Inexpensive H4 / 9003 / HB2 LED headlights ($32) - trying on the Prius & motorcycle

[marcexec]

Just stumbled across this video where they install projectors into an original housing, i.e. the reflector is not used any more (they even paint it):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r3p5jedQcjg

Not sure if there are any LED sets that would fit the same way and it's a lot of effort, not to mention the WAF...

[freebeard]

marcexec
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Hey, have Thanks.

[Vman455]

Originally Posted by marcexec

Just stumbled across this video where they install projectors into an original housing, i.e. the reflector is not used any more (they even paint it):

Not sure if there are any LED sets that would fit the same way and it's a lot of effort, not to mention the WAF...

I did this when I retrofitted HIDs in my previous car. The results were much better than what you get dumping an HID bulb in a reflector it wasn't designed for.

[Daox]

Originally Posted by marcexec

Just stumbled across this video where they install projectors into an original housing, i.e. the reflector is not used any more (they even paint it):

Not sure if there are any LED sets that would fit the same way and it's a lot of effort, not to mention the WAF...

I really like that idea. If the beam pattern isn't good on my bike perhaps I'll give that a try if I can find some H4 LED projectors.

[serialk11r]

Originally Posted by deejaaa

looks good to me also. there are other 'colors' to choose from and focal point is where I would want it.
did you mount the other yet?
can you get some distance shots?

Yea I'll post a picture sometime. Too lazy to go move the car and take a picture right now. Now that I've driven with it a little, I think the focal point is a tad low, I'm going to turn the adjustment screws to point the beam a little higher. Right now the road itself is lit up very well but it's hard to see in the distance and to the sides.

Originally Posted by freebeard

serialk11r -- Now that's a nice cut-off. What is the depth of the housing/reflector compared to the H-4?

No idea, it's a standard H11 housing that used to have a standard OEM H11 bulb. I think the light output is a little lacking compared to some earlier posters' H4s because projectors basically waste half the light output with the cutoff plate, if I remember correctly. Halogens do better since the filament is small and doesn't block as much light reflected off the plate. Definitely do not buy the "40W" kits for this application unless it's for foglights or DRLs.

[freebeard]

Maybe I'll go to an auto parts store with a tape measure.

There's lots of interesting reading at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Headlamp. It turns out 'headlight' is the output and 'headlamp' is the tool.

[Longsnowsm]

Originally Posted by serialk11r

Yea I'll post a picture sometime. Too lazy to go move the car and take a picture right now. Now that I've driven with it a little, I think the focal point is a tad low, I'm going to turn the adjustment screws to point the beam a little higher. Right now the road itself is lit up very well but it's hard to see in the distance and to the sides.



No idea, it's a standard H11 housing that used to have a standard OEM H11 bulb. I think the light output is a little lacking compared to some earlier posters' H4s because projectors basically waste half the light output with the cutoff plate, if I remember correctly. Halogens do better since the filament is small and doesn't block as much light reflected off the plate. Definitely do not buy the "40W" kits for this application unless it's for foglights or DRLs.

I like the pics you posted of the light output for the bulbs you purchased. This is a fixed High, or Low Beam bulb correct? You mentioned you are using them with a projector, but you wouldn't recommend them without the projector in a reflector housing? Thanks for your feedback and input.

[serialk11r]

Originally Posted by Longsnowsm

I like the pics you posted of the light output for the bulbs you purchased. This is a fixed High, or Low Beam bulb correct? You mentioned you are using them with a projector, but you wouldn't recommend them without the projector in a reflector housing? Thanks for your feedback and input.

It's low beam only. The stock lamps are projector housing, all I had to do was screw the new bulb in. With a reflector housing you would obviously use a bulb made for that configuration, but those have worse cutoffs since the LED is much fatter and emits light in a different pattern than a filament. The projector seems to do okay because it has a physical block off plate, but this wastes light output.