Halogen Lighting Upgrade - Report (1 Viewer)

[Irishpilot]

Hey all,

I’ve seen some recent posts about folks looking for HID and LED headlight upgrades. Per previous forum recommendations, I contacted Daniel Stern and followed his advice for my LC. I ordered new OEM housings and replaced the bulbs with HIR series bulbs. Below is the parts and attached is a picture of the low beams on a dark country road. The change is pretty substantial.

• Fog Lights - Vosla Ultimate Fog Slicer
• High beam bulbs - Toshiba HIR1 (9011)
• Low beam bulbs - Vosla HIR2 (9012)

 

[toyuda]

Hey all,

I’ve seen some recent posts about folks looking for HID and LED headlight upgrades. Per previous forum recommendations, I contacted Daniel Stern and followed his advice for my LC. I ordered new OEM housings and replaced the bulbs with HIR series bulbs. Below is the parts and attached is a picture of the low beams on a dark country road. The change is pretty substantial.

• Fog Lights - Vosla Ultimate Fog Slicer
• High beam bulbs - Toshiba HIR1 (9011)
• Low beam bulbs - Vosla HIR2 (9012)

View attachment 3863293

Nice!
How much did the new housings set you back?

 

[Irishpilot]

Nice!
How much did the new housings set you back?

$500 for both headlights. Another $200 for six bulbs. My old housings were polished several times and original. It was time for new ones.

I’ve been buying OEM for most of the big items as I baseline my LC. Headlights, valve cover gaskets, rear hatch struts, hoses, air filter, spark plugs, etc. I figure if it lasted 19 years and 200k, it’ll be good for another 200k.

 

[caffecapri]

I did the same low beams for mine. Quite the difference. One burned out recently so I replaced just the one with Phillips and the less light is substantial. I ordered my replacement from Daniel today.

 

[Irishpilot]

I did the same low beams for mine. Quite the difference. One burned out recently so I replaced just the one with Phillips and the less light is substantial. I ordered my replacement from Daniel today.

How long did you get out of the bulb before it burned out?

 

[Jack90210]

The headlights in my '07 LX are about the best of any halogen-equipped vehicle that I've ever driven. I suspect that the causes behind the complaints of low headlight output are similar to those of other vehicles:

Voltage drop as measured at the connectors
Cable/connection corrosion
Faded reflective material in the housing
Hazed lenses

Secondary problems (that affect the driver's night vision/brightness perception) include dash lights cranked up and fog lights turned on -- either of those will actually make it harder to see at night.

I'll have to check out those bulbs. Daniel Stern is a great resource and a cool guy.

 

[Live to Ski]

sources for the housings?

I've been circling this for a few years as the reflective coating on mine are toast. tried a russian ebay version years ago. quality was s&*t (wrong lamp clocking, etc). was able to get my $ back and keep the housings as it was right around the time of ukrain invasion AND I had anal documentation for the cc to stop payment.

Plan was to oven/disassemble the russian housing and move reflector to factory housing. Older I get new genuine OEM housing become more economical (and appropriate per Mr. Stern's expert advice on OEM housings (posted in another thread)).

 

[toyuda]

The headlights in my '07 LX are about the best of any halogen-equipped vehicle that I've ever driven. I suspect that the causes behind the complaints of low headlight output are similar to those of other vehicles:

Voltage drop as measured at the connectors
Cable/connection corrosion
Faded reflective material in the housing
Hazed lenses

Secondary problems (that affect the driver's night vision/brightness perception) include dash lights cranked up and fog lights turned on -- either of those will actually make it harder to see at night.

I'll have to check out those bulbs. Daniel Stern is a great resource and a cool guy.

You forgot to mention the cataracts now developing in those who in midlife bought their 100 series new.

 

[caffecapri]

How long did you get out of the bulb before it burned out?

About a year but the other one is still working great.

 

[Live to Ski]

You forgot to mention the cataracts now developing in those who in midlife bought their 100 series new.

dang, that's depressing but relevant