LED headlight conversion possibility

[JPaul]

I was looking at the threads about converting to HID headlights and saw a couple mentions of LED headlights. So it got me thinking and I went onto JW's site and found these:

http://www.jwspeaker.com/products/led-headlights-model-8630-evolution/

They are 5.75" round LED with an option for a DOT approved high/low beam + DRL version. Price on the street is around $385 or so. Seems like they'd fit the bill pretty well, I don't imagine it'd be too terribly hard to convert to them.

Unfortunately for me I don't have that kind of money right now ($1800 in tires will do that to you) but thought I'd at least throw the possibility out there.

 

[Hayden]

It would be okay as long as you live somewhere it doesnt snow. LEDs wont melt snow or ice

 

[Ghostbuster]

I think it would be a major headache to mount and align them properly.

 

[SuperBuickGuy]

LEDs work fine in the PNW snow, I've never had trouble with the snow caking, but keep in mind that if it never gets hot the snow won't stick, and they cut through the glare better.

with that said, I have lifetime LEDs and it's a love/hate relationship. 1) they don't last, 2) the adapter falls apart, and 3) to get the lights so you don't look like you're illuminating half the reflector, you have to twist them so the LED points at the upper reflector first. If you don't, people will think you're driving with your brights on...
that said, they do replace them, and I need to send off again - last time they sent me without asking for the broken ones back, so I use those as spares so that I don't have to be without half my lights for a week from discovery of the issue....

 

[JPaul]

Ghostbuster, I don't see how it'd be any more difficult converting our headlamp housings to use those vs converting to HID.

SuperBuick, are you talking about JW's specifically? Or using LED bulbs that mount in the stock housing like the halogen bulbs do?

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[rascole]

Other than headaches from poor quality, pissed off oncoming traffic, and a pretty blue color, what's the benefit of LED head lamps?

 

[JPaul]

Low energy usage, longer life. But I'm talking about using those JW units that are specifically designed from the ground up as LED and focus the beam correctly (and aren't that useless blue color which most LED's actually aren't, you're thinking of the annoying HID's from ebay), not simply swapping the halogen bulbs out for LED bulbs (which yes, is a terrible idea and I want to shoot out anyone's headlights that simply threw some cheap ebay HID or LED bulbs in their stock housings instead of actually converting the housing to HID/LED).

Maybe I need to include a picture for anyone not clicking on the link:

It seems one could simply cut the reflector housing of the stock lamps off mostly and then epoxy/clamp/something these in place. BTW, the four center lenses are for the high beams, while the two lenses to the side and the two at the top are the focused low beams, it also has a ring of LED's around the edge used for daytime running lamps (they dim when the headlights themselves are turned on). So with this unit you get a properly focused low beam, and a nice broad high beam. And I'll repeat that it complies with DOT regulations.

 

[SuperBuickGuy]

Ghostbuster, I don't see how it'd be any more difficult converting our headlamp housings to use those vs converting to HID.

SuperBuick, are you talking about JW's specifically? Or using LED bulbs that mount in the stock housing like the halogen bulbs do?

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Lifetime LED is what I used in the headlight - they simply replace the halogen bulb. As for the pretty blue, they work pretty well in winter conditions here... though come summer I swap back to regular halogen headlights and yellow halogen fogs.
I have no-name brand LED in the fogs those were bulb replacements too.

 

[rascole]

Low energy usage, longer life. But I'm talking about using those JW units that are specifically designed from the ground up as LED and focus the beam correctly (and aren't that useless blue color which most LED's actually aren't, you're thinking of the annoying HID's from ebay), not simply swapping the halogen bulbs out for LED bulbs (which yes, is a terrible idea and I want to shoot out anyone's headlights that simply threw some cheap ebay HID or LED bulbs in their stock housings instead of actually converting the housing to HID/LED).

Maybe I need to include a picture for anyone not clicking on the link:

It seems one could simply cut the reflector housing of the stock lamps off mostly and then epoxy/clamp/something these in place. BTW, the four center lenses are for the high beams, while the two lenses to the side and the two at the top are the focused low beams, it also has a ring of LED's around the edge used for daytime running lamps (they dim when the headlights themselves are turned on). So with this unit you get a properly focused low beam, and a nice broad high beam. And I'll repeat that it complies with DOT regulations.

Those are the nicest LED's I have seen to date.

 

[Scarsman]

Snow build up on actual LED headlights like these is a very real issue, if you start researching them. An option for this problem is Truck Lite's 7" heated headlight. They have a heated lens that turns on under 50 degrees.

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[SuperBuickGuy]

call it $800 to replace headlights? ummm, now we're to "why?"

Scarsman - I don't know it all, I'm not an expert, but I've never had problems with snow-build-up on the lense of my H3.... However, I have had trouble with headlights melting the snow, then at speed the water freezes then attracts more snow to the headlight rendering it useless....

 

[derian06]

call it $800 to replace headlights? ummm, now we're to "why?"

Scarsman - I don't know it all, I'm not an expert, but I've never had problems with snow-build-up on the lense of my H3.... However, I have had trouble with headlights melting the snow, then at speed the water freezes then attracts more snow to the headlight rendering it useless....

I can build a set for cheaper *wink*

A buddy of mine installed leds in his stock housings, they work perfectly fine.

 

[Ghostbuster]

Ghostbuster, I don't see how it'd be any more difficult converting our headlamp housings to use those vs converting to HID.

SuperBuick, are you talking about JW's specifically? Or using LED bulbs that mount in the stock housing like the halogen bulbs do?

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I'm just saying it would be hard to properly mount, and aim those in an H3. Btw just converting to HID is as simple as installing a kit and bulbs into the factory housing... No cutting or modifying the housing itself.

But if you want to do the correct HID retrofit with projectors, then yes there is a lot more involved than just putting in new bulbs.

I had to chop some material off of the back of the housing and obviously open the housing up to install mini H1 projectors. But it really isn't that hard. After chopping off some material from the housing, the projectors simply secure to the housing via a locking nut.

I can say that without a shadow of a doubt that mounting the led headlights that you are talking about will be much harder to mount and properly aim than mini h1 projectors or anything similar for HID.

I also think that the HID projectors will produce more lumens and perform better than those led lights.

 

[JPaul]

I wouldn't ever just swap the bulbs out, it drives me nuts when people do that and end up blinding me even though I'm several feet higher than where their beam cutoff should be (*cough*ricers*cough*).

HID projectors do put out more lumen than the LED's do, and as others have mentioned, the LED's will get caked over with snow apparently. Not sure about which one actually would perform better as it's not simply a matter of raw lumen but how it's focused, but LED are up and coming in performance.

As for converting, I guess it would be more challenging with those units than the HID projectors. But probably with a jig and a bandsaw you could cut off the housing "square" with the beam pattern and mount the LED units. At any rate, this is all still theoretical and a good discussion of the merits and challenges of converting to LED headlights. HID is still cheaper and already proven. LED has the potential for better performance overall though, but it's probably still several years away before they align with HID performance/cost, though I think they are getting close.

 

[Scarsman]

call it $800 to replace headlights? ummm, now we're to "why?"

Scarsman - I don't know it all, I'm not an expert, but I've never had problems with snow-build-up on the lense of my H3.... However, I have had trouble with headlights melting the snow, then at speed the water freezes then attracts more snow to the headlight rendering it useless....

Well, I don't have personal experience with them. I have done quite a bit of research on them though. I found many people complaining of the snow issue running actual LED headlights, not just bulb swaps. And this was from the actual user, not the usual, "well I heard" or "my friend says", or "I read that...". Which, of course, is the category I am on this. [emoji2]

As for the why, for me is that the H2 headlights just plain suck. They are absolutely terrible. They are very yellow, and on the dark rainy days/nights we get here it can be hard to tell if you even have your lights on or not.

I initially did fall victim to the HID conversion through a lack of knowledge. Found out immediately that there is no focus to the light pattern. I also found that the super pure white was incredible at illuminating the road. Due to the horrible light pattern I switched back to my halogen bulbs until I have the extra money to do it right.

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