Upgraded my Headlights to LED's

So i've wanted to upgrade my headlights since I bought the car about a month ago. Having purchased in winter I find myself driving at night more often. So i've read up on HID kits and I've installed those before, but I kept hearing about LED bulbs becoming more and more popular. So I reached out to a friend who's a self proclaimed "headlight guru" and he recommended these:

OPT7 9006 LED Headlight Conversion Kit 60W CREE 5000K White Light Bulbs | eBay

Things I like:

1) Their a direct plug and play. No ballast to mount, just pop the bulb and in plug into the factory plug. (there is a small resistor but it doesn't have to be mounted anywhere, I just tucked in behind the headlight housing)

2) The light output is GREAT and the beam has great distance.

3) Price, at $99 its hardly a huge expense

4) Color of the light. I went with a 5000k bulb for color. Many HID kits are 6000k which are to blue for me. Most OEM's are 4300 so the 5000k are more on the OEM look.

Figure I would share the results:
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I did the LEDs on my headlights as well, I'm with you I love the fact that the assemblies are small. Great mod and cheap.

 

Me next.. I'm doing this same upgrade in my 964 and 928 this week. I was wondering about the 355. Thank you for sharing.

 

I like the hazy yellow headlights personally...but those look nice and crisp without being too blinding.

 

Excellent post, thanks for the recommendation -- I was just looking into this upgrade as well.

Did you consider the foglight bulbs as well?

 

I was just looking at that! The fog's are H1 bulbs. I just found them on Amazon with prime shipping.

Though I think I'm going to hold off with those at the moment, as I kind of like the look of the yellow on the fogs and the white on the headlights. It really gives it an OEM look.

 

Their application checker says its not for the 355 or 348. But you are obviously using it. Maybe their database can't reference older models.

 

I think we are either at the replacement stage of LED or just a generation behind it. I love my HIDs but by the time one of them fails I bet LED will be the path.

 

Yeah, I wouldn't rely on those databases. The bulb plugged right in. There was absolutely no modification required.

 

How's the light output compared to past HID kits?

My friend who've tried lots of various headlights (HID and LEDs) said LEDs generally don't perform as well, but not sure about this kit.

 

It was the same question I asked. The light output seems great, though I haven't tried an HID kit in the car to compare. I can tel you they're better than the stock bulbs.

The issue I have with HID bulbs is the housing. Even though the 355 has an projector beam, it wasn't designed for an HID bulb. This distorts the light output and can be blinding. Also many HID kits can flicker as ballast have power issues. You also have to firmly secure the ballast as you don't want that bouncing around.

These were just easy to install, fairly cheap, and better than stock.

 

wow! great find & post. I have HID low beams with OEM high beams. Thinking about upgrading the high beams to LED. Any comments as to if this is advisable or not given HID low beams, etc? Any suggestions for LED high beam bulbs?

 

I don't drive my car at night at all, but I want these lights for my car.

I also thought HID lights were a lot better, but they look to be pretty good in those pics.

Plus they are very easy to fit, no need to find somewhere to hide the ballast so it keeps cool.

Thanks for sharing man.

 

The high beams should be just a easy. High beams are 9005 bulbs from what I've read on here. Looks like the company I used only has them in a 6000k bulb. Being that its only the high, I don't think thats a big deal though.

OPT7 9005 LED Headlight Conversion Kit 60W CREE 6000K White Light Bulbs | eBay

Thanks Pap!

Again an HID may be brighter and may give off more range but, this is just easier of an install, and better than stock.

Also I have to wonder if this would be better for the electrical system than an HID kit?

 

Awesome!

The stock headlights are about as good as a lit match. These LEDs are a great modification.

Thanks for sharing the info.

 

Nice

LEDs seem to be coming a long way

 

Thanks for posting! Question- the red thing (is that the resistor?) looks like it has cooling fins- does it get very hot? Is it a fire/melting surrounding wire hazard?

Great info- thanks!

 

Yes the little red box is the resistor. The light does have cooling fins and it actually has a little fan built into it. You can hear it when you plug the bulb in. I had it on and held it for a bit. Didn't get all that hot. I'm not all that concerned about melting anything as there is plenty of room behind the housing and nothing is touching it. Also an HID bulb gets MUCH hotter.

 

If you find an led bulb that fits in out fog housing let me know. I've purchased 2 h1 led kits already and neither of them fit, the factory fog housing is too shallow.

 

These look really crisp. I'm tempted – but maybe I'm in the minority here who's pleasantly surprised at the performance of the OEM halogens (especially the high beams). Don't do much night driving, but it's practically night conditions 24/7 here this time of year anyway.

Then again, my most recent similar-vintage point of reference is my old '89 964, which, to use Ernie's description, illuminated the road in front of you about as well as a lit match.

 

I like the upgrade, nice work. You mentioned that the resistor sits behind the headlight, do you have a photo that shows how it "floats" behind the headlight casing? Is there enough room to prevent it from hindering the open and close mechanism as the lights are switched on and off?

I will probably pick up a set as I prefer the simple approach rather than a full HD upgrade kit.

 

Got to admit, I was considering HID's, but I like LED's from the looks of it better.

 

Cheers mate and I think these LED's are probably easier on the electrical system which can only be a good thing for 20+ year old Italian electrics.

 

I just want to wait one generation (6 months, a year maybe?) and there will be LED headlights twice as bright, half the cost, and no fan to fail. I love where LED technology is headed and how fast.

 

Scott I agree, but again these weren't really a lot of money. So if it really does advance that much next year, I'll be happy to upgrade these again.