Halogen or LED? Headlight Bulb Battle - Flosser Rally vs. Auxito Q16

Let's face it, old cars don't have the brightest headlights. The struggle is made worse when you share the road with modern cars with crazy-bright LED headlights. So if you want to upgrade the headlights in your older car, like my 1992 Volvo 240 wagon, what's the best way to go? Higher output halogen bulbs with relays, or modern LED bulbs? That's what I try to find out in this video. It's a question of not only which is brightest, but also which fits the personality of the car better?
The LED bulbs and resistors were graciously supplied by Auxito. If you'd like to try out any of their products, use the coupon code IDOCARSTUFF at checkout to save 15%. Link: www.auxito.com/discount/IDOCA...
The Flosser 90/100W Rally Halogen bulbs were purchased here: www.ebay.com/itm/131393625916
H4 Relay Harness from the same seller: www.ebay.com/itm/164256244318
(Note that you can also get 9004 versions of the same bulbs and relays from this seller if you have USA headlights on your Volvo 240.)
Adapters for converting a Volvo 240 from US 9004 bulbs to Euro H4 bulbs: www.ebay.com/itm/141670580689
Aftermarket set of Euro headlights & side markers for Volvo 240: www.fcpeuro.com/products/volv...
Link to the headlight aiming guide I use: www.danielsternlighting.com/t...
Super helpful headlight bulb research source / lab testing: www.bulbfacts.com
Thanks for watching! For random updates, reels, and behind-the-scenes, check out my IG: / andrewdoescarstuff
CHAPTERS:
0:00 - Intro
1:14 - Aiming Headlights
2:19 - Stock Bulbs Drive
2:44 - Choosing Bulbs
3:28 - Flosser 100w Halogens & Relays Installation
5:45 - Flosser vs. Stock Bulbs Comparison Drive
6:50 - Auxito Q16 LED Bulbs & Resistors
10:05 - LED vs. 100w Halogen Comparison Drive
12:22 - Concluding Thoughts
14:35 - Musical Interlude

[@thuggiesdrake4484]

We need more content with the Volvo!! 🔥

[@bobbysims9903]

I agree. LEDs look odd in vintage/ classic cars.

[@Skunkola]

Yeah I'd stay with the halogens too based on the colour. If the LEDs were warmer I'd be tempted to go for some additional lamps to assist with the high beams.

[@1873Winchester]

I think the halogen lamps look better than modern lights, which are often unpleasant as you meet them on the road to boot. Pair of good halogens has always given me enough light to drive in dark finnish winters for decades on dark rural roads as well as more trafficed ones.

[@AUXITOLED]

Cool, Your video is filmed so well.

[@AndrewDoesCarStuff]

Thanks guys! Your bulbs speak for themselves, very impressive. What are the chances of making a warm white version (something like 3000k)?

[@AUXITOLED]

@@AndrewDoesCarStuff I did check our website, No 3000k version headlights are sold. But we got a version with lower lumens. Contact our rep if you are interested in something else.

[@72SSAbody]

Why do I want to be Andrew’s neighbor? Great guy, cool cars and his singing isn’t too bad either 15:05 😂

[@gearhead9828]

Never heard about Flösser 🤔 Great video! Greetings from, er, Germany 🤦‍♂️🙃

[@MattOHara86]

Great choice to use the halogen lights. The LED lights did look a little strange. Also, it was very neat seeing the comparison of the lights in black and white. It really helped to be able to see how much light they were putting out.

[@jacobneville-smith9741]

Great video! I agree with you the halogens look way better in an older car, and that new car headlights are too bright. Especially when every second person has a truck and you're in an old low car. Did you notice any problems with glare from the beam pattern on the LEDs? It's been made illegal to fit LED bulbs to headlamps which don't have them OEM in NZ due to concerns they don't throw the same beam pattern and blind other drivers even on low beam.

[@AndrewDoesCarStuff]

Thanks! Agreed about the trucks... Anyway these LEDs have quite a good beam pattern actually, they clearly made an effort to position the low and high beam chips in the correct spots, and the low beam has that cutoff shield. That said, I did feel a little guilty driving with these, thinking I'm becoming part of the problem that I complain about.

[@jacobneville-smith9741]

@@AndrewDoesCarStuff interesting! Good to know because you did used to see some bad ones here before they got banned.

[@calbackk]

Very nice to find new videos from you, thanks a lot. I really like your relaxed yet "scientific" style. All your cars are very interesting ones, but the Manta A is off course my big favourite. Greetings from Sweden.

[@langsor]

"I'll probably save those LEDs and use them in something else, like maybe my Miata." 😀 Thank you for this video! I've been down the rabbit hole trying to figure out my headlight replacement/upgrade for my Miata. After countless forums and reviews and marketplace detours your video has finally given me the perspective I've been looking for! Thank you, again, for taking the time.

[@AndrewDoesCarStuff]

Glad it was helpful! For my Miata (NA), I'm using Cibie E-Code glass lenses, which look really nice and classic and have a much better beam pattern than sealed beams. That way I can use any kind of H4 bulb with them. I was perfectly content using good halogens there too, but I am currently using the LED's from this video, and they are bright as heck. I feel a little less bad about it because it's such a small car, it's important to be seen.

[@langsor]

@@AndrewDoesCarStuff After watching your video I also went looking for glass lenses for my NB2 Miata. I haven't found them yet but will do a search for the Cibie E-Code to see if they're available. I truly appreciate you responding and giving me another thing to try and improve my little gem car.

[@AndrewDoesCarStuff]

@@langsor Ah, NB is totally different when it comes to headlights. I was thinking you had an NA like me. I'm not sure what is out there for the NB. Good luck in your quest!

[@manujadesilva22]

You hit the nail on the head with every point you made. New car headlights are way too bright.

[@CollectorOfThings]

Daniel Stern lighting has some good information about LEDs. As you say the colour temperature is a problem. What is also a problem is that the halogen reflectors are designed for the light source to be in a certain position, it is not possible for LEDs to be correctly positioned and is why they are usually illegal.

[@AndrewDoesCarStuff]

Right, at least these LED's have the "filaments" in the correct position, and they have the block off "cup" for low beam. So the beam pattern actually looked pretty good to me.

[@honestaquarian]

Great video. I am still using the stock US spec plastic headlights. I replaced them due to aging and coloration. At first I was rocking some PIAA high powered halogens with a wiring harness/relay system. Definitely brighter. Then I discovered Nilight and Auxito LED's. Nilight 9004 LED's with cooling fans. I had to go with Auxito for the fog lights, because Nilight doesn't make H3 bulbs. The reason why I landed on these two brands is the fact that they design their LED bulbs to focus the light down on the road, INSTEAD of shining light EVERYWHERE like a lot of brands. Which blinds oncoming drivers. The Nilights were SO bright that I could no longer see the fog lights. So I had to replace them with LED's and landed on the Auxito H3 bulbs. On dark roads at night I do not have ANY problems seeing the deer on the sides of the road!! I still have the headlights hooked up to the wiring harness btw.

[@AndrewDoesCarStuff]

Thanks, it's good to hear from another 240 owner with similar experiences.

[@honestaquarian]

@@AndrewDoesCarStuff The catch with my situation is that I never had an issue with the light out sensor being tripped. I have replaced all but one of my exterior lights with either LED's or SMD's. I learned to check before purchase if they are CANBUS compatible. CANBUS being the designation of the system that cars use to alert the driver to a light bulb being out. Not all LED's are compatible with CANBUS systems. When it comes to light bulbs other than the headlights. SMD's [Surface Mount Diode-which are a different type of LED (Light Emitting Diode)] tend to be more likely to be CANBUS compatible. ALWAYS check to see if the LED or SMD that you are buying is CANBUS compatible in advance. Also once you install a headlight wiring harness that allows you to hook up the headlights to the battery, it removes the headlights from the CANBUS system. But at 50,000 hour lifespan (according to the manufacturer) one would hardly have to be worried about a headlight bulb failing any time soon!

[@MrCaprinut]

I live in Norway and as you may know our dark winters are loooooong! My go to bulb is Osram Nightbreaker. Lot better than regular bulbs but with mid range cost. And we are only limited to 55w bulbs here.

[@AndrewDoesCarStuff]

Dang, so what are the rules with LED bulbs there? Are there limits to the brightness you can have?

[@1873Winchester]

@@AndrewDoesCarStuff Likely same as in Finland, totally super illegal to run LEDs in headlights not designed for them. It's common to fit extra lamps on cars here though. They can be leds, such as LED ramps.

[@MrCaprinut]

@@AndrewDoesCarStuff 6000k is the color limit. Only modern cars with automatic light leveling can have led bulbs. Can be only retro fitted if you install all the leveling bits.

[@AndrewDoesCarStuff]

@@MrCaprinut interesting that there's a color limit, but not a brightness limit. I'm sure that will happen at some point.

[@AndrewDoesCarStuff]

@@1873Winchester that's intereesting. I would think that as long as the bulbs have the same beam pattern, and go through some kind of approval process, it should be ok as a safety upgrade.

[@johnlorrieboskovic2836]

Thank you for this video! You make some excellent points about the "color" of the light. I find as I get older that the brightness of an led helps me, but since most of my driving requires low vs high beams, I'm wondering if adding even factory fogs to my '14 Sienna would give me the same benefit. Lots to consider here but data is always good to have!

[@joell439]

I agree - you made the same choice I would. 👍👍😎👍👍 (nice tune at the end 🤣🤣)

[@-Sam-]

loving the Volvo content, Whens the ls swap coming

[@AndrewDoesCarStuff]

Soon. Just kidding, I don't know if I could pull that off. Fun to daydream about it though!

[@username.858]

Great Video. I agree with you, it really depends on the personality of the car. I would be willing to use LED's in my 760 (facelift) tough.

[@Maximum_777]

By FAR the best, most clearly presented headlight video I've seen. I am 100% in agreeance it's the color temperature that bugs me as well, and I am going to totally get LED's eventually because they're clearly the better option from a longevity standpoint, but only once they can replicate the warm white of a halogen with automotive LED lights. I have several LED lights inside my house that are a gorgeously warm color temperature, and they're decorative warm white light bulbs, they look incredible, can get quite bright, and are exactly what I want from the lighting in my car, but seemingly nobody makes warm white bulbs for automotive use, it's like there's a limitation in LED manufacturing or something where they can't get bright enough without looking blue, my hope is this isn't the case, and we'll see it eventually, but for now it's very disappointing to see nothing but cool white lights out there, and I'm indeed going to wait because I just don't like it.

[@damons6759]

Great video Andrew.

[@TheBlooRayChannel]

That was such a luxurious video. Loved it

[@kevinrowley2579]

Thanks for the test. I agree that the LEDs look a little odd in classic cars. Just a couple of points: halogen bulbs dim over time and use. I don't know how old your 55/60s were, but simply replacing them with new ones might have given you some improvement. Also, the relays usually add brightness to the lights by themselves. It's hard to tell how much of the improvement was due to new bulbs, higher-wattage bulbs, or the relays.

[@AndrewDoesCarStuff]

All good points. Thanks!

[@itsvondell]

I really want to spring for JDM glass headlights for my Previa once my budget allows. Her US spec plastic ones are really showing the 33 years no matter how good I get at polishing. Love your Volvo, I've always really loved the 240 wagons. And I agree - I feel like if a reputable company started producing warmer-toned LED headlights, they'd get a lot of interest from people with older cars. It just feels right.

[@ArnieeBear]

I agree with you, the halogen bulb and color seem much more period correct. As always such a good video. Looking forward to the next one.

[@gearhead9828]

Good decision 👍

[@JoakimStenudd]

So glad I found your chanel! I'm really enjoying your content. I've allways loved the 240 (I'm a swede). A brown 244 from 85 was the first car I owned. I'm currently driving an NA miata which i love. When I get the space for it I have the intention of buying another 240 for myself. Great minds think alike ;)

[@AndrewDoesCarStuff]

Thank you! Excellent taste. Miata and 240 are the perfect 2-car solution. :)

[@mazdamiatafied]

Great video and testing! Modern bright blue LED headlights drive me crazy. The best bulbs I've found are LED but in a warm white (3000k), best of both worlds. The Morimoto/Holley Retrobrights meant for exactly this. 💡

[@AndrewDoesCarStuff]

Thanks! I knew about the Holley Retrobrights, but they only have the "sealed beam" style of lights and not individual bulbs. I do think they're a great option for cars that use those type of lights though. I found one other place that makes H4-type bulbs in a 3500k temp, but I contacted them and they told me straight up they wouldn't be as bright as 100w halogens.

[@scottdorey8480]

Keep up the good work old friend.

[@AndrewDoesCarStuff]

Thanks dude!

[@geoffreycarter3981]

I think you just need to get the correct wiring harness for the Ecode lights and then I'd recommend using Halogen with Wagonmeisters wiring harness. I have that vintage look with warm bulbs but a crisp headlight cutoff and great visibility.

[@Sixty-EightCougar]

Another great video, Andrew! [you know who this is by my handle 🙂] Your explanation of the technology involved was put on a level that even an old guy like me can understand. Oh! And as for your singing: don't quite your day job! 😉

[@AndrewDoesCarStuff]

Hah! Thanks Rich :D

[@leoademayyyne4979]

Very interesting video. If you ever find LEDs headlight bulbs that emit light whose colour resembles halogen, or maybe even with other features that would make them "halogen-like" (such as soft switching from on/off), please let us know ! 😁

[@MapleMarmite]

Great, informative video. I agree wholeheartedly with the modern headlights being too bright, in fact I avoid driving at night because of it. It doesn’t help that in North America every other person drives a truck that has headlights in line with the eyes of anyone driving a regular car. Mine is old and has halogen bulbs and, as I said, rarely gets driven at night. Are the resistors purely for avoiding the bulb out warning lights? I don’t have those on my vehicles so maybe I won’t need them if that’s their only purpose. I agree with you on the glass lenses, too. My 80s F150 camper has the plastic junk but they don’t put glass ones in them anywhere in the world, so I can’t get any for it. I bought some LED driving lamps for it to use on country roads and campsites but I’m going to try restoring the plastic lenses (or buying new) and then the brighter bulbs for around town. I would be interested in a similar video about fog lamps and driving lamps on an older vehicle and the Volvo would be a good candidate for such an experiment with the right lamps, maybe…? 👍🏻

[@AndrewDoesCarStuff]

Ah, the trucks with LED lights are the worst. Anyway yes the resistors / adapters are mainly just to make sure your car thinks the headlights are correct. Probably more important in newer vehicles with "can bus" / obd ii which I think is 1996 and newer. Maybe this isn't what you're looking for, but I did install some Hella driving lights on my 1973 Opel, which use H3 bulbs. That video is on my channel. Would be cool to put some OEM fog lamps on the Volvo though!

[@villejussila1599]

I've been thinking the same thing!! Why aren't there warm white LED lights for cars? That would be so nice. Xenon's used to hurt the eyes already and now these ridiculously bright LED's... :/

[@TOPOM42]

i have an 80 series and went to LED's but the look isnt the same. Been wondering why no one makes a off white LED. I'd grab some in a heart beat.

[@digiternst]

Throw a yellow or orange gel over the LED maybe?

[@OmbraYSG]

So, in Europe OSRAM has put in sale the “LEDriving® HL Vintage”, wich are 3000K and time-correct colour but waaaaaay more power!!!

[@AndrewDoesCarStuff]

Ah, very cool! I didn't find these during my research. Thanks for the info. I wonder how the brightness compares to the 100w halogens. Edit: It looks like BulbFacts tested this series of Osram LEDriving HL (just the regular Gen.2 version, not Vintage) and they got about 2000 lumens on their test setup. Better than stock 55w halogens, but not as bright as the 100w Flossers (which get about 2900 lumens in the same conditions). Still, seems like a good option with all the benefits LEDs have.

[@9fiveb180]

Plus...... it's technically illegal to install L.E.D's into a reflector style headlamp housing.

[@Google_Is_Evil]

Your test drives actually show that the LED lights at the low beam setting give off a lot more stray light to areas you are not supposed to shine for reason of blinding opposite traffic. Your light fixtures were not designed for LEDs but for glowing filaments. The beam is formed in your fixtures expecting a very point-shaped source spreading light 360 degrees around and not one or two rectangles on opposite sides of a flat piece of metal. Any light source outside of what the design calls for will not stay within the designed area and possily blind other people you might encounter. Regardless of personal preference and how much you can see inside the area most of the light is coming, you causing other people to get blinded is the (valid) reason why retrofitting LED in halogen systems is officially illegal in (most of) Europe. Doing the relay setup was the proper way to do the halogens, kudos for that. You may want to monitor temperatures of your enclosures since the heat design is based on the 55/60W bulbs and you practically doubling that might get temperatures so high that plastic could melt and/or metal will corrode much faster than by design. Don't expect aftermarket LEDs or high wattage halogens to give you anything over or in some cases, even close to the lifespan of your regular Halogens. The design parameters simply don't allow for that. The high power halogens will get pretty close if they are designed correctly, the LEDs most often bake themselves since they are very intolerant to any heat and the cooling environment inside a halogen fixture just can't be compensated for with a flimsy little fan or small heat sink. Ideally you want the LEDs themselves not to get over 100F, they will do fine up to about 180F (depending on type/manufacturer obviously) but above that the lifespan goes down super rapidly.

[@AndrewDoesCarStuff]

All good points, thanks for that.

[@LoserSnoozer]

There was one company I found that did tricolor led lights, 3000k, 4300k and 6000/6500k for low beams and the high beams is 6500 but they're 120 for the set and are a little unconventional looking.. If it's something you want to do, they're called the "Boslla Bullet B4"

[@AndrewDoesCarStuff]

Interesting! Looks very "yellow" from their pictures.

[@LoserSnoozer]

@@AndrewDoesCarStuff I think thats the 3000k which is like a rally yellow which is supposedly good for eye strain but the 4300k seems interesting as thats about the color temperature of a halogen bulb so I wonder if it actually is comparable as led vs halogen with similar color temperatures

[@anthonybell6344]

Halogen reflector units are not suitable for led , the light scatter is blinding to oncoming traffic.

[@stuudio]

I'm ready to subscribe to your next YT channel: "Andrew Does Silly Songs."

[@AndrewDoesCarStuff]

That could probably be arranged 😆

[@foyrees]

blue light isn't "harsher", it's just part of the spectrum our brains are programmed to associate with daylight. if I'm driving at night, I give significantly less fucks about my circadian rhythm than I do about my ability to see as well as I possibly can while piloting a couple tons of steel around in public.

[@HelloImMaxxHennard]

LED's are simply a superior product. I would rather make sure I don't hit people, event if it means not staying true to the "vintage" vibe. Life>Looking Cool. Nice vid though.

[@dmitry1830]

The led lights are great, just not for this car.