Hyundai Tucson LED Low Beam Headlight Upgrade: Hilox XTR Black H7/H9

It is not just in our own little frog pond: Belgium cares about good car lighting that makes driving safer, too. After shopping around a bit, customer Dominique ended up with us, and doesn't the lighting look good in his Hyundai! The high light output and the reactions from other drivers convinced Dominique to upgrade the halogen headlights to LED on his 2016 Hyundai Tucson Premium Plus. We have summarised Dominique's review below.

Why did you choose an LED kit?

Choosing Hilox products was a quick decision, partly thanks to the blog reviews and the Truckstar article itself. I definitely didn't want cheap rubbish from Alibaba or eBay.

How did the installation go?

The installation was a struggle at first, as some vehicles today leave very little room to tinker. But thanks to the adapter, the bulb slid in easily. After that it was just a matter of tucking the adapter and the cables away in a tight space, and thanks to the small size, that went flawlessly.

Hyundai Tucson LED: what was installed?

• Low beam: H7 XTR Black kit, Hilox Evolution
• Adapter: LED bulb adapter for Hyundai, Kia
• Fog light: H9 XTR Black kit, Hilox Evolution
• Number plate light: T10/W5W 2-SMD High Power LED (3030 chip)

The H7 XTR Black Evolution at a glance

The H7 XTR Black LED kit, Hilox Evolution is the 4th generation XTR LED. These are the key features according to the product information:

• 3,600 true lumens per LED, 3.5 times more light than halogen
• 5700K: a white light colour
• Luxeon Z ES LED chips from Lumileds (Philips), up to 50,000 hours of lifespan
• Smart Cool IC chip and Maglev fan for cooling
• IP68 waterproof
• Adjustable through 360 degrees to set the beam pattern
• CAN-bus II module for cars that monitor their bulbs

What is in the box?

• 2 x H7 XTR Black LED bulb, 36.2 mm
• 2 x XTR Black driver, 66 x 31.1 x 15.7 mm
• 2 x XTR CAN-bus II module 12 V, 70 x 38 x 23.5 mm

Not much room behind the headlight? Here is how to tackle it

Dominique ran into something that affects many modern cars: there is little room to tinker behind the headlight. With a bit of preparation it goes a lot more smoothly.

1. First look at how the halogen bulb is held. On brands like Hyundai and Kia the bulb sits in a holder where an LED bulb does not simply fit; an adapter then keeps the LED in the right position.
2. Fit the adapter to the LED first, then place the whole thing in the headlight. That way you have one less step to do in the tight space.
3. Connect the driver to the original plug. If your car throws up an error message, connect the CAN-bus II module as well.
4. Tuck the driver, the module and the cables away neatly, so they do not touch moving or hot parts and the dust cover closes properly.
5. Test the low beam and check the dashboard for warnings.

The driver measures 66 x 31.1 x 15.7 mm. That small size is why, for Dominique, tucking everything away in the tight space went flawlessly. Not sure whether your car needs an adapter? Get in touch before you order.

Why not a cheap LED from the internet?

Dominique definitely did not want a cheap LED from Alibaba or eBay. The Truckstar lighting test showed why: in a reflector headlight, all the LEDs tested failed the Dutch APK inspection, except the XTR Black LED. The problem often lies in the position of the LED chips. They have to sit exactly where the filament sits in a halogen bulb, otherwise the beam pattern is off and you dazzle oncoming drivers.

Claimed light outputs also say little. High lumen figures on the packaging do not mean the light lands on the road where it belongs.

Beam pattern and inspection

After fitting, have the beam aligned and check that your car still meets the Dutch APK requirements; if in doubt, check with the RDW (the Dutch vehicle authority) or your inspector. According to the product information, LED bulbs with an H fitting designation cannot receive ECE or E-mark approval and are intended for racing circuits and private property. You can find all versions at the XTR Black LED kits.