2021 4Runner OEM LED Headlights/Lights Performance and Retrofit
- Thread starter RichinRidgewood
- Start date
Has anyone every identified what these dark spots in the illumination are in the lens.
They only get larger the farther away the light projects.
Are they in all 2021 low beam led projectors or just some?
They all look like that from what I’ve seen, and my ‘21 TRDORP has them too.
rageandlove
Member
We have 2 people (if you read up a bit) that are in the process of figuring it out - one said they had things installed and running and would send pics, but nothing so far, the other person was starting the install.
I think it was looking like a more complex piece of wiring harness, because the LED high beams and DLR were separate in the Pro headlamp, but just wiring harness.
Saker
Senior Member
Rainier42
New member
On a wall or garage door it is. Am wondering if it would be as much of a distraction on a real road with the beam spreading out more?
Has anyone every identified what these dark spots in the illumination are in the lens.
They only get larger the farther away the light projects.
Are they in all 2021 low beam led projectors or just some?
My guess is for beam alignment.
Saker
Senior Member
I can tell you it is....its a large black unlit area!
Saker
Senior Member
I don't think that would be necessary, the cutoff line is what you go by....
sato_toguchi
New member
Got the 2021 LED headlights installed and am happy to report that everything, including auto headlight setting works perfectly. They are a tad brighter than my previous set-up, which was a Xenon Depot 35W low beam HID kit with 5500K Morimoto HID bulbs. Highly recommend going through Alex if you want plug-and-play 2021 OEM LED headlights. See my comparison photos below, will post a couple more later. Sorry the rig is not quite in the exact same spot in each photo, but close enough.
Photo #1. My previous set-up - Xenon Depot 35W HID kit with 5500K Morimoto HID bulbs in the 2020 OEM halogen low beam projector housing.
Photo #2. The new set-up - 2021 OEM LEDs from a Trail Edition. More of a pure white color. Although you can't see it in this photo, I am getting the same "jelly bean" shaped dark spots that seem to be on all 2021 low beam LED projectors.
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KingPrat
New member
Thanks for the pics. I have the same HID setup currently and trying to wrap my head around the price tag of doing this. Maybe I'll start a new piggy bank....
sato_toguchi
New member
I had no complaints about my HID setup whatsoever. What swayed me to get these, was the OEM reliability factor, that they should outlast any aftermarket products, whether it be HID kits or complete LED headlight housings.
Everyone obviously has their own opinion about this one, but I can honestly say I don't notice anything except all of the wonderful light from these.
Hey there, I'm interested in a pair, have any avail?
kanonengedonner
New member
same here (my front right is messed up after a wreck-going straight, oncoming decided to turn right). So:
1. do we agree that the 2021 Led housing works out of the box?
2. Where is the best way to get teh double LED version?
RichinRidgewood
New member
I think conversion harnesses are a better way to convert non-LED pre-2021 4Runners to 2021 OEM LED headlights.
There were a couple people here working on those and I wonder hows far they have gotten?
It could be as simple as:
There were a couple people here working on those and I wonder hows far they have gotten?
It could be as simple as:
- Buy pig tails
- Buy new OEM LEDs
- Remove and replace headlights
- Connect pigtails to OEM headlights and OEM wiring harnesses
- Align headlights
- Drive for 200,000 miles
I personally don't really notice them unless I'm in a tight turn and there's a wall or thick vegetation right on the outside edge of the turn. Or when I pull up to my garage door, or a parking lot wall (where it doesn't matter).
Even then, it's noticeable but it's not a distraction, and I would still grade the lighting system overall as excellent with the OEM LED fogs.
It's definitely better than any HID conversion I've had in previous cars (yes, properly aligned in OEM halogen projector units etc.). And I'm reminded how much better they are than halogens every time I drive my wife's Crosstrek equipped with halogens.
I would do the conversion myself if I had a previous model year as these will be more reliable and outlast any aftermarket solution you can find. Just take a look at all the reliability and quality complaints for morimotos and alpharex!
It's a no brainer if you're looking for the best headlight performance for the 4R.
mynameistory
New member
Especially if you can source them from other people for $1K after they swap. I would trust these way more than any other replacement unit. Drop-in LED bulbs aren't even in the same discussion as far as I'm concerned.
For a time I was thrilled with the cooler, blue-er look of the drop-in bulbs I had gotten. However, with the H9 halogens back in I find that the warmer light is less fatiguing on the eyes than the popular LED color temperatures. I even lens swapped my auxiliary driving lamps (SS3 pros) for the 4000K warm white.
Besides color, the other thing about LED headlights is that they will not warm the plastic shells to clear themselves of snow/slush.
But if I were still interested in any other lighting besides halogen for a 4Runner, the OEM units would be my only choice.
RichinRidgewood
New member
I thought I read and or saw a picture of the OEM LED lights being warm enough to keep the ice from building up? It may have been on the Taco forum. I dont recall if there is a Federal requirement for that when developing head lights but I wouldn’t doubt it.
mynameistory
New member
Neither the Tacoma or the 4Runner have heated LED headlamps. You also have to remember that the window for snow buildup is rather narrow- you need heavy, wet snow near the freezing temperature. If it's colder and drier, it won't stick. Slush buildup tossed up from the road can be a problem though.
kanonengedonner
New member
got an answer for this ?
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