OEM headlights and aftermarket replacement headlights are becoming quite common. Those offering automotive lighting solutions must know which lights to stock for profitability. If you want to purchase wholesale LED headlights for your business, this article will help you.
What Are OEM LED Headlights?
Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) LED headlights are factory-installed headlights. These lights are manufactured by original makers for each vehicle model individually. All OEM auto parts are tailor-made for a specific vehicle model.
These lights are made to fit the car’s housing and wiring system. This is why they ensure the best performance and increased visibility without any issue.
Key OEM Headlight Features
- Precision: Made to match your car’s needs by meeting manufacturer specifications.
- Sturdiness: Made of highest quality materials and strictly tested for durability.
- Compliance: These lights follow road regulations and are legally compliant for a safe experience.
Common Drawbacks
- Expensive: Have higher costs than aftermarket headlights
- Customization: These headlights allow only limited customization
- Repairs: Replacing or repairing these lights is costly. Often, only specific dealerships can repair these lights.
What Are Aftermarket LED Headlights?
Aftermarket LED headlights are third-party light alternatives to OEM lights. Aftermarket auto parts can fit multiple vehicle models easily. Aftermarket LED headlight options offer different brightness and color temperatures from the OEM lights.
However, these differences don’t affect the functionality of these lights. These lights are an affordable alternative to OEM headlights.
Types of Aftermarket Headlights
Plug-and-Play LED Headlight Bulbs: An easy and simple-to-install replacement for halogen or HID bulbs.
Projector LED Headlights: Perfect if you want something that offers a focused light beam pattern.
Custom LED Headlights: These lights have unique options. These options include halogen LED rings, color-changing features, and custom modifications.
Why Choose Aftermarket LED Headlights?
Affordability: A way cheaper option than the OEM options.
Customization: These lights are perfect for those who need brighter illumination with a custom touch.
Compatibility: Compatible with a range of vehicle models and can be modified.
OEM vs. Aftermarket LED Headlights – Key Differences
Here is a table that will break down the key differences between OEM and aftermarket headlights. This will ensure your clearer understanding of these lights and when to buy which option:
| Feature / Aspect | OEM LED Headlights | Aftermarket LED Headlights |
|---|---|---|
| Costs & Affordability | They are an expensive option mostly because they are made of high-quality materials. Moreover, brand and factory-specific design makes these heavy on the pocket. | An affordable alternative. Often, they come with multiple price tags depending on the manufacturer and functionality offered. |
| Performance And Brightness | These lights offer perfect performance and balanced brightness for the vehicle. The performance closely matches the factory-installed headlights of the vehicle. | Often available in a brighter option than the original one. However, the beam quality is often average with scattered patterns. |
| Durability And Longevity | These lights are very durable and last long. | The lifespan depends on the manufacturer and material quality. Mostly wear out before the OEM headlights. |
| Safety and Regulatory Standards | Comply with local traffic regulations and offer safety. | Not all options will be legally compliant and safe. Be careful when choosing. |
| Installation Process | Very simple and quick. Often offers a plug-and-play feature. | Often needing cutting, modifications, and extra wiring. Time-taking and tiring. |
Choosing the Right Headlights
Choosing the right headlights for your vehicle isn’t hard. Just consider factors like your budget, quality, and customization needs. If you want high performance with perfect fitting and longevity, go for OEM lights. Alternatively, choose aftermarket headlights if you want an affordable solution.
You should also consider aftermarket lights in case you want customizations. It is also possible to carefully mix and match OEM and aftermarket headlights for some vehicle models. However, this task is a bit hard and requires great consideration on one’s part.
It is very important to choose your headlights with great care. Mostly, a single wrong selection is the reason why LED Headlights upgrades don’t work.
If you’re a business planning on a wholesale purchase of LED headlights, we suggest going for both aftermarket and OEM options. This way, you can cater to almost all of your customers with a wide range of needs.
Why Are LED Headlights So Famous?
One may wonder why LED headlights are all the rage. These lights are now so famous that proper research studies are being done on how LEDs are replacing traditional lighting. Well, LED headlights are popular because they offer multiple advantages.
These lights are bright, energy-efficient, and durable. People choose LEDs for their temperature resistance and longevity.
In vehicles, LED headlights offer clear visibility for safe driving. These lights also ensure compliance with local laws and regulations because of their clarity.
OEM Headlights: Pros and Cons
OEM lights are mostly made by the original manufacturers of the vehicle. Hence, these lights act as a vehicle’s best fit. This is why OEM headlights are sure to offer more advantages over other options. Here are some key advantages and cons of these headlights so you can choose the right one:
Pros:
- Compatibility: These lights fit perfectly, ensuring seamless functionality for your vehicle
- Quality: They offer longevity and durability because of their high-quality build
- Compliance: These mostly comply with the road laws and safety standards
- Performance: Have a neutral and balanced beam with consistent light emission
Cons:
- Costly: Because of their quality, these lights are expensive compared to the aftermarket LEDs
- Not Considered Valuable: Drivers think there’s no benefit in paying more for these lights
- Less ROI for Businesses: If you’re only stocking OEM lights, you might not get strong returns if demand runs low
- Customization: These lights offer limited to no customization and can’t be used for styling
Aftermarket Headlights: Pros and Cons
Aftermarket headlights attract a lot of drivers because of their affordability. Here are some pros and cons of aftermarket headlights:
Pros:
- Cost: These come in different price ranges that are affordable than OEM headlights.
- Brightness: You can opt for aftermarket lights with intense beams and high brightness as needed.
- Customizable: These lights come in multiple types and beams, like halo lights or projector beams, and are multi-colored.
- Installation Range: A single light type can be used for multiple vehicle models.
Cons:
- Inconsistent Quality: Several brands are producing these lights, and not all offer the same quality
- Non-Compliance: Some of these lights aren’t legal and don’t comply with the laws
- Risks: If not installed properly, these lights can pose road risks like glare and can blind other drivers
OEM vs Aftermarket LED Headlights for Businesses
If you run an automotive lighting business, we suggest you stock both OEM and aftermarket headlights. Make sure to trust only a reputable manufacturerfor the purchase.With this smart strategy, you can attract both brand and budget-conscious customers. Here are some other things to consider:
Demand: Different customers have different needs, so stock both options for a competitive edge.
Profit: For better profits, smartly pricing aftermarket lights can give you good turnovers.
Fleet Use: To use on your own fleet vehicles, we suggest you save money by going for aftermarket headlights.
When to Avoid Aftermarket Headlights?
For individual users, aftermarket LED headlights offer great customization and are also budget-friendly. However, these lights won’t be a perfect fit for you if you’re looking for unmatched quality and a perfect fit.
If your business is buying headlights in bulk, you must never go for aftermarket LEDS if you claim to sell only genuine and OEM solutions. You should also avoid aftermarket lights if safety is your concern. Mostly, these lights aren’t approved. Check the headlight bulb type before investing in one.
Installation and Maintenance
Here are some ways to choose the LED headlights that fit your needs and install them perfectly:
Plug-and-Play Option: Choosing headlights with a plug-and-play option simplifies installation. It also reduces the need for modification or additional wiring.
Compatibility: Always buy headlights that align with your vehicle model. This can ensure a clean fit and perfect functionality.
Brightness: Always choose lights with good brightness and a consistent beam. If you’re going for aftermarket, try multiple brands before choosing the right fit.
Research: Thoroughly research and check the various brands in the headlights market. This will help you make the perfect decision before buying an aftermarket headlight.
Maintenance and Repair Tips
Here are some tips to help you keep your headlights in top condition. Follow these tips to save money on reoccurring headlight replacement costs.
- Clean: Regular cleaning helps prevent dirt and debris buildup inside the headlights
- Restore: A good restoration kit can bring back the clarity and neatness of old headlights
- No Chemicals: Harsh and abrasive chemical cleaners can ruin your lights
FAQs
Are aftermarket LED headlights better than OEM?
The answer to this depends on what you need from your headlights. If you want more customization and intense brightness, aftermarket lights are better. If you want longevity, OEM is better.
Is it legal to use aftermarket LED?
If these lights are meeting road safety standards, then its fine to use them. However, some aftermarket lights that cause intense glare might be objected to in some regions. You can reduce LED glare using certain techniques.
Can we replace OEM headlights with aftermarket LED bulbs?
Yes, this can be done as long as the aftermarket LED bulbs are compatible with your car model and get along with its wiring system.
Conclusion
Now that you know all about the OEM and aftermarket headlights, there is no way you’d not want to invest in both. Stock up on LED Headlights today. Start serving a wide range of clients with different preferences regarding vehicle lighting options.
Stock Top-Selling LED Headlights – Contact Us For Wholesale Inquiries
At Car Light Vision, our team is excited to help you stock up on the best automotive lighting options for your business. Its high time you consider wholesale purchase of both OEM and aftermarket headlights to serve your potential clients.
