Among a wide range of different cars models on the road, we can find some of them with xenon projector headlight and HID D series stock bulbs inside, from D1S, D2S, D3S to D4S model.

The ‘’S’’ (from D1S/D2S/D3S/D4S) means the bulb does not have an opaque shield that covers on the glass. It should be used in projector optics instead of reflector headlamp. For the bulbs with ‘’R’’ (D1R/D2R/D3R/D4R), the situation is opposite.

In this article, we would like to focus on LED lighting upgrade for D series “S” type bulbs.

To go with HID conversion kit replacement, we have to deal with 2 or 3 components: HID bulb itself, ballast and sometimes a wire harness. When we talk about LED bulb upgrade, things are much simpler. Take out HID bulbs and ballast, put LED bulbs in. Most of time you already finish the work. If you get flickering, warn message on dashboard or other CAN bus problems, just add a pair of C6P LED decoder.

F3 LED D series bulb can fit D1S/D2S/D3S/D4S HID applications. One can replace all.

The more powerful the light, the shorter its lifespan. HID bulb consumes high power in AC 23000V high voltage set up by the ballast. The average lifetime of HID is only 2000 hours. While LED consumes less power and works for over 30,000 hours, 10 times longer than HID. Besides, now the maturing technology of LED make its brightness comparable to HID.

There is no doubt that LED is an easier, more durable and brighter upgrade choose. But how should we choose a LED bulb correctly for projector headlight? This mainly depends on the types of projector.

1.Projector for low beam only. It includes a lens at the front of bulb and a reflector behind it. A fixed shutter makes sure the beam go in a downward angle towards the road by blocking the light. If we use a 2 emitting sided design LED bulb under this situation, with LED chips facing up and down, half of the light is blocked and wasted inside.

Maximizing and making full use of the light output, F3 D1-D4 (1 emitting sided) has optimal performance in the low beam projector. Clear cut-off line, no dark spot. Remember to place the LED chips side up.

Low beam projector vehicle examples:
HYUNDAI Equus
MERCEDES-BENZ C250, C350, C63 AMG
HONDA Odyssey
MAZDA 5, MX-5 Miata
MITSUBISHI Outlander, Outlander Sport, RVR
NISSAN Altima, Quest
CHEVROLET SS, Suburban, Tahoe
FORD Escape
GMC Yukon, Yukon XL
VOLVO S60, V60, V60 Cross Country, XC60
TOYOTA Avalon, Land Cruiser, Sienna

2.Bi-xenon projector for high low beam. The biggest difference is that it has an electrically-operated shutter that switches the high beam and low beam mode. Low beam mode is on with shutter closed. When we switch to high beam mode, shutter is lowered, allowing more light out.

In this case, F3 D1-D4 is no longer the best option. Because when we turn on the high beam, there is no light coming from the bottom and reflected to the higher position outside the lens. We will get a weak high beam on the road and can’t see clearly what is in front of the car.

In order to get the brightest low beam and high beam from bi-xenon projector, we should choose F18 D1-D4 (2 emitting sided).

Bi-xenon projector projector vehicle examples:
BMW 228i, 320i, 328d, 328i, 335i, , 428i, 435i, 520i, 528i, 535d, 535i, 550i, 640i, 650i, 740i, 750i, 760Li, M3, M4, M5. M6, X1, X3, X4, X5, X6, Z4
INFINITI Q40, Q60, QX60, QX70, QX80
NISSAN 370Z
AUDI A3, A4, A5, A6, A7 Quattro, Q3, Q5, Q7, RS5, S3, S4, S5, SQ5
BUICK Enclave, LaCrosse, Regal
CHEVROLET Camaro, Corvette, Impala, Malibu
DODGE Challenger, Charger, Dart, Durango, Viper
FORD Explorer, Flex, Mustang, Taurus
LAND ROVER LR4, Range Rover, Range Rover Evoque, Range Rover Sport
MERCEDES-BENZ CLA250, CLA45 AMG, GLA250, GLA45 AMG, Sprinter 2500, Sprinter 3500
VOLKSWAGEN CC, Eos, Golf, GTI, Jetta, Tiguan, Touareg
LEXUS GS350, GS450H, LS460
MAZDA 3, 6, CX-5, CX-9

D1S bi-xenon vehicles list:
ALFA ROMEO 4C
AUDI TT Quattro
BMW 228i, 228i xDrive, 320i, 320i xDrive, 328d, 328d xDrive, 328i, 328i GT xDrive, 328i xDrive, 335i, 335i GT xDrive, 335i xDrive, 428i, 428i Gran Coupe, 428i xDrive, 428i xDrive Gran Coupe, 435i, 435i Gran Coupe, 435i xDrive, 435i xDrive Gran Coupe, 520i, 528i, 528i xDrive, 535d, 535d xDrive, 535i, 535i GT, 535i GT xDrive, 535i xDrive, 550i, 550i GT, 550i GT xDrive, 550i xDrive, 640i, 640i Gran Coupe, 640i xDrive, 640i xDrive Gran Coupe, 650i, 650i Gran Coupe, 650i xDrive, 650i xDrive Gran Coupe, 740i, 740Ld xDrive, 740Ld xDrvie, 740Li, 740Li xDrive, 750i, 750i xDrive, 750Li, 750Li xDrive, 760Li, ActiveHybrid 3, ActiveHybrid 5, ActiveHybrid 7, Alpina B6 xDrive Gran Coupe, Alpina B7, Alpina B7 xDrive, Alpina B7L, Alpina B7L xDrive, M235i, M235i xDrive, M3, M4, M5. M6, M6 Gran Coupe, X1, X3, X4, X5, X6, Z4
CADILLAC CTS
JAGUAR F-Type, XK, XKR, XKR-S
LAND ROVER LR2
MERCEDES-BENZ B Electric Drive, B250, G550, G63 AMG, GL350, GL450, GL550, GL63 AMG, GLK250, GLK350, ML250, ML350, ML400, ML550, ML63 AMG, SL400, SL550, SL63 AMG, SL65 AMG, SLK250, SLK350, SLK55 AMG, SLS AMG
ROLLS ROYCE Wraith
D1S low beam vehicles list:
CHRYSLER Town & Country
HYUNDAI Equus
Aston Martin V12 Vantage,
MERCEDES-BENZ C250, C350, C63 AMG
PORSCHE Cayenne, Panamera
VOLVO S80, XC70

D2S bi-xenon vehicles list:
CADILLAC SRX
INFINITI Q40, Q60, QX60, QX70, QX80
MITSUBISHI Lancer
NISSAN 370Z
CADILLAC SRX
D2S low beam vehicles list:
HONDA Odyssey
INFINITI QX50
MAZDA 5, MX-5 Miata
MITSUBISHI Outlander, Outlander Sport, RVR
NISSAN Altima, Quest
ACURA ILX, RDX, TL, TSX

D3S bi-xenon vehicles list:
AUDI A3, A3 Quattro, A4, A4 allroad, A4 Quattro, A5, A5 Quattro, A6, A6 Quattro, A7 Quattro, allroad, Q3, Q3 Quattro, Q5, Q7, RS5, S3, S4, S5, SQ5
BUICK Enclave, LaCrosse, Regal
CADILLAC ATS, XTS
CHEVROLET Camaro, Corvette, Impala, Malibu
CHRYSLER 200, 300
DODGE Challenger, Charger, Dart, Durango, Viper
FORD Explorer, Flex, Mustang, Taurus
Freightliner Sprinter 2500, Sprinter 3500
GMC Acadia
JAGUAR XF, XFR, XFR-S, XJ, XJR
JEEP Cherokee, Grand Cherokee
LAMBORGHINI Aventador
LAND ROVER LR4, Range Rover, Range Rover Evoque, Range Rover Sport
LINCOLN MKC, MKS, MKT, MKX, Navigator
MERCEDES-BENZ CLA250, CLA45 AMG, GLA250, GLA45 AMG, Sprinter 2500, Sprinter 3500
PORSCHE Macan
VOLKSWAGEN CC, Eos, Golf, GTI, Jetta, Tiguan, Touareg
D3S low beam vehicles list:
CHEVROLET SS, Suburban, Tahoe
FORD Escape
GMC Yukon, Yukon XL
PORSCHE 911, Boxster, Cayman
VOLVO S60, V60, V60 Cross Country, XC60

D4S bi-xenon vehicles list:
LEXUS GS350, GS450H, LS460
MAZDA 3, 6, CX-5, CX-9
SCION FR-S
SUBARU BRZ
TOYOTA Venza
D4S low beam vehicles list:
HONDA CR-Z
LEXUS ES300h, ES350, IS250, IS350, LS460, LX570, RX350, RX450h, ES300h, ES350
SUBARU Legacy, Outback
TOYOTA Avalon, Land Cruiser, Sienna