Xenon or LED PDLS headlights -- Video showing the difference
#1
Instructor
Thread Starter
Xenon or LED PDLS headlights -- Video showing the difference
Quick video I did on the headlight options.
While the Xenons have a more consistent even throw of light and are slightly brighter on high beam (here in the US at least) the LED are considerably brighter over all.
Hope this helps a few people with this choice.
Thanks
Nick
[/QUOTE]
While the Xenons have a more consistent even throw of light and are slightly brighter on high beam (here in the US at least) the LED are considerably brighter over all.
Hope this helps a few people with this choice.
Thanks
Nick
#2
Nordschleife Master
Another great video, Nick. Wish I had known this 2 years ago when I spec'd my car! LOL.
#4
Well done Nick (again). Like u I have the Xenons - mostly cause I liked the look and my salesman told me there was little to no difference in light output. Once again a case of mis-information. Probably would've opted for the LEDs but that ship has sailed. Thanks for the video.
#5
Rennlist Member
Interesting. Wish you had measured the pattern of the Xenons vs the LEDs down low. Looks like the LEDs would need to be augmented by fogs to get good illumination right in front of the car.
Do you have any observations about the light patterns close in between the two?
Do you have any observations about the light patterns close in between the two?
#6
I have the xenons - after seeing the excellent comparison, I too am surprised by the difference with the LEDs. However, the xenons seem to send a bit more of "natural" lighting (yellowish, like the sun) rather than kind of a fluorescent white color with the LEDs, which isn't as appealing, despite their brightness - very impressive. Thanks for the video.
#7
Rennlist Member
I have the xenons - after seeing the excellent comparison, I too am surprised by the difference with the LEDs. However, the xenons seem to send a bit more of "natural" lighting (yellowish, like the sun) rather than kind of a fluorescent white color with the LEDs, which isn't as appealing, despite their brightness - very impressive. Thanks for the video.
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#8
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Nice job Nick! If I remember correctly, I thought the LED lights generate more brightness more illumination after 70 mph or if the car is in sport plus mode. Something like that. My memory is shaky right now. And I'm away from my owners manual. Can someone else comment or confirm?
#10
Rocky Mountain High
Rennlist Member
Rennlist Member
I had xenon HID headlights on my 997 turbo, and I have LED headlights with PDLS+ on my 991 turbo s. The difference is pretty dramatic to me. The one thing that I don't like about the PDLS+ headlights is the sharp cutoff on the driver's side headlight. I know that it's set lower than the passenger's side headlight to avoid blinding oncoming traffic, but it produces a dark spot in the beam pattern ahead of the driver and slightly left. It's much more noticeable when you turn the wheel to the right and the headlights swivel to the right. I actually took my car to the dealer to check the headlight alignment because of this. My lights were set properly according to the factory specs. I suppose I just need to get used to it; but the cutoff certainly seems sharper than it was on my 997.
#11
Nordschleife Master
would be great to see similar comparison with Pitocin's bulb replacement, which he says gives off a whiter beam
https://rennlist.com/forums/991/9810...with-pics.html
https://rennlist.com/forums/991/9810...with-pics.html
#12
Instructor
Thread Starter
Yes interesting point. The Xenon are a far more even spread and you notice that on the road as well.
#13
Great video. It really demonstrates the tint difference between the stock xenon and LED lights. I bet the tint of the LEDs is 5500k like what Audi uses for their LED lights. Compare that to the stock Xenon 4300k bulb and you can really see how much yellow the stock xenons output.
The bulb upgrade approaches 5500k so the tint would be much closer to the look of the LEDs but with the more even light dispersion of the xenons.
Also, an interesting about light output is it has to roughly quadruple in order for our eyes to perceive the brightness has doubled. So although there is a 40% increase in brightness with the meter, there would need to be about a 300% increase for the LEDs to be perceived as twice as bright to our eyes.
The bulb upgrade approaches 5500k so the tint would be much closer to the look of the LEDs but with the more even light dispersion of the xenons.
Also, an interesting about light output is it has to roughly quadruple in order for our eyes to perceive the brightness has doubled. So although there is a 40% increase in brightness with the meter, there would need to be about a 300% increase for the LEDs to be perceived as twice as bright to our eyes.
Last edited by Pitocin; 03-23-2017 at 04:55 PM.
#15
Rennlist Member
Nice work Nick. Would you still choose your Halogens if you had to order again?