Here at Retro Tech Drives, we are fully committed to breathing new life into your beloved classic rigs, and today we tuck under the hood to tinker with the Fahren 9005/HB3 LED Headlight Bulbs. Our team has tested this product, and we are ready to share a detailed analysis about it. Equip your treasure with a perfect mix of modernity and practicality because life’s too short for dim headlights.

Now let’s get into the nitty-gritty. At a whopping 140W, 22,000LM per pair, these LEDs are 600% brighter than halogens, a sheer beast in the lumens department. They shine with a clear, 6500K cool white color. Operators caution, the sheer luminosity could turn heads during daytime drives.

A big selling point of the Fahren LED is the perfect beam pattern it emits. Thanks to its ultra-thin design, the 9005/HB3 LED bulb provides a super-focused beam, delivering both a wider angle and a farther range light on the road. This feature minimizes glare to oncoming traffic, helping maintain safety as you cruise through the night.

Installation of the bulbs proved to be a breeze. The design is almost identical to the original halogen bulbs, allowing for a plug-and-play experience. However, there is a minor hiccup with the blue rubber washer that might require your attention.

The Fahren LED claims an impressive 50,000-hours lifespan. Embodying the importance of efficient heat dissipation, the main body is made of aviation aluminum and accompanies a carved heat sink design and 1,2000RPM turbo cool fan, promising excellent cooling ability.

These lights are mostly universal, fitting in 98% of vehicles. But it’s essential to note that some sensitive vehicle models might require additional CANBUS decoders to be installed. For all the DIYers out there, your owner’s manual or the original bulb’s part number should tell you everything you need.

Sound good so far? Of course, it’s not all sunshine. We did encounter an issue with the set screw while testing. It caused the bulb to be misaligned, requiring a bit of tweaking. However, once realigned, the performance was more than satisfactory, making the effort worth it. Further, the low beams provided decent light, while the high beams were exceptionally bright, though a bit tricky to aim.

Our team also noted an issue pertaining to vehicles using high beams as daytime running lamps (DLRs). The bulbs do not function at low voltages, causing non-operational DLRs — a detail that will help if pre-empted.

We noticed a flickering issue during automatic mode, which necessitates manual activation. We discovered this minor drawback during our testing, but it doesn’t severely impact the overall operability or attractiveness of the product.

On the brighter side, even with all these issues considered, the Fahren 9005/HB3 LED Headlight Bulbs remains very popular amongst users due to its impressive brightness, installation ease, and overall performance.

In summary, the Fahren 9005/HB3 LED Headlight bulb is a bright, affordable, and mostly easy-to-install addition to your retro car. The ultra-brightness may not be for everyone, especially if you frequently drive during the day, and a few issues could use some refinement. However, considering its competitive price and the significantly improved visibility it provides, this product has quickly gained our approval.

Bottom Line

The Fahren 9005/HB3 LED Headlight Bulbs are an affordable and straightforward way to take your retro car into the future. With top-notch performance and a few minor installation issues to consider, these brilliant beams will bring a noticeable upgrade to any classic car lover’s nighttime driving experience.

Before we wrap up, please note that the links provided in this post are affiliate links. This means that if you choose to make a purchase through these links, we will earn a commission at no extra cost to you. This helps support the blog and allows us to continue to bring you quality content like this.

Check it out on Amazon.com (United States)

Check it out on Amazon.ca (Canada)

Check it out on Amazon.co.uk (United Kingdom)

Highlights

With a whopping 60W power rating producing 18,000 Lumens, these Fahren H11/H8/H9 LED Headlight Bulbs bring an avalanche of light to your night-time drive. Moreover, their 6500K cool white light ensures clarity and enhances visibility, reducing the strain on the eyes.

Installation

Often, upgrades come with a long, complicated installation process. Well, with the Fahren LED headlights, that’s not a problem. Designed to be almost 1:1 mini version of the halogen, these bulbs fit into the factory sockets with zero modification – it’s simply a plug-and-play scenario. However, the installation process can become somewhat challenging depending on the car model, requiring additional tools and sometimes even the removal of certain components to access the headlight area.

Lifespan and Durability

The bulbs boast an impressive lifespan thanks to their entire aviation aluminum body and the unique hollow-carved heat sink design. The 1,2000RPM turbo cool fan enhances the cooling ability, ensuring an astonishing lifespan of 5,0000 hours. However, while this certainly is a fantastic feature, practical testing revealed that leaving the covers of the light housing off for ventilation often leads to condensation inside during humid conditions, slightly impairing the bulb’s performance.

Performance

The Fahren LED headlights indeed produce a super-focussed beam pattern that significantly outperforms traditional halogens, offering increased brightness and wider lighting range. The bulbs are bright without blinding, their cooler color temperature is easy on the eyes, and they do an exemplary job in adverse weather conditions like rain. However, some users noted that the beam pattern was lacking and required adjustments to achieve the desired lighting effect.

Compatibility

Billed as CAN bus-Ready for 98% of vehicles, these headlights work effortlessly with the majority of vehicle computer systems without error. That said, some users reported a dash warning light indicating a bulb error, even when the LED were functioning as expected. This was often due to the sensor not recognizing the LEDs.

Value for Money

These LED bulbs from Fahren offer excellent value for the money. They significantly enhance your vehicle’s lighting performance without breaking the bank. Sure, you might find cheaper options out there, but the brightness, longevity, and ease of installation that Fahren’s LED pack brings to the table make it a standout choice for those who wish to upgrade their automotive lighting.

Final Thoughts

The Fahren H11/H8/H9 LED Headlight Bulbs offer powerful performance, exceptional lifespan, and a simple installation process. Although they have minor drawbacks, notably the need for ventilation and certain vehicle compatibility issues, their overall quality, durability, and exceptional output make them a worthy investment for any retro car owner looking to embrace the bright side of the digital age.

Before we wrap up, please note that the links provided in this post are affiliate links. This means that if you choose to make a purchase through these links, we will earn a commission at no extra cost to you. This helps support the blog and allows us to continue to bring you quality content like this.

Check it out on Amazon.com (United States)

Check it out on Amazon.ca (Canada)

Check it out on Amazon.co.uk (United Kingdom)