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Saw a article in Hot Rod Magazine about these Led headlamps for our classic cars. They look like regular older headlamps without the rings around the outside or the projector look , or the flat ones. I figured I would buy a set, until I checked prices- $179.99 a piece! $360.00 for a pair. Well I hope they come down after a while. I have the replacement Halogens in my '71 Cutlass and they seem adequate but the new cars sure are better, but I'm gonna say no at that price, I guess.....
they do appear to be uniformly brighter across a wider path than stock halogens but yeah, pricey at $180 a piece!
Daniel Stern Lighting https://www.danielsternlighting.com/.../products.html is a high-quality lighting vendor whom has similar products available for less $$, albeit generally more modern looking than the Holley retro-style.
I've always been generally unimpressed with my Sylvania halogen 5.75 low beams but have put up with them mostly due to my limited night driving usage. Will probably watch the Holley lamps for any sales which might follow by year's end.
Those are well thought out offerings, look is reasonable, “normal” fit, serviceable, easy plug & play install. I would like an offering in the 4500k color spectrum but their offering of 2 colors was again, well thought out.
If I didn’t have “upgraded” E-Code headlights already, I would seriously consider them. I really like the E-Code beam pattern but these are very good, if not better. If nothing else the current draw would be much lower with the LEDs. Price seems reasonable for what should be a quality, reliable product, I haven’t looked into the 5.75” version, 4 of them could get a bit pricey!
Unless your scared of the dark, I see no need for aftermarket headlights. I have my headlights wired they relays, using replacement halogen bulbs,,and I don’t have any problems with seeing the road.
I hate the headlights on some new cars, and really despise some of the aftermarket stuff. They are blinding, and in my opinion probably more dangerous than having dim headlights. I’m glad the driver has headlights bright enough to see into tomorrow, but the driver approaching him is blinded, and remains blinded for a few seconds after.
I seem to recall reading about a pending class action lawsuit against some manufacturer of aftermarket headlights. If I remember correctly, the point of the lawsuit was not only were the lights too bright, but the beam wasn’t focused enough. In other words, the lights were brighter than the needed to be because they threw the light EVERYWHERE, not just directly in front of the car.
My T3's have slowly bit the dust over the last couple of years. 2 years ago replaced the low beams and now am replacing high beams with halogen. H5006 is the low, H5001 is the high beam.
I won’t argue it’s a bit o money but you’re comparing them to 75 year old technology, a slight update in the 80’s and then obsolescence in the 90’s with replaceable bulb housings, even if it was more to accommodate styling flexibility. These in some ways are “just headlights” but in other ways they are an assembly - reflector, heat sink, electronics, emitters, etc. they are advanced tech and very well packaged. Perhaps I’m desensitized from the collision biz where we are buying buying, daily, a $1200-4000 headlight (EACH) and that may not even include electronics and bulbs.
Though my vision, even at night is good (except up close - need 1.25s, 3 pr/$3 @ Job Lot) I want all the light I can get. Maybe it’s driving on dark, tree covered, twisty New England roads, often stalked by deer, turkeys and many others, maybe it’s just me.
If I wasn’t already upgraded, I’d be a buyer, if I can gain 10-20 feet, or more, of cleaner light and visibility in either plane, it’s worth it, but to each his own, especially if originals or halogens do the trick.
Those are well thought out offerings, look is reasonable, “normal” fit, serviceable, easy plug & play install. I would like an offering in the 4500k color spectrum but their offering of 2 colors was again, well thought out.
If I didn’t have “upgraded” E-Code headlights already, I would seriously consider them. I really like the E-Code beam pattern but these are very good, if not better. If nothing else the current draw would be much lower with the LEDs. Price seems reasonable for what should be a quality, reliable product, I haven’t looked into the 5.75” version, 4 of them could get a bit pricey!
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Whose E-Code housings are you using? I'm using this combo, and like you if I had not already upgraded from stock I would probably be a player for these Holley lights or possibly Dapper Lighting.
I won’t argue it’s a bit o money but you’re comparing them to 75 year old technology, a slight update in the 80’s and then obsolescence in the 90’s with replaceable bulb housings,
Just FYI, the reason it took so long for the replaceable halogen bulbs wasn't technology, it was federal law that forbid the use of European-style headlights in the US and limited headlight wattage. Sealed beams were the only headlights allowed under federal law at the time. This was changed in the mid-80s. The H4 style headlights existed in the rest of the world long before they were legal in the US.
Just FYI, the reason it took so long for the replaceable halogen bulbs wasn't technology, it was federal law that forbid the use of European-style headlights in the US and limited headlight wattage. Sealed beams were the only headlights allowed under federal law at the time. This was changed in the mid-80s. The H4 style headlights existed in the rest of the world long before they were legal in the US.
The reason sealed beams were federal law was the American insurance company lobbyists. Sealed beams were $4 each. Back in the day composite headlamps were hundreds each. That meant the difference of a light front end collision being a thousand dollars or thousands of dollars. Auto manufacturers started to kick back on the composites restriction when the feds came out with CAFE standards. The auto makers argued that with out the aerodynamics that composite headlights provided they couldn't meet the CAFE standards. After a decade of back and forth the insurers lost. Thats what allowed the new aero styling of the '80's.
Whose E-Code housings are you using? I'm using this combo, and like you if I had not already upgraded from stock I would probably be a player for these Holley lights or possibly Dapper Lighting.
Ha! I had to look that up, they’ve been in there for years. I do like them, only drawback is they do draw some juice, especially on the occasional high beam. Had to slightly open up some of the mounting bucket holes & swap 2 wires in the oe socket iirc. Vastly superior light & pattern vs DOT.
Hella E Code (for driving on the right side of the road)
H4 55/100w, H1 100w
Relays, circuit breaker and heavy wiring.
Re: My note on tech and “styling” was directly related to Joe’s & Dynoking’s posts, it was implied, I just didn’t elaborate. Running a body shop from mid 80’s on, I was right in the transition from standard sealed beams, succeeded by halogen, the transition to component housings, xenon, projectors, HIDs, LEDs and had plenty of experience with grey market German cars that had replaceable bulb housings for years at that point. I always felt that they were superior although some of the earlier executions (primarily domestic) were so bad at directing usable light I don’t know how they were ever approved by DOT. The Dodge Intrepid siblings were the worst that I remember. There was also the opposite, 2nd Gen Acura TLs with HIDs that were good enough to be worth stealing, can’t be sure how many of those cars parked at apartments/condos, or worse, park at a hotel in NY or NJ and find your lights gone, hood, radiator support & bumper all damaged or ruined, probably fixed 50 of them.
Sealed beams were simple, cheap and reliable and are sufficient for many, just not for me. I like the “evolved” lighting that is now available. The price? Errr, maybe not that much, but I look for cost:benefit that I’m comfortable with.
With the outrageous headlight prices of some cars (like up to $7k), not even getting into exotics, the insurance actuaries and raters must sweat a little trying to find a balance for upscale vehicles and even worse with moderate priced vehicles that have pricey headlights.
I found out Jegs has some of these in stock so I went all in on a pair earlier this week.
Just arrived today so I'll install them this weekend and post an update on their performance if able to dodge the rains here in "sunny" Florida
They seem well constructed though I'd have preferred glass to the plastic lens face.... Hoping they don't discolor, warp or haze over time like so many newer gen OEM lighting assemblies I've seen
Installed this a.m. - at cursory observation using my garage wall for the first test, they are notably brighter than the Sylvania halogens and project a noticeably wider and relatively even illumination dispersal. Illumination rating is 5700k.
Simple plug & play install, the rear framework is molded to secure in place within the headlight buckets just like the stock lamps.
First impression pretty favorable, even given the price.
Looks great! I'll probably get these for the low beams. $360 for a pair isn't terrible, maybe I can catch them on sale during this years Holleydays discounts.
Thanks for the update. I know I am old and am behind inflation but $360. for a pair of headlights IS terrible... Well I guess in the 60's gas was maybe .30 a gallon- now $5.00! Average car $2-3000 now $20-30,000, yeah I guess it's all relative.. Let us know how they work for ya!
