H4 Led Upgrade

[M5guy]

Is there enough room in the headlight bucket area in the fender to accommodate this kind of LED bub with the electronics on the back?

[Mr. Merk]

That is not an upgrade. It's a modification with unsafe results. There are zero "pros," only "cons" (including the seller of those headlamp shaped toys.)

Just because it is "bright" does not mean you will see better. Fact, not opinion: There are a lot of things wrong with installing LEDs into halogen lamps, despite what your buddies and your eyes tell you.

These 60/55W Tungsram +120 at $43.18/pair are the best that money can buy for your H4 lamps.

Installing relays to prevent voltage drop (and save your headlamp switch) is a good idea.

Properly aiming your lamps is a must.

[cabmandone]

I think I'd go with the more conventional H4 design. You shouldn't have any worries about depth with this style bulb. As for safety, make sure you properly aim you lights once you've installed them. I have LED's in four of my vehicles that came with halogen bulbs. If you don't aim the light, you'll blind the hell out of oncoming traffic. The distance the beam travels down the road, even when properly aimed, is VASTLY improved. The width of spread when the high beams are on is a great improvement as well. I don't know how these will act in the H4 lens but I think it would be worth a try.

https://www.amazon.com/AUXITO-Headlight-Bulbs-000LM-6500K/dp/B07TQLK6SH/ref=sr_1_6?gclid=CjwKCAiAzrWOBhBjEiwAq85QZ2EFJsh5J bJv0ZQo2ECOk2ofdCiGcLEVaDPWuGWYYmLAJZoiAhAWVxoCWio QAvD_BwE&hvadid=174274073645&hvdev=c&hvlocphy=9015981&hvnetw=g&hvqmt=e&hvrand=17191436015309974033&hvtargid=kwd-5147842448&hydadcr=12273_9465079&keywords=h4+led&qid=1640862510&sr=8-6

[Mr. Merk]

Originally Posted by cabmando

I don't know how these will act in the H4 lens but I think it would be worth a try.

FACT: It's not

[Schulisco]

Here in Germany there are 2 vendors selling street legal (only for some cars): Philips and Osram.
Philips presented recently a 12V/H4 version after the H7 version. They're plug'n'play replacements from the old conventional bulbs, no changes on the headlamps required.

https://www.philips.de/c-e/au/autolampen/scheinwerfer/ultinon-pro6000-led.html
https://www.osram.de/am/night-breaker-led/index.jsp

Don't know how the regulations in the US are on this, but in Germany/Europe with their strong rules on street legal addons (especially for lights and other car safety relevant parts) for the cars they're legal only on those cars on the compatibility list! I guess their quality is far more better than all the "unknown" rest of LED bulbs made in China...if legal in US - this would be me choice.

Also Philips USA provides sealed beam replacements:
https://www.usa.philips.com/c-m-au/car-lights/latest#availability=all&filters=CAR_HEADLIGHTS_SU%2CFK_CAR_LED

Because the head light reflectors of the old Porsches are amde of metal(aluminium?) the heat of the LED bulbs is also no more a problem like in modern cars having reflectors made of plastic...

Regards, Thomas

[proporsche]

I have LED in mine Euro H4 and H5 sets, as capman..said if you adjust them even lower, no blinding effect..and yes i did drive against it to see it ....

effect on H5

[Mr. Merk]

Originally Posted by Schulisco

Here in Germany there are 2 vendors selling street legal (only for some cars): Philips and Osram.
Philips presented recently a 12V/H4 version after the H7 version. They're plug'n'play replacements from the old conventional bulbs, no changes on the headlamps required.

Also Philips USA provides sealed beam replacements

Yes, Germany did legalize some LED drop in bulbs for some very specific cars (none of which are Porsche,) but even then, they are not great performers.

The sealed beams are ok, as they are an LED lamp, not a halogen lamp with an LED "bulb" shoved in it. There are some really good ones manufactured by Truck-Lite and JW Speaker, and there are more "OK" options today than this time last year.

Originally Posted by proporsche

I have LED in mine Euro H4 and H5 sets, as capman..said if you adjust them even lower, no blinding effect..and yes i did drive against it to see it.

You aimed out the glare, but they are not aimed to be effective lamps. Now you have far too much foreground light in a scattered pattern. It's like adding a restrictive muffler to a really good header system because its too loud for use on the street. But boy, the headers sure LOOK COOL!

They're still unsafe. They're still noncompliant. They still expose whoever uses them to potentially severe liabilities in the event of a crash. And for good reason.

If anyone cares enough, its not hard to research the legitimacy or lack thereof of LED retrofits. If you want to buy a random LED trinket from an unknown supplier in China and stick it in your ever-appreciating-in-value Porsche, The risk is yours.

The rest of us in the know will continue using the appropriate, quality, legitimate, German-made bulbs.

[proporsche]

Merk.i do not know about Germany but in France i pass the control technique with LED headlights,no problem .Again i did drive another car against my 911 with both type of headlights and no glare.....legitimacy is nothing i worry about;-) safety yes .....German made bulbs? ..did you know some of them are made in China as well?


Ivan

[Mr. Merk]

Originally Posted by proporsche

German made bulbs? ..did you know some of them are made in China as well?

Yes, I did. Definitely try to stay away from most of those. Some are better than others.

Always try to stick with Narva from AU, or Vosla, Flösser, Philips, and Osram products from Germany.

[proporsche]

Always try to stick with Narva from AU, or Vosla, Flösser, Philips, and Osram products from Germany.[/QUOTE]
Yes to this;-).

Ivan

[cabmandone]

Originally Posted by Mr. Merk

FACT: It's not

The only fact is that this is your opinion. Remember boys and girls... opinions are like a..holes... everyone has one.

But the fact is, the LED bulbs are brighter and cast a more focused beam up the road. Aiming them doesn't take away anything from the bulb. They are fantastic and outperform the best halogen bulb and they do it for half the cost.

[proporsche]

One other thing is..many SUV lately have these so called legal LED headlights..man i tell you what a PITA if they are behind you or meeting them ahead..our car are so low the light generated by LED is just fine...again i have test it;-))

Ivan
Interesting about light bulbs..i have plenty for my 911 made in France and West Germany (Osram+Phillips)old stock from days in CA...

[Mr. Merk]

Originally Posted by cabmando

The only fact is that this is your opinion. Remember boys and girls... opinions are like a..holes... everyone has one.

But the fact is, the LED bulbs are brighter and cast a more focused beam up the road. Aiming them doesn't take away anything from the bulb. They are fantastic and outperform the best halogen bulb and they do it for half the cost.

I've been there and done that. LEDs, HIDs, high wattage & blue coated halogen bulbs. Been around the block and now back to doing things the right way. Respectfully, you may be correct in most applications if your statement was "LED lamps." Most LEDs are in fact "brighter" but they do not cast a more focused beam up the road when used in a halogen lamp.

I'll post this incredibly detailed explanation again, but I'm sure you will refrain from reading or accepting anything explained by someone who serves as an expert witness, actively participates in technical standards development and research bodies, has contributed text to regulations in several countries and territories, and has attended the United Nations vehicle lighting regulation working group at the invitation of its president. He collects technically and historically significant car lamps, helps drivers safely upgrade their cars’ lighting, and serves as Chief Editor of the industry’s technical journal, DrivingVisionNews.

[Soterik]

My new H1's... High beam, 55 watt halogen bulbs with relays....
Pretty amazing what new reflectors and glass will do.

[proporsche]

[QUOTE=Mr. Merk;11561027]I've been there and done that. LEDs, HIDs, high wattage & blue coated halogen bulbs. Been around the block and now back to doing things the right way. Respectfully, you may be correct in most applications if your statement was "LED lamps." Most LEDs are in fact "brighter" but they do not cast a more focused beam up the road when used in a halogen lamp.


I`ve taken the time to read the whole article...have you noticed that the major companies do not approve of these LED unless is made by them?..there is a lot of very serious words in the article..like this...just some of them...halogen headlamps must use halogen bulbs or they don't—can't—won't work effectively, safely, or legally.
unauthorised, counterfeit............
finally this report is by now 11 years old;-))) the technology has changed a lot since then..

[cabmandone]

Originally Posted by Mr. Merk

I've been there and done that. LEDs, HIDs, high wattage & blue coated halogen bulbs. Been around the block and now back to doing things the right way. Respectfully, you may be correct in most applications if your statement was "LED lamps." Most LEDs are in fact "brighter" but they do not cast a more focused beam up the road when used in a halogen lamp.

I'll post this incredibly detailed explanation again, but I'm sure you will refrain from reading or accepting anything explained by someone who serves as an expert witness, actively participates in technical standards development and research bodies, has contributed text to regulations in several countries and territories, and has attended the United Nations vehicle lighting regulation working group at the invitation of its president. He collects technically and historically significant car lamps, helps drivers safely upgrade their cars’ lighting, and serves as Chief Editor of the industry’s technical journal, DrivingVisionNews.

Four of my cars say your experience is wrong. It's not just in my mind. People who have ridden in my vehicles notice the difference. But whaddaya know? We have a difference of opinion. But I can honestly say that all four of the vehicles I have that I've swapped to LED bulbs, and two that I have near 100,000 miles of driving experience in, say that LED's when installed properly do indeed transform a vehicle that once had piss poor lighting when driving at night.

If you do like them, I get it. But don't bash them because of your experience. That's not fact, that's your experience. FWIW, I read all about LED's in housings "designed for halogens" before I purchased my bulbs. Had I listened to them, I'd still be driving with silverstar bulbs and wondering why I'm spending $100 every two or three years and still have headlights that suck at night. I'm EXTREMELY light sensitive at night which is why when my son and I put LED's in his 08 Rav4, we went to a country road nearby and I had him drive in my direction to make sure the lights wouldn't blind other drivers. Once we aimed the lights appropriately, we had excellent light dispersion and visibility without blinding oncoming cars. YMMV.. but I've done this in four vehicles I currently own and another we sent down the road that was a 2010 veloster. All were a VAST improvement over halogen.

[2jmotorsports]

I have used ones like these, that replicate the direction of the low beam and high beam in the halogen bulb. If you install them in the correct orientation, the low beam LED chip shines up, reflects off the upper half of the light housing, and hits the road with a sharp cutoff at the top. If you switch on the high beam, the lower half of the reflector housing is illuminated which hits the road at a greater height, right at the back of motorists heads, just like the halogen one.

https://www.amazon.com/AUXITO-Headlight-9000Lumens-Extremely-Conversion/dp/B07DGTTTKN/ref=sr_1_11?keywords=h4+led+headlight+bulb&qid=1640909736&sprefix=H4+LED%2Caps%2C115&sr=8-11

As others have already pointed out, they have to be aimed properly and some of these can unfortunately be installed upside down or at an angle, and when you drive down the highway you will see the sharp cutoff of your beam at an angle on highway signs. If you stand off to the side of the headlight while its on you can see the LED chip illuminated in the housing and check low beam/high beam function.

The generic ones that have LED chips facing all directions are garbage. They just project light and glare everywhere.

That said, as someone coming from US spec sealed beams, properly aimed halogens do a fine job too.

[cabmandone]

Originally Posted by 2jmotorsports

I have used ones like these, that replicate the direction of the low beam and high beam in the halogen bulb. If you install them in the correct orientation, the low beam LED chip shines up, reflects off the upper half of the light housing, and hits the road with a sharp cutoff at the top. If you switch on the high beam, the lower half of the reflector housing is illuminated which hits the road at a greater height, right at the back of motorists heads, just like the halogen one.

https://www.amazon.com/AUXITO-Headlight-9000Lumens-Extremely-Conversion/dp/B07DGTTTKN/ref=sr_1_11?keywords=h4+led+headlight+bulb&qid=1640909736&sprefix=H4+LED%2Caps%2C115&sr=8-11

As others have already pointed out, they have to be aimed properly and some of these can unfortunately be installed upside down or at an angle, and when you drive down the highway you will see the sharp cutoff of your beam at an angle on highway signs. If you stand off to the side of the headlight while its on you can see the LED chip illuminated in the housing and check low beam/high beam function.

The generic ones that have LED chips facing all directions are garbage. They just project light and glare everywhere.

That said, as someone coming from US spec sealed beams, properly aimed halogens do a fine job too.

That's a good point. In discussing headlight aiming, I left out making sure the bulb orientation is correct in the housing. I think this is missed by many DIY'ers putting LED's in their car.
I've installed them and noticed the diodes weren't facing the direction they should. In my bulbs there's a set screw that allows you to rotate the diodes so they are properly oriented in the housing. I installed my bulbs in my shop. First thing I'd look at was if the diodes were pointed correctly. I found on a few occasions that rather than the diodes being at 3 and 9 they were more like 2 and 8. When I had them installed, I'd turn of the lights and check to make sure nothing looked odd. You can tell if the diodes are correctly oriented by looking at the light on the wall. Finally, at night, I'd pull the car up to my shop door and perform aiming according to the directions in my owners manual. Then I go out and drive the vehicle on a country road to see where the lights are hitting on signs etc.

[avahdani]

Hi all, any LED bulb recommendation for H4? I am upgrading my h5 on 89 3.2 and replacing it to H4. don't want to go with Morimoto and Rennline LED's

[darrin]

avahdani -- At my mechanic's recommendation, I've been running cec industries 130/90w halogen H4 bulbs in my h4 headlight assemblies for the past decade. Super bright and, knock on wood, haven't had one burn out yet. https://www.amazon.com/CEC-Industries-Halogen-Headlight-Bulb/dp/B002CYTQH0 I also installed headlight relays but kept the stock headlight connectors. After properly aiming these (so the sharp upper cutoff doesn't piss off oncoming traffic), I have super-bright, effective, illumination that's (imo) better than that provided by the modern HID and LED headlights in my daily drivers.