When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
I've done retrofits before, currently rocking on a clear lens swap on my Mazdaspeed 3. Here's my take:
If we're talking about pure output and luminosity, HID is still better than LED at the moment. So that's first and foremost.
Secondly, scrolling through the thread and I saw some DDM recommendation. I have to disagree. When it comes to HID bulbs, if it's not OEM supplier/manufacturer, I'm not using them. There is a reason why manufacturers like Philips and Osram were selected prior to the LED trend. Their HID bulbs have been proven to be better in quality and durability.
Thirdly, S2000 has THE BEST HID Projector still, and they easily throw out more light even compared to today's car with LED installed. Also, it's a HID projector designed to work with the dimensions of a HID bulb. So use a HID bulb.
If you want a "bluer" tone that's accompanied by LED, go with a 5000k HID bulb. Just know that it won't match the raw luminosity of a 4100/4300k bulb (OEM standard).
I've done retrofits before, currently rocking on a clear lens swap on my Mazdaspeed 3. Here's my take:
If we're talking about pure output and luminosity, HID is still better than LED at the moment. So that's first and foremost.
Secondly, scrolling through the thread and I saw some DDM recommendation. I have to disagree. When it comes to HID bulbs, if it's not OEM supplier/manufacturer, I'm not using them. There is a reason why manufacturers like Philips and Osram were selected prior to the LED trend. Their HID bulbs have been proven to be better in quality and durability.
Thirdly, S2000 has THE BEST HID Projector still, and they easily throw out more light even compared to today's car with LED installed. Also, it's a HID projector designed to work with the dimensions of a HID bulb. So use a HID bulb.
If you want a "bluer" tone that's accompanied by LED, go with a 5000k HID bulb. Just know that it won't match the raw luminosity of a 4100/4300k bulb (OEM standard).
Tried telling em bro; they don’t wanna hear it. If they can jam a bulb in a hole and see enough at night to drive they’re all set apparently.
I don't know too much about LED. My car is from an older generation where HID were the "premium" lighting source, so most of my knowledge is vested in HID.
But I do know this, when it comes to HID systems, nothing beats the S2000 projector (as a few others have already mentioned). And if I've got a HID specific projector, I'm using a HID bulb. And If I'm using a HID bulb, I use nothing less than OEM stuff.
HIDs still trump LEDs. Especially in the S2000 projector. Next year? Who knows? LEDs for high beams if you can find correct filament placement may offer more light. LEDs are instant-on. HIDs still have a warm up period and the reason they're limited to low beams in most cars.
I don't know too much about LED. My car is from an older generation where HID were the "premium" lighting source, so most of my knowledge is vested in HID.
But I do know this, when it comes to HID systems, nothing beats the S2000 projector (as a few others have already mentioned). And if I've got a HID specific projector, I'm using a HID bulb. And If I'm using a HID bulb, I use nothing less than OEM stuff.
So that means either Philips or Osram HID bulbs.
I swapped my HID bulbs from OEM to SYLVANIA D2S SilverStar (which are just repackaged Osram 66240 CBI bulbs) and have been happy with the color.
OEM are 4300k and these are 5000k.
No real noticable differences in dropoff or clarity, but temperature is just slightly more blue. Everytime I start my car in the garage I love seeing the colors change as they warm up.
Here's a good example, not my photo but still.
5000k on left, 4200k on right:
Last edited by silenc3x; Oct 19, 2018 at 06:00 PM.
Here's a couple quick pics from earlier tonight. Yes I know my headlights need to be aimed, I just haven't taken the time. iPhone pics don't show the true white color of these bulbs either. They are the 50 watt Saber Pro LED bulbs from DDM Tuning. I'm happy with them. Just wish I would have taken pics like this before removing the OEM HIDs for comparison.
Here's a couple quick pics from earlier tonight. Yes I know my headlights need to be aimed, I just haven't taken the time. iPhone pics don't show the true white color of these bulbs either. They are the 50 watt Saber Pro LED bulbs from DDM Tuning. I'm happy with them. Just wish I would have taken pics like this before removing the OEM HIDs for comparison.
Cutoff doesn't look too bad. I'd be curious to know the actual light output in a numerical value in comparison to a properly functioning HID system. I don't remember if you mentioned it in this thread or not yet but may I ask why you made the switch? I can understand to a degree if you needed to replace one or both ballasts or something of the like and this was more cost effective. In terms of color output a simple bulb switch would've sufficed. Not really attacking your decision to do what you did, just curious why. Proper projector HID systems still trump LED in terms of range and output, but obviously dedicated LED headlight technology is quickly catching up. Until they can come up with a 360* emitter LED "bulbs" will always suffer from hot-spotting and glare in reflector-based systems, it's just how the game goes. In terms of LED bulb design I think the best one I've seen is the Nokya LED bulb. It uses one big forward facing chip pointing at a metalized cone that bounces the light back towards the reflector; I'm no engineer or mathematician but typically you want an even dispersion of light over the entire area of the reflector; this achieves that.
Bulb "filament" placement seems to be getting better, at least in the more expensive bulbs. I fitted some aftermarket HID bulbs (low beams) and LED bulbs (high beams) to my '17 Ford Expedition with reflector type headlights. Even with "ultra" halogens fitted these headlights were substandard for where I need to drive. Never had any criticism of the S2000 headlights once I fitted brighter halogens for the high beams.
