I think Depo are generally an exception to this. I've seen nothing but praise for that brand.
Dull Headlights- 100 series
- Thread starter SDCORT
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I think Depo are generally an exception to this. I've seen nothing but praise for that brand.
You could do the same process required for a retrofit with heating them, pulling the glass, and cleaning them if you wished. It's a bit of work but no more involved than greasing wheel bearings or changing spark plugs.
ranma21
Supporting Vendor
Yes Depo is one if the best when it comes to aftermarket lamp.
Diode Dynamics are excellent. I upgraded both low and high beams for about $300. I did a lot of research on LED bulbs prior to making my decision. Visibility at night is much, much better and best of all, the light is is focused and is NOT blinding to oncoming drivers. This last point was very important to me and I was not willing to keep them, if they were blinding to other drivers. I tested them when I first installed...the light pattern looks like any other car when driving head-on at night.
Sorry to bring this old thread back up, but given we are now in 2025, are there any new bulb upgrades that apply? I have stock headlights, look to be in decent enough condition but dipped bulbs aren't good at all, full beam aren't too bad but with dipped it's proving to be a bit dangerous (I'm not sure what bulbs are in there).
What are the best options in 2025 for a bulb upgrade? Thanks
What are the best options in 2025 for a bulb upgrade? Thanks
Saw a thread on TEQ Customs recently, and felt that I’d miss my glass lenses on my 98 LC. Upgrading to the Diode Dynamics LEDs seems like a reasonable middle ground, and would be a massive step up from the candles that get lit when I turn my lights on… Would love to hear from others on viable LED bulbs that aren’t as awful as those cheap ones I see driving down the road.
My understanding is that any LED bulbs require the appropriate projector type headlights/retrofitted projectors or the pattern is more of a spray and pray (the type you see blinding other people on the road).
I quite like the stock look, I'm hoping there is a solution somewhere!
Thanks
They use stock reflectors? Just a bulb replacement, or more surgery required?
Stock reflectors; no surgery. Note that the high and low beams are sold as separately. I did the lows first and wasn’t planning on doing the highs - I thought they were fine. The lows are brighter and whiter (not blue) than the OE lows AND highs. The highs went in soon after.
The best way to describe the lights is “current” - they just look and perform like a 2024 truck.
Soon after upgrading the 100, my wife and I were coming home from dinner in my ‘84 Pickup. She asked “are the headlights on?” I said “of course”, but also checked. They were about as bright as an iPhone. I ordered a headlight kit for that truck the next day.
The best way to describe the lights is “current” - they just look and perform like a 2024 truck.
Soon after upgrading the 100, my wife and I were coming home from dinner in my ‘84 Pickup. She asked “are the headlights on?” I said “of course”, but also checked. They were about as bright as an iPhone. I ordered a headlight kit for that truck the next day.
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How is the beam pattern? Do you get glare or do they have a clean cutoff? I don't want to be blinding folks or getting flashed (by oncoming headlights) all the time.
Did you go with the 4300k bulb color?
I bought the 5000k which is a pure white
See my post in "what did your LC get for Christmas "
Perfect headlight. Fantastic Upgrade.
After seeing everyone complain about their headlights I finally decided that the stock 9005 bulbs in mine were borderline dangerous to use at night. Today I did the 9011 bulb modification, and after driving tonight I am going to join the side of - it’s just barely enough.
Maybe double the brightness of the 9005 I had in there, but with these bulbs running $25/ea I would ultimately be better off putting that into an HID kit. Not a bad alternative, but the lights are still sub par compared to anything else on the road. I’ll be adding retrofits to my upgrade list when it’s a bit warmer out.
Maybe double the brightness of the 9005 I had in there, but with these bulbs running $25/ea I would ultimately be better off putting that into an HID kit. Not a bad alternative, but the lights are still sub par compared to anything else on the road. I’ll be adding retrofits to my upgrade list when it’s a bit warmer out.
Hey @Manhattan, did you go with the stock 35W ballast and/or Morimoto harness?
Also, it looks like your LC has the stock plastic headlights or are they Depo?
