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Its interesting because 1) theres a ton of videos of people using LEDs in factory reflectors and they work/look just fine and 2) almost every video saying DONT do LEDs in reflectors are also selling projector housings for LEDs.

I had LEDs in my old 03 Camry. And they work well since: the LED itself did a good job of replicating the intended halogen beam pattern and they were adjusted correctly and traffic wasn't blinded by glare.

I have a 98 R34 GTT, came with Xenon stock. The D2R is good enough for me, what I changed is the high beam from Halogen H1R to LED 9006. 9006 socket can fit still, a bit tight. Significantly brighter on running on backroads here in New Zealand.

Just discovered this recently but the 08-09 S197 mustangs actually had an HID reflector option on the higher trims. I want to say they used a D3S

i've got halogen refelctor headlights, i ran xenon in them just fine (D2R) the cutoff line was exactly the same as when there were halogen bulbs in there, atm i run full LED bulbs in the same headlights for more then 2 years, cutoff line is also exactly the same as when there were halogen bulbs in there. I think the glare is very minimal aswell since no one ever flashed their highbeams at me. Show that if you use the right bulb you can run whatever imo.

Here in Europe, Volvo and Renault fitted Xenons to some of their models in the early 2000s.

My 2008 Nissan Altima Coupe uses D2R bulbs in a reflector housing. I since upgraded to projector headlights housings with the GTR ligting Ultra 2.0 LEDs. The cutoff is way better than it was before.

5:07 I run LEDs in reflector housings and I didn’t get flashed by oncoming cars at all so I never had any problems with it. Depending on the length of the led bulb because if you’re got wrong LED headlight bulbs in reflector housing, Usually the beam pattern just send everywhere and you’ll end up blinding everybody. I now have projector headlights so I can run HIDs so no light scattering.

I always put hids in reflector housings and never had an issue always had amazing light

the fully loaded acura CSX had auto leveling HID reflectors, they were basically identical to the JDM 8th gen civic headlights just with a different beam pattern, they look really cool

I guess I'll be the first to mention the 2004 generation Toyota Prius also had a factory HID option for D2R bulb/reflector combination and D4R later on in that same generation.

Cool video Same headlight design in first gen G35..HID, with reflector lens, with D2R bulbs

Mercedes had a lot of xenon reflector types starting from 1998 models :)

I remember one of the first cars I saw with HID headlights was the Mercedes W210. It not only used reflector headlights but also the old style with the fresnel glass, ie. not the clear type. of course that was in Europe, USA might have been different.

My 2004 Prius came from the factory with d2r reflector HIDs, and when I bought it there were D2S bulbs from the previous owner that he said were way brighter, the only thing was in that housing they created a ton of glare and I got flashed constantly, I think it depends on the housing how much glare you get if you use D2S instead of d2r.

My Toyota Rush 2006 had OEM projectors lights. Few years ago i swaped OEMs for Hid. It was much better at first. But with time brightness became much less. After visiting the mechanic found out, Hid had burned the inside of reflectors. Had to replaced them 😔

My 2004 Nissan Maxima QX (A33 body) has reflector HID low beams from factory. High beams are halogen, although I have LED bulbs in them. I've been thinking about retrofitting D2S projectors in the headlights, so I could use the OEM ballast with D2S bulbs and get bi-xenon functionality.

Omg I love my morimoto 2stroke 3.0 led's on my 9007 housings! They are spot on with proper light placement and brightness!

LED Bulbs are pretty good in reflector headlights. Have been using them for few years, duplicates exact pattern of original halogens. Performance better and looks better.

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97 Nissan Primera Wagon, factory xenon reflector on higher trim models. GLASS lenses none of this plastic crap. Crystal clear for life.

My old 02 Lexus ES300 had xenon reflectors I liked them a lot. But projectors just have a much wider field of view. Not to mention the cutoff color you get

Honda Civic mk8 uk spec has a halogen and a xenon bulb fitted in the same housing depending on the spec of car. If you ever want to take on a headlight that has crap light out from stock look at those uk civics. I had to fit a 2.5 projector in mine to get decent light. Finding good quality projectors in the uk can be hard. Always wanted morimoto but shipping and import duties really make them expensive

1998-2000 Lexus LS400 came from the factory with hid reflectors. I would love to know how to get more output from these!!

My LED experience: Honda Civic 8th gen Subaru forester 3rd gen Both reflector headlights, I use geargo H11 (Subaru), geargo 9006 (Honda), both beam patterns are perfect, they do not glare and replicate 1/1 the original halogen beam pattern. You just have to make sure getting good led bulbs, zoncar bulbs are not good with patterns for example

So how would i know what bulb to use for my specific headlights 🤔 I've heard to use led for reflector headlights and hids for projector headlights.

Can you please recommend the best lights for a lancer 2016 with reflector housing. I've been looking at multiple LEDs but I just want to know what's the best for me.

Love this channel, regard from Indonesia

I loved this video, super interesting experimentation

Rember head light manufacturers make there reflectors and optics to use the shape of the filament of a halogen bulb.. a hid headlight is made to work with the shape of the arch ball. And you can guess.. an led light is made to work with led. So put hid filament and led light bulbs together and you will see the difference in length and size of the light source.. and that drastically effects the beam shape and cut off.

I need help building myself a set of 96 mustang tail lights. o want them to have the "glow effect" like the Dodge challengers. they are sequential and i have frosted the lenses and installed PnP LED bulbs. they have a gum ball look during the day and only have the glow at night. then i opened the lights and installed 1.5" squared cob LEDs. they still don't look right during operation. i need some advise. thanks

I upgraded my halogen reflector type to LED's, still reflector but in my searches, I never found any that specified that they were designed for reflector vs those designed for projector the cut off line isn't sharp but it's not super blurry either. I do want to do the projector retrofit in my 2005 kia sportage, as the stock lights are terrible, I have to have my fog lights on as well, just so I can see the road properly at night, which here in Qld Australia, is not legal unless there is poor weather or fog, I also have LED's in my fog lights, for that uniform crisp white look. My goal is to upgrade to ALL LED's throughout the whole vehicle, including the taillights, I'm trying to design a pcb that I can insert in the tail lights, but struggling to find a decent design to work with.

Great info Chris

I have a set of reflector headlights on my car (facelift w203 coupe) which have both H7 and D2S written on them, with no projector and have clear style lenses. Am I able to use D2S on them?

Nobody seems to have a video on how to convert RHD reflector headlights to LHD, without just doing a copout and putting a projector in there.. not all places allow those retrofits, so it becomes useless info

I got it set of say R34 GTR lights lying around what set of headlight bulbs do you recommend ?

Maybe you need to test higher end LED bulbs like morimoto 2stroke 3.0, or GTR Lighting Ultra 2. All the tests online show the new LEDs working great inside reflector housings.

I read on a forum that you can run LEDs in projector housings just as well as halogens but it'll only work if you adjust the headlights after installing the aftermarket LEDs is that true?

I have a 2007 Cadillac CTS with projectors and factory halogen bulbs . I tried leds and there not bright enough , any ideas I have ?

Not sure if Nissan Primera 97 wagon would be happening in the US but yeah HID low beam since 2009. Mainly rural environment, don't care if they should be or not, even when I get to upgrade to LED high beam. What are those things that cover the tip of the HID bulbs, is what I want to know. Still no space to work on my whip, it's taken me every where for the last 16/17 years.☮

8th gen civic had hid reflectors from the factory with plus trim level.

06 g35 xenon headlights, 35watts vs 55watts?

Quite a few early 2000 model luxury vehicles had reflector HID. Accura, Cadillac, Lexus to name a few.

Awesome video. Ty. I have an 06 accord. What led or hid headlight bulbs do you recommend?

I tested many leds in reflactor headlights and it worked perfectly

Hey man what bulbs/LED's do you suggest for my 2002 Chevy Silverado 1500??? Its my Daily Driver.

My old mercedes E class used to have reflector xenons OEM from the factory.

Great video!

so why is the d2r so much weaker than d2s ??

Hi guys,looking for advice olz,i own an accent 2010 and i want to change the bulbs from yellow to stronger white,i live in the country

R53 Mini cooper, W210 E class, W208 CLK, Lincoln Navigator, Lincoln Aviator, Subaru Forester, Volvo V70/S60, Lincoln MK8, Acura CL There’s probably others as well, but that’s what I can think of off the top of my head for factory reflector xenon headlights.

How about HID in retrofit projector housing?

I'm having issues retrofitting my 98 chevy headlight to a projector set up anyone have any ideas how to get beter headlights for. Y 98 chevy c1500

My 05' Lexus GS300 has reflector xenon headlight from factory

Using leds in reflector headlamps are better than using hids in refelctor headlamps. The hid glare is much worse than led glare. Projector headlamp retrofits are the most obvious and best choice for both the xenon and led bulbs.

What about those headlight assemblies that have built-in LED bulbs in them like morimoto, what happens once they wear out? Are they repairable?

I was about to comment as soon as I clicked because my IS300 had HIDs and reflectors from the factory

I'm gonna go and say you can use HIDs in a reflector.....BUT, you have to know what you're doing. I've had a set of 9007 bulbs the last few years that I've tried to get to work on several different housings, and only a couple have worked properly. Allot of them had a terrible pattern in low beam, and high beam just scattered everywhere. Only my dad's 96 infinity i30 and my 96 F-250 eBay housings have produced good patterns with Morimoto's 9007 HIDs. I've been driving with them for a few months now with no one flashing at me.

Jdm civic fd2r Jdm impreza sti bugeye and blob eye (01-04 sti) does have hid d2r headlight

2014 Subaru forester XT, HID low beam reflector

From memory - a couple Acuras and Lexuses (forgot models and years), '04-'05 Sienna (forgot which trim levels), and a (mid 2010's?) Subaru (Outback?) come with reflector HID from factory. Feel free to correct me if I'm wrong ;)

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Sylvania used to make reflector housings for hids but you can’t get them anymore

Infiniti i35 used HID in a reflector housing

Volvo S80 2005 had xenon's without projectors

whats the difference between a D2R and a D2S?

How much for you to customize me some headlights for my 11 gmc yukon?

Volvo XC90 has xenon reflector headlights

2nd gen acura TL, First Gen IS300, early G35 coupe. D2Rs honestly look worse than halogen

' how many LED in a bulb... HID with diamond white is a whole light than LED

What about leds in hid housing?

Leds work fine if installed correctly

Shit's simple HID's were made for projectors not reflectors. I've seen many idiots out there using HID in reflectors and dazzling everyone

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I can hear all the douchbags that never switch to low beams for other drivers saying, omg brighter douch lights! I must have them.

LED bulbs have come a long way over the last three years I have used several different ones in my 2008 Highlander with reflector lenses. The first two were imperfect with blurry cut off lines and fans that stick out the back and hang out. I would get blinked at frequently and I couldn't get the rubber protective covers back over the back of the bulb. However, the new ones(I guess I've had them for about a year now) have a very distinct and crispy cut off line and are also the exact same size as a regular bulb so you can put the rubber cover back over the top of it and plug the plug in like a normal bulb protected from moisture. Never get blinked at anymore except for a couple people that think the lights are just so bright that they have to be high beams and then I actually turn my high beams on and blind the hell out of them. I wouldn't be surprised if there is even better ones now. They also last much longer than regular 9003 bulbs ime and don't dim when the base hits.

So that’s a No? 🤷‍♂️

Moral of the story - do not use LEDs or HIDs in reflector housings, or else you will blind some white woman in a 6 foot tall SUV and total your car, which insurance will only compensate you for the value of a 30 year old Nissan and not what you were extorted for a 'JDM Legend'.

d2s had so much glare compared to D2R :D led even vorse. ultinons are by the way a piece of crap. brand new they were spected 2400lumens while normal 4300K are usually 3200 (these are for d2s, so probably less for D2R)

Smh

Lol, this video has a bit of misinformation. Never run LED's in reflector housings? 🤣 You can run LED's in reflector housings. To do so you need to pay close attention of the placement of LEDs in relation to the filament of the halogen bulb you are replacing. If the distance of the LEDs are the same from the base as the halogen filament and the LED length is similar to the halogen filament you will get a very similar if not the same beam pattern as stock. Now that you have confirmed that you will have to make sure you clock the LED in the housing correctly, if not you will get a poor beam pattern with lots of light scatter. It takes some work to run aftermarket LEDs. I've done a ton of research and trial and error, and now I run LEDs in all my vehicles with a beam pattern that is the same as stock with more light output and I don't get high beamed by incoming traffic. It's the people that just throw bulbs in that make people like myself look bad. Really I just need to make a video showing how to do this and how to correctly select LED bulbs. It's interesting to me that everyone mistakes the housing as not being designed to run a certain "light source", Halogen vs. HID vs. LED. That's false, a housing is designed to reflect light from a certain point in the housing, light source doesn't matter. Now light source position and light source size does matter, this is what the reflectors are designed around and their intended use ~ floodlight, spotlight, combination, high beam, low beam, etc....

Pointless video either the packaging says DOT approved or not done and only 1 LED is so video is a waste of time

Halogen give the best output not these trash bulbs