OEM vs Aftermarket LED Lights
Let me know if this scenario sounds familiar. Your headlight breaks down for some reason. You take it to a local mechanic or service center for repair.
They tell you that you will need to replace the bulb, and that is when you are often faced with some tough choices. On the surface, this choice is a simple one.
Do you simply take the OEM piece that they are offering you? Or do you actually spend a few minutes researching the aftermarket options.
Most people deal with this issue by simply opting for the cheaper option. After all, we don’t really notice our headlights until they actually break down. Which thanks to modern manufacturing isn’t that often.
Since it usually takes 3–4 years before you need to even think about a replacement. You aren’t even familiar with the current light technologies.
So, it’s hard to understand the actual difference between what you got from the company. And what you can expect from aftermarket products.
Moreover, not all aftermarket products are made the same. There is a huge difference between a cheap Chinese knock-off. Which doesn’t even come with proper packaging, let alone a warranty. And a properly designed and tested aftermarket option from established brands like OSRAM.
Then, there is the choice of whether you want to keep the same old halogen bulbs. Or go for modern aftermarket LEDs, since OEM LED lights have only been around for the past few years. This trips up the cost factor, as LEDs will always be more expensive than regular old halogens.
Yet they offer certain benefits that you can’t get from a standard OEM light. Let us help clear up this confusion. By listing out some differences between OEM and aftermarket LED lights. So, you can make a more informed decision.
1. Cost: This is the number one differentiating factor between OEM halogens and aftermarket LEDs. Because at the end of the day, it is the one that people take the most personally.
As we have mentioned above, OEM halogens will always be cheaper than aftermarket LEDs. This is why they have been the preference of carmakers for decades.
Moreover, carmakers can get the prices down even further. Since they are always buying in large volumes. So, prices aren’t bound to go up, even in the case of parts shortages in the general market.
But where halogens save on costs, they lose on performance and longevity. Even though performance is an equally important factor to consider. It is the extra longevity that evens up the difference over the lifespan of the bulb.
Thus, making LEDs the better choice, as long as you can absorb the initial extra cost. Which these days isn’t even that high, hovering at an average of around 30–50% over OEMs.
2. Performance: This is one factor where aftermarket LEDs easily trounce OEM halogens. It is also the most obvious difference, as LEDs give you almost twice the usable light.
Even the quality of the light is different, as OEM lights have a warm yellow light. While aftermarket LEDs have a sharp blue light.
It is scientifically proven that while blue light is not as calming on the eyes as yellow light. It is still a lot more bright and powerful.
This is also where quality LED lights from brands like OSRAM differentiate themselves. As they produce a lot less glare than cheaper alternatives that don’t focus on this aspect.
So far, we have been talking about performance in terms of lumens and usable light. But another aspect of performance in headlights is throw. Which is where LEDs often shine brighter at a shorter distance and cover a wider area.
There is some debate about how far LEDs can create visibility in adverse conditions. Versus halogen bulbs, which are often claimed to offer better visibility. Due to the warmer yellow light that is often claimed to refract less.
However, the difference isn’t so high that you would consider it an actual hindrance. Overall, aftermarket LEDs will always be an upgrade when it comes to performance. So, go for them if that is your main selection criteria.
3. Thermal Efficiency: This is a big difference between OEM halogens and aftermarket LEDs. One that has to do with how the different systems produce light.
In halogen bulbs, light comes as a byproduct of a chemical process. Which also releases heat, causing energy loss as a side effect. This heat not only wastes a portion of input energy, but it also reduces the lifespan of the bulb.
LEDs don’t use a chemical process therefore they don’t waste energy creating heat. The components do heat up as a result of sustained operation. But that heat release is far more manageable with modern cooling systems.
Therefore, aftermarket LEDs are a lot more thermally efficient. While also needing a lot less energy to operate. So much so, that aftermarket LEDs can produce twice the light of a halogen bulb. While using barely 8–12W of energy input. Even though it would take the halogen around 35–50W to produce half the amount of usable light.
4. Lifespan: Another side effect of the extra heat produced by halogens is the loss of lifespan. When components heat up more often, they tend to break down faster.
This is why older incandescent bulbs used to burn out in over a year of operation. Halogens are a lot better than those and can work for up to 3 years before breaking down. There are certain companies like OSRAM, which produce even longer-lasting halogens. Under their Ultra Life series of halogen bulbs.
However, they still can’t match up to LED technology. Which by its very nature produces a lot less heat, and therefore bulbs can last for as long as 5–6 years. While producing more light at the same time.
This makes them the obvious choice, despite the extra upfront cost. As the money you put up gets spread out over a longer period of time.
There are some of the main differences that you can expect between OEM halogens and aftermarket LEDs. Hopefully, it will help you make a better choice the next time you think about upgrading your car’s lighting setup.
