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Best Upgrade for Headlights

Discussion in 'Lighting' started by Lawdawg33, Jan 20, 2020.

  1. Feb 5, 2020 at 12:15 AM
    #31
    dirtracker125

    dirtracker125 New Member

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    True if you get the wrong led lights.
    Mine is very good in both my 05 and 2010 4runner.
    On my 05 4 runner I adjusted lowered the headlight aim it is perfect.
    On the 2010 same thing I adjusted lowered the aim.
    So far no cops stop me yet .I drive in the middle of the night 5 days a week 34 miles city expressway .
    I am not going back to the hollogen bulbs.
     
    pdx2020trdpro likes this.
  2. Feb 5, 2020 at 9:35 AM
    #32
    mynameistory

    mynameistory New Member

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    That's the point. All LED drop-in bulbs are wrong.
     
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  3. Feb 5, 2020 at 10:20 AM
    #33
    dirtracker125

    dirtracker125 New Member

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    Good or not good it is working great on my end!!!
    I am not putting back the hollogens !!!
    As for blinding any one so far I have not been stop yet !!!!
    You can adjust your headlights.
     
  4. Feb 5, 2020 at 5:37 PM
    #34
    ForRun

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    In today's world many are afraid of flashing thier brights because road rage, guns and the crappy society we live with today. Please take every effort not to make others uncomfortable
     
  5. Feb 17, 2020 at 12:04 PM
    #35
    Chris In Milwaukee

    Chris In Milwaukee New Member

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    So, I went with Morimoto 35W low-beam kit a couple months back or so.

    https://hidkitpros.com/shop/2006-2016-toyota-4runner-morimoto-elite-xenon-hid-system/

    It was surprising how luxurious the bright white light is. I was really seeing things clearly over the stock halogens. I went for a ride down the back roads to see how things were different and I could really see a lot. Oncoming traffic wasn't happy with me, though. Thankfully it was a short trip around a country block and I went back home with the intent of realigning the headlights. So I cranked them down what seemed like a lot. Wasn't enough. Still got periodically flashed. So I grabbed the DOT alignment guide I found elsewhere and cranked them down some more. They're now within what one would consider "in-spec". When I compared them to my wife's fancy factory-LED-equipped car, the pattern was now similar in height and distance. Which is kind of a bummer, because the reach on those HIDs is amazing when allowed to be free. Sadly, can't let them out to play, so to speak, and really had to reel them in. But now the color temp of the low and high beams don't match, nor do the fogs. Hmmm...

    So I opted to get the Xenon Depot LED high beams with DRL module.

    https://hidkitpros.com/shop/2009-2019-toyota-4runner-xenondepot-led-drl-kit/

    I really like how easily they went in, and the color looks a lot nicer with the HIDs. As mentioned earlier, with the way the chips are on these things, the brightness off-axis is different, especially when in DRL mode (according to the docs, 12% of full brightness). Head on, they're beautiful to look at as DRLs. The one downside I've noticed when used in concert with the HIDs is that the lights have been cranked down so much to accommodate the bright-azz low-beam bulbs that the far reach that the high beams should provide are hampered a fair amount.

    I've got a lot of money in these things, so I plan to ride with them for a while before making any other choices. I certainly don't plan to run out and drop $1200 on the Morimoto headlight assemblies. I reckon if I need higher light output for off-road purposes, I'll do something with a HO light bar or similar.

     
    Last edited: Feb 17, 2020
  6. Feb 17, 2020 at 6:59 PM
    #36
    dirtracker125

    dirtracker125 New Member

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    Here is my led low beam light from my O5 4runner sport and 2010 4runner limited.
    Its very bright but not glaring .
    You see how it looks like from a distance .
    20200210_181945.jpg 20200210_181749.jpg
    05 4runner park low beam led opposite direction while I am sitting on the 2010 4runner
    20200210_181524.jpg
    This light of the 2010 4runner low beam led
    20200210_182156.jpg
    the 2010 park low beam opposite direction while I am sitting on the 05.
     

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    Last edited: Feb 28, 2020
  7. Feb 17, 2020 at 7:52 PM
    #37
    mynameistory

    mynameistory New Member

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    So, this is one of the downsides of the Frankenstein HID kits (an HID bulb mashed onto a halogen base). Headlights are designed to allow a small amount of light above the cutoff, to aid in lighting up reflective street signs and traffic signals. When you put an HID bulb in the halogen housing, this "uplight" becomes several times too bright and glares oncoming drivers. The other downsides are:
    • Too little infrared light produced, making them susceptible to icing over in snow
    • Cheap Chinese ballasts with a high failure rate, unless you source expensive or used OEM ballasts
    • Inability to replace parts except by mail order (1+ week downtime)
    Other than that, HID bulbs are great at focusing and projecting the light long distances, with great coverage.

    The same can't be said for LED bulbs, which haven't been able to replicate the small size and focal point of a halogen filament yet. They might work if the "blade" of the bulb had near zero thickness, but this is impossible to do while still cooling the circuits adequately. I had the same bulbs and DRL modules you had. I've since switched back to 9011 halogen bulbs which are much brighter and more focused than the XD LED bulbs.

    LEDs work perfectly well when they're used in housings that were designed for them. I'm working on my own auxiliary high beam lamps, using SAE compliant driving SS3 pods from Diode Dynamics. That means I can use them on the street legally, provided they are mounted and aimed in compliance with SAE J581. I'll wire them in series with a switch plus the high-beam circuit, so they'll activate with the high-beam stalk when needed.

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    Also, the color temperature of your lights isn't that important. Too much higher above 5000K can fatigue your eyes unnecessarily.
     
  8. Feb 17, 2020 at 8:20 PM
    #38
    SR5 Limited

    SR5 Limited New Member

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    High power headlights keep animals from feeding to close to the road. And more light increases your reaction time. Someone just hit a black lab in my neighborhood.....
     
  9. Feb 17, 2020 at 9:18 PM
    #39
    ForRun

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    Thats what brights are for out in the sticks. Bright lights have no place in street driving
     
  10. Feb 17, 2020 at 9:37 PM
    #40
    SR5 Limited

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    I ment to say decreases reaction time. But ya it depends if the roads are built correctly oncoming traffic lights shouldn’t bother you. Hence I live in the sticks where they just paved over horse and buggy trails. AND I live only 8 miles from a major highway.:)
     
  11. Feb 17, 2020 at 9:38 PM
    #41
    SR5 Limited

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    Might as well say on an artillery impact area too.:)
     
  12. Feb 17, 2020 at 9:42 PM
    #42
    SR5 Limited

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    And I’m not voting for presedent cause I don’t really give a crap who wins I’m tired of listening to the bullshit. If I had it my way I would sell all my stuff and move to Honduras...minimum wage is $1.30 a hour there. Better than busting my balls for ten a hour here...
     
  13. Feb 17, 2020 at 9:48 PM
    #43
    mynameistory

    mynameistory New Member

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    Bro what are you even talking about?
     
  14. Feb 17, 2020 at 9:49 PM
    #44
    ForRun

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    At that wage would take 10 hours work to pay for stock halagens
     
  15. Feb 19, 2020 at 4:02 AM
    #45
    adrtoy

    adrtoy New Member

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    Any chance you have a pic of the mounting setup?
     
  16. Feb 19, 2020 at 11:31 PM
    #46
    mynameistory

    mynameistory New Member

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    Not yet. I made some prototype brackets and they're not quite perfect, so I'm changing some things and will try again.
     
    adrtoy[QUOTED] likes this.
  17. Mar 18, 2020 at 5:58 AM
    #47
    Chris In Milwaukee

    Chris In Milwaukee New Member

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    I’ve decided I’m going to pull the HIDs from my vehicle and give LEDs a go. Might not be as bright as HIDs, but I’ll be able to get my headlight alignment back to where the high beams shine where they’re supposed to. If this doesn’t work out, well, I’m half way to a third party upgrade already. I’ve been looking into a projector upgrade after a weekend Toyota meetup and a discussion with a fellow who does these kinds of upgrades. Aside from being labor intense, it’s a fairly economical way to go.
    :spending:
     
  18. Mar 18, 2020 at 5:59 AM
    #48
    dirtracker125

    dirtracker125 New Member

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  19. Mar 18, 2020 at 6:04 AM
    #49
    dirtracker125

    dirtracker125 New Member

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    Yes use LED lights on my gen4 and gen 5 I used them and plenty of my freinds stop believing other people.
    There are plenty of LED lights in Amazon they are cheaper and better than HID.
    If the aim is too high just adjust it.
    Make sure get one that has a built in fan and a high quality built.
    Carrover brand from amazon is good.
    No hallogen or HID will match LED.
    LED gives more light uses less wattage they run cooler .
    You dont even need high beams with the led they are bright .
    If you run hollogen on your fog lights and run LED on your low beams.
    The LED low beam will drown those hallogen fog lights that you will not see them .
    That how bright LED is.
     
    Last edited: Mar 18, 2020
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  20. Mar 18, 2020 at 7:11 AM
    #50
    Mtbpsych

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    Got any night time shots? I still have a hard time believing LED’s outmatch HID:ballchain:
     
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  21. Mar 18, 2020 at 7:14 AM
    #51
    Chris In Milwaukee

    Chris In Milwaukee New Member

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    I reckon we’ll see soon enough. :D
     
  22. Mar 18, 2020 at 7:35 AM
    #52
    dirtracker125

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    Read my posts its everything there.
    Buy and try it then let us know here how it works!!!
    I have it for years !!!
    I just share what I have done !!!
    Dig at my postings all I have posted Ive tried it now its up to you if you believe me or not?
     
  23. Mar 18, 2020 at 7:58 AM
    #53
    Chris In Milwaukee

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    I made my decision based on Headlight Revolution comparisons/reviews. We’ll see how it goes. The one LED that tested best was mentioned to not fit well in the projector housing. I chose the next best one. Looking forward to trying it out.
     
  24. Mar 18, 2020 at 12:44 PM
    #54
    2016Pro

    2016Pro Why all of the Pro hate?

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    No led will not outperform hids
     
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  25. Mar 18, 2020 at 2:06 PM
    #55
    Mtbpsych

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    Just installed DDM Tuning HID’s. Will report back tonight with night time shots. They are 35W, 4500K. I ran them on my previous truck for two years and the ballast or bulb never burned out, but I could tell the bulb was on its way out as it was working at about 60%-70% in regards to brightness compared to new.

    BABC47CE-F941-4227-B4B9-B7A769C2AD1B.jpg
     
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  26. Mar 18, 2020 at 4:48 PM
    #56
    mynameistory

    mynameistory New Member

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    One more time

    PicsArt_03-18-04.47.48.jpg
     
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  27. Mar 18, 2020 at 5:18 PM
    #57
    Chris In Milwaukee

    Chris In Milwaukee New Member

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    Wondered when you were going to check in. :boink:
     
  28. Mar 18, 2020 at 9:59 PM
    #58
    mynameistory

    mynameistory New Member

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    Just trying to save people time, money, and safety!
     
  29. Mar 19, 2020 at 6:09 AM
    #59
    Chris In Milwaukee

    Chris In Milwaukee New Member

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    Yes sir! And everything you’ve mentioned to date has been my experience as well. Beyond this last experiment, the only remaining option, should this one not yield the results I’m after, is to crack the housing and install the appropriate projector. It’s only time and money, right? :cool:
     
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  30. Mar 19, 2020 at 6:16 AM
    #60
    dirtracker125

    dirtracker125 New Member

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    Screenshot_20200319-080921_Samsung Internet.jpg Screenshot_20200319-080852_Samsung Internet.jpg
    This what I used on the 05 4runner and my 2010 limited.
    Its $30 at Amazon it works great very bright!!!!
    Now post the picture of HID light you are talking and the price!!!
    I want to see the HID light you are talking!!!
     
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