LED headlights

Shooting further

 

VERY NICE! Glad everything worked out. I found them just by chance and they worked out great. Now we both can see at night!
TomK

 

I just installed LED bulbs (the ones mentioned earlier in this thread $12.95 each from eBay). Wow what a difference! Very happy with the light output, but puzzled why the brights are almost nonexistant.

Anyway, my question is about installing the OEM dust boot (about a 4” diameter black rubber disk, it takes a 1/4 turn to lock it in). Clearly the new LED is a much larger diameter than the hole in the boot. Did you guys cut a slit so the boot would slide over the LED fan? Or make the hole a larger diameter? Or leave the boot off?

I know these bulbs run hot and I’m concerned about blocking the cooling fins/melting rubber/starting a fire!!!

 

Glad you also like the bulbs! Amazing they are so inexpensive and have such a huge difference. I did mention that the brights show no change but I have not really ever needed them but it is odd. Well since it is still cold here in MN I just put the dust covers back on. I felt the fins after about a 45 min drive and they were still cold so I will check into it when things warm up. I was thinking of just cutting them to get the fan and fins out but am worried about condensation getting into the housing.
TomK

 

For the dust caps I would suggest to put the passenger one back on. I don't think it will overheat as much or fail early.

or monitor it every now and then, because one of the bulbs failed on the passenger side and then I notice a fly inside the headlight as well.

due to the open space for air routing air into the intake all kinds of stuff might come by.

 

Bought these H4 led headlight bulbs for my 2014 Prius. I do enjoy the better quality light from these units over the old Halogen Bulbs. On the Prius, I don't need to remove the front headlights in order to put these new lamps in, just play and play. Super Enjoying these New LED Lamps.

 

Yep, no question the LEDs are way better than the halogen. I could hardly see at night before. Recently got a 2007 with the HID headlights and there really is not a noticeable difference that I can tell between the two. Pattern is a better with the HIDs is all that I notice.
TomK

 

There is a problem with running H4 LED bulbs in 2nd Gen Prius that you all may not have noticed. First some history, the H4 bulb has been around for thousands of years, they have two filaments, one for low beam which is partially shielded to prevent glare, and the high beam filament which is closer to the reflector and not shielded. switching from the sheilded low beam to the unshielded high beam changes the focal point of the beam creating a narrower beam for distance. Final adjustments were done by the patterned front glass. Now that the patterned front glass has gone away the beam is now shaped by the reflector. What Toyota has done (and possibly others) is they have taken that part of the reflector which is behind the shield of the low beam filament and designed that for distance. Now here's the problem, the Prius is wired so that when high beam is selected both the high and low beam filaments are illuminated in a halogen bulb. The light pattern you get on low beam remains in place when you select high and you get another beam from the high beam filament is added to that for distance. Problem is, there do not seem to be any H4 LED bulbs that will operate in that manner. I've tried three different kinds and they are all internally set up that even if you keep power on the low beam terminal, when you add power to the high beam terminal the bulb will switch to high beam and the low beam LEDs go off. I assume it's a heat dissipation issue.. It might be easier to understand if you park in front of a large window so you can see the reflection of the headlights. With halogen bulbs on low beam you will see the light output from most of the headlight with a dark section at the bottom. If you switch to highbeam that dark spot will also light up with the long distance light output. Now if you do that test with LEDs when you switch from low beam to high beam most of the light will go dark and you will have only the smaller section at the bottom that was previously dark. It kinda works out because the LED bulbs are generally much brighter than halogen but you're actually using only a very small part of the reflector.

I have LEDs in my 07 and while low beam is pretty good high beam is basically bright crap. I have some projector conversions that may go in it if they test out ok. Might actually do that tonight. If that doesn't work out I think I'll go with factory HID's.

 

Agreed with the high beams. I feel I don't need the high beams now that the low beams are so much better than the halogens. Will not go back to halogens in the Prius as even the higher priced ones have terrible light. LED all the way no question. My 2007 with the HIDs on low beams are about the same as the LEDs. High beams are a different story.
TomK

 

Excellent explanation of how stock halogen headlamps work in the Gen2 Prius. And, how this differs from how 9003 LED replacement bulbs work.

 

Do you have a link for the lights you used I can’t seem to find this I am after something that is just plug and play without any need for messing around thank you

 

Don't Buy LED Headlight Bulbs Before Watching This! | New for 2019 | Headlight Revolution

Unfortunately, that company does not seem to have a recommendation that will go straight into a Prius.

On the plus side, I thought there was such a wealth of information about what to look out for, what to do and what not to do, that the video alone is well worth the watch.

 

This is the style I used and LOVE them. They have to be 3 sided 360 degree bulbs. I have tried others and they were terrible.
CREE COB H4 HB2 9003 2000W 300000LM LED Headlights Kits Hi/Low Power Bulbs 6000K | eBay

 

Will this fit uk models and are they a straight swap or do I have to mess around with bits on it

 

Not sure why they would be different in the UK. If you have H4 bulbs now they are plug and play.
TomK

 

I drive my 2007 Prius three hours every night. I upgraded to LED bulbs couple years ago. I have tried lasfit bulbs, and Hikari. They keep going out on me every few months. Has anyone had luck with any other brands?

 

I have had a set of Beamtech fanless bulbs in my 07 Prius for a year or so with no problems other than the inability to display both high and low beam at the same time as an incandescent bulb does in a Prius.

 

Their general videos explaining LED and HID bulbs are somewhat useful. That being said, their lux comparison videos are completely, 100% useless and misleading.

 

jusst brought Hikari 2020 versiion let see how they hold up. hows their warranty? good?

 

The $12.95 set i bought off ebay lasted almost 2 years as I bought the first set in January of 2018. Replaced both with the same set this past December.
TomK