H3LZSN1P3R
You're doing it wrong
Unless DOT approved
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LED Headlight option
- Thread starter Distillusion
- Start date
It’s semantics, but there’s actually no such thing as “DOT Approved” lights. Manufacturers self-certify that they meet DOT regulations, and should mark things as “DOT Compliant”. If a product actually says “DOT Approved” on it then you can almost guarantee that it doesn’t meet requirements because it’s obvious the manufacturer didn’t read them.
The DOT doesn’t approve any products. It’s up to the manufacturer to be in compliance with dot regs. So, the very first giveaway that a product is garbage is when they advertise it as dot approved. Since a headlight bulb can only be replaced with the bulb that the headlight housing was designed for, that means there are exactly zero LED replacement bulbs that would be dot compliant in a housing that came equipped with halogen bulbs.
H3LZSN1P3R
You're doing it wrong
They have some that are stamped DOT approved they have went through the process of meeting the DOT standards its also why they have high pricetags think JW speaker, Truk-lite, grote, morimoto, anzo, alpha rex. Not the chinese companys i am talking about housings not the bulbs
H3LZSN1P3R
You're doing it wrong
I get that part im more referencing his first part saying non oem headlight as in the housings themselves.
Sorry, I guess that wasn't entirely accurate. Yes, there are entire replacement housings that are DOT compliant. There are very few of them though. Morimoto (not just a Morimoto projector shoved into some random plastic housing, that wouldn't be compliant), JW Speaker, and Hella are the only ones I know of off the top of my head, though I don't think any of them make one that will fit a 4.5G HD Ram.
Odds of anyone getting stopped or fined for non-compliant headlights are extremely low, but the standards exist for a reason. If a headlight system isn't compliant then it's probably either providing less useful light than the OEM (even If it appears better to the driver, is blinding oncoming traffic, or both.
I installed morimoto headlights on mine https://www.morimotohid.com/morimoto-2019-dodge-ram-hd-xb-led-headlights?quantity=1
and this is the certificate morimoto provides https://www.morimotohid.com/FMVSS108 Documents/LF701 FMVSS108 DOC.pdf
and this is the certificate morimoto provides https://www.morimotohid.com/FMVSS108 Documents/LF701 FMVSS108 DOC.pdf
Basically, the document confirms Morimoto's retrofit light bulbs are not street legal in headlights, but for only "off road use" (which is what most makers say). Other lights can use retrofits legally like fog lights, but not main driving lights. Any vehicle with license plates is a street driven vehicle. Consequently if you have plates no, retrofit bulbs LED or HID are legal to use in a head light. Yes, I agree with he other poster that police are more interested in real dangerous behavior like illegal parking, going 5mph over the city council's arbitrarily determined speed limit, then if your headlight is illegally modded.
However, its questionable if modifying by your retrofitting halogen headlights with illegal for on road use HID/LED improves safety of you and other motorists. After all the stock headlights on a nearly 80K truck are truly terrible, so I get why people look to improve them. Unfortunately retorfit bulbs aren't the soution as glaring other drivers makes it harder for them to see road features and stay in their lane increasing the chances of an accident. Most folks who mod their headlights think that a color change and glare increase make them safer drivers, forgetting the others on the road. However, the poor light dispersion of the retrofit reduces their ability to see distant objects due to the significant change in beam pattern due to a very different light source placement. Its simply physics the light dispersion of these retrofits does not match a filament, and the light sent out wont work as the designers intended. So adding LEDs or HIDs retrofits is a serious safety downgrade, but you don't have to take my word for it take it from a lighting engineer https://www.danielsternlighting.com/tech/bulbs/Hid/conversions/conversions.html
The one mod that may help is a h11->H9 conversion. Not legal either, but the filament is in the same location, and brighter. But no tip cover to reduce direct glare, but our headlamps do have a glare shield for the tip of the bulbs in a 2019+
However, its questionable if modifying by your retrofitting halogen headlights with illegal for on road use HID/LED improves safety of you and other motorists. After all the stock headlights on a nearly 80K truck are truly terrible, so I get why people look to improve them. Unfortunately retorfit bulbs aren't the soution as glaring other drivers makes it harder for them to see road features and stay in their lane increasing the chances of an accident. Most folks who mod their headlights think that a color change and glare increase make them safer drivers, forgetting the others on the road. However, the poor light dispersion of the retrofit reduces their ability to see distant objects due to the significant change in beam pattern due to a very different light source placement. Its simply physics the light dispersion of these retrofits does not match a filament, and the light sent out wont work as the designers intended. So adding LEDs or HIDs retrofits is a serious safety downgrade, but you don't have to take my word for it take it from a lighting engineer https://www.danielsternlighting.com/tech/bulbs/Hid/conversions/conversions.html
The one mod that may help is a h11->H9 conversion. Not legal either, but the filament is in the same location, and brighter. But no tip cover to reduce direct glare, but our headlamps do have a glare shield for the tip of the bulbs in a 2019+
hookedup2407
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hookedup2407
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Did you have to remove the box entirely? Or just loosen it to gain access? Really been considering these or the Alpharex Luxx for some time now..
I have to remove it entirely. But it was a really quick and easy job. Morimoto have a promotion now where they buy the OEM headlights from you. They offered me $200 for my set. But I think I will keep them for now and try to sell them on internet.
In OEM headlight the adjusting screw is pointing upwards which is very easy to get to. Morimoto they are pointing straight out and that's why it's hard to get to them.
I never heard about Alpharex Luxx headlights before. Just checked them out and it seams you can use a screwdriver from top to adjust the beam. Wait with your decision little more. I need to check if I screw up and maybe morimoto can be adjusted the same way as Alpharex I just never noticed.
hookedup2407
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Whenever you get a chance.. I’d like to know more of your thoughts about the MM since you’ve had another month with them.. taking them out to adjust sounds like a PIA. But, i guess if you adjust them before you re-assemble the grille ect.. makes sense… thanks for the info thus far
You don't have to take the lights out to adjust. The one on driver side was easy to adjust with right tools. But on passenger side I had to remove the air filter box to adjust it. Just couldn't find a tool that will fit in that space. Even if I find a tool there is no way my hand will fit. Lights are great. So far no problems.