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

[LurkingLuke]

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]

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]

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.

Fits Black 2007-2014 GMC Yukon XL Denali Sequential LED Bar Projector Headlights | eBay

Sequential LED Turn Signal Lights. (Fits Base / SLE / SLT / Hybrid / Denali Models Only). 2007-2014 GMC Yukon XL 1500 Models Only. 2007-2014 GMC Yukon XL 2500 Models Only. 2007-2014 GMC Yukon Models Only.

www.ebay.com

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

https://a.co/d/a9bgSyQ

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.

 

[LurkingLuke]

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.

 

[Joseph Garcia]

I've used LEDs in all of my inside and outside lighting on my 2007 Yukon XL Denali with not issues in the BCM or otherwise. I used GTR Ultra II LEDs for the headlights. They are expensive, but they are adjustable (absolutely required for proper light beam adjustment) and are warranted for life.

 

[petethepug]

Or …. buy once, cry once…

My hefty lighting investment - worth it - Alpharex and Diode Dynamics

Did a bunch of research on headlight and foglight options, and settled on the "buy once, cry once" philosophy. I cried. A lot. o_O Settled on the Alpharex NOVA series LED projector headlights. Click here And went with the Diode Dynamics SS3 Max LED fog lights. Click here I wanted quality...

www.tahoeyukonforum.com

 

[LurkingLuke]

Now that's what I'm talking about! Agree that the SS3 fog lights will show you the deer in Alaska even when you're driving in the lower 48.

 

[Geoffsfas10]

Not sure how affordable these are to you, but this will hands down be the best option

GMC Yukon (07-14) XB Hybrid LED Headlights

The Retrofit Source is your source for the new 2007-2014 GMC Yukon Morimoto XB Hybrid LED Headlights! Order today!

www.theretrofitsource.com

 

[Charlie207]

Not sure how affordable these are to you, but this will hands down be the best option

GMC Yukon (07-14) XB Hybrid LED Headlights

The Retrofit Source is your source for the new 2007-2014 GMC Yukon Morimoto XB Hybrid LED Headlights! Order today!

www.theretrofitsource.com

Those are slick, and at the same time waaaay above my price-point.

As Joseph had mentioned, there are some LED bulbs that can be rotated in their plug/harness/housings to maximize the output & pattern in the Yukon housings. I have some that work OK, and am going to put some incandescent bulbs back in to see what the difference is, now that I've totally forgotten how they used to look, brightness/pattern-wise. I picked up whatever the brightest option was from Autozone last time I was there.

The impetus was that LED bulbs put out almost no heat compared to filament-burners, and during that Thanksgiving blizzard we had my headlights were constantly icing over on the highway, at night, which was not optimal at all!

 

[Charlie207]

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.

Fits Black 2007-2014 GMC Yukon XL Denali Sequential LED Bar Projector Headlights | eBay

Sequential LED Turn Signal Lights. (Fits Base / SLE / SLT / Hybrid / Denali Models Only). 2007-2014 GMC Yukon XL 1500 Models Only. 2007-2014 GMC Yukon XL 2500 Models Only. 2007-2014 GMC Yukon Models Only.

www.ebay.com

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

https://a.co/d/a9bgSyQ

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.

These are more in my budget, and don't look terrible.