LED Headlights Vs HID Headlights

LED Headlights HID Headlights
Energy efficiency High Average
Heat emission Low High
Lifespan 50,000 hours 5000 hours
Power Draw Low Average
Warm Up Time Instant within Seconds
Installation Time 30 mins 60 mins
Durability High Average

Are you pimping your ride and in need of brighter headlights?

Perhaps your eyesight is failing and you get a little nervous driving in the dark?

Maybe you just have old headlights that could use an overhaul.

If so, you should consider upgrading your existing halogen headlights with HID headlights or LED headlights.

Why?

  • They look costly but they are remarkably affordable
  • They produce a brighter, whiter light so you can see more clearly in gloomy conditions
  • Both types of headlights are super-simple to fit and install

Developments in technology mean you can upgrade your car or motorbike headlights with brighter lights for nighttime driving. These lights also make your ride look way cooler.

If you thought you’d never be able to afford to uprate your headlights, think again. HID headlights and LED headlights give your ride showroom style but at a fraction the cost of dealership lights. Those things are expensive.

LEDs and HIDs might look complicated but they couldn’t be easier to fit.

You just have to know what goes where by following some instructions and you’re on your way.

Typical car halogen headlights can become dull and need replacing regularly. But, HID and LED headlights are brighter, last longer, and also draw down less power than traditional alternatives.

What are HID Headlights?

You might also be wondering where HID lights fit in and what’s so great about them.

HID stands for high-intensity discharge.

These lights work by sending an electrical current through the ballast of a light bulb. The electricity then flows into a glass chamber containing gas and metallic salts. The electricity reacts with the gas and creates a spark. The heat from this spark vaporizes the metallic salts. This activity produces a swirling mass of plasma which creates brilliant light as it moves.

HID lamps are remarkably bright. They’re typically used for illuminating large expanses of space with bright light in places like:

  • Football stadiums
  • Theaters
  • Parking lots
  • Pathways
  • Gymnasiums
  • Warehouses
  • Indoor gardening
  • Why, then, have HIDs been co-opted for such a different use case with car headlights?

Why Use HID Headlights?

In brief, HID headlights:

  • Add wow-factor to your car or motorbike
  • Make you feel safer driving in the dark
  • Draw down less power than traditional halogen bulbs
  • Save you money over time

Car headlights were once made from tungsten or halogen bulbs. These bulbs contain filaments.

HID bulbs, by contrast, don’t contain filaments. Instead, light is produced by an electric arc, tungsten electrodes, and the highly-charged xenon gas they contain – HIDs are sometimes called xenon headlights. This noble gas allows for a bright bulb requiring less voltage than tungsten or halogen bulbs.

Many prefer to use HID headlights so they can see further in the dark at night. HID headlights put out three times as much light as traditional alternatives. The light created is whiter. This makes driving at night easier as the headlights reflect street lights so much more effectively.

Drivers also choose HID lights in an attempt to reduce glare for oncoming traffic. The beam from an HID light is more focused than a halogen light. For considerate drivers, HIDs are a must.

Initially, HID headlights were just used for low-beam action. Today, technology allows a driver to adjust the positioning of the light beam from HID headlights.

Rolling with HID headlights is more attractive to some drivers because:

  • They are safer than halogen lights
  • They improve visibility at night They last longer

What are LED Headlights?

Ok, so what are LEDs?

And why would you want them?

Well, just like HID lights, LEDs are brighter and whiter than incandescent bulbs but also highly energy-efficient.

LED stands for light-emitting diode, by the way.

LEDs were initially used in the 60s for calculator displays and consoles. LEDs today have largely replaced incandescent bulbs in the home due to energy-efficiency and low power consumption. Many homes and commercial premises save a fortune by switching to LEDs.

Like HID bulbs, LED bulbs are much brighter and whiter than halogen bulbs. They also draw down relatively little power.

If you replace your halogen headlight with LED headlights, you’ll notice a difference in brightness and visibility when you drive in the dark.

Headlights are one of the most effective applications of LED technology.

led headlight conversion kit

If you’re switching to LED, congratulations on making that move. You’ll use less power and get brighter headlights at the same time.

Our LED headlight conversion kits are 100% plug-and-play so anyone can fit them.

Some of our conversion kits also come with a lifetime guarantee so you’ll never have to worry about getting stopped with a bulb out.

LED headlight conversion kits also give you the option of purchasing a decoder. This will prevent any annoying error signals from popping up. We highly recommend investing in the decoder.

LED Headlights vs HID Headlights

So…

Which is the best choice, LED or HID headlights?

They are both very simple to install. You literally swap out the old bulb and plug in the new LED or HID bulb. They are both slightly different, but it’s easy once you know how.

LED headlights light up instantly whereas HID headlights tend to need a few seconds to warm up.

Both LED and HID headlights produce brilliant white light so they are equally effective for driving in the dark.

,p>LED headlights are more energy-efficient than HID headlights and they draw down less power. LEDs are also shock-proof and last considerably longer.

You really can’t go wrong either way but if we had to choose we’d go with LED Headlights for the above reasons.

How Can You Fit LED or HID lights?

Have you ever changed a lightbulb in your home?

If you answered yes, you can fit an LED or HID headlight.

Upgrading to LED headlights or HID headlights is so easy anyone with a pair of eyes and a pair of hands can do it…

All you need is to follow the simple instructions that come with an HID conversion kit or LED headlight kit. It’ll take 20 to 30 minutes, max.

You’ll be cruising along with your new lights in no time, then.

Why Do I Need an HID Conversion Kit?

As the traditional halogen bulb is set up slightly differently, you’ll need to use a conversion kit.

It sounds complicated, but it’s not.

A standard HID headlight conversion kit typically consists of a ballast and two HID bulbs. The ballast is a device that regulates the electrical charge creating the electrical arc – this is what creates the bright light. We give you everything you need to get your new LED or HID headlights installed.

You also have the option of a relay/anti-flicker harness or error warning cancellers. These prevent your lights from flickering and interfering with the connections of your dashboard lights.

This may sound a bit technical and complicated but it really isn’t. It is just a case of plugging the right parts together. This is all explained for you with simple, easy-to-follow instructions.

What’s The Best Ballast?

The ballast is the base to which you attach the bulb. This is what determines the brightness of your bulb. Ballasts typically come in 35-watt (most popular) or 55-watt. These bulbs are significantly brighter.

To swap out your old halogen bulb and replace it with an HID bulb, you just need to remove the old bulb. After that, plug in the ballast which is connected to the bulb. But, don’t worry about that just yet. When you see the instructions, you’ll see how easy it is.

Verdict: HID Headlights or LED Headlights?

Rules vary between states. Some states forbid the use of HID headlights due to the glare they cause other drivers.

You need to check with the regulations for your state to assess where you stand legally.

The design of your headlight will also influence whether you go for HID or LED. The beam pattern will depend on the composition and shape of your headlight.

Ultimately, LED headlights are more economical, last longer, and illuminate instantly. LED lights are the connoisseur’s choice but don’t rule out HIDs.