2014 headlight upgrade -Any black Friday deals?
- Thread starter Dianna
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Too Stroked
Member
I would never recommend Alpharex lights to anyone. Simply put, they're cheap Chinese junk with questionable engineering at best. If you want something to last, go OEM, but it's going to cost more. If you want something that looks cool, go for anything aftermarket.
Dianna
Member
Thank you for the response! I didn't find anything negative when i searched here about Alpharex, I guess I should look a little more before pulling the trigger. I am definitely always a fan of OEM, but I'm not a fan of my 2014, which is otherwise in perfect condition, having algae growing in the headlight housing. If the cheap chinese junk gets me a few years of better light output for a fourth of the cost over OEM, count me in.
mrblah
Senior Member
DEF4Runner
New member
Hindsight being what it is, I'd steer clear of the Anzo lights as well. After a year and a half, the protective coating is visibly delaminating from the top of the lens and are starting to develop a somewhat of an amber haze to them. If I knew that was going to happen, I wouldn't have bought them.
I still have the OEMs...will probably do the H9 mod if I get a relatively warm streak in the next couple of months. I'd really like to get my hands on the OEM LED lights....
I still have the OEMs...will probably do the H9 mod if I get a relatively warm streak in the next couple of months. I'd really like to get my hands on the OEM LED lights....
Too Stroked
Member
I'm a retired Engineer with 35+ years in manufacturing. I now work in a Toyota dealership in Parts. So, I know more than a little bit about how stuff is built and how to tell the difference between a quality product and something that isn't going to work or last.
Having lots of friends in Service, I also get to see all sorts of aftermarket parts - including headlights - that customers install to save money. I fully get it that OEM parts cost more and sometimes folks don't have the money to buy them. But in most cases, you get what you pay for.
As for the Alpharex (and many other) aftermarket lights, beware of the reviews you read. Many of them are written by folks who value looks over performance. Others fall for the (unfortunately typical) aftermarket trick of dumping most of the available light output directly in front of the vehicle. This gives the false impression of greater light output. Although this is great for crawling along trails, it's absolutely the opposite of what you want on the road where you want to be able to see far enough down the road, so you don't "over-drive your headlights."
Lastly, I feel your pain in that your 8 year old OEM headlights failed. Most of the aftermarket lights I get to see are failing after 2-3 years (or less) of sub-par performance. If you're willing to take a chance on poor performance and build quality, that is your prerogative. I'm just offering up my advice and opinions based on many, many years of experience.
pick up a set of LED OEM headlights
Dianna
Member
mrblah
Senior Member
4Runner Lifestyle is a good place to get 4runner parts, and are having a black friday sale.
again, be weary of the haters out there who think they are internet experts because they read one thread on TW and think its gospel.
again, be weary of the haters out there who think they are internet experts because they read one thread on TW and think its gospel.
NB17Limited
New member
Notorious hater here, OP. Ignore him.
I have installed Alpharex Luxx and Morimotos on my wife’s rig. I have a 2021 Limited. The Luxx sucked. The Morimotos seemed good and I still think are fine. The OEM LEDs are fantastic though. You can find them on FB Marketplace for relatively cheap. There was a set for $200 near me that I’m kicking myself for not getting. Another for $400 currently. Another for $425. Another at $500. As more and more get out there, more will be for sale
mrblah
Senior Member
oh please enlighten me how I am the hater here?
Oh wait, another DD fanboi. That explains everything.
Carry on then...
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CutthroatSlam
Senior Member
Have you checked the seals around the bulbs for leaks?
Like others have said the aftermarket housings are cheap. The lenses will yellow and craze in just a couple years. There are some Taiwanese manufacturers that are decent.
Too Stroked
Member
Also beware of people who think they are internet experts because they got all of their LASFIT lights for free.
And for the record, my (3) vehicles currently have enhanced lighting products from Diode Dynamics, Baja Designs, Morimoto, VLEDs and LASFIT.
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mrblah
Senior Member
You live in some fantasy. People can check your old posts too see the mods you have on your vehicle and when you did them. They can also check your old toxic posts.
As for my sponsorship with lasfit, keep in mind I paid for the light bars with my own money on Amazon. I don’t make anyone purchase lasfit products nor do I get any affiliate kickbacks. For all they care, is I am a fanboy of their products.
I don’t have any problem with dd products. In fact, I rock three pairs of their lights currently.
I just have a issue with self proclaimed internet experts who spews nonsense.
Too Stroked
Member
If by "your old toxic posts" you mean my distaste for poorly designed and engineered products built in China, guilty as charged. Having been to China many times, I know what goes on there. I have no respect for companies that illegally reverse engineer, blatantly copy and otherwise rip off honest companies. So yes, guilty as charged. Oh, have you been there?
We recently had a customer at the dealership who narrowly avoided disaster when a counterfeit Koyo bearing (made in China) failed catastrophically and almost caused a crash. I guess that's ok in your book though. Not in mine.
As for "spewing nonsense," I take it that's a thinly veiled reference to my faith in science and instrumented testing over marketing hype and internet rumors. As a friend of mine is so fond of saying, "In god we trust. All others bring data." I'm still waiting for your data.
I'm all done with you here.
2021nightshade4x4
New member
See the going rate for the Bi-LED takeoffs from 2020+ Runners is about 350 a pair. Is there a conversion harness you can use to retrofit them?
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
mrblah
Senior Member
I'm going to preserve your illegible rant for posterity.
You have never presented any data in any of your posts. You go on this off tangent spew on how everything made over seas is crap. You crap on everything that isn't running on halogen light bulbs or DD.
Now you are equating all made in china product as counterfeit...ROFL. So your iPhone is counterfeit, your clothe is counterfeit, your shoes is counterfeit, everything in your home that you bought must be counterfeit also. Seriously, you want to keep discussing this. You drive a toyota that isnt made in america.
If people want to buy DD so be it, if they want to buy lasfit, so be it. If they want to buy BD or Rigid or Morimoto's so be it. You can't say they are all crap because you love your halogen light bulbs because its "made in america".
I like Chinese food, and eat chinese food alot. I guess that makes me some kind of expert on chinese food with your logic. Oh wait, you work in the parts department for what 30 years..i guess that makes u a expert on what again?
Seriously, if you want to continue to spew your nonsense, please do. I'm just call out your nonsense every time you do, just like others who call out my nonsense.
FYI, to all the other peeps. Buy what fits in your budget and works for your needs. Buy made in America if you can or if it makes financial sense to you.
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