How do I determine if I have HID or Halogen headlights
#1
Driver School Candidate
Thread Starter
How do I determine if I have HID or Halogen headlights
I bought my 2007 RX350 used and not sure if I have the HID or Halogen headlights. I read that they were both options. I am leaning to Halogen because they do not look bright and are more to the yellow side.
If they are Halogen, can I just replace with HID bulb or do I need replace the entire headlight.
Thanks!
If they are Halogen, can I just replace with HID bulb or do I need replace the entire headlight.
Thanks!
#2
you can replace halogens with HID bulbs but it is not as simple as just getting bulbs. A HID system also has an ignitor ballast per bulb that you will have to account for in mounting. Also you would probably need the bulb housings retrofitted with lenses.
#4
I have heard very good things about Kensun products. Their customer service is very good and they stand behind their product. Their products come with a 2 years warranty. My RX330 came with HIDs, I needed to replace the ballasts but I didn't want to spend an arm and a leg buying directly from Lexus. I also did not want to buy on Ebay due to a considerable amount of negative reviews of buyers who have purchased HID kits and were promised a hassle free warranty and when they had a problem with the product that warranty was not there. Then I read a post in this forum from a member who replaced his HIDs with a Kensun brand an seems pretty happy.
I read the reviews in Amazon's website, reviewers are saying that they have a very good customer should you experience an issue with their products. Prices are very reasonable.
The 2007 Lexus RX350 uses size D2S for headlights, 9005 for high beams, 9006 for fog lights for vehicles with factory installed HID systems. Vehicles that do not have factory installed HID lights use size H11 for headlights, 9005 for high beams, 9006 for fog lights.
If you decide to go with Kensun, this is the kit you need for your 07 RX350.
Check them out:
I read the reviews in Amazon's website, reviewers are saying that they have a very good customer should you experience an issue with their products. Prices are very reasonable.
The 2007 Lexus RX350 uses size D2S for headlights, 9005 for high beams, 9006 for fog lights for vehicles with factory installed HID systems. Vehicles that do not have factory installed HID lights use size H11 for headlights, 9005 for high beams, 9006 for fog lights.
If you decide to go with Kensun, this is the kit you need for your 07 RX350.
Check them out:
Last edited by robbyk; 03-24-15 at 04:23 AM.
#5
Keep in mind that the factory HID system is an Adaptive Front Lighting System (AFS) with auto leveling. If you order aftermarket kit, it may be include the auto leveling feature.
Jack
08 RX350 AWD (wife)
08 Avalon Touring (mine)
Jack
08 RX350 AWD (wife)
08 Avalon Touring (mine)
#6
Lexus Champion
theretrofitsource.com and its forum website has a wealth of information on retrofitting. They sell complete kits too. Excellent place to start (and finish) your search on this.
#7
Driver School Candidate
Unbeknownst to many, the '04-'09 RX330/350/400h actually came with THREE options for headlights:
(1) halogen, reflector type, no AFS, no auto-leveling
(2) xenon, projector type, with AFS, with auto-leveling
(3) xenon, projector type, no AFS, but with auto-leveling (however the projector itself is different than that of type 2)
Most people do not realize that there were two different xenon projector type headlights for the same car, with the only differences between the two being the lack of AFS and a lesser performing projector (not as bright and not as wide).
The xenon projector AFS type headlights will have this black box (with a white plastic piece behind it) attached to the bottom of the projector.
And AFS xenon projector headlights have "silver metal" lens holder rings. Look at the 1/4inch ring around each projector lens. This holds the lens in place on the projector.
non-AFS xenon projector versions won't have the AFS motor at the bottom of the projector.
And non-AFS xenon projector versions have a "black" lens holder ring instead of a silver one.
If you want to convert the halogen type headlight to xenon, it's easier to buy a used set of the non-AFS xenon projector type headlights, as it would be impossible to get the AFS system working.
(1) halogen, reflector type, no AFS, no auto-leveling
(2) xenon, projector type, with AFS, with auto-leveling
(3) xenon, projector type, no AFS, but with auto-leveling (however the projector itself is different than that of type 2)
Most people do not realize that there were two different xenon projector type headlights for the same car, with the only differences between the two being the lack of AFS and a lesser performing projector (not as bright and not as wide).
The xenon projector AFS type headlights will have this black box (with a white plastic piece behind it) attached to the bottom of the projector.
And AFS xenon projector headlights have "silver metal" lens holder rings. Look at the 1/4inch ring around each projector lens. This holds the lens in place on the projector.
non-AFS xenon projector versions won't have the AFS motor at the bottom of the projector.
And non-AFS xenon projector versions have a "black" lens holder ring instead of a silver one.
If you want to convert the halogen type headlight to xenon, it's easier to buy a used set of the non-AFS xenon projector type headlights, as it would be impossible to get the AFS system working.
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#8
Unbeknownst to many, the '04-'09 RX330/350/400h actually came with THREE options for headlights:
(1) halogen, reflector type, no AFS, no auto-leveling
(2) xenon, projector type, with AFS, with auto-leveling
(3) xenon, projector type, no AFS, but with auto-leveling (however the projector itself is different than that of type 2)
Most people do not realize that there were two different xenon projector type headlights for the same car, with the only differences between the two being the lack of AFS and a lesser performing projector (not as bright and not as wide).
The xenon projector AFS type headlights will have this black box (with a white plastic piece behind it) attached to the bottom of the projector.
And AFS xenon projector headlights have "silver metal" lens holder rings. Look at the 1/4inch ring around each projector lens. This holds the lens in place on the projector.
non-AFS xenon projector versions won't have the AFS motor at the bottom of the projector.
And non-AFS xenon projector versions have a "black" lens holder ring instead of a silver one.
If you want to convert the halogen type headlight to xenon, it's easier to buy a used set of the non-AFS xenon projector type headlights, as it would be impossible to get the AFS system working.
(1) halogen, reflector type, no AFS, no auto-leveling
(2) xenon, projector type, with AFS, with auto-leveling
(3) xenon, projector type, no AFS, but with auto-leveling (however the projector itself is different than that of type 2)
Most people do not realize that there were two different xenon projector type headlights for the same car, with the only differences between the two being the lack of AFS and a lesser performing projector (not as bright and not as wide).
The xenon projector AFS type headlights will have this black box (with a white plastic piece behind it) attached to the bottom of the projector.
And AFS xenon projector headlights have "silver metal" lens holder rings. Look at the 1/4inch ring around each projector lens. This holds the lens in place on the projector.
non-AFS xenon projector versions won't have the AFS motor at the bottom of the projector.
And non-AFS xenon projector versions have a "black" lens holder ring instead of a silver one.
If you want to convert the halogen type headlight to xenon, it's easier to buy a used set of the non-AFS xenon projector type headlights, as it would be impossible to get the AFS system working.
Anyway, our RX350 came with HID with AFS and I decided to turn it off. One less thing to going wrong for me.
#9
Driver School Candidate
I bought my 2007 RX350 used and not sure if I have the HID or Halogen headlights. I read that they were both options. I am leaning to Halogen because they do not look bright and are more to the yellow side.
If they are Halogen, can I just replace with HID bulb or do I need replace the entire headlight.
Thanks!
If they are Halogen, can I just replace with HID bulb or do I need replace the entire headlight.
Thanks!
Last edited by Alfa777z; 03-29-15 at 11:43 PM.
#10
So on your RX are you saying you have the Silver Star Ultra for your high beams and then Xenon for the low beams and fog lamps? I would have thought you want them all to be xenon or non-xenon?
Thanks for your help. I have a high beam bulb out and was going to replace at least the four of them. But not back up lights or fog lights quite yet.
Thanks for your help. I have a high beam bulb out and was going to replace at least the four of them. But not back up lights or fog lights quite yet.
#11
Instructor
iTrader: (1)
So on your RX are you saying you have the Silver Star Ultra for your high beams and then Xenon for the low beams and fog lamps? I would have thought you want them all to be xenon or non-xenon?
Thanks for your help. I have a high beam bulb out and was going to replace at least the four of them. But not back up lights or fog lights quite yet.
Thanks for your help. I have a high beam bulb out and was going to replace at least the four of them. But not back up lights or fog lights quite yet.
For the high beam bulb, personally I would stick to a standard bulb, if you go Silver Stars, they burn out fast as your highs function as your DRL too which impacts bulbs life.
#12
Also, because the DRL is 40% of your hi beam bulb, this doesn't lend itself to HID. When I bought my RX330 2005, 164k miles, the lenses for the headlights and foglights were nasty, clouded over, so I got new foglight lenses, and used HID OEM headlight lenses, because of the AFS. Since I had to take the bumper off anyway, I upgraded my foglights to 55w 4300K HID. I really like them.
For your high beams, I would replace both, and leave it at that, if you go aftermarket, then they will match, color wise. if you only replace one, with aftermarket the color might be off.
For your high beams, I would replace both, and leave it at that, if you go aftermarket, then they will match, color wise. if you only replace one, with aftermarket the color might be off.
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