Best headlight halogen light bulb option vs upgrade?

I finally had a headlight go out. I was nervous about getting pulled over, so I stopped at an auto parts store and bought the Sylvania Silverstars. Didn't have time to do any research. Now that I'm home, looking at reviews, these things apparently go out really fast.

Here are some reviews on Walmart. Not great.

$32 Philips Automotive Lighting 9003 CrystalVision Platinum Superior Upgrade Automotive Replacement Bright White Headlight Bulb, Fits Select High Beam, Low Beam, Fog Positions (2 Pack)

These Phillips Crystalvision Platinum ones seem to get better reviews.

What are people running that they are happy with? Is there an LED option?

I considered the projector upgrade and read about it, but I don't think I have time to order those right now and take my headlights apart at the moment.

 

For LEDs, the CoLight mini projector LEDs are less expensive than the Silver Stars and put out decent light. They're pretty easy to install, but you have to remove the reflector, so there's no going back without buying new housings if you don't like em. On the bright side, you'd be primed for an HID projector retro fit.

Pretty much all the higher powered halogens are going to burn up faster than the regular ones. There's a special harness you can buy that allows you to run the super high power halogens. Like 100w. You got a buy em online from Europe because they're technically illegal here lol. But again, they ain't gonna last forever

 

Do you have a link to these lights? I read this thread on the upgrade, and all of the links are broken to Amazon.

How hard is it to get the headlight out and then level the lights?

I guess a third option would be buying a really cheap halogen bulb and then ordering the mini project LEDs.

 

My 100W Osram halogens lasted a little over 2 years before I had the low beams burn out on one side. I replaced both of them in any case.

Bulbs:

$10 OSRAM 62204SBP Premium Off-Road Super Bright H4 Headlight Bulb Vibration-Proof Technology, Yellow

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00NRA91XM
harness upgrade:

$22 True Mods H6054 H4 LED Headlight Wiring Harness [Negative Switched Conversion] [Fused] Universal H4 Head Light Relay Harness Kit for 9003 H5054 H6054LL 6014 H6024 6052 6053 Subaru Toyota Jeep Headlamp

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07M6W1PMK

 

Silverstars do wear out fast - I went thru 3 or 4 sets in a few years.

Auxito is the brand I have learned lasts a long time - does not Blind oncoming traffic - is a wide long beam illuminating more than OEM halogens. They fit Exactly as OEM - using the same reflectors to control light output and again they replace just like OEM - are the same size and do Not use fans anymore.

Here is an example but you need to ensure they are the correct style for your vehicle.

$70 AUXITO 2024 Upgraded H4 LED Bulb, 1:1 Mini Size No Adapter Required, 6500K White, Non-Polarity, 9003 LED Fog Lights, Plug and Play, Pack of 2

Amazon.com: AUXITO 2024 Upgraded H4 LED Bulb, 1:1 Mini Size No Adapter Required, 6500K White, Non-Polarity, 9003 LED Fog Lights, Plug and Play, Pack of 2 : Automotive

 

These look like LEDs. I've read that they blind oncoming traffic if you use the same halogen reflectors?

These look great, especially if they are plug and play.

Also it says they are fog lights.

These are 9003 which should fit all first gen Tundras I think.

 

I have MarsAuto M1S 9005 LEDs and I REALLY like them. Such a huge improvement over the OEM ones. NOW I can see!!

 

The name is blanked out. Not sure if that was intentional.

 

It was because I have no idea of the name of them. Got them off of Amazon. I'll go back and find them again. Stand by.

 

Please don't put LED's in reflector housings.

 

Fixed it.

 

But but why Mr.?

 

while i used to agree with this I had the same circumstance as OP and added some VLEDS a year and a half ago and have yet to be flashed by oncoming traffic due to light scatter. In fact, the Silverstars I replaced caused way more grief for the traffic i met.
Maybe just me but I sure don't get the impression every OEM LED is properly aimed or across the board is immune to light scatter.
Not saying you're wrong but the problem is a bit overblown imo.

 

I also have not had the problem of blinding other drivers. But I adjusted my headlights so I could see and not blind anyone.

 

Halogen bulbs place the light source in a very specific spot inside the reflector bowl. Additionally the halogen filament emits light in every direction evenly. That is why halogen bulbs in a halogen reflector housing have a distinct beam pattern and cutoff.

LED's can get close to mimicking that halogen bulb location, but until they can design an LED filament, it will never be perfect. Because of this, LED bulb manufacturers use a couple tricks (shielding, over driving, etc.) to get that halogen beam pattern.

Unfortunately, most of the LED bulbs (in reflector housings they are not designed for) yield less usable light, a harsher color spectrum, and more glare.

That's basically why.

In a world of options, any LED in a reflector housing is an answer, but it isn't the answer.

 

Thank you so much for taking the time to explain. I sincerely appreciate it!

 

that's what I've always heard, but then I also read there are some that are adjusted for reflector housings.

I'd love to do the mini projector upgrade next time one goes out. But I can't find the lights to buy. All of the links are broken. @shifty` any help??

 

Like I alluded to before, there are definitely LED's that get close. I haven't used a single one however that gave me that, "They finally did it!" moment.

Someone mentioned VLED's, and while I haven't used that specific kit in that application, I'm sure knowing VLED's, it's probably the best example of a flawed solution.

A projector retrofit would definitely be the way to go, and I would assume for on a 2004 be relatively friendly to DIY.

 

The Ultras are the ones that don't last very long, I would barely get 6 months or so out of them.
The regular Sliverstars were good.
I'd get maybe 2 years out of them..

$20 SYLVANIA - 9003 SilverStar - High Performance Halogen Headlight Bulb, High Beam, Low Beam and Fog Replacement Bulb, Brighter Downroad with Whiter Light (Contains 2 Bulbs)

Amazon.com: SYLVANIA - 9003 SilverStar - High Performance Halogen Headlight Bulb, High Beam, Low Beam and Fog Replacement Bulb, Brighter Downroad with Whiter Light (Contains 2 Bulbs) : Automotive





But since swapping the halogens for the 2018+ OEM LEDs I haven't had to pull the headlights to swap bulbs...