Anybody ever try these led Headlights

[CruiserTrash]

Holy crap…I’ve now put these in my Amazon cart: SL2 Pro bulbs compatible with H4. Be a while before I pull the trigger @$250. .

I’ve got to 1st talk myself into it…and then the wife. Appreciate your input @DrRock

Talking yourself into it is always the hardest part John!

 

[julianramirez1005]

Installed after work today. Still need to do some adjusting. I’m sure I can find the answer on here somewhere but when I turn high beams on it’s just the high beams and the lows go really dim but not off. Also the high beams are basically a spot light atm. For 117 buckaroos after shipping I’m pretty stoked with the results.
Are they the best? No
Are they reliable? We’ll see

 

[Seth S]

Personally not a fan of the aftermarket LED’s. A well built headlight specific wiring harness with independent relays, some updated lens housings and nice halogen bulbs really make a big difference in lighting. I’d rather keep the man lights stock and then run some good LED aftermarket fog or driving lights on the bumper.

 

[julianramirez1005]

Personally not a fan of the aftermarket LED’s. A well built headlight specific wiring harness with independent relays, some updated lens housings and nice halogen bulbs really make a big difference in lighting. I’d rather keep the man lights stock and then run some good LED aftermarket fog or driving lights on the bumper.

I agree I don’t really love the look of them. I needed a quick and dirty solution to not being able to see at night. I will definitely be making a harness and getting a different more stock looking light in the future.

 

[John McVicker]

@DrRock ok James, I’m about to get off the fence & try to improve my headlights for my drive out to SAS 10. Currently leaning towards SL2 Pro bulbs to go into my Koito housing on my 60 vs the Holley Retrobrights and for about 1/2 the cost.



In reading your post #20 in this thread, has your opinion/thoughts changed? Are you still liking your SL2 Pros. And the big question since you also have Retrobrights in another vehicle…have you found any major benefits one vs the other?

Back & forth, back & forth…pay $250 or pay $500 ?? Your & experience with both options will be a great help.

 

[julianramirez1005]

After a few days with these lights, I opted to go stock again. I returned them and luckily got my money back. The stock setup leaves much to be desired but it does the job. I had ordered some basic 4 x 6 h4 bulb housings, but they are too shallow, and the chrome trim piece bottoms out before the housings get snug. Frustrated, I moved on and went back to stock bulbs. A problem for darker times...

 

[DrRock]

@DrRock ok James, I’m about to get off the fence & try to improve my headlights for my drive out to SAS 10. Currently leaning towards SL2 Pro bulbs to go into my Koito housing on my 60 vs the Holley Retrobrights and for about 1/2 the cost.



In reading your post #20 in this thread, has your opinion/thoughts changed? Are you still liking your SL2 Pros. And the big question since you also have Retrobrights in another vehicle…have you found any major benefits one vs the other?

Back & forth, back & forth…pay $250 or pay $500 ?? Your & experience with both options will be a great help.

Hi John, if you can wait until SAS, I’ll have both my trucks in Ouray do you are free to try them out and decide which setup you like the best. My 60 has been with Kelly Saad so I haven’t had a chance to do a direct side by side comparison. I will say on my recent trip to Austin the retrobrights are very nice but I can’t say with confidence that the price difference is worth the jump.

Since you already have the Koito upgrade, I’d vote for just upgrading the bulbs and call it a day.

Hope that helps.

Cheers, James

 

[John McVicker]

Ok, I have now fallen off the fence & just ordered a pair of H4 compatible SL2 Pro bulbs to go into my Koito lens on my 60. Won’t get here until next week, will install them for my 2 day drive out to Ouray SAS10.

If I get some nite time driving prior to leaving I will try to remember to post an update.

 

[WSOPgold2012]

i have these and they are incredible!!!

 

[CruiserTrash]

Ok, I have now fallen off the fence & just ordered a pair of H4 compatible SL2 Pro bulbs to go into my Koito lens on my 60. Won’t get here until next week, will install them for my 2 day drive out to Ouray SAS10.

If I get some nite time driving prior to leaving I will try to remember to post an update.

John I recently got a pair of Daniel Stern’s “special-sauce” bulbs for my Koito housings. By far the best I’ve used. They’re clearly made by Osram, but he must have them do some tweaks (or maybe he does that in house). They’re better than the Osrams I was running before.

 

[John McVicker]

Thanks @CruiserTrash my SL2Pro bulbs get here this Friday, after checking/testing them out I will keep Daniel Sterns in mind if needed.

 

[CruiserTrash]

Thanks @CruiserTrash my SL2Pro bulbs get here this Friday, after checking/testing them out I will keep Daniel Sterns in mind if needed.

Looking forward to hearing your report on those bulbs too!

 

[John McVicker]

Hope they’re good. They better be at $250 for two bulbs.

 

[John McVicker]

Ok @DrRock @CruiserTrash or anyone that knows:
A) can you access/remove the dust cover & the old H4 bulb from the BACK, then install the new SL2Pro bulb from the BACK or do need to pull out & remove the Koito housing from the front up by the grill?

My SL2 bulbs have arrived, haven’t started the install yet but there’s not much room to access from the rear and while it might be more finicky from the rear…I believe it would be simpler in the long run.

Any one have any install tips? FJ 60 with Koito H4 bulbs switching to SL2Pro bulbs.

 

[John McVicker]

UPDATE TO MY POST #34:

I’m working on the D/S bulb exchange. Not saying it’s impossible to access everything from the back…but it is difficult & I don’t even have excessively large hands, so I went in from the front & removed the Koito sealed beam housing in order to access/change the bulb.

Cleaned up the OEM contact areas & tested the bulb on/off & it works. not completed with this side yet… a bunch of little stuff to reattach, get it right & put the housing back in. Then go to the P/S.

Total pain in the butt. I’ve always been told that I couldn’t even change a light bulb. Well…I can, but it can be a pain working with 40 year old wiring etc. Gotta be careful.

EDIT 7/17: Ok, got the D/S installed then got called away for the day. Think I will have time to install the P/S tomorrow & hopefully go for a test drive tomorrow night. SL2 Pro LED installation in Koito H4 housing

EDIT 7/18: ok, had time to install P/S bulb. Hopefully a test drive tonight.

 

[John McVicker]

Ok, nite time road test with the SL2 Pro H4 compatible bulbs in to Koito housing on my 60: Color me EXTREMLY impressed.

Used these to replace my Hella 80-100 watt bulbs in my Koito housing. They don’t claim to be the brightest bulbs & looking at numbers they actually aren’t, but they are majorly brighter than what they replaced. And I drove on a bunch of very busy 2 lane roads with my dims on & did not get ‘flashed’ once.

The dims are excellent & the brights are very impressive. If you re considering upgrading your headlights keep these in mind.

 

[BurntToast]

Ok, nite time road test with the SL2 Pro H4 compatible bulbs in to Koito housing on my 60: Color me EXTREMLY impressed.

Used these to replace my Hella 80-100 watt bulbs in my Koito housing. They don’t claim to be the brightest bulbs & looking at numbers they actually aren’t, but they are majorly brighter than what they replaced. And I drove on a bunch of very busy 2 lane roads with my dims on & did not get ‘flashed’ once.

The dims are excellent & the brights are very impressive. If you re considering upgrading your headlights keep these in mind.

View attachment 4179203

I really like what Diode Dynamics is doing, you can tell they are engineers first, salesmen second (for better or worse)

 

[CruiserTrash]

Ok, nite time road test with the SL2 Pro H4 compatible bulbs in to Koito housing on my 60: Color me EXTREMLY impressed.

Used these to replace my Hella 80-100 watt bulbs in my Koito housing. They don’t claim to be the brightest bulbs & looking at numbers they actually aren’t, but they are majorly brighter than what they replaced. And I drove on a bunch of very busy 2 lane roads with my dims on & did not get ‘flashed’ once.

The dims are excellent & the brights are very impressive. If you re considering upgrading your headlights keep these in mind.

View attachment 4179203

How is the beam pattern John? Usually LED bulbs in housings meant for halogens don’t do very well. Perhaps Diode Dynamics has figured it out though. I’d love to see a photo of the lights shining in the dark, taken from the driver’s seat.

 

[John McVicker]

Sorry @CruiserTrash but I did not take any nite time pictures of my beam pattern with the new bulbs.

The only thing I can say is I did not get flashed by any oncoming cars during my test, and part of my own personal test was to park about 25 feet from vacant building & put the lights on dim/bright. I saw nothing out of the ordinary.

These bulbs from Diode Dynamics are designed to be ‘H4 Compatible’ which are sealed beams, so I’m assuming they are designed in order to have a proper beam pattern.

My unscientific opinion after testing is the beam pattern is just fine…& really has much improved our nite time driving experience. Getting ready for our SAS10 drive.

EDIT 7/20/26: And remember these SL2 PRO’s replaced Hella 80-100 watt bulbs which weren’t bad, but these are a major improvement over even those.