Affordable and effective headlight upgrade? (I know, I know ... but I couldn't find it in Search)

Disclaimer: Links on this page pointing to Amazon, eBay and other sites may include affiliate code. If you click them and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission.

LurkingLuke

Member
Joined
Dec 21, 2023
Posts
71
Reaction score
73
Location
WA
Having had GREAT success with the Diode Dynamics SS3 Pro LED fog light replacements, I find the actual headlights on my 2013 Denali largely useless---factory high beams are not nearly as effective as the LED fogs. On occasion, however, the fog lights don't reach quite as far down the road as I would like (which is about equal in reach to the factory high beams). Is there a replacement for the factory bulbs that project farther down the road?

FYI I'm not looking for a whole headlight assembly replacement. Ideally, I'd like to just replace the high beam bulbs, but I heard it's not quite that simple.
 

swathdiver

Full Access Member
Joined
May 18, 2017
Posts
19,747
Reaction score
26,634
Location
Treasure Coast, Florida
First off, you have twelve year old lenses. They don't let as much light through them today as they did when new.

Next, aftermarket bulbs are not as bright or long lasting as the originals. My new lamps came with Hitachi bulbs and my kids, who love LEDs and HIDs, are impressed by how bright they are. I constantly get flashed by oncoming traffic and my lights are pointing correctly.

We put Morimoto fogs on one of the pickups, they're many time more bright and longer distance than stock lamps and bulbs. But again, new lamps with factory bulbs are brighter than aftermarket bulbs trying to get through worn out lenses.

I have the beginnings of cataracts, so seeing at night is a challenge and I have no issues with seeing at night in mine.
 

petethepug

Michael
Joined
May 4, 2016
Posts
3,100
Reaction score
3,415
Location
SoCal
The 07-14 Denali headlamps are solely for incandescent lamps. They were subpar when new. The only way to get more light on the ground, unfortunately, is to change the assemblies.

I went to a set up on our 08 similar to this but never upgraded to HID. Didn’t use LED because the older LED technology wreaked havoc with the BCM.


The above lamps with the LED bulbs and integrated cooling fans act as resistors. They work flawlessly with no trouble codes or BCM problems.

Ursprung Upgraded H1 Light Bulbs, 100W 600% Brighter, 1:1 Size H1 Bulbs, Pack of 2

The low beams run through projectors so 100% of light gets put on the road. Both hi & low beams run H1. The high beams are not projector so they may blind the ship out of oncoming traffic but they shouldn’t be on for oncoming traffic anyway.
 
OP
OP
LurkingLuke

LurkingLuke

Member
Joined
Dec 21, 2023
Posts
71
Reaction score
73
Location
WA
That's a beautiful unit. I may go for it in chrome.

Edit: Rats, they're out of stock in Chrome. I'll contact them.
 
Last edited:

Forum statistics

Threads
132,723
Posts
1,873,222
Members
97,554
Latest member
Carlos123

Latest posts

Top