upgrade LED reflector's bulbs?

[stlgrym3]

my Lariat came with the LED reflector headlights. it's on the darker side for my liking. i don't want to spend over $2k for a complete LED headlight upgrade, can i upgrade the bulbs inside the reflector to make them brighter? if so, any suggestions on which kind and type? thanks.

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[Micho523]

There aren't "bulbs" in the typical sense inside of these LED headlights. If you were to take apart the headlight you would find a circuit board with the LED emitters on them aimed at the reflector. To my knowledge, there is no aftermarket support for upgrading the LED modules within the factory headlights. The only headlights you can swap bulbs on are the halogen on the lower trims.

 

[Eighthtry]

You just don't know how much better these LED reflectors are, particularly compared to GM products. It was easy in the past to upgrade headlights. With technology not so much now. However, some improvements are made that pick up the right and left "ditches", as well as straight ahead.

I am trying to figure out what I want to do with my 2023 Yukon Denali XL. GMC's entire history has been bad headlights. Their new LED reflectors are better, but that is like a beautiful lady that weights 250 lbs. Where do you draw the line? (So far, I draw it at the beautiful part)

I am looking at cutting a slot in the lower portion of the GMC grill to install one of those thin yet wide LED light bars in the Yukon. Otherwise, I am out of "tasteful" choices.

I have a 2023 F150 XLT that appears to have some space on either side at the license plate level. I think an installation there could work if I can get through some of these house projects to concentrate on it. A Lariat will have the same location, which is just above the tow hooks.

My thought is to wire these lights into a relay switching from the high beam loom on both of my applications. The only concern here is that although the current draw to operate the relay will be virtually nothing, will it be enough to throw off our computers?

I have done this many times before, yet not with a computer system as sensitive as the ones today.

I will probably start the project with the F150.

I also have always installed lights below the rear bumper to boost reverse lighting. The new cars, with the cameras, appear to be pretty well lit, but that is also a potential mod. The XLT can easily take that mod because all the power is located in the trailer wire loom and there is the usual steel bumper for a mounting surface.

GMC is hard to tastefully mount the rears because it will entail cutting big plastic body pieces. I haven't had that up on the lift yet to assess the situation.

Have fun and keep us posted on your thoughts.

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