H11 bulb upgrade
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 987
Likes: 288
From: NJ
H11 bulb upgrade
Ive been reading numerous threads about this subject, and seems that there are two easy choices:
1. upgrade to H9 bulb
2. Find good LED bulb
The issue I see with H9, is that it uses 10 more watts and can theoretically melt housing due to additional heat if headlights are used for a long time in a hot summer night….
I know some of you will say that they ran them for years with no issues…
LEDs is another confusing area, I want them
to be legal and not blind other drivers, I dont mind buying expensive LEDs, but I have yet to find good brand that meets my requirements.
Are there any decent H11 LEDs you can buy for headlights that are not illegal?
there is also Sylvanya h11 halogen xtravision, but from what I am reading its only a very small improvement over OEM h11
1. upgrade to H9 bulb
2. Find good LED bulb
The issue I see with H9, is that it uses 10 more watts and can theoretically melt housing due to additional heat if headlights are used for a long time in a hot summer night….
I know some of you will say that they ran them for years with no issues…
LEDs is another confusing area, I want them
to be legal and not blind other drivers, I dont mind buying expensive LEDs, but I have yet to find good brand that meets my requirements.
Are there any decent H11 LEDs you can buy for headlights that are not illegal?
there is also Sylvanya h11 halogen xtravision, but from what I am reading its only a very small improvement over OEM h11
Last edited by tolian21; Sep 4, 2025 at 06:26 AM.
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 25,917
Likes: 4,274
From: Alberta
Consider these brands
https://www.headlightrevolution.com/...ulbs/led-bulbs
https://auxbeam.com/
No LED bulb is legal for headlight use to my knowledge.
https://www.headlightrevolution.com/...ulbs/led-bulbs
https://auxbeam.com/
No LED bulb is legal for headlight use to my knowledge.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 987
Likes: 288
From: NJ
Consider these brands
https://www.headlightrevolution.com/...ulbs/led-bulbs
https://auxbeam.com/
No LED bulb is legal for headlight use to my knowledge.
https://www.headlightrevolution.com/...ulbs/led-bulbs
https://auxbeam.com/
No LED bulb is legal for headlight use to my knowledge.
yeah, I think you right, they all say its for fog light…
Its still hard to believe that HID is not standard in 2013 rx350, I has 2001 Acura and it already had HIDs…. Crazy
Last edited by tolian21; Sep 4, 2025 at 08:49 AM.
CL Community Team
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 7,150
Likes: 1,711
From: VA
I have run the H9 bulbs in my 2011 Lexus HS250h for 12 years and have no problems with the headlight housings. I use the BulbZilla wire conversion harness to make the change easier. With it you only have to clip off the one tab on the H9 bulb to fit it into the H11 socket. Yeah, the H9 bulbs burn out a bit faster, but are cheap and so much brighter and actually let you see farther down the road at night than any of the LED bulbs I experimented with a couple of years ago. I would donate those to a member if I could find them in the garage. I tried a few different LED bulbs including some with multiple diodes that claimed to have better dispersal.
All had issues with uniform lighting. I know some members love their LED bulbs and to them I can only say that it is an individual choice.
https://tacomabeast.com/products/bul...Dy9QvZTXAoYlPI
All had issues with uniform lighting. I know some members love their LED bulbs and to them I can only say that it is an individual choice.
https://tacomabeast.com/products/bul...Dy9QvZTXAoYlPI
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 987
Likes: 288
From: NJ
I have run the H9 bulbs in my 2011 Lexus HS250h for 12 years and have no problems with the headlight housings. I use the BulbZilla wire conversion harness to make the change easier. With it you only have to clip off the one tab on the H9 bulb to fit it into the H11 socket. Yeah, the H9 bulbs burn out a bit faster, but are cheap and so much brighter and actually let you see farther down the road at night than any of the LED bulbs I experimented with a couple of years ago. I would donate those to a member if I could find them in the garage. I tried a few different LED bulbs including some with multiple diodes that claimed to have better dispersal.
All had issues with uniform lighting. I know some members love their LED bulbs and to them I can only say that it is an individual choice.
https://tacomabeast.com/products/bul...Dy9QvZTXAoYlPI
All had issues with uniform lighting. I know some members love their LED bulbs and to them I can only say that it is an individual choice.
https://tacomabeast.com/products/bul...Dy9QvZTXAoYlPI
thanks, I will have to try it. I am surprised there are no heat issues with the housing
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