Let's talk about headlights...

To note— for those new to the topic, the H9 bulbs do need modification to fit.

 

You’ll no doubt like the performance of the H9 bulbs. They’re fantastic and a huge improvement. I was blown away by how bright they are.

I think someone over on Tacoma World did take some temp measurements and they do run hotter, but it wasn’t a lot hotter. Like 165° vs 150° or something like that (I could be off here, my memory fails me). Whether that’s enough to make a difference, I don’t know. There are lots of people running the bulbs and they say it’s just fine. I just don’t wanna risk it.

Please share your temp measurements with us. Also, when you trim the tab in the bulb socket, make sure you trim the correct one (I trimmed the wrong ones the first time, so ended up having to trim both).

Trimming the metal tab on the outside is also necessary. Some people say you can jimmy it in without trimming. Bad idea.

 

Cant beat HIDs in the runner. Outstanding performance, way better than halogens

 

Okay, I got my OEM black housing LED fog lights & now it is time to try & match the color (I cannot find the temperature of the OE LED fogs).
What if any fog bulbs or lights are you using & how do they match to the color of the driving lights?
I think I asked this before but didn't your HID lights get discontinued? The bulb or something... The price $78 was perfect.
Much appreciated.

 

I’d like to see a pic from the drivers seat if it’s not a hassle. One pic with low beams. And one with low+fogs.

if it’s a pita, no worries.

 

I dont give a crap about matching fog lights so I'm no help there.

 

It is a bad pic. I will get more this week.

 

Welp, Amazon same day delivery is awesome. So is the output of the H9 lights. I couldn't get a pic of the output as it's always taken by a park and a bunch of teens were up to no good so I kept driving.
Temperature? Mind you it's 24 outside right now and summer temps would be much higher. Earlier I ran the stock halagen daytime for 10 minutes. Pulled the cover and shot temps with infrared gun. Average temp was 140, one high spot where bulbs twist in was 162.
H9 temps. Same method of 10 minutes on. 175 to 180 average with a high near the base 202. The plastic headlight lens was noticable warm whereas never noticed before. That said bulbs are heading to trash unless someone wants them?

 

Here's a picture of the Osram Nightbreaker lazers from my driver's seat.



They're definitely brighter than the OEM bulbs, but nothing too impressive.

I pointed them at my garage door, with the Osram on the driver's side and the OEM on the passenger side to compare them side by side.



I installed a light measuring app on my phone. I don't expect it to be very accurate, but at least I could compare the OEM VS the Osram.

The Osram was about 10% brighter than the OEM measured at multiple distances. It also seems whiter. As far as a halogen upgrade, I'm pretty happy.

I'll do the same comparison when I get the Nightbreaker Unlimited HB3 high beams. I expect to see a bigger difference with them.

 

That’s what I was afraid of. When I had the H9 installed, I reached in to touch the back of the bulb after 10 minutes of ON time and thought.... holy smokes. Too hot in there for my comfort level. Add to it the fact that it’s a sealed compartment...

I know plenty of guys are running them just fine, but I dunno. Those temps are just too high.

 

I’m guessing you’ll see decreased light to the sides with the Osram Lasers, much like I experienced with the GE 130’s @Thatbassguy

To get the brighter light, they shrink the filament. This in turn, causes the light to become more focused (and brighter) just like rotating the lens on a maglite flashlight.

 

Thanks. I forgot- are you still halogen low beams?

 

Yes, I am in the market for an HID kit that will match the color/temp of the OEM led fog lights. The fogs outshine the headlights for sure. It is very nice & bright.
Remember, they are fog lights so most of the light is projected close to the front of the vehicle. However it does throw light very well farther to the sides than the factory halogen. I went straight from factory halogen to OEM black led fog lights so I have little experience.
I just want to find headlights that come close!

 

Also, a week into install of led fog lights I have not been flashed once due to aiming or other. I have been in a lot of city driving & not a flash to be seen. Very nice!

 

I had morimoto fogs and oem led on my 19. They are very close in color and output. Had morimoto xb headlights that were a perfect color match and the XBs were 5.5 color. When I switched to the 5k hid kit the hids look warm in comparison to both types of led fogs.
Thats why I gave up color match. Don't want 6k hid because you lose useable light, 4300 color will give the most hid useable light.
Let me know if you find a match, for me I'm done spending bulb money!....However I am watching the new GTR ultra 2 led. They are to new and I'm done being a guinea pig.
https://youtu.be/uO8Nuj6tPy4

 

I was under the impression that the projector housing of our T4R is better designed for HID's in the low beam. This is why I haven't spent money on bulbs or kits yet. I am looking for the answer before I start guessing.
If I had to buy now. I would buy a 5k HID kit of unknown brand...
Read 8x & buy once! I am too young to spend my little savings on items I don't like or don't work. To date, every upgrade I have done serves a purpose. From the metal oil cap to the TRD intake. Function first!

 

The T4R side entry low beam socket poses a real challenge for drop-in LED’s. By design, we lose efficiency. With a halogen, you get 360° of light. With an LED, you don’t.

 

I don't think the beam pattern changed at all. If you look at the garage door picture, you can see that both lights lit up an identical area. The Osram is just slightly brighter and whiter.

Haha! Nobody uses Mag lights anymore.

 

Well this is a bummer. Went to install the GTR ultra 2 and I guess 4runner lights might be sourced from other companies?
I can set the bulb into the socket but due to part of the housing, it can not twist to seat as the housing keeps the bulb too far away. I'm sure it's within or under a mm. I tried the o-ring that came with it, tried the OEM halogen gasket and tried no gasket at all. I took pics the best I could given the bad location. When the bulb is seated I tried marker and pencil to show where the bulb hits into the projector housing. Couldn't get pencil spot on, only close.
You can see where the bulb got scraped by the housing and where the housing got scraped by the bulb. I could probably grind the bulb housing down but at hundred bucks a bulb, want something in writing from GTR they will take them back if it don't work out!
Lol, I'm just gonna strap flashlights on the bumper!
Edit- tried both bulbs on each side with same results

 

Sounds like a pain in the ass!

 

My high beams showed up this week! Work has been extra dumb this week, so I haven't installed them yet.

I think I'll put them in tomorrow after work (on a Saturday). I'll probably do the same half assed comparison as I did with the headlights.

 

Since lights were open I tossed in the H9s to get a before after pic.

 

So I had to grind just under 1/8" off 2 tabs of the bulb housing. They are in and working but won't know how they are until night time



Here is day time pic. one has H9 on right, other is both LED

 

I installed the Osram night breaker unlimited high beam bulbs today, and did my best to compare them to the stock bulb. I have the Nightbreaker on the left (driver) and OEM on the right (passenger) side.



This was the best picture I could get with my phone.

As with the headlight bulbs, the Osram is a little whiter, and a little brighter.

I used the same light measuring app and moved the phone around against the garage door to find the highest reading on each side.

The Osram consistently read 15-20% higher than the OEM. I repeated this from 2 different distances.

I'm happy with the bulbs. This is a real improvement over OEM, and it's the proper type of bulb (HB3 halogen).

 

Well, that was short lived. Here I am loving the lights. GF gets back into town today and driving home she says the white light is hurting her eyes
I give up.
These will be forsale 50% off and as pictured in post above, filed down to fit the projector

 

I think you know what needs to be done.

Time to get rid of the GF.

 

Helps pay the bills

 

I'm still on the fence.

 

I need to get one like that!

 

I got to put some miles on with the new bulbs today. I was pretty happy, except when a car with HID's would pass me (I was on the freeway, taking it slow). Then, I would get jealous of the HID's.

I'm still happy with them as a drop in replacement, though. And, they weren't very expensive.