LED Headlight help 2007 GX 470 - Do I need the Anti flicker capacitor?

[rtpatter]

I am wanting to replace the low/high/fog lights with LEDs. I have looked over the forums and I can't find anything that clearly shows where I can buy a replacement for all 3. The only thing I have found on the web is www.xenonhids.com but they want $100 pair. I am guessing I can replace all 3 light sets with a reasonable quality product for less than $300 but I can't seem to find a one stop shop to purchase from. I am not sure how to tell which bulb is low beam vs High beam vs Fog but I will need all 3 and like them to come from the same place so that they match.

Also considering an RGB led but not sure what can of worms that may open

Thanks
Russ

 

[Tawcoma26]

Amazon. I replaced both low and high beams on my '08 GX. I won't say the brand so it doesn't seem like I'm advertising. But for the the most part, find something with solid reviews, something that fits your liking, whether its color or lumens. Ming you spent no more than 90 bucks for both pairs.

As for the fog lights; H3 bulb. It's best to find a complete replacement. I tried more than a handful of LED bulbs, and none put out more lumens than the halogen. It was either the housing or output that didn't work out.

Good luck!

 

[MIGX470]

I have Hikari eye of Megatron headlight bulbs. I opted for some yellow foggies. Fog lights are still not great. 70 bucks all around. I spent 14 on an LED interior kit and I like the change. It came with runningboard and licence plate bulbs too. The biggest difference is in the reverse lights. WOW. Huge improvement there.

I have no flicker issues after 6 months or so.

 

[Mrpinortiner]

Unpopular opinion here. LEDs never worked out for me. My commute is on dark rainy country roads. I've tried several different LED brands, and while they seem to be bright standing in front of my rig (lighting up signs like the sun) they just don't match the throw distance of swapping out the H11s for H9s. I run 60-70 mph and need to actually see. All the LED headlight bulbs I have tried just give the illusion of brightness. I'll stick with a halogen bulb every time.

 

[andymmiami]

I contemplated LED headlights for my gx470 but read the reviews of many people who used them and their preferenace to go with Hids. So I bought HID headlights from xenon depot and I have been very happy with them. I did not need to use the relay, they plugged in to the factory connectors and work great.

 

[se7enine]

You'll never get the best results from a drop in HID or LED bulb in projector designed for a halogen bulb.

 

[rtpatter]

After some research, almost everything I have read says that if you simply put LED or HID bulbs in a halogen projector you are headed for a disaster. That most likely lighting will not improve and that you will potentially be blinding oncoming drivers. For offroading this wouldn't be an issue but since this car will be driven mostly on the street and raised a couple of inches I wouldn't want the beam going in the wrong direction or be obnoxiously bright. So the question are the experts right or should I go ahead an stick LED bulbs in the halogen housing?

 

[se7enine]

After some research, almost everything I have read says that if you simply put LED or HID bulbs in a halogen projector you are headed for a disaster. That most likely lighting will not improve and that you will potentially be blinding oncoming drivers. For offroading this wouldn't be an issue but since this car will be driven mostly on the street and raised a couple of inches I wouldn't want the beam going in the wrong direction or be obnoxiously bright. So the question are the experts right or should I go ahead an stick LED bulbs in the halogen housing?

Well it isn't as bad in a projector housing because it has a cutoff that will minimize glare. The stock headlight projectors however have a tab that produces a glare that needs to be bent out of the way and coated with some dull paint to eliminate that glare. The aftermarket depot lights don't have this tab so it's a non issue in those. You can see it here, there is still lots of glare above the cutoff where there should be none so it's up to you but be assured it will bother some drivers.

 

[rtpatter]

Thanks are those Xenon depot bulbs, low beam I presume. That photo is the best understanding of what many have been describing on the forums now I can actually see what they are talking about, but at the same time those lights do look better than the stock halogens the glare seems like it would be minimal but maybe not for oncoming traffic.

 

[se7enine]

Thanks are those Xenon depot bulbs, low beam I presume. That photo is the best understanding of what many have been describing on the forums now I can actually see what they are talking about, but at the same time those lights do look better than the stock halogens the glare seems like it would be minimal but maybe not for oncoming traffic.

In the picture it looks minimal because of how close to the wall it is. At 25' it will look even worse although it should at that point start to drop down a couple inches if the headlights are aimed properly but the tab on the projector unless modified shoots light up so that still will cause enough glare to make one reconsider.

 

[rtpatter]

So I’m assuming your are still running these bulbs are did you go back to stock halogens? I’m wondering if we raise the front suspension 2” and then add these bulbs if we are to blind oncoming drivers. Honestly if it is just what you are showing in the picture I think I could live with that.

 

[se7enine]

So I’m assuming your are still running these bulbs are did you go back to stock halogens? I’m wondering if we raise the front suspension 2” and then add these bulbs if we are to blind oncoming drivers. Honestly if it is just what you are showing in the picture I think I could live with that.

No, this isn't my vehicle. I'm running H9 HID's but I have aftermarket DEPO headlights so there is no glare at all. I did test them in my OEM housing and with the tab I talked about in those projectors it had more glare. I'm doing a retrofit of LED projectors in those so glare will not be an issue at all.

 

[andymmiami]

So I’m assuming your are still running these bulbs are did you go back to stock halogens? I’m wondering if we raise the front suspension 2” and then add these bulbs if we are to blind oncoming drivers. Honestly if it is just what you are showing in the picture I think I could live with that.

You can angle the headlights for oncoming traffic to prevent it from blinding them. Drive your car up to a wall at night and adjust the angle of the beam.

FWIW, my suspension is stock springs with bilstein 5100 shock. On the shocks I used the second from the lowest spring perch which gave my front a slight (maybe 1.2 to 1.5 inch) life and I have the HID lights from xenon depot. Light output is fantastic on the highway now.

I used to be against converting from halogen to HID lights but our housings have projectors not reflectors and the results were quite astonishing. I used to commute about 80 miles a day on the highway and I wanted better light output shortly after I bought my gx for my late at night drives home. I am happy with my light choice and would happily recommend and buy it again.

 

[intoodeep1113]

I installed some 9600 Lumen Hikari LED low beam bulbs that I bought on sale at amazon for $25 in a Lightning deal. The color was nice and white, but overall I felt like they didnt actually put out much light. Whenever a car would drive by with HIDs or factory LEDs my headlights would disappear! They werent so dim that they were useless or dangerous, but there wasnt really more light than stock either, just whiter light.

Anyway, I have an HID kit on order. Ill see how that goes.

 

[se7enine]

I installed some 9600 Lumen Hikari LED low beam bulbs that I bought on sale at amazon for $25 in a Lightning deal. The color was nice and white, but overall I felt like they didnt actually put out much light. Whenever a car would drive by with HIDs or factory LEDs my headlights would disappear! They werent so dim that they were useless or dangerous, but there wasnt really more light than stock either, just whiter light.

Anyway, I have an HID kit on order. Ill see how that goes.

I feel the same with the HID's I have as well. They are brighter than the stock halogens but not as good as my G5-R projectors with D2S HIDs. It's hard to beat a projector designed for HID's or an LED projector. I'm waiting on my LED projectors to arrive. The output looks to be as good as my G5-R's if not better.

 

[intoodeep1113]

I installed my HID kit the other day. It is miles beyond the LED low beams I had. They don't instantly turn on like LEDs but much brighter, more even, and better throw.
I'll throw a pic in for fun. Not that headlight pictures are all that useful... The slight glare is visible on mine as well.

 

[rtpatter]

i went ahead and ordered LEDs just for simplicity install; if it doesn’t work out then it looks like HIDs maybe the answer. Just wasn’t convinced I could get them wired up properly so I’m gonna try the plug and play first. Thanks for the pic.

 

[captainva]

The LEDs are plug and play in the GX for either low or high beam. A capacitor is only needed if you're replacing a bulb used for DRL since some cars pulse the voltage to make them run at reduced output and the capacitor prevents this flicker in such a scenario.

 

[intoodeep1113]

FYI, the HIDs are plug and play as well. You just have to plug a ballast in and zip tie or double stick tape it somewhere. I thought the same thing, that they required some sort of wiring harness and relays etc. I believe some cars require this, but mine didn't even with 55W lights. I'm sure all LEDs are not the same, I hope you enjoy yours!

se7enine - The stock headlight projectors however have a tab that produces a glare that needs to be bent out of the way and coated with some dull paint to eliminate that glare.

Do you have any more details on this? I didnt see any obvious tab, but I do see the same glare.

 

[se7enine]

Do you have any more details on this? I didnt see any obvious tab, but I do see the same glare.

The tab is similar to this. Even after it is bent flat the top still causes some glare near the cutoff. That's why I suggested painting the tab near the cutoff it to try and eliminate the glare.

You can't break it off either because there is a hole under the cutoff that will allow glare and unwanted light above the cutoff.