I happened across this article last night while surfing around during my lunch break. I'd like to see them in person before passing any judgement, but it sure seems like it could be a good solution in the future.

http://www.truck-lite.com/webapp/wcs/st ... &langId=-1

Dan, have you heard anything about these? I don't plan to jump ni and buy a pair, but it just piqued my interest.

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'74 Duster w/ HEI ignition, beat to snot suspension, A904, 8.25" 3.55 SG rear, still being tuned up and gets 17 MPG

Know how they always build a better idiot? That's me

Yep, I've been following these thru their R&D over the last few years. If you've gotta have LED headlamps because they're cool (which they are), and you can afford $300/ea., then buy these. They perform...legally. They are still outperformed by well-made conventional headlamps, however. A few more years of LED revisions and optic evolution are needed before LED headlamps fulfill the promise of better-than-standard performance with lower-than-standard power consumption.

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一期一会
Too many people who were born on third base actually believe they've hit a triple.

And higher than standard prices, $300 each? ouch

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Grandpa's 1974 Dart Custom 4 door 225 auto, Aluminum Radiator, 1920 Holley.

I bet these units would be great for the day time driving lights GM & Canada so love.

I see more Cyclopes GM trucks coming down the road with one lamp lit, and one out. We live on the coast, but not that close... I know not every one of these guys can be signaling Paul Revere...

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67' Dart GT Convertible; the old Chrysler Corp.
82' LeBaron Convertible; the new Chrysler Corp
07' 300 C AWD; Now by Fiat, the old new Chrysler LLC

Your final statement pretty much confirms what I suspected. Even if the LED technology was good enough now, I wouldn't even consider them until they offered them with E-code beam patterns. So much better to see with and so much easier on the eyes of oncoming traffic.

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'74 Duster w/ HEI ignition, beat to snot suspension, A904, 8.25" 3.55 SG rear, still being tuned up and gets 17 MPG

Know how they always build a better idiot? That's me

I liked this sentence:

"Truck-Lite has been able to successfully develop a perfect blend of thermal management and light output to produce an aesthetically pleasing beam pattern through innovative precision optics. "

Yep. Aesthetics are where it's at!

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"When you find a big kettle of crazy, it's best not to stir it." - Pointy-haired Boss

1964 Valiant V200, 225/Pushbutton 904
BBD, CAI, HEI, LBP, AC, AM/FM/USB, EIEIO

Yeah, that's my biggest concern with buying headlights.....

I've had a couple people say that the Audi R8 uses LED headlamps. Anyone know if this is true?

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'74 Duster w/ HEI ignition, beat to snot suspension, A904, 8.25" 3.55 SG rear, still being tuned up and gets 17 MPG

Know how they always build a better idiot? That's me

Yet another example of how "engineering" is driven by marketing- its all about appearnance, not quality.

Yep, the R8 has LED headlamps. So does the Lexus LS600h ($5200 apiece rock-bottom trade price @ Toyota parts counter), and they'll be available as an option on the '10 Prius.

WJA- Daytime running lights are effective safety device as long as they're implemented correctly, which in North America they mostly are not (too much glare, too much power consumption, masking of turn signals, encourage improper nighttime/bad weather use of lights). European regs require DRLs starting in 2011 on all cars, but they won't be the wasteful/dumb kind we mostly get here, with modified operation of headlamps or turn signals. They'll be dedicated white lights that take very little power to run, bright enough to improve vehicle conspicuity without causing glare, without masking turn signals, without lulling drivers into thinking their regular lights are on after dark, etc. We're already seeing these Euro DRLs on some cars in America. Current Audi models, BMWs with "angel eye" DRLs, the high-end Cadillacs.

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一期一会
Too many people who were born on third base actually believe they've hit a triple.

Dan

In the last few years with the proliferation of the integrated turn signal & headlight styling craze taking over. I have found it increasingly difficult to catch on coming vehicles turn signals flashing. Most likely I'm not alone on this.

We have a ton of NB registered cars around here being a border town, and I have noticed the new vehicles from over the river extinguish the married head light when the turn signal is lit. This makes missing the signal imposable for oncoming drivers. Just the asymmetrical presentation of one headlight going out alone garners increased scrutiny, than add the little amber flash contrasted against the opposite side's bright white light. I like it.

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67' Dart GT Convertible; the old Chrysler Corp.
82' LeBaron Convertible; the new Chrysler Corp
07' 300 C AWD; Now by Fiat, the old new Chrysler LLC

Hit the nail on the head wjajr. I thought I was the only one that noticed/peeved by this.
I'll gripe for a second, at least once a week I nearly "cut off" a turning car because the turn signal blends in with the whole headlight assembly...my vision is 20/20.
I remember years ago being pulled over because of an aftermarket turn signal I had on my Vespa. Upon researching i found that the DOT required a certain color amber lens.
If I ever get in an accident (knock on wood) because of not being able to see a turn signal I will be sure to bring this up to the insurance company.

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<img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3173/2992308402_5481afb26e_t.jpg">

You're not. It's a real problem. The technical standards call for the minimum acceptable turn signal intensity to be higher the closer the signal is mounted to the low beam headlamp, but these standards have not been upgraded since they were written, which was back when headlamps and turn signals could not be integrated into the same housing behind a common lens because all vehicles had sealed-beam headlamps. There's ongoing discussion in the SAE lighting committee on the matter, but I wouldn't look for any real fix any time soon.
Some vehicles turn off one side of the daytime running light function when the turn signal on that side is operating. It depends on the distance from the turn signal to the lamp used to do the DRL function. It's not a good solution if the DRL function is produced by a headlamp, because it greatly worsens the safety consequences of drivers' tendency to use the daytime lights at night rather than turning on their full headlamps. The European regulation I mentioned earlier (for dedicated daytime running lamps not involving the headlamps) contains provisions for extinguishing or dimming one DRL when the turn signal on the same side is operating. In this case it's a good idea, because those European DRLs don't encourage misuse of lights (like headlight DRLs do).

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一期一会
Too many people who were born on third base actually believe they've hit a triple.

Definitely a pricey way to go. Glad I don't drive a Lexus, though I wish I could afford an R8 after having seen the one in Iron Man.

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'74 Duster w/ HEI ignition, beat to snot suspension, A904, 8.25" 3.55 SG rear, still being tuned up and gets 17 MPG

Know how they always build a better idiot? That's me