H11 Low/Hi Beam Replacements for 2009- Anything decent out there?

[Procto21]

I have a new to me 2009 LC and have used the search feature. Goal is to get whiter and brighter with no major mods. Is there a plug and play set many are using for 2008-2011 models?

Halogen- yes, you can get whiter halogens, but they are not as bright and don’t last as long - based on what I can find.

xenon- most I have found require additional drivers or extensive mods or drilling. Like the 2013-2015 set, but won’t replace entire housing at time.

led- many have their own plug and play drivers but do not work well in the high beam arena. Would love to convert to all LED lights if possible but wanted to start at the low/hi beams.
any help would be appreciated.

 

[afgman786]

I got LEDs off Amazon for my Hi and Lo beams. Only downside is I have to always run my lights on until I can get a hold of a techstream to turn off the DRL function.

 

[CharlieS]

I used the Hikari Eye of Megatron LEDs from Amazon in my '13. It has HIDs, so I didn't use them there. I threw the cheaper Hikari LEDs in the fogs.

 

[Ratchey]

I just installed these into my 2009. Lost the DRL but I can run the driving lights if needed for that.

HIKARI LED Headlight Bulbs Conversion Kit- H11(H8, H9), 2019 New Gen of HIKARI, Adjustable Beam, 9600lm 6K Cool White

HIKARI LED Headlight Bulbs Conversion Kit-9005(HB3), 2019 New Gen of HIKARI, Adjustable Beam, 9600lm 6K Cool White

HIKARI Ultra LED Headlight Bulbs Conversion Kit -H11(H8,H9), Prime LED 12000lm 6K Cool White

Plus I replaced almost every other non-led bulb as well

 

[40Man]

I got LEDs off Amazon for my Hi and Lo beams. Only downside is I have to always run my lights on until I can get a hold of a techstream to turn off the DRL function.

I believe you can turn off the DRL through the touchscreen in the 2009 and above.

 

[afgman786]

I believe you can turn off the DRL through the touchscreen in the 2009 and above.

I have a 2008. I haven't checked again since I first installed the lights to see if I missed the setting. I just run the lights on it doesn't bother me too much.

 

[Tommy Dwyer]

I have a 2010LC, updated highs, lows, and fogs to the Hikari Eye of Megatron LED’s, and have been very pleased. Turned off DRL function in the system menu. Gonna do a little digging when I have some time to see if I can get DRL to work, but its not a big problem / priority.

 

[mep1811]

I use this website for my lighting needs. This is one web business where the phone is answered. The owner is very knowledgeable about lighting and will direct you to the best bulbs.

Auxiliary Lamps

Hella has a broad selection of Auxiliary Lamps, Driving Lamps, Fog Lamps, Rear Fog Lamps, Day Time Running lamps including Halogen, HID and LED.

www.rallylights.com

 

[bloc]

I’m personally not a fan of the more blue/white light of most LEDs when driving in mist/fog/rain/snow. It dramatically increases glare. The philips HIR bulbs are VERY bright options while staying away from cheap Chinese LEDs. They fit with a very small modification done with wire cutters. You won’t be disappointed.

 

[mep1811]

I think just replacing you bulbs with higher output bulbs of the same type would be best. There are bulbs that are 100% brighter available.

I have H11 120% bulbs in my Porsche cayenne and they are great.

 

[Taco2Cruiser]

ARB IPF H11 LED Headlight Bulbs - 301HLB2

Whether you're looking to maintain, optimize, or upgrade, we offer competitive pricing on ARB IPF H11 LED Headlight Bulbs - 301HLB2 for your Truck or Jeep at 4 Wheel Parts. With our selection of quality brands and expert advice, we help boost your vehicle's performance and make a statement on or...

www.4wheelparts.com

Just offering another option for anyone interested.

I'm a fan of IPF lighting. ARB has been going with them for some time. I have the first version of these and they are very, very bright. Perfectly white, not blueish or anything. Also there is no separate ballast to mount somewhere. Just a wire to plug into the factory harness, that's it.

The new version is a little brighter and offers better cooling (I couldn't even imagine brighter, I don't plan to ever add auxiliary lighting because these are all I need)

 

[stithis]

I got LEDs off Amazon for my Hi and Lo beams. Only downside is I have to always run my lights on until I can get a hold of a techstream to turn off the DRL function.

I believe you can turn off the DRL on ur navi under setup.

 

[fasteddie2015]

I went with diode dynamics for drl/hi and fogs on my 2015. Not cheap but color is great, beam is very even. Ballast is on the cable and easy to mount. Their customer service is great. Broke the bayonet on one of the fogs because the fit was tight. They replaced the bulb and gave me suggestions for installing. I do wish the hi beams were a bit better aimed. They really light up the signs on the right side of the road. Was getting a slight flicker on the drl and had to add the anti-flicker modules.

The yellow fogs are a great option. With poorly lit roads and a lot of deer in our neighborhood, the fogs are great for lighting up the periphery.

A little off topic, but diode dynamics also offers an led array that comes with a variety of plug options. I replaced the rear dome bulb with it and it really lights up the cargo area. Bright and great color.

 

[stithis]

Any pictures? I'm nervous that if I change bulbs on my 2011, the reflector might be to bright unlike projectors

 

[Reckless]

I took Taco's advice and I am also very happy. I also put the IPF high beam bulbs in my fogs but dont think it makes much difference. I do get alot of drunk people flipping me off at night as my mechanic didn't bother pointing the bulbs down when he installed them.

 

[stithis]

How do you aim the lights down??

 

[stithis]

I took Taco's advice and I am also very happy. I also put the IPF high beam bulbs in my fogs but dont think it makes much difference. I do get alot of drunk people flipping me off at night as my mechanic didn't bother pointing the bulbs down when he installed them.

Are the fogs h11 as well?

 

[timjax]

I would definitely go LED for the light output and reliablity.

But not all LED bulbs are created equal. The vast majority of them do not have a clean cutoff line and will blind oncoming drivers. Well-designed ones mimic the throw and spread of a traditional halogen bulb, so it takes advantage of the housing reflectors naturally - how the housings were designed from the factory. Some will also be too blue of a color temperature (>6500k) and look unnatural, or not offer the best brightness possible.

BulbFacts | Aftermarket LED Kits Chart - Comparing to Halogen in Reflector Headlights & Foglights

Bulb Facts, Lab testing on automotive headlight & foglight bulbs, comparison chart before you buy.

www.bulbfacts.com

Here's an unbiased website I used that compares many of the LED bulbs on the market. It tests bulbs in both reflector and projector housings and ranks them accordingly. It also shows a wealth of information about the throw pattern, color temperature, increase in brightness versus typical halogen, internal cooling, etc.

From those impartial ratings, Nineo II is the best budget option and Hikari Ultra is the best mid-tier option on Amazon for reflector housings (what you have in your 2009).

I personally used Nineo II for the high and low beams in our 2008 Seqouia, and it is perfect. Good color temperature (slightly on the cool side, but fairly pure white), crisp and safe cutoff line, absolutely incredible brightness and spread, and has been reliable for the past year or so. I also replaced the fog lights at the same time. All in all, it only cost ~$100 total to replace all the bulbs with LED.

Make sure to re-aim your headlights properly after installing.

 

[Reckless]

Are the fogs h11 as well?

Yes, for 2009. You point bulbs down if you dont like blinding people. Very bright. I have a new problem, my dads S-class with fancy high powered xenons feel dim to me and I have to strain my eyes at night. With my LC, I can see deer shadows more than half mile away clear as day. At first I didn't like being the jerk on the road with the bright headlights but now I depend on them. I am a knight rider and drive 80mph most of the time an hour every night. With my Icons and the 5.7L 80mph feels like the sweet spot. Since the LC doesnt have AMG stop on a dime brakes I need more light to anticipate a situation. The IPF LED upgrade was my second favorite after the suspension.

 

[bloc]

For the record I’m one of the few that didn’t like my IPFs. Color and pattern weren’t acceptable compared to the HIRs I mentioned above.