AQuarles

My wife has 2007 Rx350. The head lights (low beams) are not working. The dealer says that model has "high intensity bulb" $750 to replace. Do I have to replace the HI bulb with an HI bulb or can I opt for a less expensive halogen?

Lexuswiz

iTrader: (1)

High intensity usually means HID. On your car, does the low beam have a lens to it or can you see the bulb? If it has a lens, its HID if not then it halogen. They are NOT interchangeable nor will the plugs fit each other.

$750 sounds like a whole new headlight assembly, have you checked to see if it is just the bulb thats burnt?

JoeInHNL

Lexus gets about $175 each for the HID bulbs. It is a D2S bulb. Many cheaper alternatives on Amazon, personally I would stick with Phillips or Osram.

Replacing them is supposed to be very fiddly. If you cannot do it yourself find an independent mechanic who will install a more reasonably priced bulb.

bigboss

You will need to replace it with another HID bulb. Any brand will work but the more expensive one are will be truer to the color rating.

OEM bulbs are about $180. I think Lexus sells it for $220 last time I check. I'm running Morimoto hid bulbs on my RX and it gives me the colors I want (5500k white with a hint of blue on the edges). If you choose the cheaper ebay route, the colors are usually off.

Lexuswiz

iTrader: (1)

I come from a background of cheap PnP HID kits and generic HID bulbs. Stay away from them in your Lexus or any car. They not only harm the ballast but hurt the reflector bowls in your housing. I took the gamble on my Camry and lost which I replace with a proper HID retrofit using quality stuff. Stick to trusted sources for Philips or Osram bulbs as there are many fakes on the internet. A legit pair should be easily $120.

Kishanptl1

Are the HIDs xenon or halogens? I have been trying to find some brighter replacements for my 2007 RX 350. The LEDs in D2S size are way to expensive... $100+. Also do you have any recommendations for the High Beams/DRL bulb replacements? I want to add LEDSs, but I dont know if the LEDs will support DRL very well.

Lexuswiz

iTrader: (1)

HID's are/sometimes called xenon.

You can put LED's where the high beams/DRL is but it comes with caveats. I have LED high beams on my Camry which I disabled DRL for as I'm not doing it for looks, the LED smokes halogen in brightness. But you can defeat the DRL PWM signal by putting big caps between the LED and the factory plug, only thing is this will run your LED's at full intensity and blind people which I did during experimentation. Or you could buy weak LEDs and with a cap will work as a DRL and semi-high beam.

Kishanptl1

I thought about doing that, I have spent time researching other 2nd Gen RX owners set up, but I havent found many owners giving out their set up. Their are kits that help with the conversation, but it is difenetly an expensive upgrade to get better lighting. I have also tired to find HID led setups, but reliable kits start around $150+. I would like the have the DRL for that added safety, and to be seen on the road.

Lexuswiz

iTrader: (1)

Most likely because they either couldn't defeat the PWM signal or by defeating it, it was blinding. Reason I had to disable DRL on my Camry. I also personally would not recommend LED D2S bulbs as LED's don't play well in HID/halogen reflectors and deserve their own projectors but I still see people throwing LED kits into their projectors.... it's your money.

Kishanptl1

Yea, I think I will stick with Xenons for the HIDS, but I definitely want to get 8000K leds for the high beams. I am willing to spend money on those just for the looks... but will definitely need to research more and get other fellow RX owners thoughts about their mod.

Lexuswiz

iTrader: (1)

Drop me a PM, I'd be glad to help, I work with a lot of Toyota's and Lexus' I could probably or already have have figured it out.

wbcejc

What way is suggested to replace the low beam headlight bulbs on a 2004 Lexus LS430 ? Do you remove the headlight assembly or do you work from behind the headflight from top of car? Thank you

Lexuswiz

iTrader: (1)

You probably want to hop over to the LS subforum instead of this RX one: https://www.clublexus.com/forums/ls-...2001-2006-158/

But, I have replaced the HID bulbs in a 2006 Lexus LS430 with AFS, this is the facelifted Gen 3. You don't need to remove the whole assemble but if you can, it's very easy to work on. If you keep it on, a lot of the plastic covers have to come off to even access the headlamp area.

05ls430518

iTrader: (1)

Dont do 8000k the higher you go the more light you loose, 5500k 6000k looks super clean. Also you need to put a projector in your light housing if you are going to run HID's or LED's it 1. Wont project the light properly making your vision worse and 2. It is going to blind other drivers at night making it hard to see for them possibly causing accidents.

HID lights project light the farthest, LEDs "puddle" light in front and halogens are well halogens, 4300k is the optimum light frequency for the human eye to physically see that is that is why I recommended going with 5500-6000

iolmaster

iTrader: (1)

Say what? The 8000K is the color temperature on the Kelvin scale. It has nothing to do with the amount of light that is measured in lumens. The two are independent.