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Potential Lighting Upgrade

Discussion in 'Lighting' started by Leucoandro, Mar 4, 2023.

  1. Mar 4, 2023 at 7:33 PM
    #1
    Leucoandro

    Leucoandro [OP] New Member

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    I have a 2020 4Runner TRD Off Road. I have come to the same conclusion as many here, the OEM halogen headlights leave a lot to be desired. I have been pondering upgrade options. I considered upgrading the H11 low beams to either HID or LED bulbs. I also considered upgrading to the latest version of the Morimoto bi-led headlights. As I read more about the 2022 ORM headlight assemblies I have become more interested in them.

    I am seriously considering upgrading to the 2022 OEM bi-LED headlight assemblies. The lowest I have been able to price new assemblies for is $702.57 each. That said, I have seen several websites (The Retrofit Resource, Xenon Depot, Headlight Revolution) offer trade-in rebates for the OEM assemblies.

    Does anyone know of a source that resells traded in OEM bi-LED headlight assemblies? All the assemblies I see on eBay have been damaged. Are there any other lighting options that I might be missing?
     
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    #1
  2. Mar 5, 2023 at 5:01 AM
    #2
    Frizzle77

    Frizzle77 Mawl Crawler

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    If you're looking for immediate results I recommend upgrading the H11 bulb to an H9. It requires minor trimming to the bulb's alignment tabs.

    That being said, I still think the stock headlight assembly leaves a lot to be desired and is just not that good. I also have been considering the OEM bi-LED upgrade.
     
    Singleminded and Henry J like this.
  3. Mar 5, 2023 at 8:05 AM
    #3
    kmeeg

    kmeeg LionRunner

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    How about relatively cheap option like drop in LED bulbs. Like Lasfit? Here's my test video. I have included topics in the description like comparison vs halogen and also vs stock LED housing.

    https://youtu.be/YcW5-EwZ-HI

    Edit-
    Always look for coupons. Last time when I was helping a friend to buy these we found a coupon called "VIP2" which gave a huge discount.

    (This coupon worked as of Feb 19, 2023)
    Screenshot_20230305_091711.jpg
     
    Last edited: Mar 5, 2023
    icyhotahs likes this.
  4. Mar 5, 2023 at 8:11 AM
    #4
    Cypher_Systems

    Cypher_Systems New Member

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    These are a really good alternative. I ran these for about a year till I upgraded my headlight housings.
     
  5. Mar 5, 2023 at 8:54 AM
    #5
    Lockdown

    Lockdown New Member

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  6. Mar 5, 2023 at 10:10 AM
    #6
    Leucoandro

    Leucoandro [OP] New Member

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    I have considered the H9 option. I’m just not certain that it would be enough to tide me over for a while.
     
  7. Mar 5, 2023 at 10:17 AM
    #7
    Leucoandro

    Leucoandro [OP] New Member

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    I have considered the those bulbs. I am concerned about any bulb adjustments and potential heat issues inside the housing. I have also considered the Boslla 3 color LEDs, but I have the same concerns about them as well.
     
  8. Mar 5, 2023 at 10:28 AM
    #8
    Leucoandro

    Leucoandro [OP] New Member

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    good video about the Morimoto lights. This video is also a good one.
    https://youtu.be/LJ3eUT9bXT8

    I really like the Morimoto lights, but my big concern is that I have seen many refurbished and used ones for sale with failing DRL/turn signal LEDs. If I am spending $1,400 I would hope to get nearly a lifetime of service. That is what has me leaning towards the OEM bi-LED lights. The most likely to fail parts are the DRLs and turn signals, both of which are replaceable.
     
  9. Mar 5, 2023 at 10:42 AM
    #9
    kmeeg

    kmeeg LionRunner

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    Sadly I don't have any scientific tools to test the heat. I only test by touching the back of the dust cap after driving for about 30 minutes from my grocery run and it was very mild heat. Sorry can't say anything about heat.

    I love the easy adjustability of this Lasfit LA series bulbs as it requires no tools. Just push and turn to adjust vs my Headlight Revolution SV4 has a special tool to adjust.

    Speaking of HR SV4 bulbs I'm selling my previous bulbs cheap if anyone local to CO. I think I paid around 200 bucks. Trying to get little bit of money selling them for my next mod. :):):)
     
  10. Mar 5, 2023 at 10:50 AM
    #10
    4runningMan

    4runningMan New Member

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    The H9 upgrade is a substantial increase in brightness. If I remember correctly, it doubles the output. Taking a $20 gamble might just save you $1000+

    There are a lot of guys on this forum and on Tacoma world that have been beyond satisfied with the H9’s, myself included.
     
  11. Mar 5, 2023 at 11:08 AM
    #11
    steelevo

    steelevo Not so new anymore...

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    I did the H9 upgrade and it made a huge difference with nighttime driving. It is definitely worth the mod and will hold you over until you move to LED. A few months after the H9 mod, I found some 2021 OEM LED headlights with halogen high beams. Install was a piece of cake and didn’t require and special harnesses or special tools. It was super easy to swap the OEM plugs from the halogen headlight to the LED headlight. This was definitely an upgrade over the H9 and worth it, if you can source the headlights cheap enough. I wouldn’t say the LED headlights are worth the upgrade, if the set costs you more than $600. Just keep searching your local classified ads for a set.
     
    Leucoandro[OP] likes this.
  12. Mar 5, 2023 at 11:50 AM
    #12
    kmeeg

    kmeeg LionRunner

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    I really wish I meet someone with H9s to do a video at my house compared to my stock LEDs on 2021 for free. I think comparing right next to each other on video in front of same garage door and the same football field gives better results for my testing. Separate videos may not give a better idea and pictures are the worst since you can make a fire fly bright as the sun.

    Sadly I'm just not comfortable installing H9 bulb after trimming on my own car.

    Not sure if anyone would be willing to do that spending thier time and gas money for a test with no return other than sharing info with fellow 4runner owners.
     
  13. Mar 5, 2023 at 6:08 PM
    #13
    JETSPD1477

    JETSPD1477 New

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    patience and luck. random morimoto thread below where i asked if they’re selling their OEM headlights. could be available still.

    https://www.4runners.com/threads/morimoto-xb-headlight-issues.30310/
     
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  14. Mar 5, 2023 at 7:23 PM
    #14
    Frizzle77

    Frizzle77 Mawl Crawler

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    I'm telling you, it's a significant upgrade. And will certainly tide you over until you figure out what will be the permanent fix.
     
  15. Mar 5, 2023 at 7:47 PM
    #15
    Leucoandro

    Leucoandro [OP] New Member

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  16. Mar 5, 2023 at 8:15 PM
    #16
    Thatbassguy

    Thatbassguy New member? Really??

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    +1 for the H9 swap. It's around double the output, and cheap. I would avoid drop-in LED bulbs.
     
    glwood54, Frizzle77, steelevo and 2 others like this.
  17. Mar 5, 2023 at 10:14 PM
    #17
    steelevo

    steelevo Not so new anymore...

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    I agree with this. Try it out. You'd be surprised at how much better it will be.
     
  18. Mar 5, 2023 at 11:15 PM
    #18
    4runningMan

    4runningMan New Member

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    Drop-in LED’s really aren’t a great solution. If you live in a city with lots of ambient “city light”, the drop-in LED’s put a nice bright spot down close to the vehicle and that is extra light can be appreciated.

    But drop-in LED’s at highway speeds on country roads in the dark, proceed with caution.

    It’s unfortunate that the T4R halogens are lacking *just* enough to make people go searching for upgrades that are actually downgrades when/where it counts.
     
    Old Tanker, LuLu, Thatbassguy and 2 others like this.
  19. Mar 6, 2023 at 3:55 PM
    #19
    Leucoandro

    Leucoandro [OP] New Member

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    Frizzle77, 4runningMan, steelevo, kmeeg, and Thatbassguy,

    I decided to follow guidance from all of you. I ordered some H9s to try in my 4Runner to tide me over.

    I was really leaning towards just buying HID bulbs from Xenon Depot, but I want some more time to sort through reports on relay and bulb issues.
     
  20. Mar 6, 2023 at 3:58 PM
    #20
    Leucoandro

    Leucoandro [OP] New Member

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    The lights are pretty bad on the Gen 5 4Runner, much worse than the lights on my old Gen 3 were. The bi-HID lights on my wife's Ford Escape did spoil me a bit, but the quality of lighting from my 5th Gen 4Runner's stock halogen bulbs reminds me of the lighting from my old 1965 Ford pickup.
     
  21. Mar 6, 2023 at 4:21 PM
    #21
    kmeeg

    kmeeg LionRunner

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    I have personally faced problems with HIDs. One of the bulbs were not working. Since my fogs were super bright I did not notice until my buddy who was in front told be that one of my low beams not working. Turn off the lights and back on it was working fine. Happened 2 times and that's when I switched to GTR ULTRA2 LEDs and never again HID as they are too complected and I wasn't a fan of drilled dust cap. I bought 2 pair of dust caps from Toyota dealer. So I too say no for HIDs.
     
  22. Mar 6, 2023 at 4:30 PM
    #22
    4runningMan

    4runningMan New Member

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    I agree. They suck. Frustrating.

    Did you order the Philips H9’s from Amazon? They used to be like 9 bucks each or something.

    Have you found a good how-to for the bulb mod?
     
  23. Mar 6, 2023 at 4:35 PM
    #23
    4runningMan

    4runningMan New Member

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  24. Mar 6, 2023 at 5:30 PM
    #24
    Leucoandro

    Leucoandro [OP] New Member

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    Yours was one of the reports that I read about. I have read that regulators are not required for the 35w bulbs, but I was seriously considering it in abundance of caution to keep from burning out fuses or tripping any self-resetting circuit breakers. I really liked the way each headlight gets a relay through Xenon Depot, while other companies use one relay for the set.
     
    kmeeg[QUOTED] likes this.
  25. Mar 6, 2023 at 5:33 PM
    #25
    Leucoandro

    Leucoandro [OP] New Member

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    I ordered the AC Delco to test out. The Phillips were $12 each, while the AC Delco were $9 each. I considered Hella High Performance 2.0 at $27 for a set.

    For modifications, I read about the need to remove the tab in the H9 bulb. I have read that one of the tabs that holds the light in place might need to be modified. I have also read that tilting the bulb before fully inserting into the assembly can negate the need to modify that point.
     
  26. Mar 6, 2023 at 9:45 PM
    #26
    steelevo

    steelevo Not so new anymore...

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    Trimming the tab is super easy.
     
  27. Mar 6, 2023 at 9:48 PM
    #27
    steelevo

    steelevo Not so new anymore...

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    If you end up going the HID route, please do a full retrofit. It really does make a difference when using projectors that have their optics designed for HID vs Halogen projectors. You won’t get a bunch of hot spots and the beam will be much more usable in the HID projector.
     
  28. Mar 7, 2023 at 5:21 AM
    #28
    jth

    jth trdle

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    Ordered H9s, looking forward to…looking forward.
     
    Leucoandro[OP] likes this.
  29. Mar 7, 2023 at 8:02 PM
    #29
    Leucoandro

    Leucoandro [OP] New Member

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    With me having a 4Runner with factory halogen low/high, which would be the better factory upgrade for me to seek?

    Option 1: LED Low/Halogen High
    Option 2: Led Low/High

    Opinions?
     
  30. Mar 7, 2023 at 8:41 PM
    #30
    steelevo

    steelevo Not so new anymore...

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    I vote for option 1. It will not require any special harnesses. Just swap plugs and it’s a direct bolt in. Swapping plugs takes 5-10 minutes with a pair of needle nose pliers. Also, the halogen high beam is great if your headlights ice up. LEDs don’t provide enough heat to melt the ice.
     

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