2021 4Runner OEM LED Headlights/Lights Performance and Retrofit

[mynameistory]

A guy on YouTube (TRD Jon) did a short review of the Pro LED lights.

It's pretty clear that the low-beam and high-beam are the same lamp, and that all the high beam does is slide some sort of barrier upwards to allow more light to shine aimed higher up as a result.

So that is why they changed from a 2-pin to a 4-pin plug. 2 pins for power, and 2 pins to give some sort of signal for the lamp to raise the barrier.

Accordingly, it seems using the Pro/Limited units will be more complicated because you will need to figure out how to mirror that signal.

That said, he gives the high beams a thumbs-down review, so I think for those that want OEM, using non-Pro/Limited is the right path.

Yes, this is how bi-LED and bi-HID projectors work. It's a single point source of light and there is a mechanical shutter to allow the full projection for high beam use. I'd be willing to bet that Toyota uses different projectors based on the model, in order to save cost. Otherwise there is no cost advantage to having a bi-LED projector and then gimping the shutter.

It's also not surprising that the performance of the LED high beam is uninspiring. Projectors are very precise in terms of controlling the beam pattern, but they come at an efficiency cost. Large reflectors are the most efficient, but car designers are nearly all moving towards this squinty eye design language. If you've owned an older Toyota, you might remember the headlights being better than the halogen projectors we have on the current 4Runner. But apparently no one likes how those old big reflectors look anymore. The little reflectors on the halogen 4Runner high beams are better than poking the light through a tiny projector.

 

[Axix23]

2021 Oem Led headlights/fogs installed into 2018 T4R

 

[halfempty]

I'm checking this thread out to see if there's any questions I can answer so I see your post. Make a few more contributions on the forum (I think 5 is the magic number) so you can send me a PM with your phone number and I'll get in contact with you. Right now there's a waiting list and I'm getting them out as fast as I'm getting them

Is anyone getting the 2021 headlights from Toyota Parts, or are the ones that Alex coverts off vehicles that have made a switch to some other headlight unit like the Morimoto?

 

[rageandlove]

Is anyone getting the 2021 headlights from Toyota Parts, or are the ones that Alex coverts off vehicles that have made a switch to some other headlight unit like the Morimoto?

There were 2 guys many posts ago that bought directly from Toyota but we never heard the end of their stories.

The Alex dude is pulling them off basically new 4Runners that people are converting to aftermarket headlights. He then swaps the 4-pin plug to a 2-pin plug and re-sells them.

The key benefit of buying from him is he sells them for several hundred less than if you bought from the dealer. They also do a nice job of putting the right OEM plug on the lights, but that's just electrical work.

 

[bowenarrow]

Do we have a part number for the exact connector needed to plug the 2021 headlights to the pre-2021 models low beam harness?

 

[Gecko]

I want to make sure I have this right: The non-Limited/TRD Pro models have a traditional incandescent bulb for the high beam/DRL, and you can change that bulb out yourself, correct?

If the TRD Pro and Limited use this shutter to go up and down over a portion of the LED projector for high beam on/off, it seems to me that a traditional incandescent bulb at full blast would actually generate more usable light for high beams.

So low beams are the LED and you can still have an incandescent for high beam on SR5, TRD OR, etc. but the Limited and TRD Pro just have this shutter that lowers and allows the LED projector to go at full blast.

Is that right? If so, I think my preference would be a set NOT from a Limited or TRD Pro.

 

[Nommpop]

Is anyone getting the 2021 headlights from Toyota Parts, or are the ones that Alex coverts off vehicles that have made a switch to some other headlight unit like the Morimoto?

If you want to get your hands on a pair of headlights from a 2021 4runner, then the 2 wire plug for the low beams as well, its a pretty easy plug swap and now you have the new headlights!

 

[Nommpop]

I want to make sure I have this right: The non-Limited/TRD Pro models have a traditional incandescent bulb for the high beam/DRL, and you can change that bulb out yourself, correct?

If the TRD Pro and Limited use this shutter to go up and down over a portion of the LED projector for high beam on/off, it seems to me that a traditional incandescent bulb at full blast would actually generate more usable light for high beams.

So low beams are the LED and you can still have an incandescent for high beam on SR5, TRD OR, etc. but the Limited and TRD Pro just have this shutter that lowers and allows the LED projector to go at full blast.

Is that right? If so, I think my preference would be a set NOT from a Limited or TRD Pro.

You are correct. The non PRO/LIMITED are LED low beam and halogen high/DRL. The PRO/LIMITED ones are bi-led projector low and high, then the halogen part is just DRL.

 

[mynameistory]

I want to make sure I have this right: The non-Limited/TRD Pro models have a traditional incandescent bulb for the high beam/DRL, and you can change that bulb out yourself, correct?

If the TRD Pro and Limited use this shutter to go up and down over a portion of the LED projector for high beam on/off, it seems to me that a traditional incandescent bulb at full blast would actually generate more usable light for high beams.

So low beams are the LED and you can still have an incandescent for high beam on SR5, TRD OR, etc. but the Limited and TRD Pro just have this shutter that lowers and allows the LED projector to go at full blast.

Is that right? If so, I think my preference would be a set NOT from a Limited or TRD Pro.

You are correct. The non PRO/LIMITED are LED low beam and halogen high/DRL. The PRO/LIMITED ones are bi-led projector low and high, then the halogen part is just DRL.

And to complicate it a bit, the Pro/Limited DRL doesn't work via PWM dimming like the standard headlights do, even though it's the same 9005 bulb.

I'd opt for reflector high beams as well. They're much more efficient and put more light out than the top half of a projector.

 

[Gecko]

And to complicate it a bit, the Pro/Limited DRL doesn't work via PWM dimming like the standard headlights do, even though it's the same 9005 bulb.

Can you explain this just a bit more? I want to make sure I understand correctly.

 

[mynameistory]

Can you explain this just a bit more? I want to make sure I understand correctly.

Sure! The current 5th gen (14 - 20 halogen and 21+ with LED low beams) use the high beam as a "double duty". They dim the high beam bulbs (9005 halogen) using pulse width modulation (PWM). So instead of reducing the voltage, what's done instead is pulsing the 12V power at a low enough duty cycle that the halogen bulb doesn't fully illuminate.

This is why many folks who stick "drop-in" LED bulbs into their high beams find out that their DRLs end up just being the high beams at full blast. Because LED chips light instantly, the pulsing signal does nothing to limit the brightness of LEDs.

A few companies have developed drivers (like the Xenon Depot kit) to specifically take the PWM signal and turn it into a voltage that dims the LEDs. This works on the traditional high beam setup, but some folks that tried them on the new Pro/Limited headlights found that they wouldn't dim, just blast at full brightness. So however the Pro/Limited headlights are working, they don't use PWM to dim the 9005 bulbs.

 

[halfempty]

If you want to get your hands on a pair of headlights from a 2021 4runner, then the 2 wire plug for the low beams as well, its a pretty easy plug swap and now you have the new headlights!

I don’t mind wrenching a bit but I got zero experience putting on electrical connectors. Is it soldered? I’ve done some but not a lot. It might be wiser to leave the electric part to the pros.

 

[Nommpop]

I don’t mind wrenching a bit but I got zero experience putting on electrical connectors. Is it soldered? I’ve done some but not a lot. It might be wiser to leave the electric part to the pros.

Its only two wires, but if they are not crimped properly or soldered correctly, you may run into low beams that don't turn on eventually. I don't know if they sell the just the plug or if you can get a pigtail, but if its an option go pigtail and just get the weathertight butt connectors. You should be good from there

 

[halfempty]

Its only two wires, but if they are not crimped properly or soldered correctly, you may run into low beams that don't turn on eventually. I don't know if they sell the just the plug or if you can get a pigtail, but if its an option go pigtail and just get the weathertight butt connectors. You should be good from there

I"ll keep both in mind. I would prefer not to take apart the headlight I have and place that plug on the 2021 headlights. If screwed up I could end up with no lights. Pigtail/harness seems like a nice option, but as of yet no one is making such a thing. The added advantage of a harness is that the mod can always be returned to stock, just in case there's any kind of issue.

 

[Axix23]

I"ll keep both in mind. I would prefer not to take apart the headlight I have and place that plug on the 2021 headlights. If screwed up I could end up with no lights. Pigtail/harness seems like a nice option, but as of yet no one is making such a thing. The added advantage of a harness is that the mod can always be returned to stock, just in case there's any kind of issue.

I originally picked up some 2021 headlights from Toyota for around $1400. I didn’t splice or cut into it yet but just tested them out with some temporary plug in harness that I made. After seeing noompoop selling already converted harness headlights. I returned the headlights back to Toyota and picked up his. Is there any reason why don’t you just get a set from Noompoop? They are brand new with 0 marks or wear. Seems like a super easy decision. Like you said, you hack a brand new set of 2021 headlights and it doesn’t work. Your out of $1400+

 

[mynameistory]

Is there any reason why don’t you just get a set from Noompoop?

I would say the same thing: reversibility. Personally I think it would be a lot better to make harness adapters as well. That way the lights aren't stuck on one particular truck.

 

[halfempty]

It always takes me a long time to settle on buying things, especially at these dollar amounts. I’ve been exploring different headlight options for a while now and keep going through the pros and cons of each. It looks like the 2021 OEM option likely will end up being best but I’m also a bit behind on my projects. I do agree that noompoops offer is pretty much hard to beat. We’ll see.

 

[NW.OH.T4R]

It always takes me a long time to settle on buying things, especially at these dollar amounts. I’ve been exploring different headlight options for a while now and keep going through the pros and cons of each. It looks like the 2021 OEM option likely will end up being best but I’m also a bit behind on my projects. I do agree that noompoops offer is pretty much hard to beat. We’ll see.

I think this depends on how involved you want a project.
I went DIY retrofit. At the time it was the best (only because I don’t consider the XB’s) option. I came to the 4R from the Audi world and knew I wanted bixenon. I ended up building a set using Lexus projectors, with zero permanent wiring modifications. DRL’s are still functional. I didn’t want to open up the headlights on my truck, so I better an OEM donor set used. All in, about $500 and a lot of time. I’ll take my headlights over my wife’s Subaru OEM bi-LED hands down.


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[Axix23]

the 2021 OEM Led headlights + fogs are hands down the best lighting upgrade I have ever done and well worth every penny. You can't put a value on safety, reliability, and ease of mind....

 

[mynameistory]

the 2021 OEM Led headlights + fogs are hands down the best lighting upgrade I have ever done and well worth every penny. You can put a value on safety, reliability, and ease of mind....

Agreed on the headlights, but as for the fog lights...