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LED or HID Upgrade for Sonata Hybrid

23K views 34 replies 19 participants last post by  tomcmorganjr 
#1 ·
So, I am picking up a 2016 Sonata Hybrid this week and I am already thinking of getting rid of the factory halogen (it's a base model without HID) to either LED or HID.

As far as I can tell, Sonata Hybrids don't have a separate bulbs for low and high beams and so the LED or HID bulb have to have both low beam and high beam capability. I looked over stuff on Amazon and I can't find anything that does that.

Anyone with Hybrid that have upgraded their headlights can provide any information on this? TIA.
 
#3 ·
Thank you for the link. I checked out the website but I am not sure those HID's are for 2016 hybrid models (it does not state so) .

Also, I currently have LED's in my current car and happy with them so I would not rule out the LEDs.

What I am confused about is it looks like Sonata Hybrid has one bulb for both lowbeam and high beam. They do not have separate bulbs for high/low like most cars. So it looks like special LEDs/HIDs that can do both low/high beam in one bulb is needed. That is why I was asking here if anyone had any experience with it here.
 
#4 ·
HIDs are always high beam, its the housing that controls the light spread. When you hit the high beams on the HID equipped Sonata's, the full beam is allowed to leave the housing. With halogens, there are typically two different reflectors, one using a cover or a covered bulb, and another using a completely uncovered bulb that is engaged when you hit the high beams. When you have halogen projectors, the projector lens is the same(ish) as that in the HID projector but without the mechanism to uncover the full beam. So for the high beams, the halogen projector setup uses the uncovered, reflector housing.

tl;dr your car has a projector compatible with HIDs for the low beams only, your high beams will and only should be halogens.
 
#5 ·
tl;dr your car has a projector compatible with HIDs for the low beams only, your high beams will and only should be halogens.
Thanks for the info but I am confused. Are you saying that Sonata has two bulbs in headlight? One bulb for high and one for low? I can just replace the low bulb with HID or LED? Is that correct?


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#6 ·
Yes, the low beam bulb is behind that awesome ball lens while the high beam is the exposed bulb visible from the outside of the car. The high beam can also be determined by the bulbs physical location when you have separate bulbs for high/low:

Low | High (Center of the car) High | Low

Pretty sure it's in the FMVSS, like how your fog lights cannot be on at the same time as your high beams.
 
#12 ·
Looks great! Be happy that Hyundai didn't cheap out and give you reflector housings instead of those projectors, projectors do such an insanely better job at focusing light. I remember in my previous car, a '14 Honda Civic, that when driving on unlit roads with overhanging trees I could actually see through the sunroof a large amount of light escaping the housing and going straight up!
 
#17 ·
I have done HID and LED's in my 2013 HSH. Both times, the driver side bulb/ballast had issues. They would flicker. The HID's would go out prematurely, with no signs of bulb failure.

I tried MULTIPLE sets, from multiple companies, all with the same results. I think the electrical system messes with them somehow.

How are yours holding up? Having any of these type of issues?


Also, I'm back!
 
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#19 ·
H11 for Low beams, H7 for high beams. H8 for fogs. I suggest ONLY Low's, unless SUPER BRIGHT LED for highs. Fogs can be HID, but you will get high beamed back.
 
#21 ·
LED kits have improved greatly including quality over the past year or two. Check out my write-up about picking out a LED headlight kit to replace the 9005 halogens in my new Santa Fe Sport Ultimate in the General forum. It was applicable for everyone, so I didn't put it in a vehicle specific forum.

Opt7 Fluxbeam X is best if you don't want to do mods to the dust covers and the Tinsince P70 6000°k kit is the best all around, but they have a copper belt heat sink instead of a fan, so you have to drill through your dust caps.

I looked at six different models from five vendors before I found one that was acceptable. SNGL is the highest priced kit, but I don't see how - terrible unfocused, dark spots in the beams, blinds other drivers, etc

It's a good read, and recent because I still have one kit to test...
 
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#22 ·
#23 ·
Sorry but I'm not clear. Were these installed as Low Beam or High Beam? Can you provide shots of them from back of the light housing? How far out do they protrude and did they come with a dust cap or did you have to modify the factory dust caps? Oh and what was the color temperature? Thanks!
 
#25 ·
Interesting to see this thread pop up now. I replaced my LED DRL/high beams two days ago. Didn't want to wonder if the car would pass the yearly inspection because the high beams didn't work plus I wanted those lights back. I was using LEDs in them for 4 1/2 years so it's nice to get those lights back. I'm using the Silverstar Ultra. They are BRIGHT! Something I noticed while reading the back of the package is they are rated to work for 85 hours. It also says the average driver uses their low beams 100 hours per year. Do those people not drive at night?

HID and LED kits available for your car - https://www.xenondepot.com/2013-sonata-hybrid-hid-headlight-kit-bulbs-s/27818.htm
 
#26 ·
The Silverstar company was sued... I got a $4.50 check back from a class action suit. The lawyers got millions. I had them in two cars (low beam) and they lasted 6 months exactly. I got one bulb replaced for free but then the other went out two weeks later. Then 5 months later the replacement dies.
They now state on the back of the package the "duration" of the lights.

Like burning a candle at both ends, it gives a lovely light, but will not last through the night.

I put HID in my former cars as that was all that was available. If you have problems with HID burning out.. you need one relay, from the battery to the bulbs. On start up they use some 80 watts. Hyundai has a safety relay, so if the watts to the bulb goes above a certain amount, it kicks off their safety relay until the overage is removed. So one bulb will light and the second won't. Fuse the relay to 20 amps.
My 2016 HSH Ultimate has HID and one bulb. It has some iris that open full when the high beams are on. I have auto high beams, nice, but they only turn on above 30 mph. You just have to double click the high beam switch to turn them on manually if you need it. I have lots of deer on my back roads, so I use my highs on the back roads too.
 
#30 ·
So, I am picking up a 2016 Sonata Hybrid this week and I am already thinking of getting rid of the factory halogen (it's a base model without HID) to either LED or HID.

As far as I can tell, Sonata Hybrids don't have a separate bulbs for low and high beams and so the LED or HID bulb have to have both low beam and high beam capability. I looked over stuff on Amazon and I can't find anything that does that.

Anyone with Hybrid that have upgraded their headlights can provide any information on this? TIA.
quick question, can i change my headlights myself if one goes out or does it need to be taken to the dealer? i have a ‘16 sonata hybrid and theres a sticker that says do not open by the headlight but i want to know if i can still do it myself. thanks
 
#34 ·
Looks like a very old thread now.

Curious as to which LED bulb you ended up with. If not sure, I think I can offer some help.
If I saw that he is old..

Ok, my sontana has Hid D3S from the factory 4300k and I want to change them for a Hid 5000k to make it look whiter or Led white. But in a meeting there is almost no room to change them. I don't know if you can see well the little space you have. And to remove the Hid it has two screws.
Motor vehicle Fixture Vehicle Automotive wheel system Tints and shades

Hood Vehicle Automotive lighting Seat belt Motor vehicle
 
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