LED headlight recomendations?
#21
05-01-2017, 05:59 AM
#22
05-01-2017, 07:09 PM
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#23
05-01-2017, 07:35 PM
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Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: Adelaide, South Australia
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Adelaide is very sunny and bright most of the year, I had a cataract removed 18 months ago, and I wear UV blocking fitovers when driving if the sun is out.
#24
05-01-2017, 09:49 PM
OSRAM has some great 5500k to 6000k replacement lights that I used for my BMW and those made a very noticeable difference. They are actually they same D1S bulb. The model number is: 66140CBI if you want the cool blue (6000k).
I may end up going with those and see how they look on the jag.
#25
05-01-2017, 10:01 PM
There are probably some inferior factory LED set-ups out there. But, from a totally subjective "viewpoint" (the equivalent of a "butt dyno" I know), I've been pretty impressed by LED headlamps (e.g., BMW's M cars). Hard to compare without knowing specs and performance measurements, but a decent LED headlamp set-up edges out most HID headlamps IMO.
Though I've enjoyed running Osram's CBI bulb in other rides, I've found the mercury-free D3S bulb (the F-Type OEM bulb spec is D3S, not D1S) rather compromised both in color and lumens compared to a CBI D1S bulb, let alone the OEM D3S bulb that came on my Jag.
Given my general disappointment with the OEM D3S light output, I'd love to retrofit a LED headlamp system. However, with the fussy nature of electronics and the cost-efficient challenge of designing a decent aftermarket LED lens assembly for a vehicle with low production numbers, I'll keep my CBI's and wait for Jaguar to design a LED system.
Though I've enjoyed running Osram's CBI bulb in other rides, I've found the mercury-free D3S bulb (the F-Type OEM bulb spec is D3S, not D1S) rather compromised both in color and lumens compared to a CBI D1S bulb, let alone the OEM D3S bulb that came on my Jag.
Given my general disappointment with the OEM D3S light output, I'd love to retrofit a LED headlamp system. However, with the fussy nature of electronics and the cost-efficient challenge of designing a decent aftermarket LED lens assembly for a vehicle with low production numbers, I'll keep my CBI's and wait for Jaguar to design a LED system.
Glad I noticed your post. I was on OSRAM's website and looked up my car and it gave me the 66140CBI D1S as the replacement bulb for the F Type. I was actually going to buy them this afternoon, but didn't get a chance to. Are the D3S bulbs not as bright as the D1S?
#26
05-01-2017, 11:09 PM
A good LED headlamp is way better than a good HID headlamp. I've been retrofitting headlamps since 2005 and HIDs do not come close to LED in terms of performance. There are shitty LED like the ones on the new Jaguar XF, and there are amazing ones like on the new Tesla Model S.
The LED headlamps implemented on most luxury cars will produce light in the direction of turns. They typically do this by turning on another LED light which points in the direction of the turn. Our currents HID lights do the same thing, but its done by actually swiveling the lights in the direction of the turn. Both techniques work equally good, but the LEDs outperform in terms of light output in the turns. The new Jaguars also work in a similar fashion by turning on another LED when turning into corners. Are our current HIDs some of the best around? Yes. Are they as good as the new LED technology? No (in terms of lumen output LEDs will outperform).
The only thing I don't like about LED is you don't get that crisp cutoff line you get with HIDs. That flicking blue, purple color is gone. Since LED use a different optic pattern that projectors.
Anyone who tells you a good quality HID is better than a good quality LED just has no clue what they are talking about.
The LED headlamps implemented on most luxury cars will produce light in the direction of turns. They typically do this by turning on another LED light which points in the direction of the turn. Our currents HID lights do the same thing, but its done by actually swiveling the lights in the direction of the turn. Both techniques work equally good, but the LEDs outperform in terms of light output in the turns. The new Jaguars also work in a similar fashion by turning on another LED when turning into corners. Are our current HIDs some of the best around? Yes. Are they as good as the new LED technology? No (in terms of lumen output LEDs will outperform).
The only thing I don't like about LED is you don't get that crisp cutoff line you get with HIDs. That flicking blue, purple color is gone. Since LED use a different optic pattern that projectors.
Anyone who tells you a good quality HID is better than a good quality LED just has no clue what they are talking about.
The "turn assist" feature of the current HIDs works by an LED that's roughly 50 degrees or so from the projector axis; it fades on and off as you turn the wheel.
#27
05-01-2017, 11:16 PM
A good LED headlamp is way better than a good HID headlamp. I've been retrofitting headlamps since 2005 and HIDs do not come close to LED in terms of performance. There are shitty LED like the ones on the new Jaguar XF, and there are amazing ones like on the new Tesla Model S.
The LED headlamps implemented on most luxury cars will produce light in the direction of turns. They typically do this by turning on another LED light which points in the direction of the turn. Our currents HID lights do the same thing, but its done by actually swiveling the lights in the direction of the turn. Both techniques work equally good, but the LEDs outperform in terms of light output in the turns. The new Jaguars also work in a similar fashion by turning on another LED when turning into corners. Are our current HIDs some of the best around? Yes. Are they as good as the new LED technology? No (in terms of lumen output LEDs will outperform).
The only thing I don't like about LED is you don't get that crisp cutoff line you get with HIDs. That flicking blue, purple color is gone. Since LED use a different optic pattern that projectors.
Anyone who tells you a good quality HID is better than a good quality LED just has no clue what they are talking about.
The LED headlamps implemented on most luxury cars will produce light in the direction of turns. They typically do this by turning on another LED light which points in the direction of the turn. Our currents HID lights do the same thing, but its done by actually swiveling the lights in the direction of the turn. Both techniques work equally good, but the LEDs outperform in terms of light output in the turns. The new Jaguars also work in a similar fashion by turning on another LED when turning into corners. Are our current HIDs some of the best around? Yes. Are they as good as the new LED technology? No (in terms of lumen output LEDs will outperform).
The only thing I don't like about LED is you don't get that crisp cutoff line you get with HIDs. That flicking blue, purple color is gone. Since LED use a different optic pattern that projectors.
Anyone who tells you a good quality HID is better than a good quality LED just has no clue what they are talking about.
Any ideas on a good conversion kit for our cars?
#28
05-02-2017, 01:45 AM
Senior Member
Nope, I bought a used headlamp off Ebay that I was using as a guinea pig and there is no good aftermarket LED that I know of that fits into our housing. Our housing is very compact and doesn't leave much space to work with. I did complete an HID retrofit, which converted the fresnel lens to a clear lens, repositioned the shield to create a cleaner cut-off line, and I went with the CBI HID lights. The output has been greatly improved over stock, but it is still doesn't reach the output of a good quality LED based headlamp.
Last edited by zmoothg; 05-02-2017 at 01:50 AM.
#29
05-02-2017, 09:26 AM
Well you get both the swivel from the HID headlamps as well as the LED.
Nope, I bought a used headlamp off Ebay that I was using as a guinea pig and there is no good aftermarket LED that I know of that fits into our housing. Our housing is very compact and doesn't leave much space to work with. I did complete an HID retrofit, which converted the fresnel lens to a clear lens, repositioned the shield to create a cleaner cut-off line, and I went with the CBI HID lights. The output has been greatly improved over stock, but it is still doesn't reach the output of a good quality LED based headlamp.
Nope, I bought a used headlamp off Ebay that I was using as a guinea pig and there is no good aftermarket LED that I know of that fits into our housing. Our housing is very compact and doesn't leave much space to work with. I did complete an HID retrofit, which converted the fresnel lens to a clear lens, repositioned the shield to create a cleaner cut-off line, and I went with the CBI HID lights. The output has been greatly improved over stock, but it is still doesn't reach the output of a good quality LED based headlamp.
#31
05-02-2017, 11:09 AM
Veteran Member
Following. A couple observations
- do not confuse color with the lights ability to allow you to see while driving.
- I don't believe you can make a blanket statement of one light system always being "better" than another in isolation.
- I very much doubt there will be any way to retrofit LED's into our F types without swapping to the new OEM light assemblies........which is likely to be VERY expensive and involved.
2 cents,
Dave
- do not confuse color with the lights ability to allow you to see while driving.
- I don't believe you can make a blanket statement of one light system always being "better" than another in isolation.
- I very much doubt there will be any way to retrofit LED's into our F types without swapping to the new OEM light assemblies........which is likely to be VERY expensive and involved.
2 cents,
Dave
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Dan's cat (05-02-2017)
#32
05-02-2017, 12:40 PM
Senior Member
Your only hope for LED lighting is to get your hands on the headlamps from a new F-Type '18, which would be costly and looking at how Jaguar designed its LED headlamps for the XF and F-Pace I have huge doubt they will out perform our HIDs.
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DPelletier (05-02-2017)
#33
05-02-2017, 01:45 PM
Well you get both the swivel from the HID headlamps as well as the LED.
Nope, I bought a used headlamp off Ebay that I was using as a guinea pig and there is no good aftermarket LED that I know of that fits into our housing. Our housing is very compact and doesn't leave much space to work with. I did complete an HID retrofit, which converted the fresnel lens to a clear lens, repositioned the shield to create a cleaner cut-off line, and I went with the CBI HID lights. The output has been greatly improved over stock, but it is still doesn't reach the output of a good quality LED based headlamp.
Nope, I bought a used headlamp off Ebay that I was using as a guinea pig and there is no good aftermarket LED that I know of that fits into our housing. Our housing is very compact and doesn't leave much space to work with. I did complete an HID retrofit, which converted the fresnel lens to a clear lens, repositioned the shield to create a cleaner cut-off line, and I went with the CBI HID lights. The output has been greatly improved over stock, but it is still doesn't reach the output of a good quality LED based headlamp.
Ok, as long as you noticed a definitive improvement with the 66340CBI... I'm in.
#34
05-02-2017, 01:54 PM
Following. A couple observations
- do not confuse color with the lights ability to allow you to see while driving.
- I don't believe you can make a blanket statement of one light system always being "better" than another in isolation.
- I very much doubt there will be any way to retrofit LED's into our F types without swapping to the new OEM light assemblies........which is likely to be VERY expensive and involved.
2 cents,
Dave
- do not confuse color with the lights ability to allow you to see while driving.
- I don't believe you can make a blanket statement of one light system always being "better" than another in isolation.
- I very much doubt there will be any way to retrofit LED's into our F types without swapping to the new OEM light assemblies........which is likely to be VERY expensive and involved.
2 cents,
Dave
As far as LED conversion. I wonder if it would be as hard as you think. I have been reading up on the different kits out there and it seems to me that the biggest thing you have to worry about now-a-days is clearance at the back of the bulb where many have fans, or heat sinks and the length of the LED light itself, as in if it feeds too far forward in the HID prism and maybe disrupting the light pattern. Many of the LED conversion kits of today are plug and play, so there are no extra wires, or large boxes that you have to use. From what I have been reading, what has been the main problem with clearance on the back of the assembly has been changed to "heat dissipation belts" that are flexible and do not take up the room that many of the fans and heat sinks do.
#35
05-02-2017, 02:49 PM
Senior Member
On your question, the D3S CBI bulb I am using is rated less lumens that the D1S. In actual operation, the D3S is not as bright as the D1S, IMO. (The mercury-free design likely has something to do with the bulb's lesser performance.) Absent my having a light meter to measure both the D1S and D3S, they're very close in brightness.
Also, the color will shift over time (usually after 75-100 hrs of use) to a whiter color due to the nature of the bulb mixture.
#36
05-02-2017, 03:10 PM
Veteran Member
As far as LED conversion. I wonder if it would be as hard as you think. I have been reading up on the different kits out there and it seems to me that the biggest thing you have to worry about now-a-days is clearance at the back of the bulb where many have fans, or heat sinks and the length of the LED light itself, as in if it feeds too far forward in the HID prism and maybe disrupting the light pattern. Many of the LED conversion kits of today are plug and play, so there are no extra wires, or large boxes that you have to use. From what I have been reading, what has been the main problem with clearance on the back of the assembly has been changed to "heat dissipation belts" that are flexible and do not take up the room that many of the fans and heat sinks do.
Someone could do a "plug and play" LED retrofit solution but a proper one would require various certifications, etc. and given the relatively limited production of the F type is unlikely IMO......but I'm sure Camaros and Mustangs will get something
Not trying to pee in anyone's cornflakes, but I still think the only way to have improved function and LED's will be by using the 2018 Jaguar F type headlight assy.....along with any associated wiring and software changes.
2 cents,
Dave
#37
05-02-2017, 04:16 PM
Retrofitting can have mixed results. The quality of light thrown from the lamp has as much to do with the optics of the lamp as it does with the bulb itself. I've retrofitted a few halogen vehicles with HID kits, and it was never even close to the quality of an OEM HID setup. Something to consider anyway.
#38
05-02-2017, 04:28 PM
Senior Member
#39
05-02-2017, 05:59 PM
Veteran Member
#40
05-03-2017, 12:55 AM
Senior Member
Again as everyone has stated. It's not just about the bulb, the optics of the reflectors or lens matter. My CBI look amazing on my car but I also replaced the fresnel lens with a clear one from theretrofitsource. However while better than any other ftype the Honda Civic LEDS still out perform.
I can take photos of my Guinea pig headlamp if you need. You will clearly see there is no room in the rear to install an aftermarket LED due to the large fan needed by most of the aftermarket LED bulbs. If you are willing to try to create a custom rubber sealer you might have a chance, but would also need to find a LED that works for D3S or D1S. I think theretrofitsource has one for D1S. Maybe I'll get around this summer to attempting a LED conversion on the extra headlamp.
I can take photos of my Guinea pig headlamp if you need. You will clearly see there is no room in the rear to install an aftermarket LED due to the large fan needed by most of the aftermarket LED bulbs. If you are willing to try to create a custom rubber sealer you might have a chance, but would also need to find a LED that works for D3S or D1S. I think theretrofitsource has one for D1S. Maybe I'll get around this summer to attempting a LED conversion on the extra headlamp.