Discover our LED upgrades

The exciting new Philips LED ranges perform at automotive OEM level

The more you can see, the better you perform, the faster you react and the safer you are.

So don’t let darkness win, choose Philips and start driving at night with greater confidence and control.

Do you want performance that lasts? Do you dream of style without the compromise of safety?
If your answer is yes then we have the perfect solution for you!

Introducing our latest technology of LED upgrade to date: the Philips LED headlight bulbs boasts an outstanding beam performance of up to 250% brighter light*, stylish cool white light and enhanced lifetime. Since the Philips LED upgrades are designed to replace any standard halogen bulb, they make upgrading your car simpler, easier.

LED upgrade are used to replace your existing Halogen lighting solutions with better lighting technology to increase performance, quality of the light and lifetime.

Reach out to any one of our authorized distributors, garages and retailers for your very own Philips LED headlights today!

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Award-winning design

Philips X-tremeUltinon LED gen2

LUXEON Altilon SMD LEDs provide long lifetime and high reliability that have been proven under stringent automotive testing conditions.
Connector ring to improve the fit in most vehicle models and make installation easier.
Heat management system direct hear away from the light's critical components, preventing damage.

LED's benefits

Superior visibiility
Superior visibiility

Up to +250% brighter light*

Driving in the dark is demanding, so you rely on your headlights. Forward and peripheral vision are both important to enhance your driving ability for a safer drive. With an intense bright beam, Philips LED headlights for cars improve your visibility by up to 250% brighter light* to help you see farther. Once you experience this daylight–like effect, you'll always prefer LED. The more you can see, the better you perform, the faster you react and the safer you are. So don't let darkness win - Choose Philips and start driving at night with greater confidence and control.
Cool white light style
Cool white light style

Color temperature up to 5,800 Kelvin

Color temperature is measured in Kelvin (K)
The higher the color temperature, the whiter and cooler the light appears, drivers will enjoy an instant style upgrade with a crisp, cool white and modern high-end look.

With a colour temperature of up to 5,800 Kelvin, the Philips LED headlight bulbs based on automotive-grade LUXEON technology produces a bright white, with characteristic close to daylight. 5 800 Kelvin is the color temperature reference in the OEM. With clearer vision you're better able to spot obstacles and take the perfect driving line. And as you don't have to strain to see the terrain ahead, brighter lights make for a more comfortable and exciting night-time drive.
Smart performance
Smart performance
Philips AirFlux and AirCool technologies

Philips LED Upgrades are featured with 2 heat-management systems:

AirFlux technology: passive system accelerating heat dissipation for headlight bulbs

AirCool technology: smart cooling system diverting heat away for headlight bulbs

CeraLight technology: cooling system using ceramic material for LED-T10

Heat management is a critical factor in the performance of LED lights. These dissipate heat effectively, ensuring the headlights always perform at the optimum brightness (lumen stability). Because they use less efficient heat-dissipation technology, many competitor LEDs emit a weaker beam of light when they get hot. The Philips LED headlight bulb doesn't have this problem, because it allows heat to escape quickly. You get a consistently powerful beam of light throughout your journey.
Superior lifetime
Superior lifetime

Up to 12 years

Philips LED Upgrade headlamps provide a superior lifetime up to 12 years.
You want bright, stylish headlights but you don't want to keep replacing lamps. At a higher light-intensity level, LEDs last much longer, and Philips LED headlights are built to last. Due to features such as AirFlux and AirCool heat-management systems, they last up to 12 years. With most cars replaced or upgraded within that time, your stylish new headlights should last the lifetime of your car.

Superior light performance
Superior light performance

Unique OEM Lumileds LED chips

Philips X-tremeUltinon gen2 is the only aftermarket LED Upgrade using Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) LED chips: Lumileds LUXEON Altilon SMD. The superior light performance includes an extremely sharp cut-off line for a perfect beam pattern. This means the beam accurately illuminates what lies ahead without dazzling others, keeping you safer in the dark. One of the reasons why Lumileds LED chips and Philips headlight bulbs are chosen by the world’s major car manufacturers is because they’re fitted with the very best components, giving you the very best performance.
Accurate beam pattern
Accurate beam pattern

Featuring SafeBeam technology

The best headlights are not simply the brightest. Creating ever-brighter LED bulbs for cars is easy, it’s what you do with the extra light that matters. Uncontrolled bright light is not ideal for driving and can create dangerous glare. Featuring SafeBeam technology, Philips LED headlights concentrate light exactly where you need it. The uniform, accurate beam pattern is designed according to road-safety regulations for halogen headlights. Precisely controlled light gives you greater visibility, making you a safer night-time driver.
Easy installation
Easy installation

Installed in compatible vehicles

Some car models present particular challenges for LED-based Upgrade lamps, such as faulty dashboard warnings, flickering lights and high-beam indicator issues. Unique Philips CANbus adapters solve these problems, ensuring you don’t experience any of these electrical glitches and your LED lights work as intended. Thanks to its advanced design and robust housing, the CANbus adapter is easily installed and designed to handle the demands of daily driving.
Splash water protection
Splash water protection

IP65: dust tight and water resistance

IP65-certified against dust ingress and with splash-water protection, Philips X-tremeUltinon LED gen2 are also guaranteed EMI-compliant, conforming to automotive-industry standards on electromagnetic interference. Precision-engineered to withstand the rigors of modern motoring life, they offer the durability that today's drivers demand.

The Next Level of White Light

Drag the slider to compare standard halogen to LED Headlights!

Standard X-treme Ultinon LED

	Transform your car lights Ultinon Essential LED	The next level of white light Ultinon LED	Brighter. Whiter. Stronger. X-tremeUltinon LED Gen2
Lifetime	Up to 5 years	Up to 8 years	Up to 12 years
Brightness	Standard	Up to 160%**	Up to 250%**
Light colour	Up to 6,000 K	Up to 6,200 K	Up to 5,800 K
Headlighting portfolio	LED-HL [≈H4], [≈H7], [≈H11], [≈HB3/HB4], [≈HIR2] LED-FOG [≈H8/H11/H16]	LED-HL [≈H1], [≈H4] [≈H7], [≈H11], [≈HB3/HB4] LED-FOG [≈H8/H11/H16]	LED-HL [≈H4], [≈H7]
	View LED catalog	View LED catalog	View LED catalog

The LED Upgrade light cannot legally be installed in on-road vehicles. Lumileds cannot accept any responsibility and/or liability. It is your own responsibility to ensure that the use of the LED Upgrade complies with applicable local legal requirements

* Apply to X-tremeUltinon LED-HL [≈H4], [≈H7] and LED-FOG [≈H8/H11/H16].
** Compared to the minimum legal standard for halogen bulbs. Up to +200% for X-tremeUltinon LED-HL [≈HB3/4], [≈H11], and LED-HL [≈HIR2] types.

Plug and play installation

Discover how to install LED headlights in your car

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Ultinon Essential LED G2

Stand out from the crowd

Stylish LED lighting that’s easy to fit

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Frequently asked questions (FAQ)

General information

What is LED Upgrades? For which applications?

It’s a solution for the drivers who want to upgrade their lighting solutions to replace their halogen/conventional bulbs. In terms of applications, it has to be separated between interior and exterior lights:

Interior:

Roof and reading lights
Dashboard light
Glove compartment light
Trunk light

Exterior:
Headlights
Front / rear fog lights
Front position / parking lights (front & rear)
Front / rear indicators
License plate lights

3rd stop lights
Stop lights

How do I know if the Philips LED Upgrades are compatible with my headlamp?

There are no spare power cables available for purchase. For the MDLS, there are single replacement units for sale.

How can I verify which LED to use to replace my old bulb?

Each type is communicated with the corresponding ECE name. Here below the comparison table between halogen and LED retrofit:

How the lifetime of an LED is calculated?

The most critical piece of an LED is the PCB (Printed Circuit Board) because it heats a lot and if not properly cooled down, its performance will decrease.

Therefore, we always calculate the lifetime of the LED based on this PCB (as opposed to the competition who’s generally claiming the lifetime of the LED chip itself in an ambient temperature room).

Can I save money by switching to LED?

Yes, Philips LED Upgrade bulbs has an extended lifetime, which means you save the cost and hassle of frequent bulb replacements which on average occur every 1-3 years. In addition, a LED bulb uses substantially less energy (e.g. halogen H4 consumes 55W where a LED-HL [≈H4] drawn around 20W).

How could I differentiate fake Philips LED bulbs from a genuine?

Whenever you purchase a Philips LED Upgrade bulb for your headlights, you can check the authenticity online using the code provided on the anti-fake label. This is an insurance for you that you get a genuine Philips LED.

What are the meaning of Philips AirFlux, AirCool, CeraLight and Safebeam?

Philips AirFlux and AirCool technologies: the latest thermal management systems with active and passive cooling systems for increased lifetime and performance. We use passive cooling when the spacing within the headlamp is big enough to effectively dissipate the heat without the risk of decreased performance. Also, depending on the performance of the LED, we would use either a passive or active cooling. For example, On LED-HL [≈H7] headlamp, the optic is generally smaller than LED-HL [≈H4]), so the heat dissipation needs to be active to effectively direct the hot air away from the back of the LED.

Philips CeraLight technology (specific to LED-T10, for X-tremeUltinon LED range): using ceramic components for best heat dissipation management to ensure highest durability in extreme conditions.

Philips SafeBeam technology: projects light exactly where you need it for your safety (no glare for oncoming racers). The Figure of Merit (FOM => light projected on the road) is in concordance with ECE R112.

What do these symbols on the packaging mean?

This symbol indicates that the product is not suitable for public roads. This means that it can only be used on “closed” roads.

This symbol shows that the product has not been approved according to the ECE R37 regulation on halogen bulbs. We show the halogen regulation because, although an LED retrofit bulb is designed to replace the halogen bulb in the very same headlamp unit, that does not mean the LED retrofit bulb is ECE R37-approved.

What does the following text mean: "It is your own responsibility to ensure that the use of LED Upgrade lights complies with relevant local legislation"?

This text is intended to ensure you use LED Upgrade bulbs correctly and in line with local laws. Local legislation is subject to change, so it is essential that that you check whether the product can be used where you are.

Technical information

How to make sure my car can be equipped with LED Upgrades?: Not all the cars can be equipped with LED Upgrades. At Philips, we have tested a variety of cars which are the most representative in the Asian market, and for which we are confident that our bulbs can used properly.
Why some Philips LED-HL have got a heat sink and some have got a fan?: Thermal management is the key parameter to ensure performance and lifetime. Philips, with its expertise in Automotive OEM, understand the requirements of the different car headlamps. Depending on the power of LED, amount of heat to dissipate, type and size of headlamps, Philips LED retrofit bulbs will use the most adapted thermal management system, being active or passive cooling. Philips internally designed three thermal management systems: Airflux, AirCool, and ThermaCool.
Are Philips LED range environment friendly?: Yes, Philips LED Upgrade range contributes to environment protection by:
1. Significant energy saving, consuming less overall resources and emitting less CO₂
2. Fully compliant with RoHS / REACH, which means no hazardous materials which are harmful to the environment
3. Long service lifetime which means elimination of unnecessary replacement related waste and system costs, while reducing overall resource consumption.
Why does this polarity issue occur with LED?: Regular incandescent bulbs can draw current in either direction, there are no "positive" or "negative" sides on the bulb. The bulb will work regardless of which direction it is inserted. LED bulbs, however, only draw current in one direction. Basically, this situation can be compared to batteries that have a positive and negative side. So if the LEDs are inserted incorrectly, they will not work. The solution is to simply flip the LED.
Does the progressive on/off of exterior lamps on certain vehicles remain after installing LEDs?: Philips LED Upgrade range has been designed to perfectly replace the current light setup that is in the car. This meaning that the progressive shutting on or off functions will continue to function after LED installation.
On the driver box of the LED lamp it says: “Caution: Do not touch – Hot surface”. How hot will this become? Is it getting this hot that it can damage cables or any other car parts under the hood?: We strongly recommend that the driver box is always attached safely with plastic ties provided to avoid to move while driving and that the box is attached on a metal part in case it gets hot.

Installation information

How do I replace the incandescent bulb with a LED bulb? Is it difficult?: The entire Philips LED Upgrade range is a retrofit of halogen and conventional bulb, making it easy to replace. Just need to follow the guidance on or in the package, and making sure prior to purchase there is enough space into the bulb housing.
After installing an LED light, I get an error message on the dashboard?: LEDs draw much lower wattage than conventional lights (lower power consumption).

Some cars are equipped with light detection system to warn the driver that one of the light has failed. In fact, the system sends electric impulses in the electrical system to check the functioning of lights. Hence when the systems checks, the power emissions are too low to be detected. In such cases, we have developed a CANbus adapter which converts the power and avoids any error message.
The LED does not light up after installation. How can I resolve this issue?: If your Philips LED Upgrade doesn't light up, it’s likely that you need to "reverse the polarity" by flipping the LED. Philips LED Upgrade bulbs work like batteries with a positive and negative polarity. In case the Philips LED Upgrade does not light up, simply remove the LED, flip direction and reinstall as per explanation and illustration below:
1. Remove the Philips LED Upgrade from the socket
2. Flip the Philips LED Upgrade
3. Insert Philips LED Upgrade back into the socket
4. Check to ensure the Philips LED Upgrade lights up
After installation of the LED, my car show fast flash errors as if my light is out or broken?: Error messages appear because the LED bulb wattage is much lower than conventional bulbs, which can make an outage warning system unable to detect the bulb.

If your car shows fast flash upon installation of an LED bulb, you may consider to purchase and install a Philips CAN-bus warning canceller solution.
After installation of the LED, my car does not start. What should I do?: After installation of LED bulbs, some cars go in limp mode. The LED has a different resistor value than an incandescent bulb, so the car’s computer is looking for the resistor value of the incandescent bulb. That is the reason why the car goes in limp mode after installing the LED: it notifies the driver that something is not working. Thankfully this happens rarely and the issue can be resolved. First verify that the limp mode is being caused by the LEDs by replacing them again with the incandescent bulbs. If the car works fine, the limp mode was most likely caused by the LED bulbs. This means that a load resistor, a CANbus adapter, is required.
When installing an LED for turn indicators, is the blinking rhythm remains the same as for conventional or it becomes faster?: In each boxes of our turn indicators we provide two CANbus adapters that are necessary to install to ensure that the blinking of the LED remains at the same speed as the conventional lamp. If not installed, the LED blinking will be faster as if one of the bulb is broken.

Remember: always safely attached the CANbus adapter on a metal to avoid movement and damages for your vehicle.
What does CANbus stand for?: It stands for Control Area Network Bus, and it monitors your vehicle’s conditions during operations. Most of the newest European models are equipped with CANbus, therefore we strongly advice to check with your dealer what’s the system within your car prior to purchases.
Which CANbus adapter do I need?: Philips provide a range of Canbus adapters for the different car lighting applications:
The 5W CANbus is used when replacing a 5W conventional bulbs, typically for interior applications, license plate lighting, position light. The 21W CAN-bus is used to replace 20W conventional bulbs, for exterior signalling applications such stop, reverse and blinkers.
Does the CANbus removes the residual current at the time when the lamp goes off?: The Philips CANbus are designed to regulate the amount of wattage within the electrical system before it reaches the LED. When the LED is off, the remaining power is drawn by the CANbus. So that the LED stays off.
How do I install a CANbus adapter?: If your car has a dashboard error message, experiences fast flash or goes in limp mode upon installation of an LED bulb, you may consider to purchase and install a Philips CANbus adapter solution.

See below image for installation instructions of the Philips CANbus adapter:
Is it mandatory to use a CANbus adapter while fitting LED?: It’s strongly recommended to use a CANbus adapter to avoid either an excessive speed of the blinking or an error message on the dashboard.
Even after installation of my LED with CANbus adapters, I still get an error message or flickering, what should I do?: Even if after proper installation of the LED Upgrade and the CANbus adapter in order to remove any flickering and/or error message on the dashboard, you still get the mentioned issues, it is best to go back to the original halogen bulbs and ask for reimbursement at your dealer.

Discover our LED upgrades

The exciting new Philips LED ranges perform at automotive OEM level