HEISE LED Lighting History and Buyer Guide

HEISE is Metra Electronics' vehicle-lighting brand, with a range that spans replacement LED bulbs, auxiliary lights and color-changing accents. Its history follows a practical change in vehicle customization: lighting projects have grown from adding a pair of lamps to coordinating bulbs, mounting hardware, controllers and effects across a whole vehicle.

At 12 Volt Outlet, the HEISE selection currently centers on Pro Series LED replacement bulb kits. This guide explains the brand's background, how those kits fit into the wider HEISE range, and what to check before choosing a part. The Pro Series bulbs discussed here are designated by the manufacturer for off-road use only, not for use on public roads. Check the exact product's application and use restrictions before ordering.

HEISE and the Metra Electronics connection

HEISE belongs to a company with a much longer history in vehicle electronics. Metra traces its beginnings to Michael M. Somma's Brooklyn radio and television business in 1946. Automotive radio installations helped shape the company, which later became known for dash kits, wiring harnesses and other equipment that connects aftermarket electronics to a vehicle.

Metra's 75th-anniversary history places HEISE's arrival as its LED-lighting brand in 2014. That is the relevant starting point for HEISE; Metra's 1946 origins describe the parent company. The connection helps explain why HEISE's range includes installation accessories and control hardware alongside the lights themselves.

From LED accessories to connected lighting

The brand's development is easiest to follow through its product announcements. Each stage added another way to use and control vehicle lighting.

• 2017: HEISE introduced smartphone-controlled RGB accent lighting. The system combined small lighting pods with a separate controller, giving owners color selection, patterns and music-related effects through an app. Kits and individual components gave installers different starting points for a project.
• 2018: The Infinite Series announcement brought RGB backlighting to lightbars and cube lights. White illumination and decorative backlighting could be part of the same fixture, with a compatible controller coordinating the accent colors. The same release expanded lightbar sizes and replacement-headlight options.
• 2022: HEISE expanded its RGB chasing range with underglow and rock-light kits. Addressable lighting allowed moving patterns across the LEDs, adding another choice beyond a single color or a whole group changing together.
• 2023: The Heise Connect app launched for smartphones and tablets. Metra described the related products as the Heise Connect Universe, with RGB, RGBW and chasing controllers managed through one app. Later that year, the company announced more truck-bed, grille, interior and wheel-lighting components.
• 2024: New ambient-lighting expansion packs and accessories supported more detailed interior projects. Door pockets, handles, footwells and strips became additional points for coordinated lighting. Separate adapters addressed RGB, RGBW, standard chasing and low-voltage chasing systems.
• 2026: Metra continued to include HEISE in its new-product and installer-training program. Its January announcement highlighted HEISE vehicle accents and a Ford Lightning demonstration build. The current manufacturer brand page presents the line as Heise Universe Lighting Systems and links product documentation and its 2025 catalog.

For someone adding to an older installation, this history has a useful consequence: the HEISE name covers several generations of controllers and lighting. Find the part numbers on the existing equipment before choosing an expansion component. A shared brand name or app does not establish that two electrical connections are interchangeable.

HEISE Pro Series bulbs at 12 Volt Outlet

The store's HEISE catalog includes single-beam, dual-beam and HID-replacement applications. Begin with the bulb type already specified for the vehicle and lamp position. A similar-looking base or a familiar vehicle name is not enough to establish a match.

Single-beam replacement kits

Examples in the catalog include the HE-H7PRO H7 kit, HE-H11PRO H11 kit and HE-9005PRO 9005 kit. These represent different bulb applications, so choose by the exact required fitment rather than treating them as alternatives for the same socket.

On its H7 Pro Series specification page, Metra lists a copper thermal core, an adjustable collar, a cooling fan and an EMI filter. These details address heat management, bulb positioning and electrical integration. They are useful things to compare alongside the available space behind the lamp and the instructions for the specific vehicle.

Dual-beam replacement kits

The HE-H4PRO H4 kit, HE-H13PRO H13 kit and HE-9007PRO 9007 kit are listed as dual-beam products. Metra also identifies the H4 model as dual beam. Confirm the required low- and high-beam functions, connector and mounting arrangement before selecting a kit.

HID-replacement applications

The catalog also includes Pro Series products labeled for D1S/D1R, D2S/D2R, D3S/D3R/D8S and D4S/D4R applications. For example, the HE-D3CPRO kit has its own manufacturer fitment and electrical specifications. An HID-to-LED conversion needs particular attention to the original system, housing and installation instructions. Have a qualified installer confirm the complete application; don't assume an LED conversion connects exactly like the original HID bulb.

Understanding the wider HEISE range

The manufacturer's broader lineup gives useful context for future projects. These categories describe HEISE's range; the models above are specific bulb kits in the 12 Volt Outlet catalog.

Lightbars and cube lights

Auxiliary lightbars and compact cubes let a builder choose around the mounting area and desired light coverage. HEISE's history includes narrow spot patterns, wider flood patterns and combined patterns. Its 2018 cube-light announcement, for example, described a fixture combining a wide flood with a narrower spot. Think about where illumination is needed, then compare the beam specification and mounting dimensions of the actual light.

A long lightbar, a compact cube and a replacement bulb solve different installation problems. Check brackets, wiring requirements, environmental ratings and permitted use for the exact product. Exterior placement also makes cable protection and a secure mount important parts of the project.

RGB, RGBW and chasing accents

RGB lighting mixes red, green and blue channels to create colors. HEISE's RGBW products add a dedicated white-light option, while chasing products use addressable LEDs to create moving effects. The 2023 lighting announcement explains how the corresponding HEISE controllers serve these product families.

Choose the controller and lights together. The Heise Connect app can manage compatible controller types, but each light still needs the correct controller, connector and voltage. Metra explicitly distinguishes low-voltage chasing adapters from standard chasing hardware in its 2024 accessory announcement. Keep the complete part-number list for an installation so later repairs or additions can be matched correctly.

What to check before buying

• Intended use: Read the manufacturer's restrictions. The Pro Series bulbs described here are off-road products and should not be selected as public-road replacement bulbs.
• Exact application: Confirm year, make, model, trim, existing lamp type and bulb position. Check for previous lighting modifications.
• Physical space: Allow for the bulb assembly, cooling components, connector and any housing cover. Compare the instructions with the actual installation.
• Electrical requirements: Confirm the supply, controller and any required vehicle-specific parts. Use the instructions for the exact SKU.
• Complete project cost: Include required adapters, brackets, wiring, controls and installation when applicable. Check what the package contains before comparing prices.
• Documentation: Save the receipt and model numbers. Metra's brand page links instructions and a document portal that also covers discontinued parts.

For bulb projects, a secure fit and the correct beam setup matter as much as the advertised output. For accent projects, lay out the lights and control groups before ordering components. Both approaches make it easier to identify missing parts before installation begins.

HEISE frequently asked questions

Who makes HEISE lighting?

HEISE is a Metra Electronics brand. Metra's published history identifies 2014 as the year HEISE became its LED-lighting brand. Current Metra materials also use the Heise Universe Lighting Systems name.

Can I use HEISE Pro Series bulbs on public roads?

The manufacturer marks the Pro Series models discussed here for off-road use only and specifically excludes public-road use. Follow the restriction for the exact product. A matching bulb base does not change that restriction.

Does Heise Connect control every HEISE product?

Heise Connect manages supported lighting controllers. It does not make an ordinary replacement bulb app-controlled. For an accent-lighting project, check the specific RGB, RGBW, chasing or low-voltage chasing hardware and its compatibility before buying.

Will any HEISE bulb fit my vehicle?

No. Match the exact bulb application and check the housing, electrical system and installation requirements. Vehicle trim and existing lighting equipment can change what is needed. Get the application confirmed before opening or modifying parts.

Do all HEISE products have the same warranty?

No. Metra's current warranty information lists different terms by category, including three-year limited coverage for LED bulbs and separate terms for lightbars, controllers and other lighting. Conditions and exclusions apply. Review the product's warranty and purchase requirements, and retain proof of purchase.

Choosing your HEISE lighting setup

Start with the application and intended use, then compare the exact HEISE part number. For the Pro Series selection at 12 Volt Outlet, that means confirming the bulb type and off-road purpose before moving on to installation details. The brand's wider history can help you plan future lighting projects, while the individual product listing and manufacturer instructions should guide the purchase in front of you.