when I was getting my Gen 3 I had to decide if I want to get the 5 so I could have the LED headlights but I also want the solar roof..... at the end I ended up getting the solar roof package... I then upgraded my headlights to HIDs (tried 35W and 55W kits).. still wanting the LED headlights.. I then upgrade my headlight to LED ones.... yes the HIDs seems to be 'brighter' but the LED headlights (in my opinion) had better lighting spread over the road.... I would have to say upgrading to the LED headlights was worth the money (for me)
Funny, telling the truth is negative. I'm just sayin, they will be expensive to repair, IF they do fail, and anything can fail. And they won't be covered by warranty if I read it right. I find the stock halogens to be just fine, and I've never burned one out either. Of course, on posting that they will fail tomorrow. If you want bright have a look at the "Scorpion Off-Road LED lights" (a google search should find them). I am thinking of getting a couple for my FJ Cruiser (off road use only of course). I was told when using them off-road my "spotter" would need a welding helmet! A 109W single LED lamp! Almost 11,800 lumens! Each!
Wow.. content with halogens... Halogens, due to it's design will not last longer than an HID or LED. I have yet to burn out a HID neither btw.
Different strokes and all..... Going from a Prius w/the LED low beams to the PIP with halogen low beams was a big disappointment IMO. If T had offered the LED's as a stand alone option rather than tying it in with the $5k+ AT package I would have seriously considered it. I would have probably gone as high as $1k for them- yes, IMO they (OEM Toyota LED's) are that good.
Just a note about DRLs. In Canada the DRLs in my car are the high beam halogens in series (that's an assuption as they are fairly dim - yellow even). The projectors are the low beams. It's stock that way.
Halogens output is much lower than HID. Though it fine for DRL to light things up, proper projection and lumens are key.
The LED's are really nice. Problem is price if you want to get them in a non 5 car. I was able to buy the HID retrofit kit for about the price of one used LED Headlight. So nice to be able to see things that are in front of cars 4 lengths in front of me better than they can. The stock lights should be illegal. I felt like I had two candles burning on the bumper.
That's dependent on the bulb choice. Mines are quite white much like the LED's. At less than $100 hard to beat. I think I got the 4.3k model.
Does anyone know the Color Rendering Index (CRI) of the LED headlights? The older HIDs have a bad rep of having a low CRI, I think it was in the low 70s. I wonder if the LEDs are better. Halogen on the other hand, have a CRI of close to 100.
I just found something very cool... And it may be better than HID... I did a search for LED replacement bulbs... I have a 2013 Prius III, which uses H11/9005 (low/high) Could be an low cost option...
Trust me, there are literally no aftermarket LED headlights that are any better than HIDs or the stock Toyota built in LED headlights that come on some cars. Good aftermarket LEDs are coming, but just not there yet. For now HIDs still win.
After doing a HID retrofit, I cant think of anything being better, or for sure needing anything more. I wish I had a LED car to compare side by side.
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Joe, see the lighting thread in the plug in forum for some other info. Both the high and low beams have easy bulb changes that can get you a lot more output for not much money and without HID's. Of note is that on my car, the low beams aim was the primary problem.
Sorry to revive an old thread, but I think a few years down the road gives some changes to consider. In any case, here's my situation. I have a 2012 touring and the right DRL/hi-beam bulb is out. I like the idea of putting in LED, but it's hard to know exactly what's necessary. You can find 9005 LED pairs on ebay for anywhere from $3 to $40, and some places show the pair for about $20 with a matching conversion kit for another $20. Just curious if anyone has any experience in this arena.
