Can/should I switch to LED headlights?

[kranky]

To replace the headlight bulbs in our 2011 Buick Lucerne you have to remove the entire front bumper which is a PITA. I was thinking about switching to LED headlights to get a longer lifespan. Doing some research I found concerns about heat and wondered if that was an issue when the car wasn't designed with LEDs.

Don't mind paying more for something that has a long lifespan. Found one kit that was a direct plug-in replacement but it said it has internal overheating protection - what does that mean? They shut off?

Is switching to LEDs viable?

 

[bruceb]

You do not need to remove the bumper. You can get to them from under the car (it must be jacked up or on a lift for access)

Info was from here: http://broit.com/idea/1652/
The easy way to change headlight bulbs on an 2006-2011 Buick Lucerne

September 25, 2011 in Inventions by Troy
There are a few posts online talking about how to change the headlights on a Buick Lucerne, ranging from removing the front bumper skin to removing the air filter air box. I tried the later and it worked ok but I just found an even easier way to get the job done. I simply jacked up the front of the car using the jack that comes with the car and did one side at a time and just reached up from the bottom and was able to reach both the high and low bulbs and remove them and replace the new ones with very little problem. It was a little easier doing it this time after having done it once before the harder way but this way proved to be the simplest way yet vs other ways I have seen online. Just be sure to use caution when working under the front bumper when you are using the jack to lift the car.

 

[thedarkwolf]

Longer life span? How often are you replacing headlights?

 

[WackyDan]

Personally, I think when people replace their headlights with something other than OEM they are:

1- Creating an issue - heat/etc
2- Creating an annoyance to others when on the road.

If the lights are designed for the car, bezel and all, then fine- go for it. But after market retrofit HIDs and those stupid bluish/purple lights have got to go. You are simply blinding people and creating an issue at night while on the road.

 

[Zodiark1593]

Personally, I think when people replace their headlights with something other than OEM they are:

1- Creating an issue - heat/etc
2- Creating an annoyance to others when on the road.

If the lights are designed for the car, bezel and all, then fine- go for it. But after market retrofit HIDs and those stupid bluish/purple lights have got to go. You are simply blinding people and creating an issue at night while on the road.

You could do what 1% of retro fitters do, and buy/fabricate a new housing to properly place your beams and not blind everyone. However, you're encroaching on some seriously expensive territory at this point.

If you got money, then do it properly. If not, don't bother, just get some long life halogens instead and throw some Night Breakers in for the high beams.

 

[thomsbrain]

I have yet to see an LED headlight bulb replacement that wasn't extremely poorly reviewed for low light output.

 

[Jimzz]

Just get a long life bulb for your car.

9006LL = Long Life Low Beam

 

[996GT2]

If you want a long life bulb with added brightness over the stock 9006 bulbs, get some Philips 9012 HIR bulbs. They are almost 2x as bright as 9006s and still have 1000 hr lifespan.

 

[ummduh]

If you want a long life bulb with added brightness over the stock 9006 bulbs, get some Philips 9012 HIR bulbs. They are almost 2x as bright as 9006s and still have 1000 hr lifespan.

I'll vouch for HIR bulbs. I did not get 2x the output, but it was better, and those bulbs were the last set of bulbs I ever bought for that car. Went from a set every spring to the same bulbs after almost 4 years.

I'd put them in again without a second thought if I ever happened to have another car that could use them.

 

[kranky]

Thanks for the suggestions, everyone. I think I'll go with the long life bulbs and avoid LEDs that might cause a heat problem.