Servicing

LED vs. Xenon Headlights: Which Is Better for Your Vehicle?

LED vs Xenon lights

Halogen headlights will be a thing of the past soon, with many cars today being fitted with LED headlights as standard.

LED headlights are better than halogen and xenon HID headlights because they last longer, are more energy efficient and can produce a brighter, better quality beam of light.

Until recently, xenon HID bulbs were a popular option when buying a new car or as an upgrade among car enthusiasts. But with LED upgrade kits dropping in price every year, soon they will be the best option if you want to upgrade your headlights.

What Are Xenon Hid Bulbs And How Do They Work?

Xenon headlight bulbs are an example of arc lamps, that are different to halogen bulbs in how they create a beam of light. 

Instead of using halogen gas with a heated tungsten filament, xenon bulbs use electrodes at either end of a glass tube that is filled with xenon gas. When a high voltage is applied to the electrodes the xenon gas becomes ionized, spiting into positive ions and negative electrodes. As these particles crash off each other, light is emitted, creating a beam of light.

In terms of structure, xenon HID bulbs are a bit more complicated than halogen or LED bulbs. They consist of a glass tube that contains xenon gas and they have electrodes at either end that produce the electrical current. 

xenon HID bulbs
Typical Xenon HID bulbs

The electrodes are usually only around 2mm apart, and there must be a ballast fitted to the back of the bulb to create the initial high voltage that is necessary to create the initial arc in the lamp.

Xenon HID bulbs generally have a longer lifespan than halogen bulbs but not as long a life as LED bulbs. They create a much brighter whiter light than halogen bulbs and are also available in different color temperatures, from blue to bright white. 

Over time, xenon bulbs will start to burn at lower temperatures as the xenon gas produces less electrodes. This is usually the first sign of the bulbs starting to wear out before they eventually fail.

What Are LED Headlights And How Do They Work?

LED bulbs are a more recent development in the world of automotive lighting. 

Until recently, they have really only been used in low beam car lighting such as  number plate lights, brake lights and turn signal lights. They are also now fitted as standard on many cars as daytime running lights.

However, many premium car manufacturers are now starting to be use LED technology in their headlights, joining Audi who have offered them as an option on the A8 since 2010.

LED, or luminescence diode bulbs, produce light in an entirely different way to xenon and halogen bulbs. They don’t use gas or high voltage to create light. Instead LED bulbs use multiple light emitting diodes to create a beam of light.

An LED chip that is used in an LED headlight bulb is made up of multiple layers of silicone based semi-conductive material. When an electrical current is passed through one layer to the other in a particular direction, a light particle is released. This process is then repeated on a larger scale to produce a headlight beam.

LED silicone board
An example of a basic LED cluster of diodes on a circuit board

LED bulbs are approximately 90% more energy efficient than traditional bulbs. They don’t need much power to work and can in fact be damaged if they are exposed to a voltage that is too high.

When it comes to the use of LEDs in headlights, manufacturers generally use multiple LED bulbs to create the desired lighting effect, rather than using just one bulb. Multiple LEDs can be used within the headlight enclosure for side lights, high beam, low beam and daytime running lights.

Overall, LEDs are the best option when it comes to headlight technology. They are energy efficient, can produce very bright beams and last much longer than any other type of bulb.

LED vs Xenon HID Headlights – What’s the difference?

LED Bulbs

  1. 1Very long service life, up to 50,000 hours 
  2. 2Can produce a very bright light, 8,000 to 10,000 lumens 
  3. 3Use very little power, up to 95% less than halogen and xenon bulbs
  4. 4Use solid state semiconductor material to create light
  5. 5Are still expensive to buy and upgrade kits are not suitable for most cars yet

Xenon HID Bulbs

  1. 1Medium service life, around 2000 hours 
  2. 2Produce a clear bright beam of around 3000 lumens
  3. 3Need a very high voltage to start
  4. 4Use xenon gas and electrodes to create light
  5. 5Suitable for most cars and can easily be fitted to most models

Can you Just retrofit Xenon HID headlight Bulbs To Your Existing Headlights?

If your car was fitted with halogen bulbs in the factory, then you can’t just swap out the bulbs for Xenon bulbs. Instead you’ll need a conversion kit or a new set of headlights.

Aftermarket Xenon HID conversion kits are widely available for many vehicles. They allow you to fit xenon bulbs to standard halogen headlights. 

Not all conversion kits are created equally, so you really need to do your homework before choosing one. I generally steer clear of these kits, as it can be a bit of a minefield trying to choose a good quality kit that will be reliable and won’t mess up the electrics in your car. 

Also, remember xenon headlights are much brighter than halogen headlights, and if you live in Europe, must be fitted with self levelling systems so as not to blind other road users. HID conversion kits don’t usually allow for self levelling, so depending on where you live, you may be breaking the law if you fit one of these kits to your car.

If xenon headlights were an option on your car from the factory, you may be able to retrofit the entire xenon headlight unit, with self levelling and headlight cleaning systems included. This can be a very expensive option is not usually worth it.

How Much Does It Cost To Retrofit Xenon HID Headlights?

In order to transform your halogen headlights into Xenon HID headlights you’ll either need a conversion kit, or a new set of Xenon headlight units. 

The cheaper option (by far) are the conversion kits. There are literally hundreds of options on the market to choose from. Depending on the make and model of your car, fitting the kit can be as easy as plug and play or it can be complicated and may cause electrical problems with your vehicle down the road.

Xenon HID conversion kits have dropped a lot in price in recent years. You should be able to pick up a good quality kit for around $40-$60. You can expect to pay another $100 to get them fitted by a mechanic. Just remember if you are living in Europe (and some other parts of the world), converting your headlights to HID may be illegal if you don’t fit a self levelling system too.

If you want to keep everything OEM, then you may be able to swap your existing headlights for real Xenon alternatives. Many vehicle manufacturers offer them as an option so you may be able to pay a dealer to fit them for you. You can expect to pay anywhere from $1500 to $2000 for new Xenon headlights. If you want to try fitting them yourself, then you may be able to source secondhand Xenon headlights for as little as $500 for a pair. Just remember, you may need to upgrade or code your vehicles’ body control unit to make them work.

Can You Retrofit LED Headlight Bulbs?

You can fit LED bulbs to your car headlights, but I’d advise against it.

Just like with Xenon bulbs, there are lots of LED conversion kits appearing on the market. Most of these kit that I have looked at are not suitable replacements for halogen bulbs, and will not give you the same LED lights as those that are factory fitted.

LED headlight technology is totally different to halogen bulb technology with vast differences in the way the headlights are designed and shaped. It’s simply not possible to create the same type of light beam by swapping out the bulbs for LED bulbs. 

Fitting aftermarket LED headlight bulbs will create the same safety problems as aftermarket HID kits.

Most vehicles use CANbus systems that detect if a headlight bulb has blown by monitoring the headlight voltage. LED bulbs use very little power and will either not work or create a permanent blown bulb error on the dashboard.

My preferred option is to upgrade the halogen bulbs for brighter xenon effect bulbs, that are safe, road legal and compatible with all vehicles. My favourite bulbs are the Philips CrystalVision range of headlight bulbs. They produce a very white, bright beam that is much brighter than factory fitted halogen bulbs. I also find that they last a bit longer too. 

Conclusion -Which are better LED or Xenon Headlight Bulbs?

LED headlight bulbs are generally considered to be better than halogen and xenon HID headlight bulbs. This is because they can last longer, are more energy efficient and can produce a brighter, better quality beam of light.

More and more car manufacturers are fitting LED headlights as standard because they offer a safer and more energy efficient option when it comes to headlight technology. 

About the author

The Motor Guy

The Motor Guy is a passionate car enthusiast with a love for troubleshooting and diagnosing all sorts of vehicle problems.

With years of experience in OBD diagnostics, he has become an expert in identifying and solving complex automotive issues.

Through TheMotorGuy.com, he shares his knowledge and expertise with others, providing valuable insights and tips on how to keep your vehicle running smoothly.

Qualifications:
- 12 years experience in the automotive industry
- ASE Master Automobile Technician
- A Series: Automobile and Light Truck Certification, A9 Light Vehicle Diesel Engine Certification
- Bachelor's Degree in Information Systems

2 Comments

Click here to post a comment

  • Considering the detailed comparison between LED and Xenon HID headlights, I’m wondering how often LED headlights typically require replacement compared to Xenon HID headlights in the context of average daily use?

  • Given the detailed differences between the technologies, how can I tell if my current vehicle would benefit more from upgrading to LED or xenon HID headlights?