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LED headlight bulbs that screw in where your halogens go are one of the cheapest ways to change the look of your car at night.
I picked up a set of Warmoon 9005 (HB3) LED headlight bulbs, rated 36W, 6500K and 8,000 lumens on the box, for my Plymouth Prowler. Before installing them I unboxed the pair to show how they are built and what to check before you buy. The Warmoon set is no longer listed, so the button below goes to a current fan-cooled 9005 LED pair in the same 6500K color.
- Plug-and-play: same twist-lock base and plug as the halogen
- Whiter, brighter-looking light than yellowish halogens
- Built-in fan and heat sink to manage LED heat
- Far cheaper than a full HID conversion
- The heat sink and fan stick out behind the bulb, so check the room behind your headlight housing and its dust cap
- Reviews I read suggest measured output is not always higher than halogen, even if it looks brighter
▶ Watch the full review on YouTube
Why LED headlight bulbs instead of HID or blue halogens?
Back when I first got into cars, the trick was a halogen bulb with blue-tinted glass. It looked a bit like HID, but it was not any brighter. Real HID conversion kits meant ballasts and wiring headaches.
LED replacement bulbs give you that crisp HID-style white without the conversion work. They come in all price points, from around $100 down to the roughly $30 pair I bought, and this set had good reviews.
How the Warmoon 9005 bulb is built
The front half looks like a normal halogen: an o-ring and a tabbed base that slides in and locks with about a quarter turn. Behind that is the part halogens do not have, a long finned heat sink with a small five-blade fan on the back.
LED bulbs, especially high-output ones, can make a lot of heat, and headlights sit close to a hot engine, so active cooling makes sense. The plug on the end is the standard connector, the same type the halogen bulb uses.
Check this before you buy
The one real catch is space. Some headlight housings have a plastic cap over the back of the bulb, and the heat sink and fan need room. Measure behind your headlight first. I am hoping there is enough room on my Prowler.
Expect a whiter light rather than a huge jump in measured brightness. Halogens give a warm, yellowish light that mutes colors, and a clean white can make things easier to see. LEDs should also use less power, because halogens are not very efficient.
About the buy link
The exact Warmoon set I showed is no longer sold on Amazon, so the button goes to a current 9005/HB3 LED pair in the same 6500K cool white with a built-in cooling fan. Check the fit for your vehicle on the listing.
First impressions
So far the Warmoon pair looks easy to install, and I like that it is an affordable way to get a different look. I will do a full review once they are in the car. If you want the same style of upgrade today, the button links to a current 9005 LED pair with a cooling fan.
FAQ
Do 9005 LED bulbs need a conversion kit?
The pair I showed did not. They use the same base and plug as the 9005 halogen bulb, so they swap in directly, as long as the heat sink and fan fit behind the housing.
Are LED headlight bulbs brighter than halogen?
They look whiter and brighter. From reviews I read, the measured lumens or lux are not always higher than halogen, so think of it as a whiter light more than a guaranteed jump in output.
Why do LED headlight bulbs have a fan?
LEDs make heat, and headlights sit near a hot engine. The finned heat sink and small rear fan draw that heat away.
Is this an affiliate link?
Yes. The buttons are #ad affiliate links, and as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. It costs you nothing extra.
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