Primarily Written By Michael S.Palmer-October 9,2023 Retrive from Ford Truck Enthusiasts Forum
Auto manufacturers have been pivoting en-masse from traditional halogen headlights to newer technologies like LED and HID. LED lighting is typically brighter and can help improve safety while driving at night.But,if you own an F-150 that was made before the 2024 model, base trim levels like XL and XLT still use old-school halogen lightbulbs,which tend to be dimmer and use a warmer color temperature.Thankfully,we've teamed up with FTE forum member and moderator Gary to install a set of Lasfit Custom Fit LED lights into a 2016 Ford F-150 XLT where we learned three important things about installing aftermarket LED headlights -
1.How much does it cost to upgrade?
2.How easy is the installation process?
3.How is the truck improved by the new LED lighting?
Full disclosure:Lasfit commissioned this review and was given a chance to fact check it.However,editorial opinions remain our own.
Lasfit makes a variety of Custom Fit LED lightbulbs for the F-150 that are all made specifically for Ford trucks (no cutting or rewiring needed), including low-beam headlights, high-beam headlights, turn signals, fog lights, license plate lights, and more. Lasfit LED headlight kits are specifically designed to fit the OEM headlight housing, ensuring the best output lighting without the need for beam pattern adjustments. In said kits, each bulb features an integrated dual-ball-bearing cooling fan as well as an extended dust cover (to replace the OEM cover) equipped with a built-in turbo-cooling fan.
For our review, Lasfit provided one pair of LED high-beams and one pair of LED low-beam headlight bulbs for a 2016 F-150 XLT. The specifications for the headlights we installed are as follows —
Click HERE to purchase 2015-2017 F-150 LED lights from Lasfit.com
Click HERE to purchase 2018-2020 F-150 LED lights from Lasfit.com
Click HERE to purchase 2021-2023 F-150 LED lights from Lasfit.com
Lasfit Installation Instructions
After disconnecting the vehicle’s battery, here are the instructions found in the Lasfit LED instruction manual —
Lock the dust cover with cooling system
After installing two pairs of Custom Fit LED lights in this 2016 F-150, Gary and I have a couple of extra bonus tips we hope will help future installers. Please be cautious whenever working on a modern vehicle; if you are uncomfortable doing so, please find an experienced technician.
We added number 10 prior to installing the bulb because we found that —
Hiding the harness/connectors first helped us speed up the process. It’s also worth noting that, if you did not completely remove the fender liner, the upper (low-beam) bulb is going to be a little more difficult to do because there will be less room. Removing the wheel and fender liner completely alleviates this issue.
Note the Lasfit power plug labeled with positive and negative
Overall, the installation process is relatively easy. F-150 bulb replacements require a bit more finesse than some other vehicles, but it’s not complex. You just need a good flashlight and some dexterity. The hardest part was making sure that the polarity was correct, and figuring out where to put the larger OEM connector. But, again, these lights are custom-made for the F-150 with factory-style connectors that make the whole process truly plug-and-play.
After installation, Gary fired up his F-150 and we took a look. On a cloudy day, the truck looked more modern thanks to the noticeably brighter and cooler lights. And, unlike some other aftermarket lights, the Lasfist LED bulbs appeared to be aimed properly and not spreading too wide. It all looked very factory.
Since installation, Gary has spent a couple of weeks driving around with the Lasfit bulbs and he likes them so much, he is planning to purchase more lights from Lasfit so his fog lights match his headlights. Gary described the Lasfit LED lights as “amazing,” and he is glad that he doesn’t appear to be blinding other drivers, as some aftermarket lights are prone to do. Overall, he thinks they look and act very much like OEM LED lights.
With Gary’s blessing, these Lasfit LED headlights earn a RECOMMENDED rating from Ford Truck Enthusiasts for any F-150 that does not have factory HID or LED headlights.