2004 HID retrofit options

[Kmvreter]

There are several recent good HID conversions going on. After searching around it seems the ideal HID conversion would also involve projector headlights.
It looks like the easy way for early 4th Gen's to get the projector look is to swap in the '06 headlights. They are not a perfect fit because of a triangular gap at the bottom inside corners. Correcting this would involve customizing the trim/bezel below the lights.
Rather than doing the trim route I was thinking why not try retrofitting the guts of the '04 headlights with the '06 projectors.
Has anyone tried this? Can someone take some closeup pics of the '06 headlights from all angles (front, sides, top and especially the rear)? Some members here have opened up the housings to retrofit other projectors. I would like to investigate this further.

 

[TranceKrayz]

You can check out the link in my signature. Have fun!!

 

[Kmvreter]

You can check out the link in my signature. Have fun!!

Thanks for the reply. Yours was one of the threads that got me thinking HID in the first place! I'm still researching. Any '06 headlight detail pics out there?

 

[tkr128]

I think it'd be better to swap in true HID projectors if you're thinking about taking the '06 projectors and putting them into an '03-'05 headlight housing. For one thing, you'd probably need to buy the whole '06 headlight and then you're retrofitting in a halogen projector. If you're going to go through the trouble, might as well get some true HID projectors and swap them in. You might end up saving some money that way too.

I've been looking at this for a while: http://www.hidplanet.com/package.html.

 

[TranceKrayz]

:iagree:

if you're going for a retrofit, might as well do the real thing.

 

[Kmvreter]

I've been looking at this for a while: http://www.hidplanet.com/package.html.

Thanks for the insight and link. I forgot about the different projector styles. Off to research some more.

 

[<<<<]

If you ask me I'd say install Nokya HID Polar Blue halogens and save money for 2009 redisigned 4R or Land Cruiser vechicle that will have superior factory HID or even LED headlights. Choice is yours...

 

[TranceKrayz]

I've had Nokya artic white installed on mine and they supposedly put out more wattage, but those blue colored bulbs put out even less light than the factory bulbs.:arrow:

 

[KDCane]

Ok... I know some of the people who have retrofitted projectors will disagree, but I have rebased bulbs and OEM Toyota/Denso ballasts in my 2005 and it works very good, with very little glare, as long as you adjust your lights properly. In fact, I have not had a single person flash me once they were adjusted properly.

I have compared them to the OEM HIDs on my Honda S2000 and light levels and glare levels are fairly equal. The S2000 does have a sharp cut versus these, but they are projectors.

 

[TranceKrayz]

how about the beam pattern of the s2000 vs. the oem reflectors? they should project the light farther and wider. and there are no hot spots, so the light will be more evenly distributed on the road compared to t4r reflectors.

personally, i got the projectors because i loved the look of the cutoff, and i can use oem 4300K HID bulbs to achieve the maximum light output while having a cool blue/purple flicker at the same time. those with reflectors need to sacrifice some light output in order to achieve the blue color.

 

[KDCane]

Well I think the light goes about the same distance on either car as I used the S2000s lights as a guide to set mine up. As far as I'm concerned my setup on the 4Runner is fine for me, and I think as long as the person doing the install realizes they have to aim the lights, could be fine for others.