Headlight Led Upgrade

[Luvcats69]

I bought these:

https://www.amazon.com/Headlight-Bulbs-SEALIGHT-Upgraded-Warranty/dp/B07PT53LTZ/ref=sr_1_8?keywords=sealight+hb3&qid=1575389975&sr=8-8

The Sealight HB3 type "S3 series" - I think someone on this forum has tried various lights, including the "S2 series" from Sealight and ended up using the "S3 series" I'm not sure, but I think the S2 series didn't have a great beam pattern, and Sealight does promote the S3 series as having a beam pattern that closely matches the normal halogen bulbs (just brighter and whiter). I can't say there is a consensus on which light is best, but I think I have seen more people who are happy with the Sealight S3 series than anything else (but that could just be herd mentality to some extent). I do think they are very good, but that doesn't mean they are the best option.

They are very bright & white, and the beam pattern looks very similar to stock. I did aim them lower slightly just because they are so bright that I want to avoid blinding other drivers, but they were a drop in replacement for the stock ones. Easy, no tools, everything fits inside the headlight housing.

See this thread for additional information (including a picture I posted with one stock and one Sealight series 3 lamp installed):

Cannot stress the importance of Headlight Aim in our Tellurides

Bridging many, many threats, complaints and issues we have all stressed. I have tested four different bulbs and given many Amazon's seller's good graces and the site's liberal return policies, i have been able to cycle through several of them. Right now i am on Sealight 3's which i thought were...

tellurideforum.org

I appreciate the info, Steve!

When you say you aimed them down, did you use the mechanism built within the housing to lower? If they are truly plug and play, what adjustments were done?

I was going to insert the new bulbs in the same orientation as the stock and hope for the best.

If you look toward the end of the thread I linked to you will see a post from me last night (12/2) that includes a picture. The picture was taken after the left headlight was changed, but before any adjustments were made. If you look closely you can see pieces of blue painters tape on the garage door. They were placed so the bottom edge of the tape aligned with the top edge of the headlight pattern. (The tape was placed for the factory bulbs so I could have a reference to adjust to for the new lights)

it might be hard to judge from the picture, but the left light aligned “perfectly” with the two pieces of tape (from the original headlight). So from that standpoint, the LED lamps are about as good as I could expect in terms of beam aiming / height. The reason I decided to aim them slightly lower is because the bright central area is significantly brighter than stock, and I wanted to point it slightly lower to avoid oncoming drivers.

to aim the light lower there is a hex bolt head on the back side of the housing (I think it is below the cover where the lamp gets installed, but I’m not positive). I think it is a 12mm head. If you are going to aim your lights, I strongly recommend you do something similar to what I did with the tape on the garage door. Put up the tape, swap the bulbs, and make your adjustment without moving the car in between. (Otherwise it will be hard / impossible to get the car back in the same position).

Note that small adjustments can make a big difference, so take it easy. Mayb 1/4 turn on the screw. It’s probably a good idea to mark the bolt before adjusting it so you can return it to “stock” if you want to. (I wish I had done that)

Also note that aiming / adjusting the headlights on a garage door with the car so close is really not the right way to do this. I don’t know the procedure for a telluride, but generally the idea is to park the car on flat level ground, some distance from a wall (20 feet?) and then measure thetopnof the beam from the ground (where it hits the wall). Doing the adjustment with the appropriate distance makes it easier to get things right. Doing into. A garage door 5 feet away is not great...small height changes at 5 feet translate to much bigger changes 50 feet down the road.

good luck.

I really appreciate the time you took to write such a detailed response.

I'll give your method a try using the same bulbs and I'll return to post my impressions once the upgrade is complete.

 

[G-743286]

I went with the Hikari and installed them yesterday and I am not impressed with the light output at all. I will return them. I purchased these https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B077B7GJ5J/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 and they do look great with the DRL's so now when I am driving at night whatever I hit will at least say, MAN THOSE MATCH THE DRL's good, before it dies.

 

[Mickey]

Sorry but I didn't want to read 15 pages of posts regarding headlight bulbs, so is this subject mainly regarding the trim levels and/or packages that don't already include LED headlights, like the S and EX builds.

Thanks!

 

[reese0929]

Sorry but I didn't want to read 15 pages of posts regarding headlight bulbs, so is this subject mainly regarding the trim levels and/or packages that don't already include LED headlights, like the S and EX builds.

Thanks!

Yes.

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[Mickey]

Yes.

OK Thanks! I didn't know if perhaps the LEDs that come with the SX are not very good and some owners are replacing them also.

 

[Steve in Denver]

OK Thanks! I didn't know if perhaps the LEDs that come with the SX are not very good and some owners are replacing them also.

From what I have read, most people are happy with the SX lights. The IIHS crash / safety tests give the SX lights an "Acceptable" rating, but all other trims a "Poor" rating. (Ratings are: Good, Acceptable, Marginal, Poor).

2020 Kia Telluride 4-door SUV

2020 Kia Telluride 4-door SUV - midsize SUV

www.iihs.org

The "Poor" rating for the headlights was the main (only?) safety related thing that gave me pause in buying the Telluride (I am very safety focused), but I was able to get past it for a few reasons:
1. The IIHS headlight rating system is relatively new, and most cars, particularly older models, don't do very well. So a "Poor" rating on a new car might be as good as anything else I have driven over the past 25 years.
2. The headlights are relatively easy to upgrade (compared to all other safety systems), so I figured if I would give the aftermarket LED lights a try, and if I *really* had to I could buy the SX lights.


I was hopeful that the headlights wouldn't be *that* bad, but they are. If IIHS added a 5th rating of "Terrible", that's probably what the headlights would get. LED lamps helped a lot, but in my case (Sealight series 3) there is a small/moderate sized dead spot in the lower center part of the beam. Overall, though, the upgrade was cheap, easy, and very effective.

 

[Mickey]

From what I have read, most people are happy with the SX lights. The IIHS crash / safety tests give the SX lights an "Acceptable" rating, but all other trims a "Poor" rating. (Ratings are: Good, Acceptable, Marginal, Poor).

2020 Kia Telluride 4-door SUV

2020 Kia Telluride 4-door SUV - midsize SUV

www.iihs.org

The "Poor" rating for the headlights was the main (only?) safety related thing that gave me pause in buying the Telluride (I am very safety focused), but I was able to get past it for a few reasons:
1. The IIHS headlight rating system is relatively new, and most cars, particularly older models, don't do very well. So a "Poor" rating on a new car might be as good as anything else I have driven over the past 25 years.
2. The headlights are relatively easy to upgrade (compared to all other safety systems), so I figured if I would give the aftermarket LED lights a try, and if I *really* had to I could buy the SX lights.


I was hopeful that the headlights wouldn't be *that* bad, but they are. If IIHS added a 5th rating of "Terrible", that's probably what the headlights would get. LED lamps helped a lot, but in my case (Sealight series 3) there is a small/moderate sized dead spot in the lower center part of the beam. Overall, though, the upgrade was cheap, easy, and very effective.

Thank you for the detailed reply. Much appreciated.

 

[Jasondorin]

Around $150

Still liking your headlights? I did contact Brett and just now have time to get this order placed but making sure you are happy with yours so far? I am in New Jersey and bad weather has started and the existing lights are pathetic so I need to make this happen thanks.

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[Lance]

I got the LED s from Brett The company name is Twelvolt. I absolutely love my lights now!! The stock ones on my EX where dim and didn’t match the DRLs. If you are second guessing what lights to replace the stock ones don't . I assure you the lights are quality and and supper easy to install. I looked on Amazon like most of us and never was sold on any of the models plus ppl that have bought from Amazon didn’t like there LEDs. I can take more pictures if you guys would like to see how awesome theses lights brighten the way.

 

[Lance]

Headlight Led Upgrade

Ok guys finally got my LEDs from Twelvolt sorry it took a while .

tellurideforum.org

 

[Lance]

Headlight Led Upgrade

Ok guys finally got my LEDs from Twelvolt sorry it took a while .

tellurideforum.org

Headlight Led Upgrade

Ok guys finally got my LEDs from Twelvolt sorry it took a while .

tellurideforum.org

 

[Lance]

Another thing I should add because some people are worried about other drivers flashing them because there lights are to bright or to high. going on a month and it’s been great and get compliments from all my buddies. Nothing but praise and for $110 it’s worth every penny

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[Luvcats69]

Just installed the Sealight 3. It's much brighter but the pattern is off and there is a dead spot 10 feet in front middle. I am not completely satisfied for a $90 purchase but I am also very busy and too lazy to return the headlights

 

[Steve in Denver]

Yeah, they are not perfect, but i haven’t found an obvious alternative in a similar price range. Even higher end halogen bulbs will cost $40 or so, so $90 doesn’t seem as to me for what you get.

the third picture you posted (what you see from the cockpit) looks great to me. So much better than stock.

I understabd what you mean about being too busy/lazy to return them. Time is money.

 

[Luvcats69]

Yeah, they are not perfect, but i haven’t found an obvious alternative in a similar price range. Even higher end halogen bulbs will cost $40 or so, so $90 doesn’t seem as to me for what you get.

the third picture you posted (what you see from the cockpit) looks great to me. So much better than stock.

I understabd what you mean about being too busy/lazy to return them. Time is money.

Oh definitely agree that the light output is much better and further down the road than stock. The uneven lighting especially in front of the vehicle (reference the first pic) looks so bad though...lol

I probably had unrealistic expectations going into the purchase after reading this thread for weeks and getting excited to install non halogen lights.

Thanks again Steve for all your advise! Much appreciated!

 

[GrandeVT]

Interesting. I purchased these Hikari LEDs for $36 and am quite happy. Big enough improvement over OEM to suit my needs. And cheap!

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07GKC818Q/ref=psdc_15736451_t2_B077B7GJ5J

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[Luvcats69]

Interesting. I purchased these Hikari LEDs for $36 and am quite happy. Big enough improvement over OEM to suit my needs. And cheap!

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07GKC818Q/ref=psdc_15736451_t2_B077B7GJ5J

I was really tempted to try the Hikari LEDs, but there seemed to be a consensus that the Sealight 3s were the best option. The light distance is simply amazing on the Sealights, with the trade off being uneven light distribution 10 feet or closer to the vehicle; that's the trade off.

 

[GrandeVT]

I was really tempted to try the Hikari LEDs, but there seemed to be a consensus that the Sealight 3s were the best option. The light distance is simply amazing on the Sealights, with the trade off being uneven light distribution 10 feet or closer to the vehicle; that's the trade off.

Probably so. Guess I'm taking baby steps. I'll surely be trying others along the way. Couldn't resist the price.

 

[Steve in Denver]

After having looked at various light designs available, and the various detailed reviews, I suspect that we are still a generation or 2 away from a true LED replacement for halogens. (One that would have a truly comparable beam pattern). I say this because the way the halogen lamp is designed, light is emitted more or less evenly in a continuous circle (cylinder) from top to bottom and side to side (and everything in between), but the LED replacements typically have a few discrete strips of LEDs pointing in opposing directions.

Some (Like the sealights) are pointed 180 degrees apart(3 and 9 o’clock) which leaves somewhat of a dead spot pointing down (I’m speculating this is the reason for the dark area close to the car). Some position the lights at a ~90 deg angle to each other, so they point more like 4:30 and 7:30. These lights probably do better at filling in the close spots, but I suspect give up illumination on the sides of the pattern.

Maybr someone will design a light that is in between. Lights point at 4 and 8 o’clock, or even 3:30 and 8:30. I suspect subtle differences in pointing (or the light distribution of the individual LEDs) make a big difference in beam pattern.

Maybe the best light will have 3 strips of quality LEDs they point 3, 6, and 9 o’clock? I’m ignoring the 12 o’clock position because I don’t think it contributes much to the beam (it gets clipped?) at least in projector style headlights. Reflectors seem to be a different beast.

Again, this is me speculating more than anything. I don’t have a lot of experience with LED headlights, and although I do have some background in optics I’m not an expert, particularly not in lighting design. So take my musings with a generous amount of salt.

Steve

 

[GeordieLaforge]

I bought these first https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B06XHD4HV3/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o07_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 (but wasn't super happy with them so they are for sale if anyone wants them) then switched to the Diode Dynamics. They are much more expensive but the lighting is so much better.