ForRun
New member
By trial and error I kept on looking for the best, non glaring to oncoming traffic I could find. I took all these photos in the same spot give or take 1' and cell phone camera front and center on the steering wheel to try for accurate pics. No fog lights in any picture.
All of these were aligned per speck using a laser level for accuracy. Most shops or streets are pitched for drainage so it's very hard to find a perfect flat spot at 25'!
I've got explanations at end of the post about the different findings.
This link can explain much better than I could. Simply put the 4runner projectors with any non halogen bulb will mess with oncoming traffic because of the horrible spread of emitted light. It's a good read and suggest you read it. All the manufactures and reputable sellers have disclaimers on all the headlight bulb websites, usually in small print about Led and Hid bulbs are not street legal in the US in stock halogen projectors.
3rd Gen HID vs LED vs Halogen H11 projector headlights | Tacoma World
Special thanks to [MENTION=208721]mynameistory[/MENTION] for trying to tell people about how bad these bulbs are in stock projectors. I could have saved money had I listened!
This first picture I would like you to notice the dotted line of reference(the crack fill in the asphalt) on all the lights of how the different lights spread up close. The other marks show where the usable light stops and how far the beams project. Also note the height the light cast on the tree trunks to the right side. Remember all these lights are laser aligned for an accurate comparison.
Adding OEM LED... if you can get over the black spot poor cut off drivers left (I did) its not bad, save your cash if you have a 21 and keep them!
1. Stock oem H11 philips
So the halogen does not have the "cool white" look but they have more usable light than any HID or LED that I've used. We all know the stock lights are terrible!
2. H9 philips - Halogen
Easy cheap replacement, hours of reading no ones melted wires or lenses. Easy to trim the bulb tab once you do it. may be intimidating before hand, just do it!
3. H11 philips xtreme 100 - Halogen
I found them just as good as the H9 without a need to cut the bulb socket. People say the longevity is bad but for the bang for buck of being able to see over stock a good investment. Other members have noted many other H11's that are as good, some claim better but I did not try them.
4. Xenondepot HID 5k
I found the lighting good but the side and further out usable light are not that good. People would flash me often.
5. Gen 1 Morimoto LED headlights
The XB is the worst of the bunch! Poor upfront and side visibility and no usable light out front where you need to see while driving. Many members that held onto them are on their 2nd or more warranty replacements as the LEDs are burning out. Most get the replacements and sell them new in box. Can not speak for Gen 2 but others claim they are better. I have not seen adequate pictures to verify. Perhaps someone can post them?
6. Xenondepot Philips XV2 HID
They are much better than the 5k, however mine and other members have posted about bright and dark spots projected onto the road and move with the vehicle. I call then the Dalmation bulbs they were that spotty. Hard to see in the picture but its there. Due to spots in asphalt I didn't notice until driving.
7. GTR Ultra 2 LED H11
Picture shows great lighting. I had people tell me the light hurt their eyes (passengers in the rig) - Not good for sensitive eyes or oncoming drivers.
8. Stock Anzo headlight with H7 halogen bulb
These lights look amazing in the day, the LED strip is a good daytime running light. Usable light is good, better than stock. Side lighting lacks but overall driving at night is much improved!
9. Morimoto projector retrofit (or Kustom 54 headlights) with BiLed 2
The BiLed2 is amazing, the picture does not do it justice, the projector is perfect being that it does not mess with oncoming traffic! Personally I won't use the brights or the fog lights because they just are not needed but have tested them. The brights are insane but really should not be used to flash people unless you want to hurt them. (currently this is my choice)
10. Alpharex Nova Led headlights
So you must have guessed I'm a lighting junkie and I had to try these, I think they look sharp as heck in the daytime with the DRL. Two reasons I could not keep them nor could I recommend them.
--The light is intensely bright directly in front of the rig. So much the fog lights can't be seen when they are on. The problem? Look out in the picture and see the projected distance along with the side light(cast on the trees). The cutoff is short and Fact - Eyes are naturally drawn to bright lights (google that, it's real). That said in city traffic they are fine. Anything else you find your eyes drawn to the light and away from traffic where you really need to be watching! Unlike the morimoto gen one their is usable light but very dim way out and to the sides(see the tree). I found that by using my hand and blocking the bright light the usable light was adequate but not very convenient. For me, with the eyes being drawn to the bright light gave me a headache on longer night road trips. I did aim them 6" above the alignment point and was able to get better results with the bright spots being close but was annoying people as they flashed and it would light up the tree trees while driving.
--Alpharex has this awesome startup sequence that is pretty darn cool! So much I found myself unlocking the doors walking out of stores just so I could see them, lol. What they do not advertise is that they stay on ~20-30 seconds after you get out of the rig. Makes for good exit lighting but I do not care for it and no way to set it for instant shut off.
Also on the 2020 models beware the tap they provide for the fuse box does not fit.
They offer a mid level projector I've read good things about
Other members have posted up-
All of these were aligned per speck using a laser level for accuracy. Most shops or streets are pitched for drainage so it's very hard to find a perfect flat spot at 25'!
I've got explanations at end of the post about the different findings.
This link can explain much better than I could. Simply put the 4runner projectors with any non halogen bulb will mess with oncoming traffic because of the horrible spread of emitted light. It's a good read and suggest you read it. All the manufactures and reputable sellers have disclaimers on all the headlight bulb websites, usually in small print about Led and Hid bulbs are not street legal in the US in stock halogen projectors.
3rd Gen HID vs LED vs Halogen H11 projector headlights | Tacoma World
Special thanks to [MENTION=208721]mynameistory[/MENTION] for trying to tell people about how bad these bulbs are in stock projectors. I could have saved money had I listened!
This first picture I would like you to notice the dotted line of reference(the crack fill in the asphalt) on all the lights of how the different lights spread up close. The other marks show where the usable light stops and how far the beams project. Also note the height the light cast on the tree trunks to the right side. Remember all these lights are laser aligned for an accurate comparison.
Adding OEM LED... if you can get over the black spot poor cut off drivers left (I did) its not bad, save your cash if you have a 21 and keep them!
1. Stock oem H11 philips
So the halogen does not have the "cool white" look but they have more usable light than any HID or LED that I've used. We all know the stock lights are terrible!
2. H9 philips - Halogen
Easy cheap replacement, hours of reading no ones melted wires or lenses. Easy to trim the bulb tab once you do it. may be intimidating before hand, just do it!
3. H11 philips xtreme 100 - Halogen
I found them just as good as the H9 without a need to cut the bulb socket. People say the longevity is bad but for the bang for buck of being able to see over stock a good investment. Other members have noted many other H11's that are as good, some claim better but I did not try them.
4. Xenondepot HID 5k
I found the lighting good but the side and further out usable light are not that good. People would flash me often.
5. Gen 1 Morimoto LED headlights
The XB is the worst of the bunch! Poor upfront and side visibility and no usable light out front where you need to see while driving. Many members that held onto them are on their 2nd or more warranty replacements as the LEDs are burning out. Most get the replacements and sell them new in box. Can not speak for Gen 2 but others claim they are better. I have not seen adequate pictures to verify. Perhaps someone can post them?
6. Xenondepot Philips XV2 HID
They are much better than the 5k, however mine and other members have posted about bright and dark spots projected onto the road and move with the vehicle. I call then the Dalmation bulbs they were that spotty. Hard to see in the picture but its there. Due to spots in asphalt I didn't notice until driving.
7. GTR Ultra 2 LED H11
Picture shows great lighting. I had people tell me the light hurt their eyes (passengers in the rig) - Not good for sensitive eyes or oncoming drivers.
8. Stock Anzo headlight with H7 halogen bulb
These lights look amazing in the day, the LED strip is a good daytime running light. Usable light is good, better than stock. Side lighting lacks but overall driving at night is much improved!
9. Morimoto projector retrofit (or Kustom 54 headlights) with BiLed 2
The BiLed2 is amazing, the picture does not do it justice, the projector is perfect being that it does not mess with oncoming traffic! Personally I won't use the brights or the fog lights because they just are not needed but have tested them. The brights are insane but really should not be used to flash people unless you want to hurt them. (currently this is my choice)
10. Alpharex Nova Led headlights
So you must have guessed I'm a lighting junkie and I had to try these, I think they look sharp as heck in the daytime with the DRL. Two reasons I could not keep them nor could I recommend them.
--The light is intensely bright directly in front of the rig. So much the fog lights can't be seen when they are on. The problem? Look out in the picture and see the projected distance along with the side light(cast on the trees). The cutoff is short and Fact - Eyes are naturally drawn to bright lights (google that, it's real). That said in city traffic they are fine. Anything else you find your eyes drawn to the light and away from traffic where you really need to be watching! Unlike the morimoto gen one their is usable light but very dim way out and to the sides(see the tree). I found that by using my hand and blocking the bright light the usable light was adequate but not very convenient. For me, with the eyes being drawn to the bright light gave me a headache on longer night road trips. I did aim them 6" above the alignment point and was able to get better results with the bright spots being close but was annoying people as they flashed and it would light up the tree trees while driving.
--Alpharex has this awesome startup sequence that is pretty darn cool! So much I found myself unlocking the doors walking out of stores just so I could see them, lol. What they do not advertise is that they stay on ~20-30 seconds after you get out of the rig. Makes for good exit lighting but I do not care for it and no way to set it for instant shut off.
Also on the 2020 models beware the tap they provide for the fuse box does not fit.
They offer a mid level projector I've read good things about
Other members have posted up-
Stock projectors vs Morimoto D2S 5.0
These are Lexus IS bi-xenon projectors. The two reflectors you see around about 1/2 mile at the end of this road, not an oncoming car. I’ll try to get better low and low plus fog shots.
Updated output shots.
Low beam only:
Low beam plus fog:
High beam:
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Hopefully these pictures are adequate. Morimoto Gen1 on top, Morimoto gen2 on the bottom...
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