2005 Headlights- HID Retrofit?

F

Flyer

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Since my 2005'sheadlights are not the brightest, I was thinking about upgrading. The only thing I am aware of is the Morimoto HID setup from the Retrofit Source. Is it significantly brighter than stock? Since I also have a slight crack in one headlamp housing, I may have to replace one but thats fine. I can buff the other one to make them look somewhat similar.

So without going into a week of detailed work, is the Morimoto HID setup the best out there? Are there other options that fit well? I have seen some threads and I think I can manage the retrofit process. I have not found any other better options yet. Any info will be helpful. Thanks!
 
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It is recommended that HIDs be used ONLY in the 06+ type of headlights, as our 03-05s aren't made to "project" the light/beam perfectly without blinding the oncoming traffic.
 
Oh, this is useful information. Darn, I was hopeful here. We use the 4R to go to the mountains at night and these headlights are not that great. Still, I do not want to blind oncoming traffic even though it seems like so many go that route. Very annoying and dangerous to be blinded like that.

Will the 06 headlights assemblies fit the 05?
 
I think they will sort of fit with some gaps that can be resolved However, the wiring/splicing is something I need to figure out. So if this will work, I can start out by finding some 06 housings.
 
Flyer said:
Oh, this is useful information. Darn, I was hopeful here. We use the 4R to go to the mountains at night and these headlights are not that great. Still, I do not want to blind oncoming traffic even though it seems like so many go that route. Very annoying and dangerous to be blinded like that.

Will the 06 headlights assemblies fit the 05?
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Yes, the 06s fit, but you have to buy a few more parts than just the headlights themselves, like the filler plate underneath the headlights.

Here is a quick thread you may want to read up on, to kind of guide you, if you will.

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/4th-g...-06-headlights-had-question-about-wiring.html
 
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Will start researching this new approach. Glad you told me about the 05 issue. Will look for those filler plates and if any extra wiring or splicing is required.
 
Thanks- will look through those. Funny thing I that I currently have those 6-LED Rigid lights that are getting ready to go on the Jeep, along with some JW Speaker LED headlights. I'll have a dedicated switch for the D2, and not use them during normal driving. The stock Jeep headlights are worse than the 4R headlights and desperately need to be changed too.

I'd put the D2s on the 4R but they scatter upwards like crazy and would blind oncoming drivers. That is why I was looking to brighten up the primary headlights with some lights that do not scatter. The 4R is also used by the wife and she goes up to the mtns on her own sometimes. I'd hate to light up the D2s coming down I-70 here. Someone would get blinded and get hurt.
 
Flyer said:
Since my 2005'sheadlights are not the brightest, I was thinking about upgrading. The only thing I am aware of is the Morimoto HID setup from the Retrofit Source. Is it significantly brighter than stock? Since I also have a slight crack in one headlamp housing, I may have to replace one but thats fine. I can buff the other one to make them look somewhat similar.

So without going into a week of detailed work, is the Morimoto HID setup the best out there? Are there other options that fit well? I have seen some threads and I think I can manage the retrofit process. I have not found any other better options yet. Any info will be helpful. Thanks!
Click to expand...

The best option is to put in HIR bulbs in there. Easy swap and much brighter than stock. Not as bright as HID but plenty bright. Check my sig for a link to my thread on them.
 
I would find some good clean housings and do a retrofit with mh1 as a starter, tho the fxr is better than the mh1, if you can use the fxr it's better, but if you want the best, do tl like cookieroe, ls430, ls460, rx350, rx330, s2000
 
As Riceandpho said, the MH1 retrofit kit from TRS is the most straightforward way to correctly run HID bulbs in our '03-'05 housings. I recently did a MH1 retrofit myself, details can be found here. I highly recommend this set-up, as the light output is a great improvement over stock.
 
OP, if you don't want to spend the cash on a HID retrofit, there are 2 other options.

Cheapest is getting some Phillips 9012 and 9011 bulbs. These are the brightest halogens I've found and fit with very minor modification. Just be aware that Amazon sells these as individual bulbs, not pairs. Still cheaper than a set of PIAA bulbs though.

Alternatively, you can buy a set of Spec-D headlight assemblies and put in H1 HIDs (the projectors are designed for HID bulbs so there's no glare when correctly aimed). However as I have them on my '03 atm, I would mention that even though they are an improvement over stock lighting, a true retrofit will put out better, more even light.

Lastly, I would recommend that you get a headlight restoration kit from 3M if you haven't already done it. As long as you sand at low speed (if using a drill), it makes an incredible difference.

Hope all this is helpful and good luck!
 
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Halogen projectors is way different from hid projectors,u guys got to get that first, halogen projectors is for halogen bulbs, tho you can put hid in there, it's advise not to. A true hid projector have different optics and will show a difference. Please don't get cheap projectors and expect it to be good out the box.
 
i use HIDs in my 03 headlights. its not a projector and works fine. I aimed my headlights down and nobody has a problem with it.
 
LTDSC said:
i use HIDs in my 03 headlights. its not a projector and works fine. I aimed my headlights down and nobody has a problem with it.
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i have never understood this. you put brighter glaring lights in to see better, but then you aim them down, therefore reducing the throw of the light?? how does that make any sense?

OP, you want a modified RX330 (known at the S2000's little bro, 90% of the performance at half the cost) or TSX retrofit. those are low beam only projectors, no need for a bi-xenon projector. you will get a better output from a low beam only projector because it does not have to do two things pretty good, but one thing excellent! Search around on HIDplanet.com forums

I have done several retros in 2nd gen tacomas and have just started researching a RX330 retro for my '05.
 
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Flyer said:
Thanks- will look through those. Funny thing I that I currently have those 6-LED Rigid lights that are getting ready to go on the Jeep, along with some JW Speaker LED headlights. I'll have a dedicated switch for the D2, and not use them during normal driving. The stock Jeep headlights are worse than the 4R headlights and desperately need to be changed too.

I'd put the D2s on the 4R but they scatter upwards like crazy and would blind oncoming drivers. That is why I was looking to brighten up the primary headlights with some lights that do not scatter. The 4R is also used by the wife and she goes up to the mtns on her own sometimes. I'd hate to light up the D2s coming down I-70 here. Someone would get blinded and get hurt.
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thank you for thinking about others. i was a "hid in halogen headlamps" guy before i did my retrofit. i didnt have consideration for others at that time either. those were the days of being low to the ground on my other cars and then my runner at stock height with it raked. Old stock 165k suspension up front.

then came the lift and all the middle fingers and high beams. then the road rage incidents, not having that...aimed it down, the "incidents" became less frequent although this happened.

retrofit with projectors and it all stopped. night and day. performance is awesome. looks good too.

now i'm a snob lol, i look down at those with hid in halogens... of course i keep all this to myself and its only shared here and in the conversations i have in my crazy head LOL.

seriously, consider retrofiting. its not that hard and there are tons of threads on the subject.
 
yosh2000 said:
i have never understood this. you put brighter glaring lights in to see better, but then you aim them down, therefore reducing the throw of the light?? how does that make any sense?

OP, you want a modified RX330 (known at the S2000's little bro, 90% of the performance at half the cost) or TSX retrofit. those are low beam only projectors, no need for a bi-xenon projector. you will get a better output from a low beam only projector because it does not have to do two things pretty good, but one thing excellent! Search around on HIDplanet.com forums

I have done several retros in 2nd gen tacomas and have just started researching a RX330 retro for my '05.
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it still lights up more overall, even aimed down. Its not like i threw in HIDs and aimed them directly at the ground. Dont be ignant. Light projection is still vastly greater than that of a halogen bulb. No odd or horrific glare.

I refuse to retrofit because its far too much work and if the housing wasnt designed for it in the first place its ugly and looks like an eBay special.

You sound like a "retrofit errything! ZOMG!" kinda sir.
 
LTDSC said:
I refuse to retrofit because its far too much work and if the housing wasnt designed for it in the first place its ugly and looks like an eBay special.

You sound like a "retrofit errything! ZOMG!" kinda sir.
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do my likes really look like they from ebay? aww, sorry you think that. i am actually quit fond of them and proud i did it. it is my first car i ever did a retrofit on.
 
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