Wanting to upgrade my headlights - I have questions

[mdutcher]

This might be a little long. Please have patience with me and try to assist me where you can.

I have a 2007 Camry SE and I have tried to do many searches on this site to look for suggestions and advice on headlight options but have not turned anything up that really answers my questions.

I have 3 areas that are my options:
1. Simple light bulb changes
2. HID Conversion Kits
3. Complete headlight system replacement

My expectations for the change is to have a nice, vibrant, bright lighting system that mimics that of the HID lights. I want it to light up the road in front of me with no distortion. I want it to stand out and pop.

I think that I would like to start with the first 2 options and ask for you guidance or suggestions to those.

Option 1 - light bulb changes:
I have already tried to do this but don't seem to have found what I truly want. I have upgraded the bulbs using Putco H11 Mirror White 4000K bulbs. I originally used Nitro Blue 6000K bulbs, but found that they did not light up the road adequately.

This is the least expensive option of course.

What is the best bulb option out there that will help to meet my expectations?

I also thought that the higher the number (ie, 6000K) the brighter the bulb, is that correct?

Option 2 - HID Conversion Kit:
I am exploring this option now.

I have found on CarID.com this system by Notto SE. What do you think about this option? I did not find too many reviews. Will it help me meet my expectations? I was thinking of Infinite Blue 15000K. Thoughts?

What other options are out there?

So, as you can see, I would really like to understand more about this and to also make a change. Please let me hear your opinions on this.

Show me available reviews and/or pictures, if you have links to such.

Thank you for you time.

[11LE]

Replacing the bulb wouldn't do much, as you've realized. A complete retrofit (changing the projector and cutting up your lights) costs a few hundred bucks, and requires patience. I think getting a plug n play HID kit is your best bet at the moment, but I suggest a different kit. There are much cheaper kits, but if you were to pay that much for an HID kit, I'd get a semi-decent one like the Volt kit. Bulbs are H11 size and if you shop for "h11 hid kit" it'd be much cheaper than finding one that is "fit to your car" (same thing). 15,000k is very blue in color. Useable light ranges from 4300k to 8000k. The bluer you go, the less useable light (lumens) you will be able to get. 4300k is an OEM white light, 5000k is super white, 6000k is white with a blue tint, and 8000k is a darker blue. Good luck.

[tengiday]

I recommend doing a retrofit if performance is your top priority. No pnp HID kit can come close to the retrofit. For more information about how to do this conversion and options of various HID projectors, check out the forum on hidplanet.com, which is a very useful source for all of your querries and theretrofitsource.com is their store.
For a given power, a 4300K bulb will be the brightest although there is a hint of yellow. A 5000K bulb will be pure white and trick your brain to think that it is brighter than the 4300K one. If you like the pure white and don't want to lose any lumens, you can use the Osram/Silverstar CBI. Some of the output shots of these bulbs are in: http://www.hidplanet.com/forums/show...l-Blue-Intense and http://www.hidplanet.com/forums/show...d.-Take-a-Look. These bulbs can only be used if you do a retrofit because they are D2S bulbs.

All of the information you want is in here: http://www.hidplanet.com/forums/foru...ative-Articles
I spent months to deeply research all of these.

Good luck and post pictures of your new headlights when you're done! :-)

[eighty5iv]

Like 11LE & tengiday has mentioned, Option 2 & 3 are the best choices. Although I am very bias, I would pick Option 3.

But....Here is a break down of the choices:

If you are worried about spending than go Option 2.
If you dont care about spending than go Option 3.
If you went Option 2 and are still not satisfied you can easily upgrade to Option 3 using the HID Kit + Extra components that you will need to buy.
If you went Option 2 and are happy with it than you saved yourself some money and well you are happy.

I would throw Option 1 out the window now. And no the higher the number in Kelvins does not mean the brighter the bulb. The number is representative of light color. For actual visual brightness, the lower the number the better your vision will be. So 4300K will produce the most lumens (light power).

Best of luck.

pics:
07 Camry - TSX Retrofit Cutoff - Pics by JSM (Option 3).
'10 Camry - HID kit - Pics by GT-R (Option 2).

[deadrx7conv]

A good read including the links:
http://www.danielsternlighting.com/t...s/Hid/HID.html

Cutoff garage door pictures mean nothing.

#3 only if it is a complete OE headlight system that has been factory engineered.

A cheap option would be: replacing the H11 bulbs with higher wattage H9 bulbs, sourced at any autopart store or dealer. Its a simple mod since the bulbs are extremely similar, and you end up keeping the same beam(but brighter) that your lens/reflector are capable of. Depending on the brand of H9, you might need to snip a little off the bulb tabs. Or, you can replace the H11 harness plug with an H9 harness plug.

For any low beam or fog lights that use H11's, I always will recommend H9 over HID.

For any 9005 high beams, I'll always recommend HIR bulbs. The size is HIR 9011 and you'll also have to trim the tabs a little. More than likely, all you need are the high beam upgrades.

And, the best choice. Keep the stock bulbs and if you can't see, drive defensively usually meaning SLOWER for your night road conditions.

[jay2kony]

I'd say buy HID just plug in and just adjust your headlights up with i think a 5/16 socket i believe for the headlight. i blind people with my 55w 6k after i raised my projectors up a little bit more. so i had to put it back lower. but you can see alot of its like high beams

[mdutcher]

Thank you for those that have replied to my inquiry. I will now review the suggestions and take some action based on my findings. Thanks!

[glenn14]

Originally Posted by mdutcher

Thank you for those that have replied to my inquiry. I will now review the suggestions and take some action based on my findings. Thanks!

I would go with a retrofit..it takes longer but you will like the work in the end. Here is my retrofit thread.
Glenn14's Update Thread



Here is the retrofit source retrofit kit for a 2007-2009 camry it has all of the brackets, projectors , relay harness etc. and it takes away any guesswork. Link provided below !!!
http://www.theretrofitsource.com/pro...roducts_id=254
Glenn

[molson.david]

I went through all 3 stages.
My advice:
Do not waste your time and money on conversion kits.
Get good custom built retro. There is no other way to go if you are really looking
“to have a nice, vibrant, bright lighting system. I want it to light up the road in front of me with no distortion. I want it to stand out and pop.”

[sixsix]

Originally Posted by deadrx7conv

A cheap option would be: replacing the H11 bulbs with higher wattage H9 bulbs, sourced at any autopart store or dealer. Its a simple mod since the bulbs are extremely similar, and you end up keeping the same beam(but brighter) that your lens/reflector are capable of. Depending on the brand of H9, you might need to snip a little off the bulb tabs. Or, you can replace the H11 harness plug with an H9 harness plug.

For any low beam or fog lights that use H11's, I always will recommend H9 over HID.

I'm gonna have to research this some and may try it. I'm not happy at all with the light out put from the 4300k hid's I installed a while back.

[DOHCammer]

I run the H9 and HIR setup. Works for me and the price is right. High beams are among the best I've had in any car. Low beams are still wanting as far as I'm concerned. Not thrilled with the projectors at all. The stock headlamps in the wife's Highlander totally blow mine away. Can't wait to get some new bulbs in that one.