Desperately want a headlamp upgrade.

The LEDs on the 5 is more than just putting a replacement LED bulb into a housing. There's other electronics that are used to drive them, as well as a different housing.

Your best option would be HIDs for the low beams, and a brighter bulb for the high beams. Be careful with the brighter bulbs, as they pull higher wattage and could potentially damage your headlight or wiring. Some places that sell higher wattage bulbs, sell a thicker adapter to plug into the bulb.

 

There are many on here that found our 2010s came with the headlights pointed down too low. There is an adjustment under the hood just above the headlight for vertical adjustment. I raised mine and it made a huge difference. There is a good thread in here on how to do it. Will search when I get a chance.
[edit] Here is one of the threads.

 

I agree with wick1ert and Spiderman.

A set of HIDs for the low beams, better bulbs (PIAA) for the high beams then go try to aim them a little bit higher. I have specific instructions on how to properly aim them for DOT legality but as long as your lights are not shining above the window or trunk line on most sedans you are generally ok.

 

I was thinking mine seemed aimed a little low, but I have nothing to really compare it to. I know in my Maxima I aimed them, and they were way high (disclaimer: halogen reflector with HIDs). I could blind a plane with them coming in for landing I think lol. I might adjust mine up about 3-4 notches each, and see how I like them.

 

Jim, try aiming your headlights first, there may not be any other problem with them. I have driven a 2010 Corolla which I think has the same halogen headlights that your Prius does, they were good headlights.

Here is the procedure I wrote for my LED headlights. It will work fine for the halogen lights also:

My V with LED headlights definitely came with the lights aimed way to low. They were aimed right down in front of the car, I felt as if I were over driving them at 35 MPH.

Fortunately they are adjustable and it's easy to do. There is an adjustment in the center of each headlight assembly, it does both the hi and low beams on that side of the car. It has a bolt head (about 8 or 10 mm) in the center and a toothed circle around the edges. You can move the teeth with a screwdriver one notch at a time or turn it with the bolt. CCW raises the lights. Try it a little at a time (say 4 or 5 notches) while it is aimed against a wall. Then go out and drive the car and see how it looks. I think I ended up raising mine 12 or 16 notches. After I finished I took a long drive on a dark two lane road with other traffic to see if anyone flashed me to dim my lights, no one did so I think they are not to high. In fact I have had them the way they are for over 6000 miles and no one has flashed me yet and now I can see.

NOTE: On the back of each headlight assembly there will be two plugs, one for wires to the high beam lights and one for the low beams. The vertical aiming adjustment will be between and just a bit below the plugs.

That was about 50K miles and 2 years ago. Everything is still OK, I still have good headlight coverage at night.

 

Installing normal H9 bulbs into the low-beam socket should solve your problem. The light output is about double what the H11 bulbs give you. Their lifespan is significantly shorter but they are available at any auto parts store for about $15/bulb. You will need to cut off the tabs on the socket to make them fit but this is not difficult.

I'm sure if you can't figure it out one of us can send you a set we have lying around.

MB860 ?

 

Definitely invest in HID, the difference is night and day. I even get flashed by oncoming vehicle (sometimes) because it's so bright, my headlights are not aimed high. Of course, it also has to do with mine not having the auto leveling headlight. I have a 5000k HIDs and it's ridiculously bright. The major problem I see is that because of projection head light housing, the light has a very strict cutoff where its hard to see anything above that cutout. That is same with either stock or HID lights. I have a stock high beam and that helps me in that situation. So, get the Jesus light.

 

I hate to pee in anyone's soup but after-market HID conversions are now illegal in the US and in most states which require periodic MV inspections. If it didn't come with the car you're OOL.

There are plenty of companies offering HID conversion kits, but none of them will claim that their products are legal to use.

 

This is exactly why I recommended the Halogen H9 bulb upgrade.

MB860 ?

 

Do you honestly think an officer is going to be able to tell the difference between factory LEDs, halogens or aftermarket HIDs? In the case where a fool uses a bulb above 6000k I could imagine them being pulled over but anything below 5000k is going to look factory with a projector.

 

I've never failed an inspection at the local DMV. They only care that the lights work (low & high) beams. I even ran a higher kelvin rating (they looked purple) for 2 years in a car and it was never once questioned. They may not be legal, or DOT approved rather, but I don't think I know of anyone that's ever had it be an issue.

 

Uhhhh, I hate to state the obvious here, but the thing about "very poor night vision".... shouldn't that be a red flag that she shouldn't be driving at night? That seems to be the proper solution to the problem. How many times do I have to endure an older driver using high beams coming at me or behind me because they can't see at night? Everyone else's safety should take priority rather than the "right" of one driver to drive with impaired vision.

 

Yes, they can tell the difference. Most police departments require a college degree as a condition for signing up. They're not stupid. Further, their training includes lots of time learning the motor vehicle laws, which is a large part of any police officer's street time.

 

I'd be willing to make a wager that they cannot. I study HIDs and headlights in general quite a bit and even I would be hard pressed to tell the difference between LED projectors and an HID kit in the halogen projectors.

Just because they went to college doesn't mean they know anything about headlight designs. Have you ever seen a course on headlight identification? To be an officer only requires you have 12-18 units in some sort of law-based courses (criminal justice for example). I know because my ex-roommate was a police officer and my roommate before that was CHP (California Highway Patrol) and I went through all of the courses for Wildlife Law Enforcement and to be a police officer (I switched gears at the last minute to be an ecologist).

To put it plainly, they do not teach you how to identify illegal headlights beyond what is obvious like when someone puts an HID kit inside of a halogen reflector housing. With projectors it is MUCH more difficult to assess whether the bulb type is illegal or not.

 

I cant believe there is even an argument about this. A large potion of officers dont even know what the laws are regarding certain things, one of which is definetly the legality of what they will call "ornamental" lighting. Most officers i know havent been to college, they do go to academy. I am also an inspection mechanic, we would as every other shop i know of, never fail for hid's in the 5k-7k range. Its when they go to that real blue where cops will notice. And rightly so, its extremely distracting. If you are worrying about getting pulled over for hid lights, i suggest living a little.

 

Not my post but some good info…from a Texas post with Police officer where involved in thread.

I run Xenon bulbs in my truck, they require ballasts to operate. However, I would never allow them to be called HID lamps in front of an officer. They are Xenons. They differ from Halogens in many ways, but most of all in the gas in the glass vial that allows them to operate. It is Xenon gas. These are Xenon bulbs. The Federal department of transportation DOT certifies bulbs filled with xenon gas, it's just that these particular bulbs don't have a stamp. The stamp certified that certain bulbs meet a minimum requirement for construction and lifespan to receive a DOT label, not exceeding it, which is why some halogens are brighter than other.

Some LEOs seem to believe that simply because something is not explicitly illegal, that it is implicitly illegal. I believe that is wrong. I bought Xenon bulbs, the kind with the ballasts, not because they were pretty or a different color, but because I truly feel like they help me see better and safer at night. If I was actually ticketed for running these bulbs I would hire a traffic lawyer to attempt to defend myself in traffic court, which would probably end up with it dropped on a technicality anyways.

However, I do have a defense against LEOs arguments of morality on using Xenon bulbs.
Quote:
§ 547.004. GENERAL OFFENSES. (a) A person commits an
offense that is a misdemeanor if the person operates or moves or, as
an owner, knowingly permits another to operate or move, a vehicle
that:
(1) is unsafe so as to endanger a person;
(2) is not equipped in a manner that complies with the
vehicle equipment standards and requirements established by this
chapter; or
(3) is equipped in a manner prohibited by this
chapter.
Number 2. All the specifications are a set minimum of functionality. These bulbs do illuminate 150 feet in front of the vehicle. I am complying.

Number 3. These Xenon bulbs are not explicitly prohibited in the traffic code.
Quote:
§ 547.3215. USE OF FEDERAL STANDARD. Unless specifically
prohibited by this chapter, lighting, reflective devices, and
associated equipment on a vehicle or motor vehicle must comply
with:
(1) the current federal standards in 49 C.F.R. Section
571.108; or
(2) the federal standards in that section in effect,
if any, at the time the vehicle or motor vehicle was manufactured.
The federal standard is a minimum for functionality. These bulbs meet the minimum standards, I can prove it with a photograph comparing the light patterns. I would show you it as evidence of the lights working properly.
Quote:
HID Kits are illegal to SELL as DOT approved for street use due to FEDERAL regulation and none of the kits that use HID bulbs to replace standard halogen bulbs in halogen housing should have a DOT seal or marking. DOT does not approve or disapprove headlight components. It is strictly up to the manufacturer to certify that they meet the federal DOT specs, which none of them do since the HID light source is a different position, size, and shape than the halogen filament the housing was designed for. The fact it plugs into a standard housing for H1 or H3 halogen bulbs is not relevant.
The DOT sets a minimum specification for which bulbs must reach. That is why they have a DOT stamp. The lenses of your vehicle are also DOT stamped, meaning they meet a minimum specification. Putting a non-DOT stamped bulb in a DOT lens, does not make a DOT lens suddenly illegal. It just means the bulbs haven’t gone through the same DOT certification process to insure minimum specs.

However, bulbs ONLY emit light, they do not aim light, and they do not direct light. They emit light. If a bulb emits more light than another bulb, it's irrelevant as the same reflectors and lens are present.

OK contacted DPS and got the following answer.

Under Motor Vehicle Code § 547.3215. USE OF FEDERAL STANDARD. Drivers are required to meet federal standards in 49 CFR Sec 571.108. This makes current HID retrofits in Halogen housings NOT meet the beam pattern requirements for replacement lamps. The proper ticket to write is one of the following for those using HIDs in halogen housings.
Quote:
HEAD LAMP(S) GLARING, NOT ADJUSTED

or

FAIL TO USE PROPPER HEADLIGHT BEAM

They could not answer if OEM projector retrofits were legal and only referred to 49 CFR Sec 571.108 and stated if it was legal there is was legal to use. As far as I know OEM retrofits should completely comply with Federal Regulations. They had to in order to be put in OEM applications to begin with.
The DPS likes to make up its own laws. I would show a picture of a headlight aim pattern on a wall. Proving my lights are aimed to my vehicle specs. Then I would cite the fact headlight aiming hasn't been a part of state safety inspections since the 90's.

If they wrote me a ticket for Failure to use proper (PROPPER is not a word) I would show them my high beam indicator was off on the side of the road. Then show them that there is difference between my high and low beams. Then ask them in court if I demonstrated the functionality of my beam indicator in court and if I demonstrated the difference of my low and high beams in court. There nothing I can do if a Peace officer lies in court, as it is his word against mine; all I can do is state my intentions in running these bulbs as good and that from my knowledge of the law, it is not illegal.

A LEO is not a lawyer, and neither am I. It's up to the courts to decide whether a law was actually broken when it's a grey area like this. I have done a lot more research on this than most LEOs, my ballast powered Xenon bulbs are bright, but properly aimed (even though that is irrelevant by Texas state law)

I would encourage peace officers not to waste their time, tax payer's money, and the driver's time, by writing tickets for something that is not explicitly illegal. There’s not a full proof defense but there’s not full proof that a law has been broken. DPS tries to cite you for laws you did not break, and then uses their word against yours in court. However, I think most of the time they are concerned with laws that you DID actually break, like speeding and the like, and will only cite you for equipment along with a truly broken law, so you can't defend against all charges.

I've actually kind of lost my enthusiasm for this subject now.

I can give you these tips, if stopped by police specifically for your headlamps.

1. If the LEO stops asks you about them. Refer only to your bulbs as Xenons bulbs, not HIDs.

2. Make a note if the police officer actually checks for a DOT stamp on your bulbs.

3. If a police officer cites you for glare or high beams, demonstrate your high beam indicator functionality (this is the actually safety inspection check item) and if you have Bi-Xenons (and you should) demonstrate that there’s a difference between high and low beam. Do not argue with him though. If he declines to observe, you can bring this fact up in court later.

4. If you're going to fight it: write down everything that happens right then and there while it is fresh in your mind. Keep your hazards on, find a piece of paper and pen, and start writing. Write down if he looked for a DOT stamp, write down if he pulled you over for improper equipment, write down he if observed your high beam functionality. Write down where he was when he first detected you. It could be months before you can get a court date, and if you get a traffic attorney, they'll want specifics.

5. Generally if you're out of state, police in other states won’t pull you over for improper equipment that’s in a grey area. If they do, remember that you are legally inspected as far as Texas is concerned, and that there is no Texas law (yet) specifically prohibiting Xenon bulbs. You can not be expected to know every traffic code everywhere, other states has you respect the laws of your state. Exception being with area that posts signs prohibiting certain things. Like Virginia and radar detectors, road ways with posted noise ordinances versus the use of engine brakes and loud stereos. I have never seen a sign prohibiting Xenon bulbs before.

6. These stops waste people’s time. The LEO might not show up for court because he has better things to do. However, you need to be prepared for if his does. You have taken an interest in the law, and have researched it to the point where you believe your actions are not explicitly illegal. You are also using Xenon bulbs for increases safety by being more visible and being able to see the road and obstacles better. A police officer that stops you for 'Improper Beam' or the like, if it's obvious you didn't break that law, he is betting on you not wanting to waste time fighting it, which is a fair point. However, if you waste his time in court, and prove that you were attempting to follow the law as best as possible, he might not issue such useless citations in the future. Even if you lose, you are in the right, you might be able to dispute the judgment if it's against you. It's all just a matter of how much time and money you want to spend to be in the right.
That said, there are no longer any headlight aiming requirements for inspection since the 90s in Texas. There are only laws for headlight height and distance they must illuminate (150 ft). They cannot be red in color and they must be functional and condensation free. This makes it perfectly legal to use HIDs that are blinding other motorists on high beam since all HID set ups in halogen reflector housings do this when adjusted to give the driver a good view of the road ahead. They can be as bright as you want, any color temperature as you want, and as blinding as you want ON HIGH BEAM. There are no TEXAS LAWS preventing use if adjusted correctly and only federal laws preventing sale for street use. The only statute that covers aiming states your low beams must illuminate at 150 feet minimum and not project the high intensity portion of the beam into oncoming driver's eyes. This only applies to the low beams.

Driving lights and fog light have no aiming requirements for inspection and are not tested as part of the Texas inspection process. They have no color or distance requirements but cannot be red in color. This makes HID driving and fog light retrofits also completely legal for inspection purposes.:focus: what was this thread about?