2016 HD Headlamp Install on a 2015 1500 SLT

[morrislee]

Doesnt mean to brag... ok, a little, but I am waiting for something that is brighter than this:

 

Low Beam

 

 

Low Beam with Fog

 

 

High Beam with Fogs

 

 

Low Beam cutoffs

 

 

Low Beam and Fogs

 

 

High Beam and Fogs

 

[TenofMe]

So what's your setup?

 

 

Doesnt mean to brag... ok, a little, but I am waiting for something that is brighter than this:

[morrislee]

So what's your setup?

 

 

 

Guessing you might be on mobile, probably why you cant see my signature. They are 4500LM LED bulbs, both for my mains and fogs, total of 18000 raw lumens.

 

you can find more details of the comparisons here: http://www.gm-trucks.com/forums/topic/178039-led-vs-hid-vs-halogen-stock

[TenofMe]

 

Guessing you might be on mobile, probably why you cant see my signature. They are 4500LM LED bulbs, both for my mains and fogs, total of 18000 raw lumens.

 

you can find more details of the comparisons here: http://www.gm-trucks.com/forums/topic/178039-led-vs-hid-vs-halogen-stock

I saw the type and lumens, but I was looking for the comparison you posted. Thanks.

[Payton34]

Doesnt mean to brag... ok, a little, but I am waiting for something that is brighter than this:

 

Low Beam

 

 

Low Beam with Fog

 

 

High Beam with Fogs

 

 

Low Beam cutoffs

 

 

Low Beam and Fogs

 

 

High Beam and Fogs

 

How long have you had them installed and have they been trouble free? I have retrofit source Sierra HID kit for about 18 months now but I thing the distance sucks and it could be whiter. I had HID ballast issues at first but I have gone over a year now no issues.

[morrislee]

How long have you had them installed and have they been trouble free? I have retrofit source Sierra HID kit for about 18 months now but I thing the distance sucks and it could be whiter. I had HID ballast issues at first but I have gone over a year now no issues.

 

Had them since october 2015, only problem is occasionally, you can try very hard to notice there is a tiny intermittent flicker that is almost nonexistent.

 

You can only notice it if you are stopped at a set of lights behind someone, look at the reflection very long and you will start to notice it. I have no relay harness for this, everything fits under the cap. LEDs should not suffer at all from the flickering for their lifespan, even the highest grade LEDs are controlled at a very high on and off frequency to achieve maximum power efficiency, pretty much a faster PWM from our truck original power.

[Dunc]

I'm not a big fan of making illegal mods to my truck. I'd gladly pay a little more for a legal OEM solution.

HID's in a projector housing are by no means illegal.

 

Unless the law has changed recently then even an "OEM" solution is illegal in our trucks. It came down to being if your car didn't have the factory option then there was no legal means to adding HIDs. Will you be hassled in either case? It's highly unlikely and even more unlikely if you take a '16 HID setup and put it in a '15 truck. However, the way the law was written even that is not allowed. In either case I would personally always opt for a good OEM version than a kit anyday of the week. The quality of light with most kits is laughable.

[chrises08]

The harness plugs directly in between the OEM headlight harness cable and the OEM headlight plug on the outside of the headlights. No external ballasts as they are all self contained inside the headlamp. The harness also includes a wire for the positive terminal of the battery to give the headlights a consistent power source.

 

Really easy to install and looks relatively clean.

 

do you think this harness would work with installing aftermarket HID kits in our trucks?

guess my thought it is if its giving the lights a constant power source through the oem plug wouldn't it also give an aftermarket HID kit a constant source through the oem plug to the 9012 plug as well so you don't have to drill holes through the housing or anything like that (hope that makes sense)

[Spurshot]

Unless the law has changed recently then even an "OEM" solution is illegal in our trucks. It came down to being if your car didn't have the factory option then there was no legal means to adding HIDs. Will you be hassled in either case? It's highly unlikely and even more unlikely if you take a '16 HID setup and put it in a '15 truck. However, the way the law was written even that is not allowed. In either case I would personally always opt for a good OEM version than a kit anyday of the week. The quality of light with most kits is laughable.

Can you direct us to that law?

[Spurshot]

Here's a link to the California Motor Vehicle Code. http://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displayText.xhtml?lawCode=VEH&division=12.&title=&part=&chapter=2.&article=2.

 

I read it quickly, but didn't note any restrictions about modifications.

 

Here's a link to the Code of Federal Regulations, Title 49, chapter V, Parts 500-599

http://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=496552428f9f9110339c9e0430787e4e&mc=true&tpl=/ecfrbrowse/Title49/49chapterV.tpl

 

Part 571 is vehicle standards. 571.108 is for lighting

 

S6 Vehicle lighting

S6.5.1.2 Each original equipment or replacement lamp or reflective device specified in Table I, except for a headlamp, or an item of associated equipment specified in S9 may be marked with the symbol DOT which constitutes a certification that it conforms to the requirements of this standard.

 

 

S6.7 Replacement equipment.

 

S6.7.1 General.

 

S6.7.1.1 Each replacement lamp, reflective device, or item of associated equipment, including a combination lamp, must:

 

(a) Be designed to conform to meet all requirements specified in this standard for that type of lamp, reflective device, or other item of equipment (in the case of a combination lamp, it must meet these requirements for each function); and

 

(b) Include all of the functions of the lamp, reflective device, or item of associated equipment, including a combination lamp, it is designed to replace or is capable of replacing (other than functions not required by this standard).

 

S6.7.1.2 Each replacement lamp, reflective device, or item of associated equipment, including a combination lamp, which is designed or recommended for particular vehicle models must be designed so that it does not take the vehicle out of compliance with this standard when the individual device is installed on the vehicle. Except as provided in S6.7.1.3, the determination of whether a vehicle would be taken out of compliance with this standard when an individual device is installed on the vehicle is made without regard to whether additional devices, including separate lamps or reflective devices sold together with the device, would also be installed.

 

S6.7.1.3 In the case of a lamp or other device that is used on each side of the vehicle in pairs, the determination (for the purposes of S6.7.1.2) of whether a vehicle would be taken out of compliance with this standard when an individual device is installed on the vehicle is made assuming that the other matched paired device would be installed on the other side of the vehicle, whether or not the matched paired devices are sold together. This provision does not limit the responsibilities of manufacturers, distributors, dealers or motor vehicle repair businesses under 49 U.S.C. 30122, Making safety devices and elements inoperative.

 

S6.7.2 Version of this standard. The requirements of S6.7.1 must be met, at the option of the manufacturer, using either the current version of this standard or the standard in effect at the time of manufacture of the original equipment being replaced.

[GMC_Headlights]

Class action forming for the substandard lighting on the 2014 and 2015 trucks:

 

http://www.gm-trucks.com/forums/topic/185955-class-action-forming-2014-and-2015-gmc-sierra-headlights/?p=1792754

[TxTruckMan]

So does Morimoto certify that their headlight conversions meet the DOT specs for every vehicle? Or do they state that they're for off-road use only?

[TxTruckMan]

Nevermind. I found it for you - NOT STREET LEGAL.

 

MORIMOTO POLICIES & FAQS TERMS AND CONDITIONS

Disclaimer:
Morimoto is not responsible for any damage caused to your vehicle, it's headlights, or any injury that may result due to modification and/or improper installation of any product's from our store. You should be aware that all modification to headlights may put them out of compliance with regulatory laws governing vehicle lighting in your city/state/country and therefore the products we sell are designed for off-road use only.

[Jordan18]

 

Had them since october 2015, only problem is occasionally, you can try very hard to notice there is a tiny intermittent flicker that is almost nonexistent.

 

You can only notice it if you are stopped at a set of lights behind someone, look at the reflection very long and you will start to notice it. I have no relay harness for this, everything fits under the cap. LEDs should not suffer at all from the flickering for their lifespan, even the highest grade LEDs are controlled at a very high on and off frequency to achieve maximum power efficiency, pretty much a faster PWM from our truck original power.

 

I think the only thing that could potentially top your set up is that there are now 6000 LM/ bulb 9012 kits on Ebay/Amazon now, I think those could be fun. Seems like they are a pretty recent addition or new generation of LED. My 4500 lumen bulbs have been doing well however.

 

https://www.amazon.ca/BPS-Lighting-Headlight-Conversion-Lumens/dp/B01ANYJQI4/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1460400930&sr=8-1&keywords=12000+lumen+LED+9012

 

I had a look at BPS main website, they are based in Quebec. The description for the 9012 kit on their website says that they are capable of 8000 lumens per bulb for high beams which makes no sense as I don't believe the voltage changes on high beam in the Sierras. I could be wrong

 

http://www.bpsperformance.com/#!led-kit/c731

[morrislee]

 

I think the only thing that could potentially top your set up is that there are now 6000 LM/ bulb 9012 kits on Ebay/Amazon now, I think those could be fun. Seems like they are a pretty recent addition or new generation of LED. My 4500 lumen bulbs have been doing well however.

 

https://www.amazon.ca/BPS-Lighting-Headlight-Conversion-Lumens/dp/B01ANYJQI4/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1460400930&sr=8-1&keywords=12000+lumen+LED+9012

 

I had a look at BPS main website, they are based in Quebec. The description for the 9012 kit on their website says that they are capable of 8000 lumens per bulb for high beams which makes no sense as I don't believe the voltage changes on high beam in the Sierras. I could be wrong

 

http://www.bpsperformance.com/#!led-kit/c731

 

Their G7 Philips 9012 bulbs may actually produce better beam pattern than mine! look at the way the diodes are stacked, just like normal halogen design was.

 

It says it has 4000lm, the 8000lm is probably the ones with staggered rows of LED where low and high are separate, our sierra does not work with those.

 

I am not sure if you can change the direction of the diodes are facing, if you cant, they might not be shooting left to right what our projector lens prefer.