2003 - 2005 Headlight Upgrade Options?

[HaulsBike]

I have a 2005 4Runner and I always feel like the headlights are pretty dim.

I don't have the skills or patience to be putting my headlights in the oven and taking them apart to add projectors.

• Do they make 2005 versions of my headlight with projectors so I can add HIDs?
• Is just an updated bulb worthwhile? The results seem dubious?
• I have seen some upgrades to 2006 but that requires painting and seems like a lot of work, but I am not as informed as I could be.

What are my upgrade options without spending thousands or having to fabricate my own headlight housings - has anyone tried a few things? I would do a standard HID style replacement. I am open to suggestions.

 

[blakem5]

You could try and put a diffrent bulb in and it should help, what I did was mount some cube led lights in my bummper and aimed them verry low and people seem to be fine with it. I am running a prerunner bummper though but you can mount them inside the stock bummper easily.

 

[Keros]

I saw a notable difference with HIR bulbs. There's a thread about it somewhere.

 

[HaulsBike]

I saw a notable difference with HIR bulbs. There's a thread about it somewhere.

I have to be honest - there is so much information on headlights on here but many of the posts leave out if they are talking about 06+ or not that it can be a bit confusing. I think I found the thread you are referencing (here)

I have a 2005 with non-projector headlights. Can anyone confirm the information below?

I should be looking to replace my current stock low beams (9006) with with HIR 9012 bulbs right?

 

[970mtnrunner]

Im running the phillips 9011C1 bulbs in both low and high beams and the light output is amazing. I did adjust the headlights down a little bit and very rarely get flashed from other drivers. Its not nearly as bad as the HID bulbs in reflector housings. The light seems to be more white even though the packaging says 3450k color, but not bright white or bluish. Currently $23 each on amazon. I put them in Jan 2016 and haven't had a bulb burn out yet.

 

[Keros]

I have to be honest - there is so much information on headlights on here but many of the posts leave out if they are talking about 06+ or not that it can be a bit confusing. I think I found the thread you are referencing (here)

I have a 2005 with non-projector headlights. Can anyone confirm the information below?

I should be looking to replace my current stock low beams (9006) with with HIR 9012 bulbs right?

Yep, that's the thread. Sorry I was so vague earlier.

Daniel Stern Lighting is adamant that the factory harness is inadequate for the amps pulled across it. Supposedly that's why I (and many others) have the headlight brightness droop at idle.

I have an '05 as well. I was quoted $1000 + new housings to have some HID rigs made up using 06 housings.

Maybe one day.