It's not just about light output. Light pattern or light focus point plays a huge role here. That's why fitting LED och HID in the low beams is a bad idea. It won't be a low beam anymore, it'll be everywhere.

For high beams as pointed out it's a decent option since you get more light than halogen and the pattern isn't as important.

Post by **nickelghandi** » 17 Mar 2018, 11:45

I run Auxbeam F-S3 LEDs in ABM projector housings for both low and high beams. They are 4000 lumens each and throw light further and cleaner than the halogen and HIDs I have tried. I had a Kensun HID kit in there, but the ABM housings flicker a bit with HIDs so I switched to LEDs. I can see really far, but other traffic is not blinded by my lights.

My sister is borrowing my S70, but I will post a picture of the light output. If I can find my halogens I will even put those in for a comparison.

I agree with Ratnalle that the beam will go everywhere in stock housings. When my OEM housings were losing reflectivity, I installed HIDs to try to compensate and the result was horrible visibility and blinding every other driver on the road. I eventually bit the bullet and bought the ABM projectors. They are on IPD and eBay and they certainly aren't cheap, but what a difference they made.

I do have HIDs in a reflector housing in my Nissan Pathfinder, but they have shrouds that prevent the glare emitted by HIDs in reflectors by focusing the beam a bit better. They behave like Halogens, but are brighter and whiter. I don't get flashed with other people's high beams unless I am towing and my lights are pointing up from the load in the back.

LEDs are VERY close to HIDs in terms of output these days, and I am partial to LEDs because of the full output right at ignition and their lower power consumption.

Just make sure you aren't going to be blinding people or breaking any local laws. Here in KY, the police will pull you over now if your headlights are ridiculously bright or if they are any color falling outside the 3500K-6500K range (slightly yellow to slightly blue). Basically if they don't look like normal headlights or they are crazy bright, you can get a ticket.

Post by **wizechatmgr** » 17 Mar 2018, 23:17

nickelghandi wrote: ↑17 Mar 2018, 11:45 Just make sure you aren't going to be blinding people or breaking any local laws. Here in KY, the police will pull you over now if your headlights are ridiculously bright or if they are any color falling outside the 3500K-6500K range (slightly yellow to slightly blue). Basically if they don't look like normal headlights or they are crazy bright, you can get a ticket.

It used to be a violation of Federal law. FMVSS should have the listing, I believe it to be under CFR 2008 TITLE 49, Vol 6, 571-108 Sections 7.7-7.8 if I remember correctly. Suffice it to say it used to be if you replaced one lighting technology such as halogen bulbs with HID you were in violation due to the amount of light output being beyond allowable specifications. Luckily most officers seem to be rather lenient provided you at least make an attempt to make the conversion reasonable. That said, if someone's quota is suffering, you may too in short order.

Great old post on a LEO site...
https://forum.officer.com/forum/public- ... headlights

And a great link to the CFR...
https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/CFR-2008- ... 71-108.pdf