LED Headlights

[TXBlueBird]

It's possible that everyone who wants LED headlights has figured out a way to have them by now but FWIW, I am very pleased with these and they are reasonably priced. They are truly plug n play with no error codes. They are specifically designed to replace halogens so they should be perfectly legal. They certainly have less light scatter than some others I tried. Even the factory retainer rings work with them. My only complaints are that the instructions are a bit less than clear (obviously translated into English poorly) and they could make it a lot easier to orient them correctly by putting a mark on the heat sink that indicates the top.

https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

[merlot4]

They sound like a good alternative, Duane, thanks for sharing your information with us.

[Gobird]

Thinking about getting these. How long have you used these? Thanks.

[Frank Dreano]

At this price, I ordered a set...my eyes, at night, sure ain't what they used to be...

[BLACK BEAUTY]

https://www.ebay.com/itm/XENTEC-LED-...d335f57d5cff12

[TXBlueBird]

Thinking about getting these. How long have you used these? Thanks.

Two months. Previously I had Sylvania ZXE HIDs. I find these much better.

[Frank Dreano]

You have to be careful with these things - the cheaper eBay versions have internal fans vs the "fanless" offering in the previous post from Amazon...

The fans make a whirring noise when running and, in some cases like my Tundra conversion, can be quite loud. The fans can also interfere with some electronics. The aftermarket LED lights in my Corvette have fans that create static in the radio.

There is a reason some things are cheaper.

[Frank Dreano]

OK - I bought and installed the LED headlights from the link in the first post and drove with them last night...very nice and bright and "plug and play" -- almost. You have to study the install pics closely as you have to remove a plastic ring from the LED to get the Thunderbird's plastic ring (used to secure the headlights in the socket) installed and then put the LED ring back on and install the bulb. You also have to orient the low beam LED to the top per instructions. Finally, these LEDs can be twisted around in the socket when installing so you don't quite know if you have them straight up and down, they don't "lock" into a single position.

So - before installation I took a gray Sharpee pen with a thick tip and drew a line down the finned part of the bulb corresponding to the position when the LED light circuit board is exactly vertical. You can see this gray line even with the bulb installed.

This way when you have it in place with the locking ring you can ensure (by sight) that's its completely vertical and if not you can twist it a bit even while its locked down to get the position exact.

With the LEDs turned off, the way the reflector in the headlight housing is designed, you can't tell they're installed and don't look odd through the lens from outside, unlike some aftermarket LED installations I've seen in other cars.
Headlight_LED_mark.jpg

[merlot4]

Thanks for sharing this useful information, Frank, it's useful to have another user give a report.

[02-T-Bird]

Out of curiosity how would the LED lights work in the Canadian Thunderbirds with the daytime running lights?

[Frank Dreano]

Out of curiosity how would the LED lights work in the Canadian Thunderbirds with the daytime running lights?

I'm unfamiliar with that option on these cars...does that feature just keep the lower bulbs in the bumper on ? If it keeps the headlights on, then I would assume it would be standard lo beam and a benefit would be extended life of the LED bulbs.. If, as on some cars, the driving lights use reduced power at the headlights during the day, the LEDs should still work with reduced voltage but will prob be as bright as they normally are on lo beams.

One of the features of LEDs is that they provide the same illumination over a range of operating voltages.

[02-T-Bird]

I'm unfamiliar with that option on these cars...does that feature just keep the lower bulbs in the bumper on ? If it keeps the headlights on, then I would assume it would be standard lo beam and a benefit would be extended life of the LED bulbs.. If, as on some cars, the driving lights use reduced power at the headlights during the day, the LEDs should still work with reduced voltage but will prob be as bright as they normally are on lo beams.

One of the features of LEDs is that they provide the same illumination over a range of operating voltages.

Frank, now I know squat when it comes to electrical, but I do know it's the head lights, the lights in the bumper are not allowed in the Thunderbirds sold in Canada, and it is my understanding that when the daytime running lights are on they are at a lower level than the low beam light.

[Frank Dreano]

Frank, now I know squat when it comes to electrical, but I do know it's the head lights, the lights in the bumper are not allowed in the Thunderbirds sold in Canada, and it is my understanding that when the daytime running lights are on they are at a lower level than the low beam light.

If that is the case -- and the lower light level for daytime for the headlights is voltage controlled....these lights give full illumination in the range of 9V-32V so the low beams will be as bright as they are during night-time use I suspect. One Amazon reviewer uses them as daytime running lights and is satisfied though.

Personally, I would use them for this purpose, but I'm not sure if there are any Canadian regs about daytime brightness...its hard to capture how bright these LED lights are, the pic doesn't quite do it; they are so bright the bumper lights look like an anemic yellow to the eye (but not the camera).
LED_Headlights.jpg

I'll just say for $35 and 10 minutes work, this a great upgrade; especially for those of use with aging eyes or who live in areas where Bambi suddenly decides to dart across the road at night... Again, fanless, so no noise or static in the radio, CANBUS, so no computer errors, super long life and a better light dispersal pattern than cheaper versions - e.g. oncoming driver's aren't blinking their lights at you at night when you're on low beam.

Thanks to the original poster in this thread for the nice find.

[007Cruiser]

I’m sure they are great but if you don’t see well at night get your vision checked. My headlights became much brighter when the cataracts were removed.

[Frank Dreano]

I’m sure they are great but if you don’t see well at night get your vision checked. My headlights became much brighter when the cataracts were removed.

Funny you should mention that !
Right eye was done 4 weeks ago and left will be done on Oct 1st....with the "Cadillac lenses" - the kind you have to dig in your own wallet for.