Hello. I have an aftermarket plug and play hid kit for the H1 low beam bulbs that I want to install. My question is does anyone have info on a led H1 set of bulbs that would give me the same or similar light output to the hid kit ? It’s a 35watt plug and play hid kit. Just wondering if there’s led bulbs that would be just as good as the hid kit lighting. Thx.

 

NYCJAG2006, well, lets start with what you have. Since you have a 35W HID kit, you are looking at roughly 3300 lumen per bulb. With that being said, if you go with a LED bulb rated at 35W, you are looking at most likely getting around 4,000 lumen (so, slightly more than the HIDs) for the same light color. Now, this is where LEDs get goofey and frankly, will make you say "no f'n way". In short, because LED bulbs are the thing right now, the manufacturers are going to put whatever numbers they think they can get away with on the bulbs. So, doing a comparison of Bulb A to Bulb B to Bulb C is going to be hard short of having them all put into the same car, one after another. I would say you need to be looking at the specs as much as can realistically be done and go from there. First, I say pick you color light. That will weed out a bunch of the bulbs. The next will be to only go with those rated for 35W (70W for a set or 70W/Set). Finally, eliminate those that do not have a cooling fin mounted to them (if there is something that is going to kill LED bulbs fast, it is heat, you need to ensure the LEDs are run as cool as possible). Once you get down to a few (the list I gave will weed out a lot of them), then it is a matter of taking a gamble and buying one to see how it works.

If you want me to start explaining some of the oddities I saw in the little look I did online for bulbs and explain my thoughts on them, then let me know. I could see that turning into a multipage dialogue on what to look for to know that a company is putting BS out there. I would say to not buy the cheapest, but also do not go hog wild and buy the most expensive. Find something in the middle and start there. You will stand the best chance of getting something worthwhile without draining your wallet.

 

Thx Thermo. I found these. What do you think ?

 

For the price, I would say to give them a try. But, I think you are going to find that these are going to have a fairly short life span. Yes, I know they say that they will last over 60K hours. If you keep air flowing over the base. Now, picture where you are looking to mount them. Inside a plastic box, blocking most of the air flow, trapping the heat. I do not see this ending well. The "cooling portion" is not conducive to heat transfer. You need something with lots of fins to make tons of surface area.

 

I hear you Thermo. I might just stick with the HID kit I already have then. A little more work to install it. What about the heat from the HID’s though Thermo ??

 

The HID kit generates less heat than halogen bulbs (35 watts vs 55). So, the HIDs are going to run cooler and not distort/damage the plastic as much. So, not a problem. Is there something you are worried about?

 

Not worried. Was just curious. Thx again Thermo. I’m just gonna use the hid kit I have then. Appreciate all your help. 👍🏻