Looking for an HID or LED headlight conversion kit for 2019 Custom

[mpuleo]

Looking for an HID or LED headlight conversion kit for 2019 Custom. Any know of a place that sells something that is plug and play? Just want to change the halogen bulb not the headlight itself. 

[mafd2]

2 hours ago, mpuleo said:

Looking for an HID or LED headlight conversion kit for 2019 Custom. Any know of a place that sells something that is plug and play? Just want to change the halogen bulb not the headlight itself. 

Try Morimoto HID.

[grimmysnr]

10 hours ago, mpuleo said:

Looking for an HID or LED headlight conversion kit for 2019 Custom. Any know of a place that sells something that is plug and play? Just want to change the halogen bulb not the headlight itself. 

The good news is that LED technology is getting pretty good these days.  LED lumen output is getting close to 55w HID output and bulb design mimics the light dispersion in halogen reflector housings.  In fact, LEDs is probably the recommended solution now for a plug and play into a halogen reflector.  If you end up retrofitting projector housings, HIDs still reign supreme.  With that being said, I have some experience trying to retrofit some HIDs into recent GM vehicles and one thing about GM stays true; they don't like to change what isn't broke.  Their headlights, especially halogen headlights, use Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) that sends micropulses of voltage power to halogen headlamps to deter modification by users and to control the brighteness of halogen/LED Daytime Running Lights.  Instead of a constant 12 power source, the vehicle modulated and pulses a 12v power source to save power, increase component longevity, and finite control.

 

What does this mean for you?  To retrofit HID or LED bulbs into stock GM reflector housings, you will likely need a relay harness with a capacitor wired in series with the harness to smooth out the pulses on the input side of the harness.  Basically the vehicle plugs into the input side of the relay harness, but you have to wire a capacitor inbetween.  If you don't the relay will cycle on and off at nearly 60-80 hertz which will practically destroy the internals of the relay.  The capacitor will deliver a smooth and solid 12v signal to turn on the relay.  The power side of the relay will wire to the battery and then two more sets of wires will go out to the lights.  This is kind of like an "anti-flicker" module but just one step further.  Anti-flicker wont be enough because the capacitor has to be on the input side.  Flicker modules typically go on the sides where the lights are.  

 

So while it may seem easy, there is just a few more steps needed to make it all work.  So if you are comfortable with running a few wires then you can make it all work.  There aren't many plug and play solutions just yet.  Head over to The Retrofit Source or Headlight Revolution websites to price out what you need.  Those folks can help you out.

[mpuleo]

Well got some good news from Morimoto. They are saying that the 2018 kit(link below) will fit the 2019. Was surprised to see it’s only $220. I think I’ll go with the 5500k bulbs. Only question is what is the difference between the 35 and 50 amp ballast?  

 

http://www.morimotohid.com/2014-silverado-morimoto-elite.html

[grimmysnr]

1 hour ago, mpuleo said:

Well got some good news from Morimoto. They are saying that the 2018 kit(link below) will fit the 2019. Was surprised to see it’s only $220. I think I’ll go with the 5500k bulbs. Only question is what is the difference between the 35 and 50 amp ballast?  

 

http://www.morimotohid.com/2014-silverado-morimoto-elite.html

The difference is light intensity and lumen output.  With more light comes more power and with more power there is more heat.  Those 55w ballasts are known to melt plastic halogen housings and as a courtesy to other drivers 55w output is just a bit too much.  Even 35w will eventually deteriorate the reflection immediately around the bulb.  You should be fine for a while though.  Just be courteous and make sure to aim your lights a little lower since you will be blinding everybody on the road.  Also stay within 4300k to 5500k.  Anything above 5000k starts getting into the blue light spectrum and then lumen output becomes regressive.  The higher kelvin rating is actually a lower light output.  Goodluck.

[LeadUtensil]

On 4/18/2019 at 6:02 PM, mpuleo said:

Well got some good news from Morimoto. They are saying that the 2018 kit(link below) will fit the 2019. Was surprised to see it’s only $220. I think I’ll go with the 5500k bulbs. Only question is what is the difference between the 35 and 50 amp ballast?  

 

http://www.morimotohid.com/2014-silverado-morimoto-elite.html

did you end up installing them? If you did, would love to see some photos.