Aftermarket Headlight Options

[Strobes]

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[Msfitoy]

$140 for hi/low JDM ASTAR LED replacement does the job just fine...the reason I'd go with a $1000+ set (if I had the cash to burn) is for the cool new look...

 

[D Fresh]

$140 for hi/low JDM ASTAR LED replacement does the job just fine...the reason I'd go with a $1000+ set (if I had the cash to burn) is for the cool new look...

Drop in LEDs are absolute hell on other drivers.

Your visibility is not worth blinding others for.

An LED bulb should NEVER be used in a reflector housing.

 

[Msfitoy]

Drop in LEDs are absolute hell on other drivers.

Your visibility is not worth blinding others for.

An LED bulb should NEVER be used in a reflector housing.

Not if they're adjusted correctly...

 

[docarter]

I can vouch for Morimoto products, they will be the brightest option short of a custom-built HID headlight.

 

[FunInTheSun]

Drop in LEDs are absolute hell on other drivers.

Your visibility is not worth blinding others for.

An LED bulb should NEVER be used in a reflector housing.

If an LED conversion is just a replacement bulb, and does not come with a matching reflector and lens, it is likely to give WORSE lighting performance and create safety issues for other drivers (and sometimes you, too). Optical design is a thing, especially when you need to meet the specific requirements of car headlights.

Here's a knowledgeable mechanic's explanation:
https://jalopnik.com/why-most-led-headlight-upgrades-dont-really-work-an-ex-1843070472

This is an automotive lighting engineer, explanation:
https://www.danielsternlighting.com/tech/bulbs/Hid/conversions/conversions.html

 

[SKULLZONE]

My Ranger Lariet came with LED's, apparently they are a little too bright as I get flashed at least once a night. Unless your floating with cash, check out these replacements. Properly adjusted they achieve great results. I had them in my 2018 Civic SI. Get the $89 or $99 bulbs. When installed, the LED portion should point side to side, not up and down.
HIKARI H11/H8/H9

 

[D Fresh]

Not if they're adjusted correctly...

Your headlights only adjust up and down. They don't have the ability to adjust the reflector. It is not possible to "adjust correctly."

With all the coin you've spent on lighting I'm surprised you cheaped out here. Want LED headlights, buy a Lariat, Alpharexs, or Morimotos.

If an LED conversion is just a replacement bulb, and does not come with a matching reflector and lens, it is likely to give WORSE lighting performance and create safety issues for other drivers (and sometimes you, too). Optical design is a thing, especially when you need to meet the specific requirements of car headlights.

Here's a knowledgeable mechanic's explanation:
https://jalopnik.com/why-most-led-headlight-upgrades-dont-really-work-an-ex-1843070472

This is an automotive lighting engineer, explanation:
https://www.danielsternlighting.com/tech/bulbs/Hid/conversions/conversions.html

Not sure why you quoted me with this, I totally agree. However, thanks for the links.

 

[rydfree]

Drop in LEDs are absolute hell on other drivers.

Your visibility is not worth blinding others for.

An LED bulb should NEVER be used in a reflector housing.

The new Bronco is LED in a reflector housing from the factory .

Most people that simply drop in a replacement LED bulb into a halogen reflector do not even attempt to position the bulb correctly within the housing or to aim the assembly afterwards . Aftermarket replacement LED bulbs do not produce light in a 360 degree pattern as a halogen bulb does so the individual segments of the LED must be rotated to the correct orientation to the high and low beam reflectors then the assembly "Aimed" as normal for elevation . Any quality led will have a set screw to rotate the segments so that when installed they end up in the proper location inside the reflector . I have had replacement LEDs in all my vehicles for many years and have never been flashed by oncoming vehicles .

I did get flashed by every vehicle I met right after putting the level kit on my FX4 because I forgot to aim the headlight assembly afterwards ,lol .

 

[Msfitoy]

The new Bronco is LED in a reflector housing from the factory .

Most people that simply drop in a replacement LED bulb into a halogen reflector do not even attempt to position the bulb correctly within the housing or to aim the assembly afterwards . Aftermarket replacement LED bulbs do not produce light in a 360 degree pattern as a halogen bulb does so the individual segments of the LED must be rotated to the correct orientation to the high and low beam reflectors then the assembly "Aimed" as normal for elevation . Any quality led will have a set screw to rotate the segments so that when installed they end up in the proper location inside the reflector . I have had replacement LEDs in all my vehicles for many years and have never been flashed by oncoming vehicles .

I did get flashed by every vehicle I met right after putting the level kit on my FX4 because I forgot to aim the headlight assembly afterwards ,lol .

The position of the LED element relative to the reflector is critical...a quality LED "drop in" will have it's lighting elements positioned exactly the same as the OEM incandescent bulb it's replacing so it will project light the way it was intended. Majority of the most cheap replacements neglect to pay attention to that and consequently scatters light off the reflectors in random patterns, blinding people and giving "drop in's" a bad reputation.

Aiming correctly is the other important adjustment after suspension leveling.

After my install of the the correctly positioned LEDs and leveling long time ago, and before re-aiming the lights, I was getting flashed several times a day. After re-adjusting and now 80K later, I have never been flashed again. BTW, I lOVE the Auto Hi-Beam...?

 

[Frenchy]

Hey guys, I am interested in upgrading my factory 2020 XLT headlights. Here are the options that I am thinking:

From Headlight Revolution

Morimoto XB $1431

or

Alpharex Nova in Black (or should I get Alpha Black) for $1350


What experience do any of you have with these products and/or manufacturer? What lights would you go with? I think I like the Morimoto better,. the Nova's are really cool but I think I might think of them as obnoxious after awhile with the unlock and light up sequence.

z

The link to the page I am looking at is:

https://www.headlightrevolution.com/buyer-guide-by-vehicle/2020+Ford+Ranger_with_Halogen_Headlights

Some videos:

(alpharex)
(morimoto)


Thanks for any input, take care.

Between Morimoto and Alpharex I can say both are good brands but iff I'm not mistaken I think Morimoto has been out longer(as a brand to be more precise). I myself went with the Alpharex Luxx series lights. Why you might ask? Well I wanted led lights and i didn't want the weird bulb per headlamp design. How is output going tonbe between AlphaRex to Morimoto? After watching a comparison video fornthe F-150 I want to say Alpharex had better width and Morimoto had better down road. Even with that said I have my Alpharex lights adjusted and can see a good bit down road compared to the factory. Now I also have the start up sequence but it doesnt bother.me really. If anything its a to each thier own kind of deal. So it's up to you on what you do but I'm sure you will be happy with your choice.

 

[D Fresh]

The new Bronco is LED in a reflector housing from the factory .

Most people that simply drop in a replacement LED bulb into a halogen reflector do not even attempt to position the bulb correctly within the housing or to aim the assembly afterwards . Aftermarket replacement LED bulbs do not produce light in a 360 degree pattern as a halogen bulb does so the individual segments of the LED must be rotated to the correct orientation to the high and low beam reflectors then the assembly "Aimed" as normal for elevation . Any quality led will have a set screw to rotate the segments so that when installed they end up in the proper location inside the reflector . I have had replacement LEDs in all my vehicles for many years and have never been flashed by oncoming vehicles .

I did get flashed by every vehicle I met right after putting the level kit on my FX4 because I forgot to aim the headlight assembly afterwards ,lol .

The position of the LED element relative to the reflector is critical...a quality LED "drop in" will have it's lighting elements positioned exactly the same as the OEM incandescent bulb it's replacing so it will project light the way it was intended. Majority of the most cheap replacements neglect to pay attention to that and consequently scatters light off the reflectors in random patterns, blinding people and giving "drop in's" a bad reputation.

Aiming correctly is the other important adjustment after suspension leveling.

After my install of the the correctly positioned LEDs and leveling long time ago, and before re-aiming the lights, I was getting flashed several times a day. After re-adjusting and now 80K later, I have never been flashed again. BTW, I lOVE the Auto Hi-Beam...?

The new Broncos reflectors are designed from jump for LEDs. Your Rangers' reflectors are not.

You probably aren't getting flashed because many of us gave up on that long ago.

 

[docarter]

My Ranger Lariet came with LED's, apparently they are a little too bright as I get flashed at least once a night. Unless your floating with cash, check out these replacements. Properly adjusted they achieve great results. I had them in my 2018 Civic SI. Get the $89 or $99 bulbs. When installed, the LED portion should point side to side, not up and down.
HIKARI H11/H8/H9

The factory LED headlights aren't very bright in terms of lumens. See: https://www.iihs.org/ratings/vehicle/ford/ranger-crew-cab-pickup/2021#headlights

Your headlights are just aimed too high.

 

[docarter]

The position of the LED element relative to the reflector is critical...a quality LED "drop in" will have it's lighting elements positioned exactly the same as the OEM incandescent bulb it's replacing so it will project light the way it was intended. Majority of the most cheap replacements neglect to pay attention to that and consequently scatters light off the reflectors in random patterns, blinding people and giving "drop in's" a bad reputation.

Aiming correctly is the other important adjustment after suspension leveling.

After my install of the the correctly positioned LEDs and leveling long time ago, and before re-aiming the lights, I was getting flashed several times a day. After re-adjusting and now 80K later, I have never been flashed again. BTW, I lOVE the Auto Hi-Beam...?

I don't disagree with these points, however the difference is the light output with an LED bulb can be 3-5x that of a halogen bulb. Reflectors are pretty rudimentary light aiming solutions. The cumulative effect is some glare which might be acceptable at halogen light output levels would be blinding at LED output levels.

 

[Msfitoy]

I don't disagree with these points, however the difference is the light output with an LED bulb can be 3-5x that of a halogen bulb. Reflectors are pretty rudimentary light aiming solutions. The cumulative effect is some glare which might be acceptable at halogen light output levels would be blinding at LED output levels.

I get what you're saying...I don't like offending other drivers so I've done many checks with me in another vehicle looking at my truck from various distances and light just looks white and not glaring/blinding at all...

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