Testing Some LED Headlights

[porterdog]

Originally Posted by rothaus

Just installed the first set of LED's in H4 housings.

Nice! Is there a timeline for commercial availability?

Cost?

[VFR750]

Painting the grey plastic shell on the sugar scoops satin black looks really good. It fits the blacked out trim. Did it a long time ago. Still think that is the way it should have come from the factory.

[rothaus]

Originally Posted by porterdog

Nice! Is there a timeline for commercial availability?

Cost?

This is the first proto type of the LED's installed in H4 Housings. I have to do a few more adjustments and they should for sale by end of this month. They should be around $850/set.

Cheers
Engelbert

[quattrorunner]

Now we're talking.

[schnelltarga]

Originally Posted by RocketWrench

They look amazing, but I still think the grey inside of the H4 housing could do with a Chrome of black finish.

Thoughts?

Here are my Bi-Xenon with black trim and black inside housing

[rothaus]

Here are some pictures with the LED headlights installed in different cars.









Some close up picture of the H4 assemblies.









Cheers
Engelbert

[rothaus]

I get a lot of inquiries about the LED headlights with fluted lenses, so I did a test to see what it looks like with H4 lenses in front of the dual Low Beam projectors.

Here is a picture of a set I just made for a customer with H4 lenses instead the clear lens.



Here is a comparison of the Carmagic LED Headlight with the Clear and fluted lens. The test was done with one headlight each. The light output is about the same, and the clear lens shows a clear cut-off. The Fluted lens has a kind of cut-off, but is not as clear. Because the LED's have 2 projectors for the low beam, there is very little light going above the cut-off line and will not blind oncoming traffic.

Low beam with clear lens



Low beam with H4 Fluted lens



LED with clear lens. The two projectors are the low beam, and also stay on when switch to high beam.



LED with H4 Fluted lens. The Projectors are hidden behing the H4 lens, and give the vintage look.



Cheers
Engelbert

[Lyle O]

I really dig the fluted lens for a more vintage look. Can I easily install this kit in my '87 (and replace my H5s)? PM sent...

[lateapex911]

Originally Posted by rothaus

I get a lot of inquiries about the LED headlights with fluted lenses, so I did a test to see what it looks like with H4 lenses in front of the dual Low Beam projectors.

Here is a picture of a set I just made for a customer with H4 lenses instead the clear lens.



Here is a comparison of the Carmagic LED Headlight with the Clear and fluted lens. The test was done with one headlight each. The light output is about the same, and the clear lens shows a clear cut-off. The Fluted lens has a kind of cut-off, but is not as clear. Because the LED's have 2 projectors for the low beam, there is very little light going above the cut-off line and will not blind oncoming traffic.

Low beam with clear lens



Low beam with H4 Fluted lens



LED with clear lens. The two projectors are the low beam, and also stay on when switch to high beam.



LED with H4 Fluted lens. The Projectors are hidden behing the H4 lens, and give the vintage look.



Cheers
Engelbert

Cool comparison. Wow, the fluted lenses (no shock) really kill the pattern and the output. Look at the loss of light into the trees.

[evan9eleven]

Originally Posted by lateapex911

Cool comparison. Wow, the fluted lenses (no shock) really kill the pattern and the output. Look at the loss of light into the trees.

Compared to clear lenses, but compared to halogens these must be a whole lot better for those of us that would like to keep a vintage look.

Hey Engelbert: Can you post a pic of your "garage door test" with the fluted lenses, so we can see the pattern/cutoff and potential dispersion above the line?


evan

[et cetera]

Originally Posted by evan9eleven

Compared to clear lenses, but compared to halogens these must be a whole lot better for those of us that would like to keep a vintage look.

Hey Engelbert: Can you post a pic of your "garage door test" with the fluted lenses, so we can see the pattern/cutoff and potential dispersion above the line?


evan

Hey Guys,

I was the one Engelbert put these together for, and you're correct they are miles better than the sealed beam headlights. So much so that you don't care that the hardline from the leds is more of a gradual fade. You still have more than enough light in the places you need to focus.

In the standard on position you don't notice that the lenses are fluted. The biggest difference is when you throw the high beams on, then you do see some patterns in the beam.

I'll see if I cant get a few "garage door" shots this weekend. If time permits I'll try to install one of the sealed beam lights for a side by side comparison.

If you want to keep the "classic" look of the headlights with modern & safer lighting, this is absolutely an option.

Oh and one last thing, the quality of these headlights are top notch. They are assembled to a standard that would exceed OEM. I would recommend any version of Engelbert's products.

Erik

[Tremelune]

The concern isn't so much light output, but distribution and glare for oncoming drivers.

[rothaus]

Here are some picture from some testing I did. These are all inside against the garage wall.

This is with the LED in a fluted lens.


The pictures below are from another test when I compared H4, LED, and a LED bulb in the H4 headlight.

H4 has actually a cut-off and it's dark above the line.


LED has also a cut-off, but it is more like the HID projectors. These LED have 2 projectors for low beam, that's why it looks like a shadow so close to the wall.


This is the LED bulb installed in the H4 housing. The light is everywhere.


Cheers
Engelbert

[lateapex911]

^ that is very interesting. yea, I'm concerned about glare for oncoming drivers. The color thru the clear lens looks good, but (if the picture is consistent color temp) the fluted lens adds a green cast.

[rothaus]

Here is a little video about the installation of the headlights.



Cheers
Engelbert

[larrym]

Originally Posted by gremlin

I realise that this is a dodgy subject but I'll bring up anyway

These look like they might look kind of interesting depending on what they look like on the car: Amazon.com: Lantsun® 7 Inch Round LED Headlight with Amber Signal Halo Angle Eyes
would love to know if they fit, and what sort of beam pattern they make.

simple - just order them - since it's amazon you can try 'em & send 'em back - no cost except your time

show us your results

p.s. - lot's of us have been running H4 90/100's for yrs - w/o concern for the gendarmerie

[Lyle O]

I purchased the LED headlights with fluted lenses from Englebert (Car Magic), and I wanted to give a thumbs-up so far. These have replaced my H5s, and the functional difference is really striking. I swear, the light output must be double (at least it was inside my garage). The color is much whiter (more like HIDs) also. Because of the crappy winter weather here in Michigan, I have not had the car on the road yet, but I am certain they will be much superior to the H5s. Mounting is the same as H4 assemblies. With the fluted lenses, you really can't easily tell that they are not H4s (I also have painted trim rings). Here are photos of the lights on the car in my garage, FWIW. I will give a final report after they have been aimed, and driven at night, but I am looking forward to a much better night time driving experience. My $.02, YMMV.