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Best H11 low beam

Discussion in '3rd Gen. Tacomas (2016-2023)' started by PooTaco, Dec 27, 2023.

  1. Dec 27, 2023 at 3:43 PM
    #1
    PooTaco

    PooTaco [OP] Well-Known Member

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    What's the best low beam H11 bulb?

    I've read through several threads but can't find any since most have been discontinued.
     
  2. Dec 27, 2023 at 3:47 PM
    #2
    RichochetRabbit

    RichochetRabbit Ping Ping Ping

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    Buy an H9, remove the green insert, use the H9. Phillips is what many buy off AZ, I use NAPA model.
     
  3. Dec 27, 2023 at 3:50 PM
    #3
    PooTaco

    PooTaco [OP] Well-Known Member

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    What's the closest H11 to the Phillips H9?
     
  4. Dec 27, 2023 at 3:51 PM
    #4
    RichochetRabbit

    RichochetRabbit Ping Ping Ping

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    Just buy an H9. Easiest path over any "closest brightness". I am happy with the standard-issue NAPA model.
     
    PooTaco[OP] likes this.
  5. Dec 27, 2023 at 3:53 PM
    #5
    musicisevil

    musicisevil Lesser-Known Jack Wagon

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  6. Dec 27, 2023 at 3:57 PM
    #6
    Pinatacoma

    Pinatacoma Well-Known Member

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    I bought Osram H9's from Aliexpress. They may not be "the best", but they were inexpensive and a huge improvement over factory. This is a lot of value for money!

    I did the small modification, grinding one of the tabs down with a Dremel style tool.

    https://www.aliexpress.us/item/2251832789543607.html
     
    PooTaco[OP] likes this.
  7. Dec 27, 2023 at 4:06 PM
    #7
    RichochetRabbit

    RichochetRabbit Ping Ping Ping

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    Green insert removal should be enough. But I bought a different bulb than you did.
     
  8. Dec 27, 2023 at 4:07 PM
    #8
    PooTaco

    PooTaco [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Once the green insert is removed can you still use it to go back to H11 if needed?
     
  9. Dec 27, 2023 at 4:15 PM
    #9
    musicisevil

    musicisevil Lesser-Known Jack Wagon

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    With the insert removed either bulb will fit. If you wanted to put the green insert back in to limit it to just H11 it would be simple enough
     
    PooTaco[QUOTED][OP] likes this.
  10. Dec 27, 2023 at 4:15 PM
    #10
    RichochetRabbit

    RichochetRabbit Ping Ping Ping

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    Sure. You just lift out the green insert, you do not tear it out or damage.
     
    NorrinRadd and PooTaco[OP] like this.
  11. Dec 27, 2023 at 4:22 PM
    #11
    devinzz1

    devinzz1 Well-Known Member

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    lewisporte Newfoundland
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    icon stage 10 kit, toytec 1" bl, 35" general x3s, 17x9.5 procomp wheels, locker anytime mod, s&b intake, blackhawk 2.1 tune,
    i bought silverstar ultras for mine. noticed zero difference.
     
    MannyS likes this.
  12. Dec 27, 2023 at 4:28 PM
    #12
    crashnburn80

    crashnburn80 Vehicle Design Engineer

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    Philips H9 in the low beam is best performing. If set on H11, then Tungsram Platinums are best, but Tungsram is hard to find in-stock right now. Next best H11 would be Osram Nightbreaker +200.

    Because Silverstars are not a performance bulb, they are a cosmetic one. They tend to place higher priority on whiter light, which is achieved through filtering/removing yellow light which reduces output intensity in a halogen. Much better bulb options exist.
     
    daveeasa, RustyGreen, t2c and 3 others like this.
  13. Dec 27, 2023 at 5:13 PM
    #13
    RichochetRabbit

    RichochetRabbit Ping Ping Ping

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    When my puny brain grows up, crashnburn80, it wants to be as smart as you.
     
    boston23 likes this.
  14. Dec 27, 2023 at 6:20 PM
    #14
    Pinatacoma

    Pinatacoma Well-Known Member

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    If I recall correctly, I put them in both the low beams and fogs. I can't remember if one or both were modified, but I didn't remove the green insert.
     
  15. Dec 27, 2023 at 7:39 PM
    #15
    PooTaco

    PooTaco [OP] Well-Known Member

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    The H9 doesn't blind oncoming traffic?
    Wouldn't the H9 also get extremely hot?

    Thanks
     
  16. Dec 27, 2023 at 7:42 PM
    #16
    RichochetRabbit

    RichochetRabbit Ping Ping Ping

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    No one flashes my car using them on normal setting. They do on "high beam", as expected. And They have not burned the socket or the lens, but I would expect are warm enough to melt snow (I live in PHX ... I have only heard rumors of snow!).
     
  17. Dec 27, 2023 at 7:44 PM
    #17
    LarryDangerfield

    LarryDangerfield One Larry a day keeps the money away ™ Moderator

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    Oh there will be some mods all right
    The h9 doesn't blind oncoming traffic because the existing cut off of the OEM housing still works the same with the h9s so you don't have light going where it's not supposed to you just have brighter light where it is supposed to be. As far as getting too hot I have not heard anything from anyone about melting lenses and or wiring. There are many of us on here, myself included, who will never run an h11 ever again
     
  18. Dec 27, 2023 at 8:34 PM
    #18
    Pinatacoma

    Pinatacoma Well-Known Member

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    Same here. No flashes received from incoming traffic.

    The factory low beam has a very sharp upper cutoff line, so it's less dependent on the bulb... Or whatever more accurate description someone more qualified would like to add.
     
    PooTaco[OP] likes this.
  19. Dec 27, 2023 at 9:04 PM
    #19
    Sasquatchian

    Sasquatchian Well-Known Member

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    H11 is 55 watts. H9 is 65 watts. The H9 is already used in the high beam next to the low beam. It's not enough of a difference to be a problem. Blinding oncoming traffic is more due to not having proper headlight aim, although nothing will keep oncoming traffic from being "under" the beam when cresting a hill.
     
  20. Dec 27, 2023 at 10:06 PM
    #20
    TK2023

    TK2023 Well-Known Member

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    I put ODX E-Bryd H11 bulbs in mine. A little pricey but have a limited lifetime warranty for any factory defects.

    They also have a small set screw with supplied Allen key so that you can change the orientation of the LED on the heatsink (verticle to horizontal). After the adjustment of the LED orientation, it sits in the headlight housing properly with correct beam angle so you won't need to adjust your headlight aim afterwards.
     

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