OG Wagon

All, I'll get up "cut-off" pics asap. I work two jobs daily, so it's been tough to get the Civic out for night-time pics.

Also, as per the pics above, I still need to correctly align my headlights, as the new set-up is intense, but too low. I'll adjust and then takes some pics once properly aligned.

Freemananana, I'm glad you made the post above.

Pic #1: Good
Pic #2: Bad

Notice how #1 has the cooling fan built in to the bulb, but #2 is just a standard halogen-type base (no cooling fan). #2 were the bulbs that came out early 2013, and gave "LED Conversions" a bad name. They are low-output and not suitable for headlight-use. #1 is a high power kit. It also appears to be the same manufacturer for the bulbs that I am using. They are (still) performing great daily. I LOVE them, actually.

I would, however, go for a 40W kit, if you can. I have a 30W kit, and could use a bit more output.

Again, to re-iterrate what has been said earlier in the thread:

Light Output: Xenons win (when in projector housings)
Need for a projector: LED's win (no projector "retrofit" needed, but a plus!)
Reliability: LED's when (when compared against Ebay Zentec or similar kits)
Ease of Install: LED's when. Mine were monkey-brain easy to install. Ebay kits ARE plug and play, but out of all the kits I've installed, I CONSTANTLY had problems with plugs/connectors not making good contact with one another, and/or water getting through the connector seals into the ballast, etc...
Power Consumption: Appears LED's win.
Color: All subjective here, but if you want a 5000K look, LED's when. I never could order a "5000K" Xentec kit that didn't come out Ice Princess-blue.

Final Verdict: If you want a slick looking lighting set up that draws low current and (atleast so far, appears to be) is incredibly trouble-free, spend a bit more and go LED versus our $30 "mainstay" Xentec kits we've all grown used to working through.

Black R

Interesting.

I think I'll try LED high beams and keep HID low beams for now.

spAdam

iTrader: (1)

Probably your best bet until something comes along with more developed optics (**Cough Cough** Where you at, RetrofitSource?).

I've kind of officially decided to shelve my interest until the tech & quality moves up a couple of notches.

LowTEC SaiMike

iTrader: (7)

Freemananana,

If you want a high powered 9006 bulb with 1 LED they do have it out on the market, only problem with that is im not 100% sure how your output will be since you have projectors . I would recommend getting it with 2.



Here is a pic of a 9006 (1) LED bulb . Rated at 3200 lumens

OG Wagon

^Quality looking piece right there.

LowTEC SaiMike

iTrader: (7)

Thanks . This one is good because the design of bulb has the fan built in and not attached to the end

Jimmy

iTrader: (5)

I'm making the switch to Led's in the next couple weeks.. I'll let you guys know.. Hopefully my car is running by then!

LowTEC SaiMike

iTrader: (7)

:thumbs up :

Hawkze_2.3

Any luck on the cut-off pics?

It's hard to even have a conversation about modding headlights without discussing the cut-off...

Thmanx

Looks like someone did a comparison already using one of those 'high power CREE' PnP style kits over at hid planet.
this was a "3000LM" kit, (however these companies add the left and right output together to generate these numbers.)



Both in projectors, camera was at locked settings to show comparative brightness (note the LED was in the high-beam projector so its giving it's all for the output, no nice cutoff)

I think LED's are still a long-long way away.


LED vs HID at 15 feet





and at 2 feet






You can see the 'shadow' the LED module creates since its no longer the center of the projectors focus. Looks pretty horrible to me.



full link here
XB35 55K HID vs 3000LM Cree LED in Koito Projector / H7 Halogen Projector

accordturb96

nice comparison looks like it sucks tho

Thmanx

Yeah LED tech isn't quite ready for PnP prime time.


The technology has promise don't get me wrong, and they can produce greater output for the same wattage vs a good HID system.

However if the entire housing and optics haven't been designed around the LED's then its all a waste

masospaghetti

Both HID or LED "drop in" bulbs will suffer from bad optics, the LEDs will probably suffer more because the light emitting surface is very different from a halogen. The housing is designed for one particular technology - halogen, HID, or LED. Mixing them will always produce terrible results. You will either get poor visibility or lots of scattered light (excessive, dangerous glare for oncoming drivers), or both.

Stick with halogens if you aren't going to buy new housings.

Thmanx

Here is an example of how bad it is.

These were tested in a set of genuine Depo 8th gen housings. Comparing the output of
9006 PIAA NightTech
9006 XB5500K Morimoto
9006 80WCree




Optics are are all about precision. If you alter the focal point of the light source, the reflectors do nothing but skater light all in the wrong directions.

Lo_Boost

As it is now, i believe that the LED bulbs we're getting now are meant for the reflector housing style lights. I put a pair on my EJ8. The light quality is better, but like with the OP, i may need to adjust the focus of my headlights. The light falloff is more drastic than halogens & HID's, but that may be due to the headlights needing to be focused. Lastly, and my major issue with them is that the high beams aren't anything to right home about. They illuminate street signs, reflectors and any reflective surface greatly, but other stuff, it's not the best. Will try to get the crappy pics i took for you guys.

JeeK

iTrader: (1)

Found this thread searching for info, bump for more reviews

spAdam

iTrader: (1)

The verdict is that there will be nothing new until there are LED-specific optics available. Until then these are just as janky as HID in a halogen reflector housing, just in a different way.

98civdx

i'm going to be honest that looks horrible. Tons of glare, and terrible output.

Thmanx

We ordered the high power 30Watt (actual power) 9006 LED kit from Morimoto.

I can now do some honest side by side shots of what the following bulbs look like in DC2 projector housings

OEM halogen
PIAA NightTech
PIAA Xtreme White
PnP '80W' LED
Morimoto 30W LED kit
Morimoto XB HID

I'm quite curious how the new Morimoto LED kit will work, but I suspect it won't be as good as the Morimoto XB HID system. I also suspect the PIAA Xtreme White halogens will provide the most even output (though not as bright as Moto)

ss_zoidberg

I really like my LEDs when compared to HIDS. I kept ordering Phillips crystal vision bulbs but they kept burning up so I switched to an old set of HIDs while my LED kit came in. Overall satisfied and have yet to get highbeamed or anything while driving.

spAdam

iTrader: (1)

Yeah but what does the actual beam pattern look like? Are these both in regular old halogen reflector housings?

ss_zoidberg

Yes, factory 2nd gen Fit headlights. No annoying glare or reflections etc.

Thmanx

given the blue point of your HID kit, i question your HID kits quality.


This was what happened when we replaced a "6000K" HID kit in my buddies prelude to a 5500K Morimoto System...

Both are HID, but DAMN the morimoto unit was so much better.






The cheep HID he bought while on the east coast looked green by comparison.
In order for it to be a valid test, we need to have both systems be at their A-Game.
Were going to really put LED's to the test, the highest quality HID components vs the Highest quality LED components so we my finally put this argument to rest.

Thmanx

For example. this is how the Moto XB9006 HIDs perform in OEM DC2 Housings.



We will have a photo up in about a week using the same setup with the Morimoto XB LED 9006's

Jimmy

iTrader: (5)

My car is up on jack stands right now.. I really haven't had a chance to do any adjusting, but here is a pic of my LED kit from lowtec mike installed in my 94 integra.. very pleased with the PNP led kit.