For the Naysayers: LED Replacement Bulb Beam Pattern

[Gangplank]

I did something similar when I adjusted the lights. The pattern and cutoff are extremely similar to the halogens I replaced - I know this because I made my marks prior to the bulb swap.

I regret that you find the photos insufficient. Regardless, it’s still a robust discussion, and the photos show empirical evidence, albeit not to your standards.

Fair enough. But just FYI you can get LED headlights from Rock Auto that are DOT legal for $300 ea. so not as cheap as your replacements but not $1000 either.

I would like to see a side by side comparison of your vs the OEM LED shinning on a wall at night from 25 feet.

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[Wabujitsu]

Actually vehicle headlamps are regulated by the US DOT. Unless the replacement bulb is DOT approved for use in the specific lamp / reflector it is installed in then it is illegal. You won’t get a ticket most likely because cops have a hard time being able to verify it’s an illegal bulb but it is illegal as per the DOT regs.

I’m not arguing that many, if not all, of the aftermarket LED bulbs are not tested by the DOT for approval. Having read the CFR, however, I noted a few things. First, it seems to apply to equipment manufacturers and dealerships. The end user is not mentioned. Second, there is no “penalty” paragraph in the CFR. Third, the CFR says NOTHING about using an LED in front of a halogen reflector. Fourth, in FL and a few other states I checked, the state statutes do not prohibit the use of these bulbs. I did, however, check states without vehicle inspection requirements. However, a recent poster stated his vehicle passes every time in his state that does require inspection, and when he asked local LE, they told him his aftermarket LEDs were fine.

 

[Wabujitsu]

Fair enough. But just FYI you can get LED headlights from Rock Auto that are DOT legal for $300 ea. so not as cheap as your replacements but not $1000 either.

I would like to see a side by side comparison of your vs the OEM LED shinning on a wall at night from 25 feet.

I would like to see that too, and thanks for the heads-up about Rock Auto!

 

[Gangplank]

I would like to see that too, and thanks for the heads-up about Rock Auto!

Quick link. Not affiliated with them. I am running a set of them now but they are the CAPA certified version so $400 ea.

https://www.rockauto.com/en/catalog...,body+&+lamp+assembly,headlamp+assembly,10762

 

[Wabujitsu]

Quick link. Not affiliated with them. I am running a set of them now but they are the CAPA certified version so $400 ea.

https://www.rockauto.com/en/catalog...,body+&+lamp+assembly,headlamp+assembly,10762

All of the prices are in euros in the link you posted Thanks for the link, though! I guess I’m a cheap bastard; I’m still wincing over the cost, compared to what I‘m currently using, and how effective and safe they are.

 

[mwilk012]

What I don’t understand is why you people pretend to care about cutoff, glare, being flashed by other drivers, etc, but when someone tells you that your lights suck and shine in everyone’s eyes while simultaneously breaking the law, you just act indignant.

 

[Flip]

What I don’t understand is why you people pretend to care about cutoff, glare, being flashed by other drivers, etc, but when someone tells you that your lights suck and shine in everyone’s eyes while simultaneously breaking the law, you just act indignant.

But I've never been told any of that. My local PD said they're legal and I past inspection. Why does it bother you this much to launch an argument over something so trivial? Growing & smoking weed is legal now too you know.

 

[mwilk012]

But I've never been told any of that. My local PD said they're legal and I past inspection. Why does it bother you this much to launch an argument over something so trivial? Growing & smoking weed is legal now too you know.

My local PD won’t arrest trespassers and deranged drug addicts screaming at the sky in broad daylight. Does that make it legal, or just another example of police not doing their jobs?

Your lights are too bright. They have a poor cutoff. They shine in people’s eyes. You’re being told this, and disregarding it.

 

[Flip]

My local PD won’t arrest trespassers and deranged drug addicts screaming at the sky in broad daylight. Does that make it legal, or just another example of police not doing their jobs?

Your lights are too bright. They have a poor cutoff. They shine in people’s eyes. You’re being told this, and disregarding it.

Again, I have NOT been told that. I even did a driving test with several friends. We drove towards eachother to make sure the lights were not too bright. We even switched vehicles. All agreed they were no brighter than other LEDs.

Im very sorry your local LE isnt doing their jobs. I believe you can file a formal complaint with your state legislation.

Keep in mind and this is just my opinion but there are much bigger fish to fry in the world. Human trafficking is at an all time high. Even celebrities are highly involved. Using an led light in a halogen housing that passes state inspection is small potatoes dont you think?

 

[mwilk012]

Again, I have NOT been told that. I even did a driving test with several friends. We drove towards eachother to make sure the lights were not too bright. We even switched vehicles. All agreed they were no brighter than other LEDs.

Im very sorry your local LE isnt doing their jobs. I believe you can file a formal complaint with your state legislation.

Keep in mind and this is just my opinion but there are much bigger fish to fry in the world. Human trafficking is at an all time high. Even celebrities are highly involved. Using an led light in a halogen housing that passes state inspection is small potatoes dont you think?

Making a comment on a Sunday morning on a niche social media site is pretty small potatoes, yes. This is like a 0.1/10 on a scale of importance.

 

[Heimkehr]

One of the [Tazer's] many settings allows your fog lights to stay on when you hit the high beams.

Perhaps Jeep fixed that though; we have a ‘20 and a ‘21.

By way of example, my vehicles won't pass PA's annual state inspection if the fog/driving lights don't automatically extinguish when the high beams are switched on.

I suspect this isn't the only state with such a requirement, thus the fog light's automatic switching on and off via factory programming. That might be why Tazer includes this particular override functionality.

 

[Flip]

By way of example, my vehicles won't pass PA's annual state inspection if the fog/driving lights don't automatically extinguish when the high beams are switched on.

I suspect this isn't the only state with such a requirement, thus the fog light's automatic switching on and off. That might be why Tazer includes this particular override functionality.

Same in VA. The highbreams and foglights cannot be on at the same time. I used my jscan and set it up so I could have both on at the same time for off road. Not really worth it IMO. I didn't want to accidentally forget and leave both on either so I switched it back.

 

[BRuby]

For those who criticize replacing the crappy halogen bulbs with LED bulbs - without replacing the halogen reflectors/units - I present this.

Many have stated that LEDs won’t work with the halogen reflectors, saying that there is no cutoff line, the light scatters badly, etc. The two photos below show that is not true with my Chinese-made, Amazon-purchased bulbs. Visibility is AWESOME, and I do not get flashed by oncoming drivers, in spite of my lift.

The two photos below are overexposed, making the light far brighter than they are, but it clearly shows the bulb patterns. One I took at-speed, low beams, on the road; the other is stationary in my driveway, low beams.

There is a very, very clear cutoff line, as you can see, and no excessive scatter at all.

Can agree with you - that your pic shows a cut-off line - but there looks to be stray shining above. However you also note that your image is way over exposed and much brighter than reality. So if your image after editing looks like below - no one can reasonably say you are blinding oncoming traffic.

For the naysayers - they can simply search online for the many videos showing minimal stray light above clear cut-off lines. Times have changed since blinding stray long ago - to just normal bright white nowadays.

 

[Gangplank]

It’s really not that hard to post a proper headlight aiming photo. Night time, mark line 3’ high with making tape, back up 25’ and shine lights at wall.

https://www.jlwranglerforums.com/forum/threads/front-headlight-adjustment.104827/

 

[TheRaven]

For those who criticize replacing the crappy halogen bulbs with LED bulbs - without replacing the halogen reflectors/units - I present this.

Many have stated that LEDs won’t work with the halogen reflectors, saying that there is no cutoff line, the light scatters badly, etc. The two photos below show that is not true with my Chinese-made, Amazon-purchased bulbs. Visibility is AWESOME, and I do not get flashed by oncoming drivers, in spite of my lift.

The two photos below are overexposed, making the light far brighter than they are, but it clearly shows the bulb patterns. One I took at-speed, low beams, on the road; the other is stationary in my driveway, low beams.

There is a very, very clear cutoff line, as you can see, and no excessive scatter at all.

Beamtechs aren't what I, or most, would consider "cheap chinese bulbs". Yeah they are on the cheaper side but then we are now in 2025 and things like this keep getting cheaper. You can get $10 bulbs now on Amazon...THOSE are the ones to stay away from.

But since you posted up, why not put your money where your mouth is - put that beam pattern on a clean wall. Lets see how it really holds up to the good stuff.

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