watchfrees

Hi im new to the forum, i currently own a 2008 toyota avalon, and i am looking to buy a new car. I have decided to go for the 2015 IS350. I am still not sure if i should go with the navigation options, i was wondering if the led projector headlamps makes a difference to the car's looks.. can anyone post a picture of their is with the stock led projector headlamps and how they do at night, it would really help..
thanks
B

Loe

for what its worth, I came from HIDs to LEDs and the first thing to adjust to is the color temperature and the lower lumens (usable light). However, now that I am adjusted to it, the white light on completely dark roads makes it great whereas HIDs are less white and can be almost too intense shinning of glare from road signs. The cutoff is razor sharp as well because the lense is clear instead of frasnel.

Sexus99

Just like loe said, the cutoff is amazing! I actually prefer the led to my old hid. The clarity is great, but you do lose some usable light.

jbkhat303

I think the cutoff on mine is terrible. The leds aren't as bright as hids either. But they do look really good, just don't perform as well as hids IMO.

faisal11ir

Had the two options and ordered it with HIDs, mainly for the looks but noticed it's better.

SW17LS

I had an IS loaner a while back with the LED headlights. I was really excited to try them out, but I was really dissapointed. They look great, both in the housing and the light output looks great when looking at the car oncoming. But I found them dimmer than the HIDs in the GS and that I've had previously, and without as sharp a cutoff or range as far.

Maybe they take some getting used to, but after that experience I won't be checking any LED headlamp options when buying cars anytime soon.

Sexus99

Was there maybe a slight change from the 2014-2015 led headlights? I just took my car up north to close down the cabin. It's far away from the city and when it gets dark out, it gets dark out! My led headlights easily have more distance than my old Acura TL hid. The signs on the side of the road light up so far down the road from me, that I feel like there has to be other cars on the road with me. Even though they are different than my hids, I would easily choose the led without hesitation. the looks and the low maintenance are just added bonuses in my opinion

SW17LS

In terms of low maintenance...I have had HID headlights in 6 cars dating back to 1998. I have had an HID headlamp burn out once, and that was on my 2003 ES with 160k miles on it at 7 years old. Not exactly "high" maintenance.

scarboy693

My BMW had the HID headlights and I have the LED headlights now. Yes the LED is slightly dimmer and more pure white whereas the BMW's was a bit yellower. However.. One thing I've really noticed is the LED headlights have a much wider beam than the BMW's HIDs. Driving on dark unlit roads, I much prefer the beam can light up the whole road vs being a bit brighter. Plus even for city driving and all they plenty bright enough for me. Just my .02

Swacer

The LEDs you all have now are giving off a color spectrum close to a 6000K HID bulb. So while you are getting a brighter bulb, you are giving away the higher intensity in distance away. Thats always been known.

This understanding is the same reason why people use 3000K HIDs that give off yellow for fog lights (less intense but provide a greater distance), and why people that have 8000K to 12000K HIDs pretty much use them for show only (because they literally do not project any light. However, if you look at them, they will pretty much blind you).

Thus, the LEDs are no different than a normal 6000k bulb. The reason its different from your previous cars is because most, who don't mod, keep their stock 4300K HID bulbs in (or those of you with Acuras or German cars, are a little closer to 5000K). Thus, the increase in the color spectrum is what you are seeing.

As for the width of the light, that is a factoring of how your projector is designed and the angle of the lense. Acura to my understanding still has one of the best projectors via the previous gen HIDs used in the TL.