Has anyone done the upgrade from 13'-16' headlights to 17'+?
 

Just recently bought some 2017+ headlights for a good price and realized that it isn't 100% PnP..
Been trying to google around but I see no pictures or info of people that have done it

Halp

I just put 2017 headlights on my 2013; all you have to do is switch two wires in the harness for each headlight
I used this video, and it helped me
https://youtu.be/W00DV9I9jp8

What do the '17 lights do for you over the '13?

Well the 2017+ are LEDs so they're already better than the 13s. Also, the 13-16 FRS (excluding the Release Series) came with halogens so the 17s would be a big improvement. The 13-16 BRZs all came with HIDs

HID > LED

the led turn signal is nicer. generally, different aesthetics.
but led has significant disadvantages when it comes out overall lumen output, and IR output, which many consider 'de-icing'. in the northern states, led would mean pulling over more to manually de-ice headlamps more often.

not true. at vehicle voltages, hid as a technology outputs more lumens overall, and is just now slowly becoming eclipsed by led in lumens/watt-- though no automotive led chip has that advantage currently-- the led automotive chips from osram and nichia are both hovering at less than 100lm/watt efficiency, despite the overall led market exceeding 150lm/watt efficiency.

that is why many automakers have resorted to multi-element led designs, because no current single led design is powerful enough to rival the output of hid in the same compact package.

also critical in this conversation is the US lighting laws were developed around the capability of sealed beam headlamps, so hid designs are inherently 'crippled' by wasting much of their output to comply with those factors of output regulations. led on the other hand can be modulated in a number of ways from optic design to drive current to meet specific output requirements, meaning that no output needs to be wasted to meet the same regulations.

but led is the latest-greatest buzzword.

That answers my question. But it leads to another....
Which puts out more usable light?

:iono:Or is it more of an efficiency thing?

See @soundman98 explanation above ^

@soundman98 oh i agree with you. Either the HID or LED are way better than halogens tho. So it would be a worthwhile upgrade for any 13-16 FRS owner.

That doesn't answer the question?

Both designs are compliant. Meaning any 'benefit' of either version is going to be personal preference. I prefer my oem hid housings due to the better high beam, and better than led width, as well as the adjustability to install any d4s bulb color temperature i want.

My two cents is to up grade to BRZ HIDs of the same year. But if you like the new 17+ lights go for it.

I have HID on my '13, was in my friends '18 and didn't notice any difference although at the time I wasn't in his car to compare headlights. But if there was any difference it didn't jump out at me.