Halogen vs HID vs LED

This video is NOT meant to be an endorsement of altering the headlights in your vehicle. It's just meant to be a comparison between the Halogen, HID, and LED bulbs that are available now.
That said, I did feel like I got some surprising results from my testing as you'll see in the video.
All tests were done using a 2004 Honda Element with Halogen headlight housings. The distances were constant as we kept the vehicle in the same spot for all testing with the engine running.
Also, I did not aim or alter the headlights in any way. I only installed the different bulbs for each test.
Listing of State Headlight Laws: www.motorfiend.com/state-head...
I got all of the bulbs for testing from MotorFiend: www.motorfiend.com
Halogen bulbs were stock H4's/9003's: www.amazon.com/SYLVANIA-Silve...
HID's: www.amazon.com/Innovited-55W-...
LED's: www.amazon.com/Boltlink-Headl...
The best place for answers to your automotive questions: www.ericthecarguy.com
Camera: Derek Sims
Thanks for watching!
Discussion about this video: www.ericthecarguy.com/kunena/...
Tools
My Luxi light meter: www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produc...
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Due to factors beyond the control of EricTheCarGuy, it cannot guarantee against unauthorized modifications of this information, or improper use of this information. EricTheCarGuy assumes no liability for property damage or injury incurred as a result of any of the information contained in this video. EricTheCarGuy recommends safe practices when working with power tools, automotive lifts, lifting tools, jack stands, electrical equipment, blunt instruments, chemicals, lubricants, or any other tools or equipment seen or implied in this video. Due to factors beyond the control of EricTheCarGuy, no information contained in this video shall create any express or implied warranty or guarantee of any particular result. Any injury, damage or loss that may result from improper use of these tools, equipment, or the information contained in this video is the sole responsibility of the user and not EricTheCarGuy.

[@skynet-uy5qd]

I appreciate the effort that was put in making the video

[@soujaunlimited]

Agreed

[@jaminjef]

I don't appreciate how some y'alls seem to be advocating for blinding other drivers! Just stop that insanity! If yo ass can't see the road with halogens you need to give up night driving. Stop blinding the rest of us! #banblindingheadlights #banledandotherblindingheadlights Sign the petition!

[@PadmaDorjee]

I am shocked at the tremendous efforts you made for this test. Thank you for your generosity Eric.

[@zfloz9895]

Respect for your work ,from România! Keep up doing this kind of contents. Thank you !

[@00freeguy00]

LED might be brighter but I love how the HID warm up

[@ejayasaula]

Try candles much brighter.

[@chichan4127]

Thats basicaly halogen lmao

[@jimbondoc2530]

Fuvk yuo

[@MrInzombia]

Ejay Asaula just stick some glow sticks inside.

[@steve5912]

@@chichan4127 That is Halogen lmao

[@caddyguy5369]

when I got my 2002 Deville in 2006, the headlights were aimed properly, but brighter than people were used to at the time. People flashed me with my dims on fairly regularly and those weren't even HID. People flashing lessened as time went on and people got used to brighter lights on the road. My 2008 DTS has HID. I love them. The dims on both of those cars are brighter than the brights on my 92 coupe deville and 91 bonneville. Going back to crappy headlights is torture as I do a lot of driving at night.

[@andrewthompsonuk1]

This was an excellent demonstration of the two upgrades in an old fashioned light. The whole idea of low beams is to be able to see as far in front as you can without dazzling on coming traffic. laws aside to drive with either of these upgrades the lights will have to be lowered which will defeat the purpose of the upgrade.

[@dcheverie]

The only bad thing about LED head lights is if you live in a place that gets cold in the winter, they won't keep the snow/ice off the enclosure. Halogen, however, will melt the snow/ice. Living in Canada, I have seen my headlights melt the snow/ice all the time.

[@CubasAutomotive]

D Cheverie that's a great point! Never thought of that aspect, but definitely valid. I'm in a snowbelt area too, though not as much as you'd get.

[@2450logan]

D Cheverie wouldn't the LEDs bright white light be inefficient in snowy weather? Due to the all round white washout. Can't say I know no snow where I'm from

[@robgrune3284]

true. led needs a heat sink, and this draws the heat to the rear and out of the lens. I wonder if we will see dual tech lights in future: halogen for low, led for high. the halogen can heat the entire lens, to clear the lens from water and ice. could be god, as this avoids the hid ballast, relays, etc.

[@CubasAutomotive]

logan thompson I would say it's just equivalent to other lights as far as lighting. White out during snow, in my experience, only happens during heavy fall, just like if it were heavy rain or dense fog. It's not a whiteout during light conditions at all & like I said, it's no different than HIDs or Halogen. Fog lights never worked well for their intended purpose, at least in my experience either.

[@dcheverie]

logan thompson To add to the comments of others, you can also get different colours (or colors for the Americans. hehe) of white LED lights. For example warm vs cool. One produces a more pure white light and the other is closer to a yellow or has some yellow in it.

[@tedbaxter5234]

I’ve watched lot of headlight videos, lots of bitching about how the different lights and applications make the eyes feel and are difficult for on coming drivers. Congratulations, you are the first person to take the emotion out of it using a methodology. Thank you!

[@kfl611]

I've had some people come towards me with what I am sure are illegal lights, as they were super white and rather blinding. One of the brightest headlights I ever saw was on a motorcycle, it shown past a few cars and totally lit up a big highway sign. It was insanely bright, especially as how it was only one headlight.

[@BillPhillips4]

Great video! The type of LED element can make a significant difference in the results. The reflector in the light housing is designed to have the light element in a very exact location in order to focus the beam. Some Led designs place the Light Element not quite in the correct central location, and that causes an unfocused projection. I think that may be why your LEDs had an unfucused beam. it was still an informative video and I enjoyed it.

[@anthonychupp3789]

That was very interesting. Thank you so very much, Mr. The Car Guy! You did a very thorough experiment, very controlled. Awesome job, Eric!

[@waynelawley7772]

Nice work on this demonstration! I'm glad you were so through with these explanations!

[@craiglinn2782]

I"m glad to See you are still making these videos Eric. I've Learned so much from you. Just keep on Rockin on man! PS. Can't wait to see more fixing it forward videos.

[@texaskidzuk]

Last night I installed 2 brand new Ford headlight assemblies with 2 new Philips Crystal vision 9007 bulbs and it's amazing driving at night now. Me and my car are both very happy now. 😊

[@Boz1211111]

Make sure there is acceptable light scatter so you dont blind other people. thanks

[@ev-ezaye3580]

This was a great experiment... always wanted to have the detailed comparison between all three! Thanks

[@jimmymakmta]

I've been having trouble seeing the road specially when it rain at night after seeing your footage its extreamely helpful thanks

[@AutoAddictionMedia]

The distance test is utterly useless. Of course the HID won't shine as far if they are pointing towards hell

[@colintx800]

AA Nordschleife Media your mum lol.

[@AutoAddictionMedia]

+colintx800 I forgot KZbin was also available for 8-year olds...

[@colintx800]

AA Nordschleife Media Omg really, Thanks so much for letting me know that. it's just a shame he can't please people like you with your useless input, "USELESS" Do you really think he has time to align the headlights ?

[@AutoAddictionMedia]

+colintx800 If he doesn't have the time to align the headlights, he shouldn't do the distance test in the first place. Don't get me wrong. I follow Eric's channel for many years, probably since the very first year. I like most of his work, but I do believe he missed out on this test.

[@colintx800]

AA Nordschleife Media OK, fair enough lol, I know it takes a lot of time making KZbin videos and I just get annoyed when people aren't satisfied, Good luck anyway :)

[@carpi2]

Excellent Video. I have been struggling for YEARS with headlights in my 2012 F150. Tried all 3. I do like the LED but find they are quite useless on the long wide black top. I felt like my lights were not even on. BUT they reflect off signs a mile away! Great in winter also, with everything white. I was surprised at the distance results. To me they seem to drop off sooner, even though some light goes on forever. They appear to go further but it is pretty weak....they lose it in distance. Also, the road rage I get from oncoming traffic is maddening. Lowest K I can find is 6000, so probably why................

[@Nope-un5lq]

Eric (and Derek) - thank you for taking the time to do this comparison. I'm sure it ate up a lot of your personal evening time that you would otherwise have spent with friends, family, taking care of your non-KZbin things, or just unwinding from the day. Your hard work is appreciated! :-) BTW, your work light you had shining into the engine bay while doing the lamp swap - that thing looks stinkin' bright (didn't realize how bright it was when I've seen you use it around the shop)!

[@ericthecarguy]

Thanks for your comment! Here's a link to a video I did about the light you mentioned. I love those lights BTW. kzbin.info/www/bejne/h6Hcia1taNJ2mZY

[@sewerratt47]

High LUX is one thing. But more so, how its handled ... quality of the headlight. Great show. Waiting on the next...

[@mockingbird187]

3:03 Can hardly see Eric at all 3:50 Can see him clearly 4:42 Can see him somewhat That part was a bit too subjective. Maybe should have decided on a minimum lux measurement and used the light meter.

[@nemobuscaptain3245]

Yeah, he definitely let him walk much farther into the darkness the first time at 3:03. To subjective. Maybe should have used his light meter to find the "end of the light" at exactly the same amount. I do feel like the halogen vs HID were pretty close but the HID looked much brighter within the range. LED looked like garbage. Just spraying everywhere.

[@WeirdJerz3y]

As I'm sure many already mentioned, You need to test these in a projector housing. and then compare them. They are not meant for regular halogen reflective housings.

[@CubasAutomotive]

I can't stand HIDs, especially if the headlights aren't aligned properly, which most people fail to do. This includes yearly state safety inspection too, it's no longer common to check. I remember how common it was 20yrs ago, at least here in SE PA.

[@NikolayCannotDie]

same

[@binyamj]

It's not that the headlights aren't aligned. It's because HID's are ONLY meant to be used in projector headlights housings. People that use HID's in standard halogen housings, are idiots.

[@Tedybear315]

Actually it's not the people that are the "idiots". Most companies are marketing and selling these bulbs like hotcakes using a lot of misleading information about how to correct install. You can go onto Amazon and eBay all day long and find "universal" HID bulbs that are supposedly designed for direct swap into existing fixtures. Maybe "Idiot" in a way--that people do not correctly research before purchase, and get suckered into the hype?

[@CubasAutomotive]

I think it's a combination of idiots & the "universal" kits being the issue. Too many people also install them to keep up with the herd, the Johnsons down the street or going for that certain "look". Just like tint, many areas have restrictions, but people still black out their windows or lights. People ignore laws & rather pay the fines or don't care about the safety of others. In window tint, so dark you lose peripheral vision, if blacked out lights, now they're not as visible, etc.

[@duweydang]

I think those are the least of my worries. In my area, there are jacked up trucks with HID headlights and fog lights. A non-HID headlight with a universal kit pales in comparison.

[@gerardoli892]

Excellent video, this was more then I what I expected! Especially with all that technical testing & results which I was very impress and something I usually look for. Well what do you know, I found all of that in this video. Blessings.

[@MohamedSayed-lu1jo]

great effort man, thanks you :)

[@davidk7544]

First, a word (or my word) on why blinding oncoming drivers is a bad thing: 1) A temporarily blinded driver can drive straight into you, another car or go off the road. 2) A blinded driver is extremely angry, and angry drivers are the most dangerous. I have heard of blinded and angry drivers doing a U-turn and chasing down the offending vehicle/driver. Being that occurs at night, we may run the risk (no joke) of being the victim of road rage with bullets flying. 3) Blinded drivers typically "retaliate" by turning on *their* brights, and maybe driving straight at you as a "chicken" maneuver. I've seen this happen - no joke. I've also seen someone fire up their Q-beam spot light and point it straight into the windshield of the offending driver. That's an accident waiting to happen, and a sign of an arms race. None of us need that. Now back to the show. This was a very good subjective analysis, with quite a lot of work invested. Thank you! Just some thoughts; tungsten halogen bulbs have a long history of use in cars, and thanks to industry standards (ISO), the bulbs are manufactured with a highly consistent position of the rather small filament in relation to the bulb base. That's to say no matter which HB4 bulb you put in, your reflected light distribution should be pretty dang close to the same. You did use a light meter, which was nice to see, but it was employed in subjective ways. You did find the hot spots in front of the garage door. Ideally, we'd take the light meter and "map out" the intensities, say from the ground, and from the center of the vehicle. Plot that contour out on graph paper or put it into some software to make a plot. I don't see a way to post an example here, but I did find a nice plot by "PatternsKid" on the web, but the account is gone. The graphic can still be found using a google image search for Types Of Lighting Distribution Patterns - Patterns Kid and I'm an idiot, because I just figured out how to paste the graphic. The same distribution (contour) is often seen given for intensity on the road, but this misses all the information where it matters, which is the eye level of other drivers. E.g.: Euro Anti Dazzle and Headlight Assistant Again that worked, so nice, and credit to f80.bimmerpost.com for posting that. Original credit to the person making the graphic. My apologies that I cannot provide the copyright info (as it doesn't appear to be copyrighted). This is not a perfectly useless plot however. We can infer what the road pattern might imply for oncoming viewers, but we could be completely wrong. It is NICE to see someone bringing up the road dazzle issue as I myself have had the unhealthy urge to drive straight into luxury cars with absurdly bright, and blue, and apparently legal HID beams that honestly do hurt my eyes, even on the low beam. I have not succumbed to that urge, but I do wish ill on their tire pressures. The same cannot be said for LED if not for one simple fact. The light is not coming from a small filament in one location - it's coming from a bunch of sources in very different positions inside the reflector assembly. That is why we see the "spray and pray" pattern, and why the "high beam" doesn't look a whole lot different. LED headlights, I expect, will be impossible to keep out of the eyes of oncoming drivers. HIDs suffer part of that problem. While the plasma is localized in a small quartz capsule, not so different than the tungsten filament, the companies that make the HID bulbs certainly are not making an effort to be certain that capsule is in the same place as the filaments in the tungsten bulbs. The result is a very bright light source that most likely has to be re-aimed specifically for the HID bulb used. The high/low function of the HID bulbs (to tilt or pull-backwards with an electromagnet) could also be nowhere near the high intensity filament of a tungsten bulb, and here is the rub. When you aim the HID to be in the right place for the "low beam" position (on the road, out of oncoming traffic's eyes), it may not be in the right place for the high beam. Yes, we could say to ourselves that since we're toasting the whole countryside with the high beams anyway - that's fine. HID bulbs have the intensity to, if improperly aimed, truly temporarily blind oncoming drivers in that instant it takes us to switch to low, and this is a very bad thing. If we *can* put an HID bulb in, and make a point of aiming them so they do not blind oncoming drivers - we could really increase driving safety because it's entirely possible to have better distance illumination without increased eye-level illumination. That could avoid a lot of crashes into people, animals and other vehicles. (I do not use the word accident, as that word implies something beyond our control. Car crashes are the result of poor planning and/or execution, possibly as a result of lack of training or concern). If one or more of us could run the same tests you did, but *map* the intensity distribution of the reflected light, we may be able to come up with safer ways to use HIDs. With the LED emitter distribution in the current LED car light bulb replacements, that cannot ever happen. I'd suggest nobody use LED headlights until technology makes that light a point source akin to filament or plasma capsules.

[@havee2032]

Huge but great and informative comment

[@ChrisFBartlett]

Great video, thanks for doing this! Halogen 3:03 | LED 3:36 | HID 4:46

[@farispaish]

The best review for three most common automobile bulbs ever!

[@laszlokiss8311]

Great job! But i think you need a same test with projectors lamp!

[@TheErozion]

Thorough comparison as always. Greetings from Romania!

[@letsrugem]

Eric, you always comes with new surprise. Very much helps and thank you.

[@u.u.u9969]

LED was absolutely beautiful against the garage door. Big round circle. Also beautiful white snow look at 88 feet distance

[@Aaphree]

While this comparison is something that should be shown, it really just shows why HID and LED in a halogen reflector is not the right way to do it. Halogen, HID, and LED all emit light differently. Each headlight design is made to utilize that specific light source. Halogen uses coils, HID uses arcs, LEDs simple diodes. For those who say light is light, you obviously don't understand the science behind it. PNP LED and HID in halogen reflectors appear brighter because they produce a ton of foreground light. They also scatter light inefficiently. The combination of these causes your pupils to contract, and as a result your distance vision is WORSE than if you just used a halogen bulb. Sure, 15 feet in front of you is super bright, but what good is that when you're doing 55+ mph and need to see further down the road? A standard brightness test doesn't really do anything to show what is good or not, it just shows how bright the light source is at a certain distance. Without proper optics pure brightness doesn't do anything for you

[@ericthecarguy]

Excellent points and much of what I was going for when making this video. Thanks for your input.

[@Aaphree]

EricTheCarGuy glad to hear that. Unfortunately misinformation/false advertising has made aftermarket lights perceived as being drop in and better. People would rather believe an ad than actual tests

[@21rhocke]

If you actually think that you can see further with halogen bulbs rather than led or hids (even in oem housings) then you've probably never owned a set.

[@ricklp1861]

LED's is the way to go! Hid's if not oem..they are NOT good

[@youngb1ood]

What about hid in a halogen projector?

[@jamiebeckf]

Video should be titled, 'How to open a can of worms"

[@HumbleMechanic]

HAHAAHHA. This is my favorite comment of the video!

[@TheGeneralReview]

Best comment in this whole thread even a year later! ROFL!!

[@Master-di4di]

Lol.

[@sailcat662]

This is hilarious.

[@EXCELSIOR_INC]

I didn't see him opening any cans, period or any worms

[@jeffreyknott9462]

This was fantastic and expertly performed. You could even do a write up with error % and uncertainty.

[@dexm8846]

Great video this is the best comparison video on headlight I've seen.

[@HarryTwatter]

Installs LED bulbs in a halogen housing and complains the light goes everywhere, yeah buddy all the incoming traffic is aware of this too

[@Mikej1592]

especially people like myself with a touch of night blindness where some asshats HID or LED improperly modified lights make the entire area around them go black. So I just aim for the light. I drive towards the only thing I can see, which is them and their stupid arc welding arc bright headlamps. Without traffic I can drive at night without anything but marker lights but the instant someone is heading towards me everything goes dark (because that's what pupils are designed to do, mine just do it more than most) and if they are stupid ignorant selfish twats that ride with their high beams on 24x7 complete with fog lamps I literally go blind except for seeing the ball of light coming towards me.

[@sotaros93]

Mikej1592 Somebody gave you a driver's license??

[@andrewthompsonuk1]

Mikej1592 Have to agree with that, particularly in dark rural areas. The whole point of headlight design is to see as far into the distance on low beam you can without affecting on coming traffic. This test proved at least to me that a simple upgrade makes matters worse not better.

[@Agent77X]

Nice to know! Go buy LEDs and good luck to the drivers coming at me?

[@andrewthompsonuk1]

Jesse LZ Bike lights can be so bright that they can also blind oncoming traffic. As for uber who knows how they maintain their lights...

[@mereview2615]

@9:42 Its 5386 LUX (not 386 LUX) as seen in @1:24 .Btw thx for this comparison.

[@almfreak]

thanks for the tests, cool little light meter you got there.

[@the1spyderryder]

I'm not sure how you determined the fall off point, but it seems to me the best way would be to select a light level and measure the distance until it dropped to that level for each. These are very informative and just what I need to make a selection.

[@PorscheRacer14]

Things I've noticed over the years are that out of the halogens, the old tungsten sealed ones lit the road evenly and warmly. These were standard equipment on my old Porsches and I felt no need to upgrade them, considering the speeds one might travel in the night or in inclement weather. The old halogens on the '79 Silverado were pretty shit so you basically had to always use high beams at night whenever possible. I upgraded those to silver Halogen bulbs a few years ago and those are much better. About the old high beam lighting area from the old halogens with the silver ones, and the high beam is vastly wider and longer on the silver ones. They are pricey though, but the odd time the old truck is driven in the night, it feels safer and more comfortable driving around the farm and grid roads. I had a 2011 BMW with HID bulbs and those were pretty good though I found I was getting flashed a lot at night on low beams. The high beams on those were ridiculously bright though not much further in visibility, just brighter and a bit wider. The lights I like those most are the LED ones on my 2014 Mustang GT. Nice, even white light. It looks natural, I don't get flashed at night on low beams and the high beams are crazy good. The range on those and width of visibility is amazing. As for the old vehicles I drive, sure I'll upgrade those to silver halogens or brighter halogens where I can, but I don't feel a need in putting in LED or HID into the old vehicles. To me it kind of ruins the look of the vehicle seeing all the LED dots where I've grown accustomed to the big eyes on the vehicles. To each their own though :)

[@Striball]

The old sealed beams have the worst spread out of any bulb configuration. I'd recommend replacing any sealed beam config with an E-code housing. Waaaay better and well worth the safety and ability to have proper cutoff and aim.

[@Moon-magic109]

Thanks Eric, I give you credit for doing all the work(and to your buddy) 👍

[@mrman8856]

Things have drastically changed since the time this video was made. Led has surpassed everything in lighting. Less wattage, higher output, more focused and further throw of beams.

[@RichardsWorld]

It's all about reflection buddy! BTW congrats on over a million subscribers! I think you only had about 20K or 30K when I subscribed to you.

[@skymitch89]

You should do a video comparing the different SYLVANIA bulbs (XtraVision, SilverStar, SilverStar zXe, and SilverStar Ultra) since those are probably the most common bulbs that people would chose form when at AutoZone, O'Reilly, Napa, or even Walmart/Costco/Target/Kmart.

[@birigoboom]

Hey Eric, how about an educational video comparing the factory halogen bulbs (typically LL) to standard halogens (non-LL) as well as "+30" and "+50". These, at least, are legal, have the same bulb design with no modifications/piggyback wiring and are fairly inexpensive.

[@ericthecarguy]

That's an interesting idea.

[@CSkwirl]

EricTheCarGuy I tried a lot of different halogen bulbs in many cars over the years, I've settled on Osram Nightbreaker plus/unlimited for the last few years. Price vs other +XX globes they've been doing well

[@CheekyMonkey888]

Just installed Sylvania ZXE halogens, definitely worthy of a test

[@DanielRichards644]

if you have a car that uses 9005/9006 bulbs you can swap out to the Phillips 9011/9012 HIR (NOT HID) bulbs with just a minor trimming of the locking tabs on the bulbs and get better output, ALL the bulbs with coatings to make them look like HID usually end up being MUCH MUCH dimmer and burn out faster because of how much heat the coating traps, this is NOT an issue with the 9011/9012 HIR bulbs. Note: Wagner also sells these bulbs and they are literally the Phillips re-boxed in Wagner packaging, but can be gotten for a couple bucks cheaper.

[@Striball]

But 9012 bulbs are basically 9005 bulbs since they don't have an anti glare coating on the tip to make them not act like high beam bulbs like 9006's do. That's the only difference. 9012 bulbs are only intended with projector housings, without housings you'll be blinding everyone since it's like you have your brights on.

[@MrKakuaa]

Eric, I am very impressed with your hard work specially changing bulbs in night time for our comfort and easy knowledge. You deserve more than a simple thanks. One very important thing you should mention to viewers that, bulb only matter a little. Engineering of reflector of the bulb matters the most which beam, focus and reach to desired safety need. That’s why LED bulb spread light everywhere because reflector is not designed to make beam or focus. If engineered by manufacturers For LED than effects will be awesome. Same will go for HID . Thanks.

[@-.__.__.-Rad]

Aftermarket led's still have a lot to catch up(especially the ones designed for reflector housing). These led's are nothing like what you see stock on acuras, audi,etc. Lack of focus/alignment gave you weird readings on hid range. I think raising alignment after changing to hid would've placed hids on first place with decent glare. I have read a lot of forums, it seems like hids are still the most common best bang for the buck(quality/performance/price). A lot of people reports leds are bright,but out of focus and a short range. Hope it helps Love your videos! You put a lot of work in and need more credit for!!! Thank You

[@TheCarista]

Thanks for what you mentioned in the intro. Halogens need halogen housing, leds - led housing/projectors and hids hid projectors. There is no other way.. But thx for the video:-)

[@rjbiker66]

There are cars out there that have HIDs in a normal reflector housing from the factory. Subaru Forester had them, the old Lexus IS300 etc

[@TheCarista]

rjbiker66 yeah, thats true, but those reflector housings are NOT the same like halogen reflector housings :)

[@squirrelkilla7371]

TheCarista You do know they make LEDs FOR halogen housing. Dumbass.

[@TheCarista]

Shannon Helton lol

[@squirrelkilla7371]

TheCarista Thats what I thought. Just another keyboard warrior. Love the fact your so stupid you don't even know how to look up state laws. Moron.

[@AustinLeeds]

Interestingly enough, the IIHS recently ran some tests on various *stock* headlights in new *stock* US market cars and found that most of them either didn't illuminate the road well enough or produced noticeable amounts of glare for other drivers. Hopefully, they'll add this metric to their safety ratings.

[@beyond305]

glad to see youre still around eric, always admired your videos. so many youtubers showing you misinformation but you sir are always on point and doing things proper but one gripe, you shouldn't ever put HID's into halogen headlights, you need to use a projector lense to get its full potential same with LED's

[@tonym6920]

Nice demo Eric, thanks!

[@edwardprice140]

At 60 mph you are going 88 feet per second, when that deer jumps out, so use your high beams.

[@SemiEv]

HIDs need projector housings. The stock biXenons in my car go much farther than my friend's halogens

[@markwilliams6378]

Miss my CX9 bi xenons

[@MrHeHim]

Everyone keeps talking about special housings and comparing one to another as they where equal. 1. They don't "need" special housing, it's just a normal (high quality) bulb that is made to run on very high alternating current. Metallic filament in vacuum with glass housing. Which is much better than running direct current of course, but costs more. 2. Since it is better quality they are usually housed in much better housings. Cheap cars have cheap simple parts, cars with advanced parts with have... more complex advanced parts. 3. LED is the best. Much more efficient, durable, and simple.. not much of an argument. You don't see people walking around with HID flashlights.. that's silly. With that said, you definitely need a special housing to deal with the light pattern so it can be projected properly.

[@helios92x26]

Gabriel Soria 1: yes they do. Optics are everything, and are built around a specific light source. Different light sources behave in drastically different ways. Each optics must be designed to deal with their behavior. 2: reflector headlights are cheap, but are far from simple. In fact, they're far more complex than projectors 3: you may want to look more into flashlights. LEDs are commonly used in flashlights for a few reasons. The first is that they're effective in a smaller package. The second is that your typical civilian doesn't use a flashlight to see hundreds of feet. The third is that LED need far less battery power. HIDs are quite common in flashlights. They're just not common amongst civilians. They're quite large, and inconvenient. They project light much farther than LED flashlights. They're also far more expensive than most LED flashlights.

[@mattburkett9419]

Gabriel is commenting on everyone else's comments and he clearly has no clue what he is talking about.

[@smack9x]

+Gabriel Soria 1. Yes they NEED a special housing. If you watched Eric's video you will notice the HID put out more light than any other bulb up close. But from far away HID's fell off. Why? because Eric's car doesn't have the proper reflector to reflect the light. 2. There's more work involved in designing a headlamp/projector for a HID than a halogen. HID's are available on cheap cars but the HID options are still an expensive option. See Mazda 3, Nissan Altima, etc. 3. LEDs are great if it's OEM. LED's are used in flashlights because they are cheap and use less batteries.Only in the last couple of years did LED's become powerful enough to be used in headlamps.

[@daisymouri2302]

I had a 90s Honda that had a diamond shaped glass built in the headlight housing. With regular bulbs, that thing lit up the road like nothing else!

[@petconner1574]

thank you very much for sharing your experiences with us

[@acelakid94]

I'd love to see this done with a headlight with projector lenses.

[@neathway382]

Eric posts video "Here's a comparison using this variety of light bulbs in a stock light housing". Two dozen "experts" appear screaming "YOU DID IT WRONG!!!"...... No. He did not do it wrong. He gave you a comparison of the differences obtained by simply changing out the light bulbs.

[@gantmj]

Which is useless information.

[@DjJtown]

It's actually Very poignant info since 90% of the people would do this very same thing. Most people have no idea what is involved in reflector design with different types of light bulbs. As you can see in this vid (kzbin.info/www/bejne/q6XVipamjamqgJo) the LED scatters bad in a reflector housing designed for a halogen.

[@gantmj]

DjJtown The poignant information would've been to say that this how to do it wrong, and here's why it's wrong. He didn't frame as such, though.

[@piffdaddy420]

i agree. since most people that are going to purchase these kits are going to have halogen as their original lights. dirr dirr... lol.

[@ChefGreg78253]

Couldn't have said it better myself. There are asshole know-it-all's everywhere, especially on KZbin.

[@TheWiseOldChinaman]

Very informative - Excellent review!

[@texasyall948]

I love your videos a lot bro. Thanks for sharing all your knowledge on vehicles. The realist. You’ve helped me time and time again. Just thought I’d say that lol

[@Brandonvscars695]

where's Brian?

[@Brandonvscars695]

Mustafa Wanq Really? Well given that your comment is on the internet it must be true! Dont drop the soap Brian

[@davidwarren4569]

Where’s Wally?

[@thomaswegielnik8374]

Eric... please do this test correctly and fit the HID bulb in a HID projector housing or this comparison is completely irrelevant. HID's DO NOT belong in halogen headlight housings. They need a cutoff, not glare from the reflection against a halogen reflector bowl. HID SYSTEM will always be superior to the other two.

[@Bunaif]

i was about to say what u just did

[@ryanmg92]

Thomas Wegielnik I wouldn't agree. most people atleast in my experience working on cars that fit after market hid bulbs do not fit the with replacement lenses etc aswel unless there is an oe variet of the car that would come with them. more people swap the bulbs out with a hid kit and that's it

[@thomaswegielnik8374]

I have retrofitted headlights for a living for over a few years now. In order to get anything out of an HID bulb the housing should be fitted with an HID projector.

[@ryanmg92]

Thomas Wegielnik I'm not saying that isn't the correct way as it most definitely is. what I'm saying is that Alot of the people, esp in the UK. just band a hid conversion kit in and hm that's the lot.

[@Rotming]

Ryan Gelson You can fit a h7 bulb into h7 housing, no matter if its LED/Halogen/HID but the actual cutoff of the light will change drastically as the housings are designed to hold certain type of bulb be it, led/halogen or hid bulb. While in theory you can put any of the lamps in there and have great results from ur perspective, most often those who put HiD bulbs into halogen housing end up blinding opposite traffic if they dont tweak their light position

[@striderwolf687]

Great video! I appreciate the different tests. And of course, no negative comments here, we are all aware this is just a test not an endorsement. :)

[@jameshutchins3396]

Thank you for the video sir. I love them all and find them very helpful

[@causeuncause4059]

I like halogen more than led especially in the winter

[@darrenlyddieth5770]

would've liked consumption brought into the equation, and it seems led would dazzle shooting everywhere into oncoming traffic where as hid were more traffic friendly pointing down and away hence the shorter distance.

[@mathbc1984]

Keep the good work like this video. I love exhaustive test and good comparison like scientific method. Measure what is measurable.

[@rschneid1996]

Thanks for the comparison. I recall halogen reflectors being shaped different than ones for HID bulbs in the same vehicle. So re-aiming the HID bulbs would have been appropriate when measuring how far in front of the vehicle the light was effective.

[@AndrewH.]

This is actually a great comparison of why LED's and HID's are not meant to be used in reflector housings designed for halogen bulbs. LED's and HID's can definitely put-out far more light, but if it isn't properly directed then it's useless (aside from blinding other drivers and putting yourself in danger). Many people don't realize that there is alot of engineering that goes into their headlights and it's best to use the bulbs they were designed for. HID's and LED's (aside from reflectors made for specific layouts for LED's) should only be used in projectors that were made for them; If your car has projectors but came with halogen bulbs then you still shouldn't put anything else in them, even projectors have incredibly different designs for particular bulbs and can only direct light properly in the manner they are designed to do.

[@DanSGSPIKEIlges]

Hey dumb-ass he's using special ones that work better in reflector lenses that have reflector caps on them that can't be taken off

[@Seegalgalguntijak]

The problem with these different lights is the fact that they have such different lightin patterns. Wikipedia shows how a headlight lighting pattern is supposed to look: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Headlamp#Regulations_and_requirements - but as it is written there, North America seems to have the least strict regulations about that.

[@squirrelkilla7371]

Seegal Galguntijak And we all know how exact Wikipedia can be. Idiot.

[@Seegalgalguntijak]

Shannon Helton Well, thanks for the insult, I guess? Anyhow, headlight beam patterns are regulated like that over here in Europe, but I don't know how it is in the Americas, I suppose you're allowed to run anything that just shines brightly, or so.

[@jack002tuber]

I agree! Best beam pattern I ever had was using a European type headlight

[@Seegalgalguntijak]

jack002tuber In Germany, we have very strict regulations. Beam pattern is determined by the headlight reflectors, as well as the bulb. And if it doesn't have an "E-number" (as in "approved for this make & model of vehicle), you're not allowed to use it. Also, if you have for example certain (approved) aftermarket headlights, you can't just use any bulb in them, but only those which are allowed for this type of headlight (i.e. H7 or something like that). So if you have an older vehicle, there is basically no chance to convert it legally to HID or even LED. But the positive side of it is, you will never be blinded by oncoming traffic, because they all have to abide by these rules.

[@jeepmanxj]

On average its correct, and that argument is for pussies with no argument. The US lighting regulations are weak, yet strict. We are required to have stupid shit like highbeams instead of adaptive lighting.

[@chriscadman5715]

Excellent video! Can't argue w/the results.

[@Mechanickirk]

I'm feeling toasty warm with all the flames in here. thank you for the warmth detractors.

[@Bobman84]

Much prefer halogen. It also depends strongly on the size and type of headlight (e.g. clear cover) and reflector within. Many cars with halogen headlights outperform smaller HID ones in some European and American cars. Cool video though, enjoy these ones.

[@Jeremandre]

I remember when I used to be able to drive my car without being blinded by stupid H ID headlights or LED headlights

[@williameldridge9382]

If you are being blinded by them they are configured incorrectly. And if that is the case even halogens and old-school bulbs would do it to you as well. They need to be in the correct housing for the bulb type and aligned properly.

[@dimasbarrera8279]

You're too old I guess 😂😂

[@leepeezy]

I just bought some

[@Jeremandre]

Lee Palmer you selfish prick

[@xq3975]

I see all these junk trash cars driven by slobs with only one headlight working and they stuck some shitty blue led in the housing that sprays blinding light everywhere.

[@noahc6246]

Thanks Eric this was very helpful.

[@xansdaddy7311]

Great to point Comparison on headlight good job dude

[@kroggee88]

hids are constantly blinding me. leds are bright but they dont hurt my eyes at all 95% of the time

[@Azlehria]

Kyle Rogers Multiple SAE papers have shown that glare, blinding, & brightness are separate effects with low correlation. The science agrees with your anecdote!

[@lessevdoolbretsim]

What about anecdotes....do anecdotes agree with his anecdote?

[@____________6324]

Very true ! i also had HID before and now Led with the same Lumens. And the leds are totally not blinding like the Hid

[@krzysiekv12]

Hid in halogen reflector Led in halogen reflector Both not legal, and not always safe.

[@squirrelkilla7371]

krzysiekv12 According to who? Its legal in Ohio dumbass, which is where we live. Do your homework moron.

[@MatrixGuardians99]

Before you go calling someone a moron (although his response was quite moronic) I would recommend you read up on Federal Regulations. SEMA has a page on their website about regulations and they do provide sources. Remember that Federal laws overwrite state laws. www.sema.org/federal-regulation-aftermarket-parts

[@OtisFlint]

You're a broke, ignorant, inconsiderate fuck if you put HIDs in non-projector housings. Ghetto junk.

[@krzysiekv12]

BigBeansM3 I know my way around a headlight, done few retrofits and reconditioned couple oem xenons. A projector or reflector should only be used with designated light source. At least in my cars and my work.

[@kevinly4695]

BigBeansM3 i do support your notion, but some go to the length of reaiming them

[@vincentbarkley9121]

Thank you, great test. HIDs produce a sharp vertical cutoff like the halogen bulbs, but provide much greater intensity.

[@BlainsTube]

Great apples to apples comparison for a simple bulb swap. I really appreciate the systematic approach (which many so-called comparisons reviews lack). And thanks to Derek for your help.

[@HighVoltage1935]

Ok I'm an Electrician so I do not generally wiegh in to these conversations, having said that , My eyes being so light sensitive they take along time to adjust so coming on the people who have retrofitted their vehicles with HID's I've learned I have to look to the Right of the road and down to be able to pass you then having someone behind me with HID's is worse , i personally think both Canadian & USA Goverments Should Ban these lights , stick with a nice White Halogen Bulb it's what I use and as Far as Eric The Car Guy Goes I'll listen to him because in my opinion he is the professional.

[@Aaphree]

There are many issues with today...the biggest one being people throwing in HIDs and LEDs into their halogen reflector headlights...that just produces glare. The second issue is a lot of new cars have headlights aimed too high (I'm looking at you particularly Toyota Corolla and Ford Explorer). Another thing is many car companies with LEDs are going with ones around the 6000k-6500k color...this is that cool white almost bluish white. White and blue light are harsher to the human eye than a warm white...it causes eye fatigue and strain, and for people with sensitive eyes, even pain. This is why I use 4300k HIDs in my car. Warm white so my eyes don't get fatigued, and better visibility in the rain (white/cool white tends to wash out on wet roads)

[@Aaphree]

Jonathan A yep. the explorer lights really suck. The only thing they're good at is blinding traffic since they don't do anything else lmao

[@Aaphree]

Jonathan A Also, while HID in halogen projector isn't always bad, a true HID projector will be even better. If you're handy and don't mind spending some money, look into retrofitting. I have a 3g TL, which have some of the best projectors out there. With clear lenses my low beams not only shine far, I also light up 4+ lane highways with ease

[@Aaphree]

Jonathan A the explorers are quite blinding. Their cutoff sucks, and their output sucks, but they don't really throw much light on the road. Just because people don't flash him doesn't mean they aren't getting blinded (I never flash them because I know it's their low beams). Those lights glare a lot, but don't have any useful light. Also, just because something is DOT approved doesn't mean they are good or not blinding. You'll find that many lights are DOT approved and are actually completely useless. Unfortunately laws regarding headlights aren't even close to being a priority for lawmakers

[@Aaphree]

Jonathan A I was replying about the Explorer cuz you mentioned that they aren't blinding. I find that they are aimed too high, and just like a halogen reflector, if it's aimed too high it will be blinding regardless. I agree, I hate how car manufacturers are putting in 6000-6500k LEDs because at that point they're doing it more for color and looks than actual output

[@CrazyLazyDave]

the only way to attempt this test is to use projector housings for all the tests.

[@jorgubb275]

CrazyLazyDave The halogen is to weak for the projector housing.

[@Eric2300jeep]

jorgubb hansen A lot of car manufacturers make projector housings that are designed for a Halogen light source. In fact, 99% of the aftermarket projector headlamp assemblies are using a Halogen projector.

[@jorgubb275]

Eric G And why do you think that is the case? Because it's the cheapest way, not the best way.

[@bobthebuilder101ism]

jorgubb hansen my VW Passat had halogen Projectors and my Ducati had halogen Projectors..........

[@abhiinair]

New video with projector housing is out!! 😁

[@Rounds174]

Great test. I am very interested in LED mainly for the lower power usage. You should definitely make another video doing this exact same test but with all 3 bulbs in a projector housing and see how the results differ.

[@ericthecarguy]

I just might. I just installed projector housings in the Element after this video was shot.

[@skiraf]

The Acura Vigor was one of the best and most under-rated cars ever made. Awesome 5cyl engine.

[@chiefx111]

I'd prefer the LED's just because you can see further down the road then the other bulbs.

[@chiefx111]

I'm still going to consider LEDs over Halogen bulbs anyways. HIDs are okay it looks like but doesn't seem to show down the road very clearly well only 60 ft if that. Not everyone is going to take there eyes off the road to look at the GPS to study the road lol. Your headlights are the ones suppose to do the work and help you see a head in my opinion never take your eyes off the road when driving. ALWAYS Practice SAFE DRIVING

[@chiefx111]

What's a good LED Headlight bulb company to get some off of that is inexpensive but yet not junk shit but still reasonable in price??

[@Candisa]

William Pham Having a glimpse at your GPS for half a second once in a while is no different than using your rearview mirrors. Use it correctly and it's a tool to help you practice safe driving. Installing faulty bulbs won't help you see blind corners and make you the tool. What's wrong with not being an asshole ricer? My low beams provide enough reach when cars are coming the other way and don't offend anyone, my high beams are supported by an extra set of lights to provide me with lots of light and reach to see far down the road and blind the occasional asshole ricer with faulty HID or LED lights. Those LED bulbs sure won't help you practice safe driving when you need to wear sunglasses at night because of all the normal people throwing their high beams at you, and blinding others sure doesn't help others practice safe driving! A friend of mine installed HIDs in his halogen housings when he was young and stupid. Not only did he get high beams thrown at him all the time, one day somebody decided to steer towards him instead of the ditch. The other car left his side of the road, but the driver told the police he was blinded. After investigating my friends car and finding the HID conversion he got the blame for the accident, he had to pay back is insurance company for the damage to the other car, his own car was totalled, ánd he was sent to court where he got a hefty fine. Those are some expensive bulbs if you ask me!

[@chiefx111]

Wow I would of been so mad in that situation right there if I was your friend. Sorry to hear about what happened to your friend. I'll keep what you say in mind but I'm still more then likely going to upgrade to either LEDs with the right housing or HIDs W/ the right housing.

[@caddyguy5369]

Candisa It's going to be something when one of these "assholes" you flash careens into your lane and hits you head on whilest "studying" your GPS. It amuses me when people flash people that have their dims on thinking they are their brights. Its an amusing moment when you can give them a taste of their own medicine. (well not legally, as flashing people is illegal.)

[@KLEANTRIX]

I love Eric the car guy, however I just wish he would have shown these tests in a Projector housing. I guess I will have to make that video myself.

[@unregistereduser3054]

KLEANTRIX you still haven't made the video bro lol

[@kayannhenry]

KLEANTRIX where's the video at battibwoi?

[@BigDish101]

The numbers you put out about the bulbs you review are total fucking lies. There are no LED's that are brighter than a 55 watt HID yet miraculously your posted lumen numbers for the LED's are higher than a 55 watt HID...

[@rondollins537]

KLEANTRIX Video?

[@jonoglidden999]

Thats because youre not considering the direction and focusing of the light. The light gets spread out more and will show a higher lux to a car driving. If all of these light types were in their purposely engineered housings the led would be far superior to all of them. Hes testing them all in a halogen housing. Dont be a rere, if you have a halogen headlight housing use a halogen bulb FFS, they were not engineered for anything else and shouldnt be used unless the alternate bulb produces light in the exactly the same size, amount, and location as the original halogen bulb does, which just doesn't exist.

[@jonathanbrant228]

Good comparison. Well done guy's!

[@AttilaTheHun333333]

The explanation in the first minute regarding the purpose of this video was a really wise decision. You seem to have a lot of experience with the internetz. ;) Great video!

[@ericthecarguy]

See some of the videos linked in the description. I got torn apart in the comments to those. Thanks for your comment.

[@dmcepeda]

Don't go into the light.

[@MavHunter20XX]

LEDs will blind oncoming drivers if not managed properly

[@binyamj]

No, HID's are the lights that you always see blinding oncoming cars.

[@smack9x]

+binyamj The new LEDs do blind the crap out of people when used with halogen reflectors.

[@AttilaTheHun333333]

binyamj Did you even watch this video?

[@animefreak5757]

The reason hid's and LED's in halogen housing's tend to blind people is primarily because the bulbs aren't compatible with the housing (in terms of optics), MANY hid retrofits, most even maybe CANNOT be aimed correctly because the beam pattern is scattered. LED's suffer the same issue most of the time. If you want to upgrade your headlamps, do it the right way, new bulbs AND new housings to match, otherwise, stick to the bulbs that claim to be brighter but are still halogens. For some vehicles full LED replacement housings are available, and they are stunningly good (both in output and beam pattern)

[@Genesis385]

animefreak5757 I think you don't know what retrofit means. A retrofitted headlights won't blind you as long as it's built correctly because the projectors will have been leveled and rotated correctly and then as long as the installer follows proper aiming procedures (a general rule of thumb that I've heard is 25' from a wall and 2" below level with the center of the projector) the projectors cutoff shield will keep the light out of your eyes.

[@mwjii]

Great job Eric!

[@nghinguyen5944]

Very good reviews .. Thank you so much guys...

[@sekopiski]

Those US spec DOT headlights are just crap.

[@andrewthompsonuk1]

sekopiski The European standards were way better at the cost of dazzling oncoming vehicles if out of adjustment or overloaded.

[@jwils489]

many cars have self-levelling or manually adjustable headlights which mitigates that issue

[@sekopiski]

John Wilson It has been mandatory since 1995. Cars equipped with light sources emitting more than 2000 lumens must have automatic levelling device and headlamp washers.

[@jwils489]

sekopiski there you go. I live in Australia where we use the ECE standard headlight pattern too (albeit flipped like the UK) but with no rules about headlight washers or levelling lmao

[@therealpofo]

Yep I have swapped to euro lights with every car and was always worth it.

[@michaeldunn3088]

Give me my old sealed beam any day of the week over either one of those pile of junk HID or LED lights. Sealed beam or very reliable.

[@Azlehria]

Michael Dunn And also not great for lighting. 7" round H4 housings were one of the best investments I ever made for my Z - wider spread, better cutoff, brighter light, cheaper (and better) replacement bulbs, fewer & smaller hotspots . . ..

[@alanhuff6967]

I had sealed beam and hated them....

[@shotdog4237]

Eric, great vid, i thought the led's were the winner, not only was your measuring further out on low beams but if you look at everything in the back ground things were lit up and easier to see, some here may complain about changing the housing but i'm not going to change my housing to get a little more light! for just a bulb change i'll go with the led's, thanks for all the work involved

[@TheNorthdiver]

Thanks good video, Helped me decide which way to go.

[@robertmontgomery7158]

LED are a bad choice as they produce glare that blinds oncoming drivers when LED is used in headlights not designed for LED bulbs

[@williwonti]

Most good consumer LEDs are designed to be a direct replacement for halogens. There is a HUGE variance in LED 'bulbs' however. A lot of shit coming from China.

[@rjbiker66]

Nope.... the optics of a headlight setup for a halogen bulb in no way work properly for a LED bulb.

[@AndyCheah0625]

Second that but if one willing to pay, China does produce some pretty good led bulb like the P6 led bulb. The bulb he used here is pure junk.

[@kzoomin]

that output shot on the wall is a big ass blob!

[@sowhat82]

williwonti please give me an example of non-China made lo/hi beam LED bulb on Amazon. The truth is :they are ALL from China. China is just a large manufacture site, the quality really depends on the design.

[@moreint2323]

LED and HID are ment to have projection lenses

[@fooltube9999]

the tests were all useful. bravo

[@marcuss4808]

Gotta question the calibration of where the HID’s were installed... for certain cars anywhere from a 1-1.5 degree tilt can help if u sit low