Wondering if anyone has done an LED headlight upgrade on their C3? Looking to boost the light output from the traditional headlights. Open to all comments or better ideas?

 

Related thread:
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...led+headlights

 

I know that LEDs are all the rage now but like the HIDs that came before them their light is so intense that their fixtures must be very carefully designed to prevent blinding oncoming traffic. To be legal both the bulbs and fixtures MUST be DOT approved. I'm not certain but I don't believe that any such approvals exist for C3 headlamp replacements. Even here in Missouri I've known people ticketed for improper headlights--both because of unapproved bulbs/housings and ridiculously high color temperatures (intense blue and even violet).

When using non-standard headlamps you must be very careful regarding the current (amperage) requirement of the bulbs. The existing wiring is only barely adequate and anecdotally at least unable to deliver full voltage with the high beams (all three filaments on each side) on. Add any additional load and you face the very real risk of flickering lamps as the breaker trips and resets, burned out headlamp switch and even fire. A simple relay system that runs power to the headlamps direct from the alternator solves that problem.

 

I really can't stand those stupid lights, they light up the road good but also blind the on coming traffic so I decided to make a change to my headlights

When I click the highs my air craft landing lights go on and gives these guys a taste of their own medicine

 

I tried the Hella Euro lights with some LED's. The light spread was horrible.

The LED's I used had two lights on each side. The caused the light against the wall to have a H pattern.

I switched back to H4 GE bulbs and have a nice flat line with a little kick up on the right.

Matches my old Mini Cooper HID beams.

 

In my experience, the wiring is not actually the problem. The headlight switch is the weak link. Your suggestion for the relay is absolutely required when upgrading past stock front lighting.

 

yes on the headlight switch. I am now changing out the headlight switch on my ca(new bought just 1 year ago). will go out while driving, then cool down and come back on, new wiring up front and a good grounding system. jusst don't drive at night has been my solution untill I pull the dash.

 

Yes there are led replacements available, and they are by far the best option for the low/high beam lights, they are made by jw speaker. They are a complete 5.75" round replacement. Not cheap though. If you're keen on really good headlights I recommend contacting Daniel Stern, he has good prices on stuff too. For the high beams a good set of halogen bulbs fed by relays and good wiring in some good housings is probably your best bet.

 

I had been looking at these (about $350)

https://www.dapperlighting.com/colle...nt=25176256712

compared to ($385) per light.

https://www.amazon.com/JW-Speaker-86...w+speaker+8630


I bought some knock offs of the 8630 that did not fit, even when i tried to cut the headlight bucket. There are size differences which can make the headlight not fit the bucket. The knockoffs I bought were slightly larger than the JW speaker lights.

 

I have upgraded wiring and aircraft landing lights too. I cant imagine anything being much better than that. instant daylight.

 

I have a 2000 c5, and my problem is when I turn off the headlights they do go down but the motor continues to run for about 10 to 15 seconds and then it stops. Does anyone have any Ideas what would cause this problem.

 

The light issue comes up often...do a search. Some general comments:

The most important aspect of a headlight is the reflector design, quality, and glass cover quality (lead Crystal lense being the best..aka Hella/Cibie). A quality lense like Hella Euro's (like I have had since 1983) with a lower wattage halogen will outperform all day a higher wattage bulb with a plastic lense.

The OEM sealed beam lights are pretty poor. Sealed beams are pretty rudimentary in today's light world and that includes aircraft landing lights which will get the job done cheaply but at the end of the day are just sealed beams of higher wattage with average lense and reflector. Aircraft landing lights don't require highly sophisticated beam focus for obvious reasons (being in the air) but the light color is poor...very yellow.

For about $100 or less, a pair of Hella H1 high beams with either 55/100 watt halogen bulbs will easily outperform a sealed beam 100 watt aircraft light and will have a whiter beam color for better visibility.

Next step up would be a true HID 5000 K 35 or 55 watt bulb with the HID ignitor etc (not fake HID bulbs) in the Hella Euro housing...no worries about beam pattern splatter since it is the high beam and NOT used with on coming traffic.

The best are LEDs for efficiency and amperage draw but no experience in headlights for me...

 

 

The aircraft landing lights on mine are anything but yellow. they throw a long wide beam.I have to be careful where I use them but the low beams alone are vastly better than the factory 4 light system.aparently something is different about my lights than others that have used aircraft lights in the past.these are halogens they may be different from the old sealed beam type.

 

Have you already done the headlight rewiring with relays?

 

Same with mine, they light the road up, I am not changing them anytime soon.

 

Share a part number or link? Curious what you have found useful.

 

It can be done with the cheap knock offs. I'm doing it now. It took about 3 hours to fab the first headlight and bucket. Hopefully it will go a little faster on the next three headlights. It requires a cutoff wheel and a bench grinder. I had to cut the bucket until there was nothing left except the ring. I then had to grind some of the fins on the light. It's still a tight fit, but it worked.

 

Went with a company called Dapper Lighting a little over a year ago. Kind of spendy but plug and play with optional angel eyes. No mods were required. I have no affiliation with them but I’ve been pleased with their performance and they look really cool.

 

$100 for 4 LED headlights from Ebay. (6k bright white) Very bright at night with a good light pattern. (Makes the factory lights look like yellow.) Takes about 1 hour for each headlight — remove old headlight & bucket. Cut bucket then grind the bucket and reinstall with new LED headlight.