HID Install on '08 LX570 sucessful, - question about new issue with brighter light

[dogshine]

I ordered the phillips 35w HID bulb replacement from xenon depot and spoke to Steve about what was needed to install. It comes with wiring that just plugs into the factory harness inside the light housing and all you need to do is cut a simple hole with a dremel in the headlight cover for the wires to come out to the ballast and return to light the bulb. Start to finish for a newbie was 1.5 hours total after cleaning up.

The headlights have the dynamic projectors which were great with the yellow light that came out before, but it is a totally different world now. The new bulbs put out bright white light and so much more that it feels like a brand new car compared to before. The dynamic function works just as before, it just has a lot more light to play with.

HERES THE ISSUE- there is so much light that I now see movement on the ground from the bulb moving around in the dynamic fixture when I drive thru rough streets. Maybe it was happening before and I couldn't tell because the light was so bad... or maybe the wires are putting tension on the dynamic fixture and helping create a force that can move the bulbs when I hit the bumps. It looks to the driver like a headlight is loose and moving around a little but the bulbs are in right and its the dynamic assembly that is moving.

I'm wondering if the length/position of the wires going back into the headlight cover is putting the back of the bulb in a bind ever so slightly and it shows itself over bumps.

Does anyone else have any experience here?

 

[JtBrown]

My land cruiser oem hids do the same thing over rough roads. If there was a issue in the system I promise the car will not hesitate to tell you... If you dont leave enough play with the wires a light will come on the dash for the adaptive headlights.

I know this because I almost bought a 2011 570 and researched this modification and a lot of the guys installing the kits had the light come on because of not leaving enough slack for projectors to move.

 

[electro992]

I just did this a few weekends ago on my 2010 LX and noticed the exact same thing. The AFS is working fine and the bulbs are secure in the socket.

 

[RussBow6]

buy this one: H11 Xenon Conversion | XenonDepot Xtreme H11 HID Kit ?

with the phillips 4300k option? and we need the CanBus looks like, correct?

looking at post #5 & 7 from this thread: How do I know if I need a canbus? [Toyota Prado 2010 TXL] - HiDplanet : The Official Automotive Lighting Forum

 

[Docboy]

I've been debating HIDs vs LEDs for awhile. Haven't decided yet.

OP, would you mind posting pics of the housing showing the installed HIDs and where you drilled the holes?

The LEDs look like a direct bulb swap with the poor halogens, and seems very simple compared to the HID installs....

 

[tabraha]

@Docboy I did a cheap Amazon LED swap from my halogens and it was a definite upgrade. I'd had good luck with them on my Polaris so I figured what the heck, worst case I just box 'em up and send 'em back to amazon. They aren't quite xenon level IMO but for $39/pair you won't hear me complain! I also swapped the high beams for the same LED's and once again it can't quite compete with my bi-xenon retrofit on my 100 but it can hold it's own all day against the OEM LED lights on our 2016. Makes the 2008 LX look much more modern. It's very non-offensive to oncoming traffic courtesy of the nice projector optics Lexus uses; in fact I find our 2016 to be much more offending when the wife is driving it behind me. I think I may need to dial the aim down slightly on it. Perhaps that may not have been looked at by the dealer when we bought it. Back to the 08 LX, I did have to disable the DRL's to do the high beams but I just run the lows full-time when I want DRL's.

Only issue with the LED's is the fan housing on the rear of the bulb does not allow the dust cover to fit on the low beam housing (high beam is good to go IIRC). I need to get a spacer for that. They have a really beefy o-ring so I'm not too concerned about dust/grime getting in the projector housing, mainly need the cover to keep the fans clean.

 

[richxd87]

This is all you need to do to the rear cap to fit the hid wires through. I think it was a 7/8" hole saw?

 

[TonyP]

The thing with the aftermarket LEDs is they only last a year or so, at most. Most didn't last six months in my experience. I had "high quality" led diodes in my 4Runner and they s*** the bed every several months. They do have a lifetime warranty but that doesn't do you any good when it's night time and your headlights won't turn on. It got to the point of me having to carry regular halogens as backup. I did like the output quite a bit so I dealt with it.

 

[dogshine]

holes are as posted above. the light is much brighter than in my other cars... and the active headlights are great. HID is a no brainer IMO... I haven't made many mods on the 200, but this is one I would do again.

 

[Docboy]

For those with the HID kit from xenon depot, how long have the bulbs lasted?

 

[RunTheDistance]

Anyone else do this? I am looking to upgrade my headlights and would prefer HID to LED.