[phatB]

I wanted to start a thread about the upcoming Morimoto XB LED Headlight assemblies for the 2009-2020 Nissan Frontier

Morimoto said on FB it was to release this month.
The big concern (for me) is price, estimating $900 which will put it out of range for most of us.
I have the popular Katana LED bulbs which are a very good upgrade and incredible value for the improvement it makes, but I would like a cleaner cutoff and more evenly distributed light if possible.

Just wanted to hear other's thoughts.
Are they worth almost ten times the very good Katana bulb upgrade?
Are they worth double the cost of a DIY projector lens retro fit?
Is it hard or impossible to justify the Morimotos for the $ considering there are other options which are close in performance for a fraction of the price?

 

[raymond~]

Not answerable until the product is released and field tested.

Highly unlikely to justify the cost and that it would be proportionally 20x the LED 9007 drop-in.

to be determined​

to be determined​

It would be rare to see the LED output exceed an HID, which I could retrofit myself for about $400. We'll see​

 

[Skibane]

< Waiting for the $200 knock-offs on AliExpress

 

[raine]

Are they worth almost ten times the very good Katana bulb upgrade?
Are they worth double the cost of a DIY projector lens retro fit?
Is it hard or impossible to justify the Morimotos for the $ considering there are other options which are close in performance for a fraction of the price?

...or maybe wait until the product is out. How do you actually expect anyone to have answers to these questions when literally no one has the product yet?!?

 

[XDJohnTobias]

I wanted to start a thread about the upcoming Morimoto XB LED Headlight assemblies for the 2009-2020 Nissan Frontier

Morimoto said on FB it was to release this month.
The big concern (for me) is price, estimating $900 which will put it out of range for most of us.
I have the popular Katana LED bulbs which are a very good upgrade and incredible value for the improvement it makes, but I would like a cleaner cutoff and more evenly distributed light if possible.

Just wanted to hear other's thoughts.
Are they worth almost ten times the very good Katana bulb upgrade?
Are they worth double the cost of a DIY projector lens retro fit?
Is it hard or impossible to justify the Morimotos for the $ considering there are other options which are close in performance for a fraction of the price?

As one of the few people who have had hands-on experience with the prototype headlights, I can address some of your questions.

For the price, the Katana bulbs aren't bad. They aren't anywhere close to the best PNP LED bulb out there, but it's hard to beat 50 bucks.

- Are they worth 10x the price of the Katana bulbs?
100% yes. The Morimoto headlights are brighter, have a much better beam pattern, and they give the truck a unique look that you can't get with PNP LED bulbs.
-Are they worth double the cost of a DIY projector lens retrofit?
This is completely opinion based and everyone's answer will be different. Me personally, yes they are worth it. While I've never built a set of Frontier headlights, I've built more headlights than I can count. Going with a good set of HID or LED projectors like the Morimoto MLED 2.0 or the Morimoto Mini D2s 5.0 will be brighter than the Morimoto Hybrid headlights. However, I would personally go with the Morimoto headlights. They're much easier to install, and you don't have to deal with retrofitting a set of headlights. Going with a good retrofit will likely cost more than the estimated price as well.
-Is it hard or impossible to justify the Morimotos for the $ considering there are other options which are close in performance for a fraction of the price?
What other options are out there? As far as I'm aware, the only options are a retrofit, PNP LED/HID upgrades or other headlights that take halogen bulbs. If referring to the latter, they are 10000% worth it. They're brighter, are much better quality, and have a much better warranty as well.

The ETA for these headlights was pushed back to the end of Novemberish, but that's honestly a good thing. Morimoto is making some slight tweaks to make them even better. Both projectors will be on for low beam, which will make it even brighter.

 

[GunmetalSV]

As one of the few people who have had hands-on experience with the prototype headlights, I can address some of your questions.

For the price, the Katana bulbs aren't bad. They aren't anywhere close to the best PNP LED bulb out there, but it's hard to beat 50 bucks.

- Are they worth 10x the price of the Katana bulbs?
100% yes. The Morimoto headlights are brighter, have a much better beam pattern, and they give the truck a unique look that you can't get with PNP LED bulbs.
-Are they worth double the cost of a DIY projector lens retrofit?
This is completely opinion based and everyone's answer will be different. Me personally, yes they are worth it. While I've never built a set of Frontier headlights, I've built more headlights than I can count. Going with a good set of HID or LED projectors like the Morimoto MLED 2.0 or the Morimoto Mini D2s 5.0 will be brighter than the Morimoto Hybrid headlights. However, I would personally go with the Morimoto headlights. They're much easier to install, and you don't have to deal with retrofitting a set of headlights. Going with a good retrofit will likely cost more than the estimated price as well.
-Is it hard or impossible to justify the Morimotos for the $ considering there are other options which are close in performance for a fraction of the price?
What other options are out there? As far as I'm aware, the only options are a retrofit, PNP LED/HID upgrades or other headlights that take halogen bulbs. If referring to the latter, they are 10000% worth it. They're brighter, are much better quality, and have a much better warranty as well.

The ETA for these headlights was pushed back, but that's honestly a good thing. Morimoto is making some slight tweaks to make them even better. Both projectors will be on for low beam, which will make it even brighter. View attachment 323242 View attachment 323243

Thanks for the update! I just found out that these will be "plug and play" which definitely is a plus.

 

[RobFrisco415]

I would imagine they would look something like this.... here are the Dodge Ram XB Led headlights..... if they are anything like this.... count me in!

 

[XDJohnTobias]

View attachment 323249
I would imagine they would look something like this.... here are the Dodge Ram XB Led headlights..... if they are anything like this.... count me in!

Here's a wall shot of the prototype. Just keep in mind, these are just that. Prototypes. Once the 2nd projector is also a Bi-LED projector, they'll be even brighter.

(PS, those are the new Ram HD headlights next to the wall)

 

[bngn4X]

I'm happy someone has finally made an aftermarket housing for our 09+ trucks.. I will seriously consider these if the price isn't too crazy and output surpasses my HID projectors I may just have to jump ship n sell them.

 

[The other Sean]

Here's a wall shot of the prototype. Just keep in mind, these are just that. Prototypes. Once the 2nd projector is also a Bi-LED projector, they'll be even brighter.

(PS, those are the new Ram HD headlights next to the wall)
View attachment 323250

OOH..... that's nice. I've got the Katana bulbs in my truck. While an improvement, I'm always reminded of the lack of proper beam pattern when I drive my wife's Honda Pilot.

 

[RobFrisco415]

i'm guessing these would be the brights/High beams

 

[XDJohnTobias]

View attachment 323256
i'm guessing these would be the brights/High beams

Yes, the high beams will have similar performance to those Ram headlights.

 

[TWX]

I'm happy someone has finally made an aftermarket housing for our 09+ trucks.. I will seriously consider these if the price isn't too crazy and output surpasses my HID projectors I may just have to jump ship n sell them.

In my humble opinion, if you are interested, you probably need to jump on them not long after they come out. Once Nissan finally gets around to introducing the next mid-sized truck, I fully expect most of the aftermarket for the D40 to dry up. Companies that build 'bespoke' parts like bumpers and skidplates as one-offs for basically each and every order will undoubtedly keep their fixturing and could continue to produce what essentially amounts to piece work as demand calls, but I expect parts like this that will rely on volume to simply disappear when demand drops, and any remaining production of aftermarket headlamps will be like those ubiquitous aftermarket D22 tail lamps, in that they'll be cheap products sold for aesthetic reasons rather than actual performance parts.

Same goes for things like towing mirrors. I expect that if the next Nissan mid-size doesn't use the same door frame and mounting pattern that the towing mirrors will end production.

 

[raine]

As one of the few people who have had hands-on experience with the prototype headlights, I can address some of your questions.

Thanks for the added info.
Just for transparency, you own or work for a business that sells Morimoto headlamps.

 

[phatB]

Awesome! I love the idea of all 4 projectors on with low beam. Looking forward to seeing these against he katanas in output, not to mention beam pattern and light color quality.
As far as "plug and play" goes, if I remember correctly, us 2012+ owners will have to remove our terrible one piece plastic bumpers to replace headlights, correct?

 

[bngn4X]

Awesome! I love the idea of all 4 projectors on with low beam. Looking forward to seeing these against he katanas in output, not to mention beam pattern and light color quality.
As far as "plug and play" goes, if I remember correctly, us 2012+ owners will have to remove our terrible one piece plastic bumpers to replace headlights, correct?

yup

 

[XDJohnTobias]

Thanks for the added info.
Just for transparency, you own or work for a business that sells Morimoto headlamps.

Yes, I work for Morimoto 😊.

Awesome! I love the idea of all 4 projectors on with low beam. Looking forward to seeing these against he katanas in output, not to mention beam pattern and light color quality.
As far as "plug and play" goes, if I remember correctly, us 2012+ owners will have to remove our terrible one piece plastic bumpers to replace headlights, correct?

I believe I have a few sets of Katana's laying around. I'll see if I can compare them to these headlights once the second prototype is done.

 

[raine]

Yes, I work for Morimoto 😊.

BTW wasn't trying to call you out or anything, hope you didn't take it that way haha

Awesome! I love the idea of all 4 projectors on with low beam. Looking forward to seeing these against he katanas in output, not to mention beam pattern and light color quality.
As far as "plug and play" goes, if I remember correctly, us 2012+ owners will have to remove our terrible one piece plastic bumpers to replace headlights, correct?

I might be going out on a limb here (LOL j/k) but I think it's easily a foregone conclusion that a decently designed LED headlamp will outperform any halogen housing with an LED fitted in.

 

[GunmetalSV]

“Plug & play” was in reference to the electrical connection, and not having to perform any comprehensive retrofitting or having to remove the proprietary OEM wiring harness.
But yes, the bumper removal is a task in itself.

 

[OkeyestEng]

I think these would solve the weird gap I got when I added the trim from the two piece bumper. If they do then take my money.