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I've read some conflicting information on the subject of retrofitting an LED fog bulb into a halogen reflector housing, so I figured I would ask everyone here. Is it okay to just insert an LED bulb into a fog housing that was originally designed for a halogen bulb, or would that cause way too much light to be thrown everywhere thereby blinding oncoming drivers?
I have led in my stock fog light housing. It's bright and looks nice. I don't think it's blinding either. (Has a nice flat like when I shine them on the wall)
However, the one of the bulbs died after a few weeks, because I left auto head lights on and I think the surge of power broke the bulb. I since replaced the bulbs and only manually turn them on and off, so far no issues.
I wonder if I change them to the stock toyota led housing will resolve that issue.
The afermarket LED won't have a good a dispersion of light within the housing, but the fogs are low to the ground on the GS and are unlikely to bother other drivers. Personally, wouldn't hesitate to go the easiest route and put an LED bulb in my fog housing (i ended up with yellow halogen PIAA bulbs which look great).
Also, Lux package equipped 2014/2015 GS's came stock with LEDs from the factory so you could simply replace your non LED fogs with factory LEDs from Lexus which will have the best overall look/output/quality/reliability within the housing:
The afermarket LED won't have a good a dispersion of light within the housing, but the fogs are low to the ground on the GS and are unlikely to bother other drivers. Personally, wouldn't hesitate to go the easiest route and put an LED bulb in my fog housing (i ended up with yellow halogen PIAA bulbs which look great).
Also, Lux package equipped 2014/2015 GS's came stock with LEDs from the factory so you could simply replace your non LED fogs with factory LEDs from Lexus which will have the best overall look/output/quality/reliability within the housing:
Don't have much experience with yellow LED bulbs - if you go with one, be careful b/c some folks complain of a "**** color" or "green-yellow" color that they hate...you def want a nice golden sunshine yellow.
As far as the PIAA, i'm using their older PIAA Ion Yellow (http://www.piaa.com/store/p/42-H11-P...gen-Bulbs.aspx). The Solar Yellow ones you mentioned are the replacements for the older Ion Yellow. PIAA makes some good stuff - my bulbs have been going strong for years now without issue.
Unsure what brand I have as I bought it over a year ago but mine are bright yellow leds. As it points down it bothers no one and to me it seems like the light output is better than the stock halogen bulbs that were in there.
You could use LED in a Halogen housing without any problems. The problem is that it's really all going to be cosmetic. Halogen bulbs uses a different reflective pattern so a Halogen housing is designed for just that. If you put a LED bulb in a Halogen housing, you will still get light. However, the reflection of the light will be off. I can't say whether it would go up, down, left, right, or too bright/dim. It's basically an incorrect housing to make use of the LED bulb.
I've suggested in the past to get the Morimoto LED driving lights which fits our cars as direct plug-n-play while retaining the stock look. They are not very expensive at all. Maybe the $200 range? With something like this, you'll get the maximum benefits for going LED.
You can also see how different Lexus made the actual housing/lens itself for LED vs Halogen. The beam pattern with the LED will be more "straight" and not as dispersed so to account for that, they made the LED housing different to make the most usable light pattern when the LEDs fire forward. With the halogen, the housing is "full" as the halogen bulb will disperse usable light all around the housing and reflect nicely on the road/rain/snow. Just different tech and design based on that tech.
Left LED housing w/LEDS built in; Right Halogen housing w/bulb:
If I purchase the LED housing from Lexus, can I put another bulb in there, or do they use a built-in chip?
no don’t do that. Leds diode placements are different for every single led unit. It won’t work properly. Some led diodes are spaced evenly while others are directed towards one side or doesn’t cover some angles.
halogen bulbs in the other hand are all round and designed to project light evenly throughout the sphere of the bulb.
example: if you look at the 9006 led bulbs below, notice how each one have diodes all placed in different areas. But they are all meant for a 9006 bulb replacement. All those 9006 bulbs will fit the led housings. But each one of those bulbs will give off a different beam pattern! In short, You need a LED housing that’s made for that specific led bulb.
no don’t do that. Leds diode placements are different for every single led unit. It won’t work properly. Some led diodes are spaced evenly while others are directed towards one side or doesn’t cover some angles.
halogen bulbs in the other hand are all round and designed to project light evenly throughout the sphere of the bulb.
example: if you look at the 9006 led bulbs below, notice how each one have diodes all placed in different areas. But they are all meant for a 9006 bulb replacement. All those 9006 bulbs will fit the led housings. But each one of those bulbs will give off a different beam pattern! In short, You need a LED housing that’s made for that specific led bulb.
Thanks! That's some great info.
Here's what I'm trying to accomplish. I would like to retrofit a fog light system into my 2013 F sport. I have identified a yellow LED bulb that I'd like to use because I like the color and lumen output of it. What would you suggest?
Here's what I'm trying to accomplish. I would like to retrofit a fog light system into my 2013 F sport. I have identified a yellow LED bulb that I'd like to use because I like the color and lumen output of it. What would you suggest?
This is what you need to do it properly. Ditch everything and get this set below with the optional yellow covering if you want yellow rather than white light.
Complete plug and play, factory style. Very high quality and very bright. Been running mine for 3 years without any issues.
This is what you need to do it properly. Ditch everything and get this set below with the optional yellow covering if you want yellow rather than white light.
Complete plug and play, factory style. Very high quality and very bright. Been running mine for 3 years without any issues.
I've read a few posts from people saying that they had gaps in the F sport bezel using the Morimoto LEDs. Do you have this issue? If not, then how would I prevent gapping? Thanks.
I've read a few posts from people saying that they had gaps in the F sport bezel using the Morimoto LEDs. Do you have this issue? If not, then how would I prevent gapping? Thanks.
04-30-20, 11:04 AM
LED Fog bulb into Halogen Fog Housing/Reflector
