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Headlight recommendations

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Accessories and Modifications' started by nivekonbass, Jun 15, 2022.

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  1. nivekonbass

    nivekonbass Member

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    Hi guys,

    I am looking for some really really good headlights for my Prius. I work long hours at night, and lighting is extremely important. I've used LED's in my previous car (Fahren <--garbage/LasFit LA Plus) and they were just not bright enough and the shadow glare is not something I'm liking at all either. And yes, the orientation was correct.

    I drive through a lot of foresty (if that's a word) areas at night and quite frequently in the rain as well, so lighting is extremely important for me. The LED's mentioned above were absolute garbage in the rain. Another thing that is equally important is something that lasts a very long time.

    Can anyone recommend something under $200? Please only comment if you've had experience with the light you are recommending. This industry seems like such a scam and I have a hard time believing anybody that recommends me some LED's lol. to be clear I am looking for awesome beam pattern/range and long lasting.

    Thanks in advance
     
    #1 nivekonbass, Jun 15, 2022
  2. 2010moneypit?

    2010moneypit? Active Member

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    Anyone? I have those crappy LEDs in my gen 3 right now. I would love to update the lighting.
    Before the crappy LEDs the previous owner had H IDs that failed in under 8000 miles.
     
    #2 2010moneypit?, Jun 15, 2022
  3. Grit

    Grit Senior Member

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    Just replace the bulbs and keep the headlights. It wouldn’t make sense I change the headlight assemblies just to put in different bulbs.
     
    #3 Grit, Jun 15, 2022
  4. Georgina Rudkus

    Georgina Rudkus Senior Member

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    Only real issue with high ouput LED's is the heat. Unless properly cooled, they burn out quickly.

    I've used these for the past three years, amd they are still going strong. When I first purchased them, they were $30 a pair. $15 is a great deal.

     
    #4 Georgina Rudkus, Jun 15, 2022
  5. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    I've ordered from PowerBulbs for our Gen 2 before.

    Gen 3 uses H11 bulbs I think?

    H11 Car Bulbs | Replacement Car Light Bulbs | PowerBulbs CA

    I can't remember if it was the Osram Night Breaker Silver or the Phillips Vision that I ordered. They're replacement halogen lights with slightly more light (10-30% brighter) but note they will not last as long as OEM because they are running hotter (brighter). I was happy with the light, however. (They lasted about 11 months but that included them being used as DRLs).

    There are long life ones but they won't be as bright.

    I have also tried the Osram Silverstars but I think they're out of production.
     
    #5 Tideland Prius, Jun 18, 2022
  6. xliderider

    xliderider Senior Member

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    I've had 35w 4300K AC HID bulbs/ballasts in our Prius and Camry going on 5 years or so with no problems. Haven't had to replace the bulbs yet, though I do believe that they have color shifted somewhat and lost some of their brightness, but they were way whiter and brighter than the OEM halogen setup.

    Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
     
    #6 xliderider, Jun 19, 2022
    2010moneypit? likes this.
  7. Noahdoge

    Noahdoge Active Member

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    Look into the H11 to H9 conversion. It’s cheap and an easy first step. The bulbs will not last anywhere near as long as running the h11 but in your case it’s worth it.
     
    #7 Noahdoge, Jun 19, 2022
  8. xliderider

    xliderider Senior Member

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    It is a good alternative, but you have to be extra careful about getting the passenger side bulb seated correctly (straight). An improperly installed bulb, cocked to one side will definitely melt the plastic headlight housing.

    I had H9 bulbs in both cars before switching to the HID setups.

    Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
     
    #8 xliderider, Jun 19, 2022
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  9. ASRDogman

    ASRDogman Senior Member

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    I did some reading. Seems some people had problems with over heating.
    About half the people put the H11's back in.
    I guess it would depend on how much night driving you do, and how long.
    Maybe for shorter runs you'd be okay. But if you drive longer, you risk burning
    the wires, and housing, and possible fire.

    Procede at your own risk, as yours (and possibly other's) lives are at risk.

    Here's a video I found on how to do the modification:

     
    #9 ASRDogman, Jun 19, 2022
  10. nivekonbass

    nivekonbass Member

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    Yeah I don't think I want to do any modifications like that. Just looking for some solid bulbs. I'm seriously considering getting HID's but I want something that lasts very long. I drive literally just at night, I go home when the sun comes up lol. The reason I'm looking for something with a long throw is deer and stuff like that.
     
    #10 nivekonbass, Jun 20, 2022
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  11. nivekonbass

    nivekonbass Member

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    Which one did you purchase that lasted you 5 years?
     
    #11 nivekonbass, Jun 20, 2022
  12. ASRDogman

    ASRDogman Senior Member

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    I understand not wanted to modify it. Too risky!
    If you look at the package, they show you the light pattern, some thrown further down the road.

    I've been thinking of trying some led ones, but for some reason everyone says they get hot.
    One of the charicateristiscs of led's is they don't get hot. And if they burn out faster, It's too much of a
    hastle changing them all the time....

    I just polish the lenses and I can see fine!

     
    #12 ASRDogman, Jun 20, 2022
  13. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Are the headlight housings still clear, or starting to fog over?

    I like "foresty" btw; sparked a breakfast discussion here. If it's not a word it outa be. (y)
     
    #13 Mendel Leisk, Jun 20, 2022
  14. nivekonbass

    nivekonbass Member

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    They are pretty clear, not a fog issue; I can fix that. I was just looking for some good suggestions for HID's or other alternatives with a very long throw so that I don't hit any deer or something like that.
     
    #14 nivekonbass, Jun 20, 2022
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  15. jpezz

    jpezz Junior Member

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    Just today, I put H11 equivalent LEDs in my 2012. WOW! MUCH brighter. I found there were basically two types:

    One has a little fan in it to keep it cool. Probably much better IF the fan doesn't fail which seems to be a problem for some users. If fan fails, bulb dies pretty quickly from the heat.

    The other has an aluminum heat sink and no fan. No fan to fail but possibly runs hotter (heat sink is outside the cover).

    I bought two of the latter:
    BEAMTECH H11 LED Bulb, 12000LM 60W Fanless In Line H8 H9 6500K Xenon White

    Note, the 12000 lumens is the COMBINED number (6,000 each) still way better than halogen. The higher the number, the more heat generated. Some have 13K per bulb which gets you close to prohibited in some states. High intensity halogen bulbs are less than 1500 lumens so you don't need to light the whole city. The higher the K number, the whiter the bulb (some are almost blue - can get you in trouble too) but keep away from anything 3K or less as they are too yellowish. 4K or more is better.
     
    #15 jpezz, Oct 20, 2022
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