Reviving an older post because I’m interested in LED headlights. Has anyone tried the Dapper Lighting or Octane Lighting? I priced the Dapper Lights and it came out configured to over $750 and the Octane Lights are only $200. Is the Dapper Lighting worth an extra $500?
I’m also considering LED headlights. I don’t drive much at night, but the stock headlights are really dim and there’s no streetlights in the country!
Not sure if all these have been mentioned here, but here’s the links to the ones I’ve looked at for my ‘70:
https://www.octanelighting.com/auto-lighting/headlights/5-3-4-headlights/5-34-crystal-clear-glass-metal-headlight-6k-set-033-034-3rd-gen-led-4.html
https://www.npdlink.com/product/bulb-set-led-generation-4/204064
https://www.drakeautomotivegroup.com/5-3-4-hi-headlamp-w-fomoco-b8az-13007-b
https://ledlightstreet.com/products/h5006-led-conversion-kit
https://secure.cougarpartscatalog.com/store/p/16120-Halogen-headlight-Conversion-Complete-Kit-Repro-1967-1968-Mercury-Cougar-clone.html
https://www.cjponyparts.com/redline-lumtronix-headlight-halogen-led-halo-multi-color-pair-1965-1968-1970-1973/p/HLA35
https://vintagecarleds.com/5-75-inch-round-headlights
https://www.octanelighting.com/kit5-3-4-halogen-green-led-ring-halo-angel-eyes-headl-pair-5-sc-green-led-hex-60w-blue-4.html
https://www.headlightexperts.com/carfinder?find=1970-mercury-cougar-27706&sid=NITWD3mlYa
https://www.dapperlighting.com/collections/1967-1970-mercury-cougar/products/575
https://www.holley.com/products/exterior/lighting/headlight/round_headlights/parts/LFRB125
Recommend that you get the LED lamps VS the Halogen. Halogen lamps require a lot of current - LED lights do not.
I purchased a pair of United Pacific LED headlights p/n 31201 for my cougar. Work fantastic and are DOT and SAE approved. Did have to modify the bucket slightly, (flared the flat around the bottom hole) but they went right in. They do have clear plastic lenses though and look like custom lights. Mine are hidden behind the doors so wasn’t too worried about the looks. Was more interested in seeing at night which I now can.
Andy
Much like the HID conversions that came before LED there is more junk then quality out there so it can be quite difficult to find something thats worth buying.
I do suggest avoiding the kits with the fans on the back of the bulb. Lifespan is short lived on most of those and the fan is bulky and takes up more space then it should. Some kits also have wiring adaptors and resistor modules on them that take up space as well and generally just clutters up the space. Some of the cheaper quality led housings and led bulbs provide terrible light patterns as well so be careful.
From those links provided it seems the holly kit is one of the better ones. Obviously Holley just sticks their name on it but Morimoto is the LED driver which these guys have been around a long while in the LED game and build a nice product. I would expect this one to give you a nice bright light output and pattern but I have no first hand knowledge of that. I also like the fact they look similar to a original lenses until its lit up, I dont care for the look of the halos or projector style lenses on the cougar.
I used Vision X VX series XIL-575RDB lights. I got an open box set but they are still expensive. They are DOT approved. I had the Dapper lights but they require a lot of modifications to the buckets. Her is a link to my thread when I redid my grill with the new lights.
https://cccforum.discoursehosting.net/t/location-east-coast-nos-and-used-cougar-parts/67/1
There are pictures of the Dapper lights for comparison.
A lot of good information and more to bulbs to consider. The Dapper 30w LED has a fan and based on the photos from Lxg44 there might be a concern with enough room for my 73. I emailed Dapper to see if they can provide me the exact depth of the 30W LED housing/bulb. The Holley kit may be the best option since there is no fan. Research continues…
Thanks
A very different take here.
I went LED taillights & dash cluster. I was very pleasantly surprised that my extra bright Sylvania (traditional) headlights brightened significantly with less power going elsewhere. The dash cluster made the bigger difference. 
I opted to forget about the LED headlights for now.
I thought I would throw these in the mix. I personally don’t have any experience with these in particular, but I built the projector headlights on my F150 with Morimoto products and they haven’t failed me yet. The Retrofit Source also has some of the best customer support out there and they stand behind their products.
I completely understand better headlights for safety. From what I remember brighter headlights started somewhere around 2010. It’s now completely out of control and is doing more harm ( blinding oncoming traffic ) and the brightness has gone too far.
I mean who needs to see a mile down the road.
The blind leading the blind and making the rest of us blind as well.
On most nights driving anywhere in this country , more and more people drive with their high beams on. Is it because nobody cares anymore or they want to be brighter as well. Is it a cool thing or something now , like the stupid loud popping exhaust fad. Common courtesy on our roads is almost unheard of now. You tell me how you were taught to drive, ( yea turn off your high beams when you first see oncoming lights. ) Now a lot of people let the car do it for them ( Auto high beams on new vehicles ) very stupid IMO.
Drivers becoming more mindless = not good.
Super bright headlights out of alignment will be a serious problem and it is happening now everywhere.
Add to that all the illegal installed bright headlights added to older cars and trucks. Which most are installed wrong and pointing anywhere but the road.
Trucks pulling trailers point way high. Oncoming headlights on turns and hills are freaken terrible. People converting there trucks to run 6 lights at the same time versus fogfights go off when high beams are turned on. Again just plain stupid.Tractor trailers are no different and they are some of the worst bright lights on the road.
Add in the rain on the roads and they act like a mirror making it twice as bad. People are actually dieing in accidents because of being blinded by headlights.
And guess where all these illegal non DOT headlights are made and come from.
Like a lot of things going on today; we are on a road to nowhere and it’s a race to the bottom.
I hope not but it seems that way.
Thank you Cougar500, I totally agree.
Agreed. Hyundai tried to get LED headlights mounted lower in the bumper to avoid the glare problem. Unfortunately near sighted governments insisted that they had to be mounted higher up, where adjustment is critical to avoid glare.
The scourge around here are the current trend of raised pickups with LED lights that shine blindingly right into your rear vision mirror
Dapper Lighting addresses fake projector lights and blinding other drivers. https://www.dapperlighting.com/pages/fake-projectors-and-other-lighting-choices
I contacted Dapper lighting regarding the depth of the LED from the rear of the housing and here is their response:
https://www.dapperlighting.com/collections/projector-headlights/products/575
The 575 light measures 4.75" from alignment tabs to the end of the bulb with the 30w bulb in place. The 17w bulb measures the same, and the halogen bulb will be 1/2" shorter in total length. If these measurements don’t seem promising, we do have another 5.75" sized light that is about 1.75" shorter in overall length. It’s called our OE5: https://www.dapperlighting.com/products/oe5?_pos=1&_sid=a0fc88445&_ss=r. This light does usually require opening up the back of your headlight buckets ever so slightly for bulb clearance, but you shouldn’t have any issues with things mounted behind your buckets. Please let me know if you have any more questions or concerns!
I have to measure my space to see if they will fit.
I respectfully disagree that newer headlight tech is a problem. I for one do need to see a mile down the road. Hoofed rats are a real problem and my old eyes need the power of the sun behind me.
Being old, I well remember the fuss the original halogen replacement bulbs caused when sealed beams started to go away. “Ah! My eyes!” Then the same thing with HID and now LED. It is my opinion that most of the consternation is the brain seeing something it isn’t used to. However, improper aiming and mismatched housings certainly can be a problem.
I’ve used replacement HID and LED bulbs in existing halogen housings with no difficulty as long as the source of light can be positioned within the housing exactly where the filament of the halogen bulb was previously. This isn’t trivial nor even always possible but it can be done. However, if a purpose built housing/bulb combo exists, and there are several good options in this thread, that’s the way to go.
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DETROIT — General Motors is recalling more than 740,000 small SUVs in the U.S. because the headlight beams can be too bright and cause glare for oncoming drivers. The recall announced Tuesday comes after U.S. safety regulators turned down a request from the Detroit automaker to avoid the recall.Mar 22, 2022
I agree. Its not the tech thats the issue its using it improperly. The above article posted is a very good example of what a junk light conversion does vs a correct led and projector assembly. From there it then needs to be adjusted for proper alignment. All too often people just slap HIDs or LEDS in and run them but in realty there is much more to it. With the proper equipment and installation blinding others on the road will not be a problem and you will actually get light on the road where you need it.
I believe federal regs say head lights are to omit light no more then 400 ft down the road. Not 100% sure on that.
I read that in Canada they have laser beam headlights, ( crazy bright ) hope these aren’t allowed in the states but I’m sure people will get them if they can.
I understand the safety factor but State Inspections on vehicles headlights are basically non existent.
Nobody checks them to pass an inspection anymore.
They aren’t paid enough to spend the time to check them.
We have laws and regulations for mostly good reasons.
But we see more everyday now things don’t apply for everyone.
Can yall help me find my Laptop,
somehow it’s missing.
Already here actually. High end luxury cars use them and it will filter down into everything eventually.
In the world of offroad lighting its becoming more common as well. Mainly in the racing scene as its stupid expensive but as with everything it will be come more mainstream.
In MA, every state inspection bay has headlight aiming marks on the end wall around 10’ from where the vehicle stops. My 2014 Wrangler, with a 2" lift and aftermarket DOT-approved LED headlights, hits the marks exactly where it should. The only comment the inspector has ever made is that they are bright, but they are aimed properly. There isn’t any test for brightness, however.
I still occasionally get flashed by other drivers, but it’s rare.
It’s a known fact on just about any internet car forum or facebook page that no car has bright enough lights from the factory.
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