[Meese]

Just installed the Beamtech H11 low beams on an '18 Sport 5-door.

Perfect fit, and definitely improved light output.

Thanks for the recommendation.

 

[securityguy]

Being a teacher is hard to turn off, forgive me...

Watt = equals a quantity of energy being consumed or generated.
Lumen = quantity of light—bright or dim
Kelvin or temperature = color of light—usually expressed as degrees Kelvin, eg, 4200K
Light = a bit of a paradox—an energy wave that acts like a particle beam; a particle beam that acts like an energy wave; simultaneously. Or why solar panels work.

Our eyesight evolved to conduct daylight. There is light that we can not see, at either end of our visible spectrum, that other creatures can. Halogen lamps glow at temperatures between 3500K and 4200K. It is possible to have 4200K lamps—the formal name for bulbs—that have 5000 Lumens or 1000 lumens.

It is not uncommon for lamps with high Kelvin number 5600K to be thought of as brighter, they are not. High Kelvin numbers mean more 'visible' light,' not more lumens.

In the late '80's the Federal Vehicle code moved from a specification standard to a performance standard. That is why we have aerodynamically shaped headlights. Initially, those performance standards were rated at watts for brightness. As lighting technology evolved those laws were amended to quantify brightness in lumens. There is a limit to how many lumens your headlights may have so they do not blind oncoming drivers.

Yep

 

[ab815]

Just installed the Beamtech H11 low beams on an '18 Sport 5-door.

Perfect fit, and definitely improved light output.

Thanks for the recommendation.

Is the light output improved in the area of the car, or did you see an output difference down the road?

 

[ab815]

I will add this to the mix. Will be interested to see what some of you say.

https://www.diodedynamics.com/h11-sl1-led-headlight-pair.html

 

[Meese]

Is the light output improved in the area of the car, or did you see an output difference down the road?

Down the road. I don't really care what other random people think when looking at my car—I care how well it performs for me.

I did my first HID upgrade on a motorcycle in 2000, back when it was $500 for a single bulb upgrade. Been doing HID and LED upgrades on every vehicle since, so I have some experience with these things.

Some of the cheap Chinese LED stuff available these days has poor performance and questionable reliability. The Beamtech kits came with good reviews here, so I figured it was worth trying for under $40.

They're a definite improvement over the factory halogen bulbs, so I've just ordered the high beam versions, and another set to go in my older car (which had LEDs that were great at first, but flickered and failed in less than a year).

The VLED versions look interesting, but are 4x the price...

If the Beamtechs fail early, then I'll look into the VLED kits.

 

[2017SportHatch]

Down the road. I don't really care what other random people think when looking at my car—I care how well it performs for me.

I did my first HID upgrade on a motorcycle in 2000, back when it was $500 for a single bulb upgrade. Been doing HID and LED upgrades on every vehicle since, so I have some experience with these things.

Some of the cheap Chinese LED stuff available these days has poor performance and questionable reliability. The Beamtech kits came with good reviews here, so I figured it was worth trying for under $40.

They're a definite improvement over the factory halogen bulbs, so I've just ordered the high beam versions, and another set to go in my older car (which had LEDs that were great at first, but flickered and failed in less than a year).

The VLED versions look interesting, but are 4x the price...

If the Beamtechs fail early, then I'll look into the VLED kits.

I actually ordered the BeamTech 9005 bulbs for high beams as well. for both of our Subies. I actually had to disable the DRL feature on my Crosstrek to use them though. on the Crosstrek the DRL run the high beams at half wattage during the day, but when you switch to LED they are full wattage the whole time, so they definitely would be blinding people. but it was a simple 2 minute unplug of the DRL relay and taping the ends up and zip tying the loose wire and that was that. easy peasy. But far better performance from the BeamTechs than anything halogen. I only wished I would have done this upgrade the day we brought them both home.

 

[Meese]

Good info on the DRL mod, thanks.

 

[ab815]

Down the road. I don't really care what other random people think when looking at my car—I care how well it performs for me.

I did my first HID upgrade on a motorcycle in 2000, back when it was $500 for a single bulb upgrade. Been doing HID and LED upgrades on every vehicle since, so I have some experience with these things.

Some of the cheap Chinese LED stuff available these days has poor performance and questionable reliability. The Beamtech kits came with good reviews here, so I figured it was worth trying for under $40.

They're a definite improvement over the factory halogen bulbs, so I've just ordered the high beam versions, and another set to go in my older car (which had LEDs that were great at first, but flickered and failed in less than a year).

The VLED versions look interesting, but are 4x the price...

If the Beamtechs fail early, then I'll look into the VLED kits.

Not to come off sounding like a total @$$, but you are "that" guy.

I care what other people think because I have to share the road with them. Yes I care about my light output (I work at night and drive back roads) but on the occasion that I do come across someone traveling in the other direction I do not want to blind them and have them not be able to see where their lane is...and then either go off the road right or left into my lane. I also do not what to be the guy that blinds the person I am behind as well.

 

[Subie17Sport]

Very informative video - thanks! Has anyone tried the GTR Lighting GEN 3 Ultra Series LED in a 2017/2018 Impreza?

There's a positive review for a 2017 Impreza with these $36 "BEAMTECH H11" LED bulbs on amazon. He's got some nice photos, but I'd love to see the beam pattern from a bit farther away - does it spread out?

2017 impreza sport hatchback purchased 2 pairs of beamtech led bulbs last year still going strong.

 

[Black_Widow_Subie]

So after wasting plenty of money away on LED headlights, my current setup is as follows:
Low beam: RX350 bi-xenon projector retrofit, Morimoto 4300k D2S bulbs
High beam: Philips CrystalVision Ultra
Fog light: Diode Dynamics Luxeon LED projector fogs Automotive LED Replacement Bulbs & Lighting Upgrades
Hella 500: Philips CrystalVision Ultra

The LED fogs work fine as they're an entire replacement for the stock fog light housing. It's a sealed unit with 3 diodes and a parabolic lens designed specifically for those LEDs. There's nothing wrong with LEDs in automotive lighting when the optics are designed for them.

Hopefully some of you find this helpful and don't end up wasting money like I did

What about tail/brake light LED conversion bulbs?

 

[dhectorg]

I've decided to pull the trigger on the BeamTech H11s for my 2017 Sport, but I'm wondering if those of you who have them went with the fan or fanless version. Some people claim the fans on these things can be very loud, so I'd rather not deal with that if there's no major tradeoffs with the fanless version.

Also, how about highbeams? I saw someone above say their DRLs didn't work right with LED highbeams. Am I better off sticking with high quality halogens for highbeams?

 

[Black_Widow_Subie]

AreUOTE="tripswitch, post: 26569, member: 2154"]
Nice post, [...]
[/QUOTE]
Are you aware of LED bulbs for markers, turn signals, brakes and taillights?

 

[TwoTone]

I'd love to see a beam pattern for these low cost bulbs at a proper distance from a wall in the dark, not cardboard at the bumper.

I'll say this, as Andrew has posted, I've tried a bunch for my 2014 Flex and they all been horrible. Too many people confuse bright foreground with better lighting.

I will say the new Morimoto 2Stroke 3.0 are the real deal. Finally a good beam pattern. Worth the money over cheap sets.

 

[peaty]

>I will say the new Morimoto 2Stroke 3.0 are the real deal. Finally a good beam pattern. Worth the money over cheap sets.<<

This is what I have now in my Low and High beams in my Impreza Sport. I also put a set in the low beams for the wife's Outback. I had the Diode Dynamics SL1's and they are great bulbs, excellent quality. However, all but the Morimoto2Stroke 3.0 vent the heat externally to the lens. This can be an issue if you live where it snows, the heat from a halogen bulb will tend to keep the lens warm and minimize ice buildup on the lens. The Miromoto's vent inside so this should minimize that happening.

I find the Miromoto bulbs have a very sharp cut off and do a great job. I think the DD SL1's were slightly brighter but both are well made and have sharp cutoffs.

 

[TwoTone]

This is what I have now in my Low and High beams in my Impreza Sport. I also put a set in the low beams for the wife's Outback. I had the Diode Dynamics SL1's and they are great bulbs, excellent quality. However, all but the Morimoto2Stroke 3.0 vent the heat externally to the lens. This can be an issue if you live where it snows, the heat from a halogen bulb will tend to keep the lens warm and minimize ice buildup on the lens. The Miromoto's vent inside so this should minimize that happening.

I find the Miromoto bulbs have a very sharp cut off and do a great job. I think the DD SL1's were slightly brighter but both are well made and have sharp cutoffs.

I live where it snows, so yea after years of trying other bulbs, I think the V3s nailed everything, even being able to clock them to get a better pattern.
They did the R&D and it shows.
The layouts are different to do a better job of reproducing each bulb type's light source position.

 

[Octal450]

Some people claim the fans on these things can be very loud, so I'd rather not deal with that if there's no major tradeoffs with the fanless version.

Also, how about highbeams? I saw someone above say their DRLs didn't work right with LED highbeams. Am I better off sticking with high quality halogens for highbeams?

I went with the fan ones 10000LM cause they're brighter. The fans are inaudible unless you have the engine AND radio off.
Yep, no LED high beams if you have a DRL there

 

[dhectorg]

I went with the fan ones 10000LM cause they're brighter. The fans are inaudible unless you have the engine AND radio off.
Yep, no LED high beams if you have a DRL there

I installed the fanless BeamTech LEDs about a week ago. While they aren't quite as bright as some other options, they are far brighter with a better output pattern than the stock halogens, especially the peripheral view, and they don't seem to annoy oncoming drivers. I am very pleased so far, but I am a bit concerned about longevity since they aren't actively cooled...time will tell.

 

[gsmarquis]

I installed the fanless BeamTech LEDs about a week ago. While they aren't quite as bright as some other options, they are far brighter with a better output pattern than the stock halogens, especially the peripheral view, and they don't seem to annoy oncoming drivers. I am very pleased so far, but I am a bit concerned about longevity since they aren't actively cooled...time will tell.

What has time told you? Mine have been in for 3 years. Still good. However Amazon says they dont fit any more.

 

[MagikAram]

What has time told you? Mine have been in for 3 years. Still good. However Amazon says they dont fit any more.

I wouldn't trust Amazon's fitment guide - parts that were very very obvious for my generation Miata were claimed as 'don't fit' because I have an M Edition and not a 'base'. Which, differences between the two are mostly limited to paint color, some fancy badges, and some niceties in the interior.

So long as the bulb type is the same as the halogen you should be good.

#9005 / HB3 bulbs are your go to.

 

[gsmarquis]

I wouldn't trust Amazon's fitment guide - parts that were very very obvious for my generation Miata were claimed as 'don't fit' because I have an M Edition and not a 'base'. Which, differences between the two are mostly limited to paint color, some fancy badges, and some niceties in the interior.

So long as the bulb type is the same as the halogen you should be good.
View attachment 29754
#9005 / HB3 bulbs are your go to.

They are still working 3 years strong. I was going to make sure they still had them available.