Proud owner of white EX since Saturday, Headlights do not meet my expectation.

[ibmax]

Has anybody tried to retrofit led lights from the SX into the EX?

 

[jw_tx21]

Has anybody tried to retrofit led lights from the SX into the EX?

Here is a thread on LED upgrades, although I don't know if a best option has been decided on.

Headlight Led Upgrade

The only thing that my EX was missing were LED headlights. Today, I rectified this issue with an upgrade. My local LED lighting shop was able to install a setup that fits perfectly in the small cavity where the original incandescent sits. I will take some night shots later. The shop is also able...

tellurideforum.org

 

[2020Telly]

Has anybody tried to retrofit led lights from the SX into the EX?

I don’t think that is easily accomplished. The factory equipped LED projector option has additional electrical installed. A cheaper alternative that has been discussed is using a direct replacement LED bulb with electrical current regulator that fits in the projector housing for the HID bulb in the lower trims. The challenge is getting the LED direct replacement to project as well as the HID for distance. Someone on that other thread did say they took their Telluride to a local LED lighting store to have lights professionally installed. It could just be a matter of finding the right LED bulb replacement and turning it just right in the housing of the projector to reach as far as the HID with no dark spots.

 

[ibmax]

I don’t think that is easily accomplished. The factory equipped LED projector option has additional electrical installed. A cheaper alternative that has been discussed is using a direct replacement LED bulb with electrical current regulator that fits in the projector housing for the HID bulb in the lower trims. The challenge is getting the LED direct replacement to project as well as the HID for distance. Someone on that other thread did say they took their Telluride to a local LED lighting store to have lights professionally installed. It could just be a matter of finding the right LED bulb replacement and turning it just right in the housing of the projector to reach as far as the HID with no dark spots.

And the journey begins. Thank you.

How is Kia corporate OK with so many of their dealers having a reputation for pulling this above-MSRP crap? I love my Telluride, but the dealer experience really leaves a bad taste in my mouth. No other consumer product sells above MSRP from the original seller. It's especially atrocious since we are a captive audience who can't buy a new Kia from anyone other than a dealer (competition among dealers doesn't count in my book).

competition and time will level the playing field. There are tons of Palisade around @ 10% off. Though I love my Tellie.

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[rvv2002]

Honestly I put an aftermarket HID in my 2018 Sorento EX with projectors and it was night and day. No issues with overheating inside the headlamp assembly, but I did have to Dremel a small hole to let wires out. No shadows or weird lighting.

Honestly would do the same if I didn't have an SX.

 

[ibmax]

Thank you

 

[2020Telly]

Honestly I put an aftermarket HID in my 2018 Sorento EX with projectors and it was night and day. No issues with overheating inside the headlamp assembly, but I did have to Dremel a small hole to let wires out. No shadows or weird lighting.

Honestly would do the same if I didn't have an SX.

I agree that a good quality aftermarket HID bulb might still have benefits over LED. Other than the life to replacement that you gain with LED I think HID can come in a whiter color if that’s what you want but you get the distance forward range (without requiring fine tuned adjustment) that is lacking in the LEDs. I think the challenge is that projector lamps designed for HID are made for a 360deg bulb. But the LEDs are 2 sided and create a dark spot that has to be overcome by turning it just right and hoping that the projector gets the LED as far straight as the HID. So the LED is great to light up right in front of your bumper or blind the driver in front of you, but adding more lumens directly in front of you does not always help for distance at night. Most of the more expensive LEDs are more lumens but I don’t think that’s what I want if I can’t get the distance.

IMHO the thing that I wish all trims of the Telluride had is a curve adaptive projector headlight. My other car is a ‘17 Hyundai Elantra Limited and I paid much less for that vehicle but it has curve adapting projector HID and it does great driving at night at all angles.

 

[ibmax]

Are bi- zenon lights that I have in my 911 as an option hid? Best lights I ever had. What would you do if you were me? Night vision with stock lights just don't cut it for this senior.

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[ucinn]

I had 4 sided LED's in my Sorento and gave great light output over the halogens...

https://www.amazon.com/14000LM-Headlight-Conversion-H9-100W-Replacement/dp/B074XCTZ65/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?crid=21QE5YHTT2BU1&keywords=zdatt+h11&qid=1564672642&s=automotive&sprefix=zdatt+H11%2Cautomotive%2C146&sr=1-1-spons&psc=1&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUFCUzNSTDdIR0dYSEEmZW5jcnlwdGVkSWQ9QTA2MjE4MzQ4VEtGODhEVVBaNFMmZW5jcnlwdGVkQWRJZD1BMDU5MzUyMTJBU05HSzZOMTdENkQmd2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9hdGYmYWN0aW9uPWNsaWNrUmVkaXJlY3QmZG9Ob3RMb2dDbGljaz10cnVl

 

[2020Telly]

I had 4 sided LED's in my Sorento and gave great light output over the

Thank you! I had seen zdatts discussed in the other thread but didn’t realize they are 4 sided. Everyone is raving about the Hikaris and the Sealights. I might just try the zdatts since they are so low in price. I think the Telluride needs HB3 9005? https://www.amazon.com/14400LM-Head...Year+Warranty&qid=1564675477&s=gateway&sr=8-1

 

[ibmax]

Thank you! I had seen zdatts discussed in the other thread but didn’t realize they are 4 sided. Everyone is raving about the Hikaris and the Sealights. I might just try the zdatts since they are so low in price. I think the Telluride needs HB3 9005? https://www.amazon.com/14400LM-Head...Year+Warranty&qid=1564675477&s=gateway&sr=8-1

read the reviews on the zdatts on amazon, not so good, Hikaris a little better, Sealight new generation with 3 year warranty customer reviews has the most positive also the most expensive. not being handy, where should I go to have them installed?

 

[rvv2002]

Watch a YouTube video before you shell out $50-$100 bucks for a store to do them. LED will be just like changing the bulb, just bigger. HIDs take a little more. Where do you live?

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[ibmax]

Watch a YouTube video before you shell out $50-$100 bucks for a store to do them. LED will be just like changing the bulb, just bigger. HIDs take a little more. Where do you live?

I saw the video, looks easy enough. Unfortunately I am all thumbs. I live in Florida. I am getting ready to pull the trigger, research indicates the Starlight S3 with 3 yr. war is the way to fly waiting for the company to get back to me about fitment on the Tellie and fan noise @ 12000 rpm.

 

[2020Telly]

read the reviews on the zdatts on amazon, not so good, Hikaris a little better, Sealight new generation with 3 year warranty customer reviews has the most positive also the most expensive. not being handy, where should I go to have them installed?

I decided not to buy anything yet after looking at the Zdatts, Hikaris, or Sealights. I started trying to understand why something like the Diode Dynamics 9005 SL1 were SO MUCH more expensive. It appears that the more expensive led bulbs claim to be engineered to be precisely measured equivalents to match the standard 9005 HB3 bulbs exact figment for the OEM projector housing to maximize range and reduce glare by putting the led diode in the ideal spot to mimic the halogen bulb. Not ready to pull the trigger on $150 to experiment with a bulb just yet.

 

[ibmax]

I decided not to buy anything yet after looking at the Zdatts, Hikaris, or Sealights. I started trying to understand why something like the Diode Dynamics 9005 SL1 were SO MUCH more expensive. It appears that the more expensive led bulbs claim to be engineered to be precisely measured equivalents to match the standard 9005 HB3 bulbs exact figment for the OEM projector housing to maximize range and reduce glare by putting the led diode in the ideal spot to mimic the halogen bulb. Not ready to pull the trigger on $150 to experiment with a bulb just yet.

Your point is well taken. Though my peripheral vision is limited with OEM bulbs, my 2008 highlander sport with fog lights on all the time did a better job. My eyes are cateract free and my vision is 20/25.

 

[Faintferret]

I decided not to buy anything yet after looking at the Zdatts, Hikaris, or Sealights. I started trying to understand why something like the Diode Dynamics 9005 SL1 were SO MUCH more expensive. It appears that the more expensive led bulbs claim to be engineered to be precisely measured equivalents to match the standard 9005 HB3 bulbs exact figment for the OEM projector housing to maximize range and reduce glare by putting the led diode in the ideal spot to mimic the halogen bulb. Not ready to pull the trigger on $150 to experiment with a bulb just yet.

Did you ever try the SL1s? Not sure buying the SX over EX makes sense if all I want is bright headlights...

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[bogie]

FWIW - I fully LEDed my Ford Escape with replacement 'bulbs' from SuperBrightLEDs.com - The headlight and fog light replacements were fanless and constructed with the LED chips oriented in the same position as the filaments in the incandescents. Now, the Escape was reflector headlights, not projector, but the beam pattern was exactly the same for the LEDs. No loss of distance and way cleaner light making everything easier to see. Biggest reason I went with SBL - lifetime warranty on headlight LEDs.



Link to the replacement if you want more details:

9005 LED Fanless Headlight/Fog Light Conversion Kit with Internal Drivers - 4,000 Lumens/Set

Increase your safety and visibility with this 9005 LED headlight/fog light kit. The single-intensity LED headlight bulbs emit 4,000 lumens of cool white illumination per set (2,000 lumens each) and feature 3rd generation cooling technology. They have integrated heat sinks instead of short-lived...

www.superbrightleds.com

I have no association with SBL - just really like their products & their customer service.