Are LED headlights better?

(2012-02-06 15:20:13)

1. jasin Says: if so, why?

2. gusism Says: LEDs are commonly used for headlight trim and not usually for the main headlight assembly. Think Audi and Mercedes Benz. The main headlight assembly is usually an HID (aka Xenon) bulb with a ballast. LEDs can emit very bright light with lower power requirements than incandescent or Xenon bulbs. They also tend to last much longer than normal bulbs.

3. Hellespont Says: Audi was the first car manufacturer to release it with their R8 and it became rather of a fashion statement as well as supposedly performing much better than regular fog lights.

With the purpose of aftermarket sales, you can find LED headlights in a variety of different colours as well as the ability to stick them onto a relatively new car; but unfortunately I have seen some people do it on to a 12 to 20 year old vehicle during the time when the car was first released LED technology did not exist; and just for me makes the entire car look crap.

Just as those that stick neon lights at the bottom of their cars just to stand out during the night.

LED technology is getting better every year; just as most consumers would have them in their houses as I do; they take longer to generate their full lighting potential and consume less power in the process. Not like regular halogen light bulbs other other types that with a flick of a switch they are bright instantly; LED lights look like they are dimmed to their lowest setting and slowly will get brighter.

LED also lasts longer and is a cheaper option to Xenon headlamps which are more expensive to replace because they use a gas to emit light and the entire enclosure is sealed.

For some cars that are sold new or ex demo; some I would say may be ok in terms of how they look; but using them as an aftermarket choice... really depends on the individual, some may look good and others just simply are idiots.