tsmith167

The Lexus website list 2 nav pakages available at my dealership. The only difference between the 2 is one has LED headlights and the other does not. There is about a 700.00 price difference. Can any of you tell me what the differences are between the two lighting packages. Is it worth about 700.00. Does it give the RX a different look?

Stormforge

yes, the led headlamp looks different, so it will give the RX a slightly different look to it.

rxets

Depend on how you like them... to me, it seems worth that price. It does provide the exclusive appearance, but I was kind of worrying.

LED headlamps isn't the completely mature technology, the current LED isn't producing its best yet. It's continuingly developed and improved. I don't remember the exact year, but the cars with LED headlamps (low/high) apparently start to sell on the market since 2008. Also, LEDs produce heat and are temperature sensitive, I don't know how they can survive under the severe weather conditions. Headlamps aren't the DRL (Audi), turning signals, or taillights.

LED power consumption is almost equal to the traditional halogen, and isn't as bright as HID. Dunno...


Will I buy it? Probably YES.

RXSF

actually,

LEDs are more efficient in using energy and use less energy than a traditional bulb and they dont burn hot either. Heat is a waste by product, and since they are more efficient, they dont give off much heat.

here are what the regular bi-xenons versus LED look



versus

rxets

I'm confused now... got to find my old books again... Please correct me if I'm wrong again. Thanks.

Why I said that light emit diodes usually produce more heat is because I compare them (LEDs, HID, Halogen) at the same level of light output. The fundamental characters of LEDs are with excessively low power and low light output, the result is the low heat output.

But, when we try to bring LEDs' output to the same level as HID or Halogen, the whole thing changes.

Btw, teh LEDs headlapms require more thermal controls to help release heat, this adds up the total costs.

RXSF

https://secure.drivers.lexus.com/lex...headlamps.html

im no bulb expert, but that article seems pretty indepth in comparing halogen with LED

spoon808

The LED's on the Rx450h use the new generation setup as the Hs250h hybrid, and the new gen prius. It consists of 3 LED units (two in projectors, one in a reflector) and the energy consumption combined it 66w (33 per headlight) compared to OEM HID's at 35 watts per headlight (70w vehicle total)

They eat a little less energy but I'm sure they don't perform on par with HID's since LED's are still in its baby stages.

I'm interested in seeing beam shots when someone buys them =P

I also wrote something in another thread about the efficiency and etc. so if anyone's interested i'll just go find it and post it here.

rxets

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rZ38QMcjjXk

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7rR0j2_O-C8




We should see more in the coming future...

LexFather

Thanks for posting the LED benefits. I also find they make the RX front end more aggresive and it separates the vehicle from the RX 350s....If I ever do a RX 450h, it WILL have LEDs...

spoon808

Since the prius virtually uses the same setup i'll post this video!
(look at around 1:50 for driving footage)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y5p68oFCxuQ

rxets

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fBiUH...layer_embedded

Another one from HK. The HIDs glanced.

Stormforge

the led headlamps are quite bright and illuminate the roads very well. i'm impressed...

BertL

I was sold on my Bi-Xenons back in 2005 when I purchased my RX400h as a must-have. When I started looking for a new RX in 2012, I thought LEDs were over-priced and too extravagant for my needs. Perhaps they still are ...you pay a premium for LEDs ...but now that I have them on my 2013 RX450h, I simply love the look above and beyond what Bi-Xenon provides. While I could probably "get buy" with Bi-Xenon (as I did with my recent 2014 MBZ order that does not have an LED option), LED are today my preferred headlights without question -- even with their higher price tag. Until you live with them yourself for a while, I don't believe you can appreciate what is truly different about them. People expressing opinions based on only personal test drives or their reading written criticism and forming an opinion, can't appreciate the subtle difference in the light you achieve with LED.

CometVR4

I had some reservations about purchasing one with LED headlamps. The LED lights aren't quite as bright at my HID in the FX with upgraded HID (approx 3500 lumens at 5500K) but they're equivalent to my 335i in terms of brightness. I don't have to worry about them turning purple or dimming out over time and they're instant on. No 10-15 sec warm up time.