So many decisions ...so confused? LED vs HID vs OEM Headhlight Bulbs

[Claude Thompson]

Putco Nitro Lux LED in headlights and fogs work great with no error codes.

 

[slickwilly63]

After years of dealing with HIDs (bulbs and ballasts going out; etc.) I recently switched to Diode Dynamics SL1 LED bulbs in my ‘16 Ram Laramie - very happy with them! The bulb and canbus module both fit inside the projector housing, so no need to drill a hole in the dust cover. Have had them installed in the Ram for a few months now with no flickering or error messages on dash. Liked them so much in the Ram that I installed them in my ‘19 Scat Pack Charger with same great results.

Having run both HIDs and now LEDs in the Ram, I can say that the light output of the HIDs was better than the current LEDs, but the LEDs are hella better than the stock halogens! I also notice that no one flashes their brights at me since I installed the LEDs, which tells me they function better in the projector housings (less scatter than the HIDs).

I 2nd everything you said

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[jamphotostudio]

Unfortunately Diode Dynamics doesn't have anything for my 2020 1500. I guess I'll keep looking!

 

[joesstripclub]

I posted this in another headlight thread, but I bought these led's off aliexpress (https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32914153555.html?spm=a2g0s.9042311.0.0.4ceb4c4dSd1vy5) and have been running them in both my cars in projectors for about a year now with no issues. They come with canbus and resistors built in so they are just plug an play, and for under $20 its hard to beat the price. I liked them so much I bought high beams and fogs as well.

 

[Atcer2018]

Just went through this same scenario last year. I have a 2018 BigHorn with stock reflectors and they were horrible. I also have three other vehicles and two teenage drivers so I’ve been round and round with vehicle lighting. I hated the stock Ram reflectors with halogen bulbs. At highway speeds you could easily out drive the light throw and side to side visibility was not good. I found a lot of info online about the pros and cons of LED and HID bulbs. LED seemed to be the easiest and most efficient route since HIDs are not recommended for reflector housings. Try www.bulbfacts.com as a good starting point for info on various bulbs available today. Amazon has a huge availability of LED bulbs and a very easy return policy. I probably tried eight different brand of LEDs and yes the Ram headlight housings are a PITA to remove and install for bulb swaps but it will be worth the effort. I chose Auxbeam lows and Aukee highs for the Ram as they were highly rated and reasonable in price plus the Aukee highs fit completely behind the dust covers without modification. I read that you have projectors and my daughters Hyundai also has stock projectors. Per the above website link I found Katanas to be highly rated for projectors so I tried them out and low and behold they were fantastic in a Hyundai but I can’t say how they will work in a Ram. Point is Amazon offers the ability to try many different brands and easy returns. My other daughters Honda Civic worked out great with Techmax LEDs that we’re less than $70 for both low and high beams via Amazon. I went with LEDs on three vehicles and all three offer better down road visibility and side to side visibility than the stock halogens in OEM housings. My wife’s 2015 Escape has factory HID projectors so it didn’t get a makeover but I gotta say the other three vehicles provide better or as good as lightning as the Escape factory HIDs. The LEDs that have come out in the past few years are markedly better than a few years ago. My Ram with factory reflectors and LED bulbs are a vast improvement and well worth the hundred bucks it cost to upgrade. An important note is please make sure your headlights are properly aligned. Lots of YouTube tutorials on how to do it, it makes a difference. The light throw down the road will be more useful and you won’t blind oncoming drivers or anger Kruk down to n Arizona.

 

[sking2001]

Hi Guys,

I have a 2015 RAM 1500 SPORT with stock projector headlights. my low beam bulb went out so i figure go ahead and replace both low beam bulbs.

The lighting on the OEM bulbs that come stock suck. I was looking to upgrade to something brighter without the hassle of doing all this extra modificaitons or dealing with error codes.

I am okay with sticking with just OEM replacment bulb, just wondering if there is a specific brand or part number our there i should get?

Also not opposed to HID or LED, just ONLY what will work in my finicky 2015.

Thanks

I have a 2013 Hemi sport with projectors and have had HIDs installed for a couple of months. The install was a pain but worth it in my opinion. So far I have had zero issues. This is what I used for my setup and I don't even use my brights anymore. Yes I am one of those guys because I live in the country and I hate playing deer dodge ball....

Innovited 55W AC Xenon HID Lights"All Bulb Sizes and Colors" with Digital Slim Ballast - 9006-5000K - Prue White - 2 Year Warranty https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07NCP9VHB/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_msavEb16W77HV

HIKARI PAIR LED Conversion Kit... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07312V7QB?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

 

[Ray Russell]

If you go to headlight revolutions website they have the gtr kits with all the canbus modules included to prevent codes being thrown.

The site is easy to navigate as you put in year of truck and what you want and it says “projector led hi beam kit” or “led protector low beam kit”. From what I’ve understood on here as well is their low beam kit led kit is actually has really good light thrown down the road. It’s pricey. But highest quality and error code free without flickering from what I gathered.


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I have a 2018 with projector headlight and went with Headlight Revolution for high, low and fogs and have not regretted it. You may be able to get rid of the resistor module by using AlphaOBD software to tell your BCM that you are using LED's. There are a few sites that have good instructions on how to do this.

 

[Stephen Wilson]

Hi Guys,

I have a 2015 RAM 1500 SPORT with stock projector headlights. my low beam bulb went out so i figure go ahead and replace both low beam bulbs.

The lighting on the OEM bulbs that come stock suck. I was looking to upgrade to something brighter without the hassle of doing all this extra modificaitons or dealing with error codes.

I am okay with sticking with just OEM replacment bulb, just wondering if there is a specific brand or part number our there i should get?

Also not opposed to HID or LED, just ONLY what will work in my finicky 2015.

Thanks

Go to any local shop that does lights n they can help. I have a 17 Laramie 1500 with projectors and grabbed some 9005 LED bulbs. Came out great. I went in for HIDs, they talked me out of it and glad they did. Much cheaper and not worried about all the extra mods during install. Now if you have reflectors HIDs are way too bright and LEDs are the way to go. Should also be 9005 but you can find out online or by pulling the headlight which isn’ta big deal. PS also grabbed the yellow LED dogs on amazon. LED lowbeam = $90 ; LED fogs $20

 

[Josef]

THANKS, I think i am going to go with OEM safe halogen bulbs. I found these good ones that give out really good bright light and have good customer ratings.

SYLVANIA - 9012 (HIR2) SilverStar zXe High Performance Halogen Headlight Bulb - Bright White Light Output, HID Attitude, Xenon Fueled Technology
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B073HT33G1/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?smid=A34S9YB3BSKI4F&psc=1

Silverstar 9012s in projectors aren't good ideas. For one, Sylvania says that Silverstar bulbs have no business in projectors. They could cause your projector headlamp to fail minimum legal standards for intensity at certain points.



Second, actual testing shows that the Sylvania basic bulb is on par with the Silverstar in a projector, while costing a fraction of the price.

 

[Josef]

 

[autumnwalker]

Thanks @Josef! Where are you finding these charts?

 

[Josef]

https://www.hidplanet.com/forums/forum/general-discussion/leds/1465031-sealight-led-vs-h9-halogen

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