High beam/LED question

[Trashed675]

As i understand it, our high beams are 9005 type bulbs that also act as the parking/running lights. So if you replace the OEM bulbs with LEDs wouldn't you be giving up your high beams? I'm guess i'm just having a little trouble understanding how the OEM bulb works as both high and DRL.

[Mo707]

I have LEDs for mine they would work the same as OEM. low when the brake is down and a lot brighter when you turn on the high beams.

[86_ZN6]

you dont loose your high beams. it will still shine when you flick the switch. but it wont act as high beams because LED does not have the range and light output as OEM bulbs

in short high beams is useless with LEDs

[Mo707]

Originally Posted by 86_ZN6

you dont loose your high beams. it will still shine when you flick the switch. but it wont act as high beams because LED does not have the range and light output as OEM bulbs

in short high beams is useless with LEDs

Wait what? I have HID's for my head lights and and LEDs for my high beams and it works just fine.

[86_ZN6]

Originally Posted by Mo707

Wait what? I have HID's for my head lights and and LEDs for my high beams and it works just fine.

yes it works! it still lights up but the High beam LEDs wont outshine the low beams, making it useless

the main point of the high beams is to outshine the low beams.

[boredom.is.me]

I second @86 ZN6. They look good, but I can't even tell when my high beams are on.

[Trashed675]

Originally Posted by 86_ZN6

yes it works! it still lights up but the High beam LEDs wont outshine the low beams, making it useless

the main point of the high beams is to outshine the low beams.

That is exactly the answer I was looking for, thank you!

[nbafandan]

But the lowbeam HIDs make up for the lack of highbeams right?

[boredom.is.me]

Originally Posted by nbafandan

But the lowbeam HIDs make up for the lack of highbeams right?

Not if you are the only car on a not lit road.

[Trashed675]

Originally Posted by boredom.is.me

Not if you are the only car on a not lit road.

And not if you don't have HID's to begin with

[CircuitJerk]

I guess the best way to figure out if you can live with the absence of high beams is the amount of time you drive at night and on unlit roads. Especially if there are hills and curves. I find that I'm not willing to out drive my lights without high beams but having non-retrofitted HID's has a slight benefit in that regard.
I've driven against my car in an oncoming test and find that the lack of a "proper" cutoff from a retrofit is acceptable.
If I had a retrofit with the poper cutoff, I would NOT like the inability to use my high beams, that's for sure.
Heck, even some OEM HIDs are untolerable at times.

[mikeg7827]

if u still want the high beam feature, go with some silverstars or piaa bulbs ... which is what i think im going with.. i dont want the loss of the high beam feature when i drive up to the poconos

[86_ZN6]

I keep my stock bulbs in my glovebox just incase I neeed them.

It doesnt take 10 secs to swap them out

[mrlewistan]

Originally Posted by mikeg7827

if u still want the high beam feature, go with some silverstars or piaa bulbs ... which is what i think im going with.. i dont want the loss of the high beam feature when i drive up to the poconos

i have silver star ultras and 6000k hid. The silverstar is very yellow compared to the hids.