2021 LED headlights in earlier 5th gens...

Here’s the back of pre 21 headlights someone was asking for

Appears to be the exact same as the 21 without a dust shield. Someone talk my wife into letting me disassemble her 21 and I’ll verify with my 20

 

@4Runner fun

here ya go. Quick eBay pic grab with the other members. Looks to be direct fit.

 

As an FYI: the 2021 "mostly" LED unit which has LED low and high beam still uses a standard 9005 bulb for daytime running lights. These turn off when the actual lights come on. It would have been nice to replace this one with a LED unit that does DRL and highbeam to get more light out of the highbeam, but that doesn't seem possible, at least not with the current cabling.

My recommendation for a switchover would be to find one that isn't from a TRD Pro or Limited, so you can mod the DRL/High to LED and have the OEM LED low beam. Then you might have a nicer light setup than a stock 2021 TRD Pro or Limited.

 

Im looking to replace my OEM 2021 headlamps with the Alpharex Pros.

The Pros are halogens tho.

So my question is: can I swap out the stock LED lights and put them in the AR Pros..?

 

My gut says no unless you can bring over the Drivers needed to power the LEDs

 

First of all; no, not even a little. LED projectors are usually not meant to be taken apart and they certainly don't have any compatible parts with halogen assemblies. Second of all, don't buy Alpharex headlights. They are objectively terrible. SAVE YOUR MONEY.

Damn, 4Runner owners have been complaining for years to get better OEM headlights and the first thing people want to do is swap them out with re-branded Alibaba garbage.

 

hahaha I appreciate the honesty.

also, thank you for the knowledge.

...well...what about the morimoto's...? *don't slap me *

 

The first edition Morimoto headlights were at least serviceable, many complained of narrow beam patterns and the DRL halo strips often burn out in a particular spot. The second editions may have improved somewhat. They may look "cool" but I guarantee they do not perform as well as your OEM headlights.

 

maybe he just wants something different looking

 

yea i wanted a different look, but im not willing to sacrifice quality over aesthetic. I've heard nothing but good things about the OEM headlamps at this point, so ill just keep em haha

 

If you change your mind...
I started this thread for a reason. I will be the test pilot for this experiment.
Thanks,
Ryan

 

You’re very likely to find a nice LED upgrade with bulbs and controllers that’ll have either a similar or nearly as good low beam, probably a better high beam, LED DRLs and you can add LED signal lights – paying a lot less than for even a used market LED unit.

 

You have my attention...
I hear German; but am listening! LMAO
Ryan

 

LOL. Just check the various LED “upgrades” for modding the low beam. There is a thread here on the site showing them I believe. I was thinking of doing something similar, but anyways. Since I haven’t done any of these mods, I should shut up. Personally I just wouldn’t want to drop the money on an OEM housing if there are options around. But I can see your point, I’m okay with the lights on my 4Runner, now that they are adjusted to my liking – and I’m spoiled with a LED equipped 911, the previously owned LED equipped Mini Cooper, or even my long gone Audi A4 with Xenon headlights and LEDs for everything else.

What pisses me off is that cheap shit Toyota pulls off with the signals, DRLs, interior, and plate lights still being normal bulbs. That’s going to be addressed here as soon as I find reasonable replacements. I’m not willing to pay ~200USD for a DRL LED system that COULD also run high beams, if my car actually had that ability ... ;-)

 

We are coming (2yrs now) from an Infiniti with HID's. It is hard to live with halogens in such a newer car.
Are you referring to the use of LED bulbs for my factory housing? I have read on here that the projector isn't designed for use with LED'S & most discourage it.
Am I missing something?
Thanks,
Ryan
P.S. I want a ride in your 911!

 

Yeah, the original projectors are not meant for LED, the question is whether a LED insert can do for you what you want/like. For the low beams I’m actually not really sure which one would work, for the DRL/High, the XenonDepot 9005 kit could work. That’s the one I was referring to for ~200USD. If it works, I’d be fine with the price for DRL/High, but just DRL isn’t worth it for me right now. There are more pressing items on the list, e.g. a large order of 80/20 profile to start my sleeping platform build.

Re 911 – it’s a beautiful car, rides insanely good, is fast and smooth. When you’re in the Bay Area, give me a shout ...

 

We don't get to travel much but if/when this world opens back up we are going to need a big vacation! Maybe when society is halfway normal again. We may make a big trip & I will take you up on that.
How are things in your part of Cali? I hear shit is nuts out there...
Ryan.

 

Californians are generally more stupid about stuff like this. One half ignores the situation and spreads the virus more, the other half wants to put everybody in full on hazard suits all the time when they’re out of their homes. There is very little middle ground where people actually use common sense. I’ve been traveling, but in a way that reduces contact – motorcycle, car, etc. No flying, restaurants, gyms, hotel pools, full elevators or such.

I think the problem in the US is that there are only extremes, and California seems to have more of the “protect everybody from everything” morons than most. Common sense is just the most misnamed thing ever.

 

Someone in the other forum thread (T4R.org) reported trying the Xenon Depot 9005 kit with DRL driver on the 2021 headlights and it didn't work. The DRLs went full brightness. It's possible that Toyota is using something other than PWM (pulse width modulation) to dim the halogen 9005 bulbs in the new assemblies. Might need someone with an advanced voltmeter to determine what the signal/voltage is.

Edit- should clarify that this was on the dual-LED projector models. Presumably the single LED projector with halogen high beams still uses PWM for the DRL function.

 

That’s good to know. I’m not inclined to test it since it’s too much for what I’d want it for, but anyways good to know. So, right now there is no way for just getting DRL LEDs.

 

Ha! Yeah. But if everything was LED there would be a line item on the sticker reading “LED interior/exterior upgrade package —. $750.00”.

Actually, by doing some research on the forums you will find some ideas for buying good quality LED bulbs for replacing of all the various incandescent bulbs. And some cool mods to get extra light in the hatch area, in the center console lid, in the engine compartment, and super bright external mirror puddle lights.

Making these kind of lighting mods is relatively easy and can be very satisfying, if you like tinkering. Just don’t buy cheap-ass bulbs and test everything before installing. Major damage can be done if a failed shorted LED is installed in your door courtesy lights, for example.

 

When you adjust level do you adjust the right side 2 inches higher or the same left and right?

 

The photo was taken with them at same level. Left side is not blinding, right side could be slightly higher, but since I personally absolutely hate drivers blinding people on sidewalks I didn’t adjust it higher.

It is set to give an illumination spread similar to the auto leveling lights on my 911.

 

did you have lift added why would you adjust factory lights there is way to measure i think you have to be on a level ground twenty feet away from a wall and then measure the light on the wall i think it said 36" but i am not sure i did this when i upgraded my bulbs with HID i had to do this so i don't blind oncoming drivers and not to get flashed

 

Because the OEM setup was ALL THE WAY DOWN as I have said before. It was never properly adjusted, I got the car two weeks ago and driving the first time in the dark was a nightmare, I couldn't see anything beyond about 15 yards out. It took A LOT of turns to get it to a reasonable height.

Now, should this have been done at assembly time? Yes. If not, it should have been caught by the dealer I bought the car from. Both didn't happen and I need the car to be safely usable in the dark. So I adjusted it. I don't have a flat driveway or a flat parking lot with a wall, so I don't give a crap about doing it "the right way". I did it so I could drive the car safely. And now I can.

The car is 100% stock.

I actually thought these would be automatically leveling, like EVERY other car I owned in the last 15 years. But no, cheap ass Toyota doesn't bother with this. 15 years is probably too modern for the 4Runner, which is mostly a relic of the 90s in terms of technology or interior design ... my cars in the 90s (which were mostly used ones built in the 80s) had a smaller number of different ugly hard plastics in the interior than the 2021 4Runner.

 

Sell it already jeezus.....

 

Just because you can’t stand someone criticizing your fetish thingy? Get over it.

 

Folks here get real uppity if they perceive blasphemy at the altar of Toyota. You'll get used to it. Personally I don't love anything that can't love me back. My 4Runner is a tool and I treat it as such.

 

I don't have to. That's what the "Ignore" function is for. This person has given enough reason to never be read again, so be it.

And I agree with the love for material things. The 4Runner is nothing but a tool for us, it's a compromise all the way down. Hopefully it'll do what we want it to do and that'll be worth it.

 

Reviving this. Any headway? I thought I loved the alpharex and I just don’t. I’m about ready to pull the trigger on two oem 21+ housings just to have decent night light output