Best Headlight Upgrade?

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billyw

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I have a 2015 1500 with projectors. I'm interested in a high quality headlight upgrade. HID? LED? Complete aftermarket LED assembly? Brands? Models? I won't say that price is not a concern, but I'm willing to pay for a good solution. Are LED bulbs even (technically) street legal yet?
 

danielmid

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Best is going to be opinion based, I run the 35w Morimoto HID kit in my 2015 projectors, good light output and I'm happy with it.

If I had the money, I'd be running Morimoto XB led headlights. That's my opinion of best.
 

A_mod_too_far

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I wondered the same, looked at options on headlight revolution and retrofit source. Watched youtube reviews, read stuff on here, it seemed to me hid kits had mixed reviews and leds generally positive. I think led is the safer route with less chance of headache if you just want brighter light. I ended up sticking with halogens for now but will probably get some leds in the future. I dont think brand is important for led, performance is all pretty similiar from what I saw. Street legal? It's kind of gray area but doesnt seem to be important, I couldn't understand the dot regulation when I read it and I doubt anyone else understands it either.
I have heard leds dont melt snow and most require extended dust cover caps.
If you go aftermarket headlight assemblies just dont do the amazon cheapos, do a reliable brand and you should be fine.
 
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billyw

billyw

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Good feedback so far. I'm particularly curious about HID output and reliability, and LED output as far as coverage and clean cutoff. If I knew I could get those things I would likely opt for LED bulbs, but don't want to endure the install process only to have to start over while negotiating returns and replacements. That's why I made the street legal comment. I figure if there was one, it would definitely have the right pattern. Those Morimoto assemblies look awesome. Are there other well regarded packages?
 

danielmid

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Good feedback so far. I'm particularly curious about HID output and reliability, and LED output as far as coverage and clean cutoff. If I knew I could get those things I would likely opt for LED bulbs, but don't want to endure the install process only to have to start over while negotiating returns and replacements. That's why I made the street legal comment. I figure if there was one, it would definitely have the right pattern. Those Morimoto assemblies look awesome. Are there other well regarded packages?
 

brianw0048

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I have cheap eBay projectors with a 55w 4300k Amazon HID kit. It’s worked fine for 3 years or so but there were some issues getting it to all work initially.

I just got a set of AlphaRex pro headlights that look like the 2500 lights (top/bottom drl). I’m gonna put the same HID kit in them and probably LED in the highs.

lows only.

61070348-E0E0-4D12-A5E1-325346E48030.jpeg
 
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billyw

billyw

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danielmid

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Yeah, that video is what sent me here. It explains a lot but leaves gaps, especially RAM specific. I'm not certain my OEM projectors are even close to the clean patterns shown in that video.
They should be fairly clean, pull to a wall and check them out. Our Durango has cleaner cutoff, but the Ram is very crisp also.
 

danielmid

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PXL_20221122_224630335.jpg

This was my proof to myself I needed to reaim which I did later. But you can see the break line.
 

Phirebeard

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I have the Underground Lighting HIDs (kit) in my aftermarket projectors (OE style). I've had no issues in the 9 months they've been installed. Really happy with them. I had LEDs in my previous vehicle and they were bright, but required several test fits to get the clocking correct and the high beams did nothing. The LEDs were cheap ones off of Amazon.
 

One Mile Up

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FWIW -- I posted up here what I recently purchased for my '17 2500 (w/projectors)... I really like the upgrades -- they are literally night and day different from the factory halogens.

After getting this all installed and using it for a few weeks now - I can say that the fog lights I purchased are the REAL deal when it comes to blowing my mind with how bright everything is now. The Morimoto (low beams) are pretty great -- but to me, I think they are still lacking just a bit. I kinda wonder if it's the fact that there is a vertical "dead-spot" in the center of the projector lens(es)... I don't think you have that with HID's. :think: I am definitely able to see some dead-spots in the light output when I am driving with JUST the low beams... not terrible, but it's there -- and it bugs me a bit... lol.

I mostly just drive with my fogs and low's on tho -- so I'm a pretty happy camper!

img_8401-heic-jpeg.jpg
 

hunterdan

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FWIW -- I posted up here what I recently purchased for my '17 2500 (w/projectors)... I really like the upgrades -- they are literally night and day different from the factory halogens.

After getting this all installed and using it for a few weeks now - I can say that the fog lights I purchased are the REAL deal when it comes to blowing my mind with how bright everything is now. The Morimoto (low beams) are pretty great -- but to me, I think they are still lacking just a bit. I kinda wonder if it's the fact that there is a vertical "dead-spot" in the center of the projector lens(es)... I don't think you have that with HID's. :think: I am definitely able to see some dead-spots in the light output when I am driving with JUST the low beams... not terrible, but it's there -- and it bugs me a bit... lol.

I mostly just drive with my fogs and low's on tho -- so I'm a pretty happy camper!

View attachment 510105
The dead spot in the center is definitely from the LED. I've found the LEDs just don't quite work as well in projectors. Hids do a far better job. I've tried numerous LEDs and ALWAYS end up back to hid. I'm almost to the point where I'm ready to swap the projector in my housings to a much higher quality g5 projector to get a much more even beam pattern.
 

A_mod_too_far

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The dead spot in the center is definitely from the LED. I've found the LEDs just don't quite work as well in projectors. Hids do a far better job. I've tried numerous LEDs and ALWAYS end up back to hid. I'm almost to the point where I'm ready to swap the projector in my housings to a much higher quality g5 projector to get a much more even beam pattern.

What is a g5 projector? Looked on google couldn't find
 

Hemi_Powa

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LEDs are not great in projectors made for halogen or HID but they are great as fog lights. On my last 2016 I got an HID set made for the Ram projects from headlight revolution, GTR I think it was. Not cheap but far better than just universal HID. Cutoff was perfect and so was reliability. Also got LED color matched fogs. I would do both as the combo was night and day bright. Each were great but the combo was very bright. I recommend checking out headlight revolution
 

brianw0048

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LEDs are not great in projectors made for halogen or HID but they are great as fog lights. On my last 2016 I got an HID set made for the Ram projects from headlight revolution, GTR I think it was. Not cheap but far better than just universal HID. Cutoff was perfect and so was reliability. Also got LED color matched fogs. I would do both as the combo was night and day bright. Each were great but the combo was very bright. I recommend checking out headlight revolution
I’m losing my confidence in LEDs in stock fog light housings. I have LEDs in my truck and the wife’s suv. They’re not bad in my truck, but she gets flashed all the time; they just throw light everywhere. But pull up to a wall and they’re aimed well…
 

HotTunaCartel

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I did some testing with led bulbs in my 22 warlock and found some interesting things.
The most noticeable is the complete dead spot that the led "shaft" produces (see picture 5), I'm assuming any led bulb that has two sides will produce this in projectors, it makes sense because there is a rectangular area that isn't producing light. In picture 3 you can see a dead spot on the bottom, the halogen has a darker spot in the same area but its not a dead spot. I did notice while driving with the leds that there were quite a bit of shadows out in front. Anyway I thought people would like to see.
led & halogen
 
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