[Pot Hole]

*Disclaimer*
I have read/searched this site (ad nauseam) about this topic. I might have a low post count and qualify as a Noob, but I have been around here for a while. :wink:

Recently purchased a nice 2011 Camry with projector headlights. I was disappointed to find out that with stock halogens, the headlights under perform and are basically pitiful for rural area driving. Needless to say, I want to upgrade to LED or HID with minimal modifications to the stock housing if possible. I am familiar with both HID and LED headlight bulbs as I have them in two other vehicles, although neither vehicle has projector head lights. I've heard the argument against LED is that the way the LED bulb is designed it doesn't work well in projector head lights. My search has found some recent LED bulbs that appear to have been redesigned to better compensate for projector housing, but I don't have any experience with them. If I go HID, I want to stay with 35W bulbs to minimize the potential for wiring harness impacts. From what I've read, HID bulbs perform better in projector lens, but there again, I would like to hear from someone who has installed them and can vouch for their effectiveness. Can someone with a Camry like mine that has done this upgrade chime in with what you did and how well it is working out? I don't mind paying for quality LEDs/HIDs, but I don't want to pull the head lights and completely redo the entire head light assembly if I can avoid it. I know LED head lights are still in their infancy, but they are improving all the time and there might be some bulbs out there now that work well in projector head lights. Thoughts?

 

[iizbor3d]

Well as I understand if you decided to go with HID retrofitting your housing will avoid damaging it and better efficiency I believe. In my 07 I wanted led lights to avoid retrofitting and since led aren't really developed enough yet I found you can mod the H9 bulb and use it instead of the H11. I did notice a significant brightness difference.

 

[dandaman]

I will vouch for the H9 mod. Significantly brighter for no work other than clipping a few pieces of plastic.

 

[Brometheous17]

I have an 07 camry and when my stock halogens went out I got on amazon and ordered a cheap 6000K 55W Kensun HID conversion kit for like $50, now I made the mistake of not doing very much research other than "do these fit in my car" level research and they worked for a while but the brand I got was not known for great build quality so one of the ballasts diee after a few months, at first I wasn't sure what the issue was so I ordered replacement bulbs which were 8000K this time, then later the other one did too. not wanting to complicate things with a different setup and seeing as I just got new bulbs I just replaced the one ballast and the current ones I have now are working okay, but the light pattern is not ideal. I'm still not 100% certain if my headlight housings just aren't aimed properly but they don't seem to reach as far forward as projector housings do or should.It feels like there is a lot of light directly in front of the car, similar to how foglights function, and there is also not a very clean cutoff at the top of the beam (I still have the stupid squirrel spotters but no one has flashed me or complained when I follow them) I actually just ordered a set of LED bulbs to try that will be arriving on Sunday and I will install them and post comparison pictures if I remember.

 

[Pot Hole]

Well as I understand if you decided to go with HID retrofitting your housing will avoid damaging it and better efficiency I believe. In my 07 I wanted led lights to avoid retrofitting and since led aren't really developed enough yet I found you can mod the H9 bulb and use it instead of the H11. I did notice a significant brightness difference.

OK, you have piqued my interest. Can anyone point me to a quick link where I can find out what's involved with doing this H9 bulb mod?

 

[KMikeB]

I have LEDs in my 2010 Camry and I compare them to every HID I see on the road. Hands down, the LED is better. It is bright just like HIDs and looks much better in projectors. My mom has a 06 Avalon with factory HIDs and projectors, and my LEDs look brighter and shine farther.

 

[Brometheous17]

I have LEDs in my 2010 Camry and I compare them to every HID I see on the road. Hands down, the LED is better. It is bright just like HIDs and looks much better in projectors. My mom has a 06 Avalon with factory HIDs and projectors, and my LEDs look brighter and shine farther.

Did you do any sort of retrofit or any aftermarket housings or is that still stock?

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[KMikeB]

Did you do any sort of retrofit or any aftermarket housings or is that still stock?

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The housing is stock. Everything was plug n play. No modifications at all.

 

[Brometheous17]

The housing is stock. Everything was plug n play. No modifications at all.

Nice! That's a really clean cutoff too.

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[martindt]

For the H-11s, I started using the 2 stroke LED lights https://www.theretrofitsource.com/led-lighting/2stroke-h11-led.html#.V9W12TslefQ
bought from the retrofit source, cost 120. My next upgrade will be the DRLs 9005. The 2 stroke LEDs use 6-30vdc. Most LEDs use 9-15 vdc.

 

[iizbor3d]

OK, you have piqued my interest. Can anyone point me to a quick link where I can find out what's involved with doing this H9 bulb mod?

Here's a video I found on youtube just to show you which plastic needs to be clipped off. He used a dremel in the video I just took a pair of wire cutters and cut it off. very soft plastic easy to cut. Considering how cheap H9 bulbs are it is worth a try and then moving on to LED or HID.

 

[Firescooby]

I have LEDs in my 2010 Camry and I compare them to every HID I see on the road. Hands down, the LED is better. It is bright just like HIDs and looks much better in projectors. My mom has a 06 Avalon with factory HIDs and projectors, and my LEDs look brighter and shine farther.

Which LED bulbs?

 

[Pot Hole]

Here's a video I found on youtube just to show you which plastic needs to be clipped off. He used a dremel in the video I just took a pair of wire cutters and cut it off. very soft plastic easy to cut. Considering how cheap H9 bulbs are it is worth a try and then moving on to LED or HID.

The video link didn't make it into your post.

 

[iizbor3d]

Woops sorry about that. https://youtu.be/_mrbdQmck7E

 

[Pot Hole]

I have LEDs in my 2010 Camry and I compare them to every HID I see on the road. Hands down, the LED is better. It is bright just like HIDs and looks much better in projectors. My mom has a 06 Avalon with factory HIDs and projectors, and my LEDs look brighter and shine farther.

Yeah, could you tell us what bulbs you used? Inquiring minds want to know. :nerd:

 

[Mikedexion]

I have LEDs in my 2010 Camry and I compare them to every HID I see on the road. Hands down, the LED is better. It is bright just like HIDs and looks much better in projectors. My mom has a 06 Avalon with factory HIDs and projectors, and my LEDs look brighter and shine farther.

I'm curious... because for me its the opposite. LED just throws light infront of the car and your bush being 2 feet infront of your car is not a good example.

Also the 2006 Avalon has reflector's not projectors. Projectors were introduced in 2011

 

[rdpanes]

The housing is stock. Everything was plug n play. No modifications at all.

KMikeB, would you be kind enough to share with the rest where you got those LED upgrade from?

 

[KMikeB]

I'm curious... because for me its the opposite. LED just throws light infront of the car and your bush being 2 feet infront of your car is not a good example.

Also the 2006 Avalon has reflector's not projectors. Projectors were introduced in 2011

That was just my opinion and observation. My bad I assumed the Avalon had projectors, I never actually looked at it. Lol I know they go up and down when you start the engine, and that they are HIDs. As far as being two feet in front of the bushes, it was more like 8. So I moved back to about 30 to show a better view.

 

[KMikeB]

KMikeB, would you be kind enough to share with the rest where you got those LED upgrade from?

I bought them from ebay. http://www.ebay.com/itm/222190569829
Most people talk bad about parts like these being purchased from ebay, and for the most part I agree. You get what you pay for. I have purchased 3 sets of HIDs for my civic in the last 3 years for the same price each. Since it cost the same I figured I would give it a try just to see which would last longer, HID or LED. The look is very similar, but the LED color is more white vs HID being more blue both at 6000k.

 

[Brometheous17]

So I recently switched over from an 8000k HID setup to a 6000K LED setup that produces 8000 lumens of light and I love it. They're significantly brighter in my opinion than my HIDs were and produce a whiter and more broad light. I'll post some more pictures when I get the chance.

JDM ASTAR G1 8000 Lumens Extremely Bright H11 H8 COB LED Headlights, Xenon White https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01JQV8QIG/ref=cm_sw_r_other_apa_sJ06xbWC2W0WW those are the bulbs I got. Great build quality and everything is all in one, just plug and play almost like regular halogen.

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