2021 4Runner OEM LED Headlights/Lights Performance and Retrofit

[Khyren]

Is there a way to convert the 21 headlights to a warmer color range? My wife can't see whatever color range the factory headlights are on our 21 and she wants to convert backwards to halogens.

 

[ScottR]

Is there a way to convert the 21 headlights to a warmer color range? My wife can't see whatever color range the factory headlights are on our 21 and she wants to convert backwards to halogens.

I suppose it would be possible to split the '21 housings apart and see which LED components might be swapped out, but that is unexplored territory afaik. Easiest path to get a color change might be selecting an aftermarket housing that offers warmer LEDs. Worst case you could look into converting Toyota halogen housings to fit the '21, but why go backwards?

 

[Khyren]

That too was my question when she mentioned it. But that's why she can't drive it at night without the halogen high beams on. She can't see the color range that the factory ones are. So she is essentially blind when driving at night.

 

[uh0h50]

That too was my question when she mentioned it. But that's why she can't drive it at night without the halogen high beams on. She can't see the color range that the factory ones are. So she is essentially blind when driving at night.

Find yourself a nice used set of halogen headlamps on ebay or craigslist for cheap. Hold onto those LED lamps for the future and also for the wiring clip swap. Then do the halogen bulb upgrade with your newly acquired set.

 

[Saker]

Find yourself a nice used set of halogen headlamps on ebay or craigslist for cheap. Hold onto those LED lamps for the future and also for the wiring clip swap. Then do the halogen bulb upgrade with your newly acquired set.

Color range on the OEM LED’s are 5500-6000 kelvin, IIRC.
Color of halogen is usual 3000-3500k.

You are saying she can’t see the road with whiter lights?

I don’t understand that!

 

[Jrunr]

If anyone has a the pin configuration of the wiring harness we should be able to figure it out. The non trd pro/limited was simple.

This is what I need. Hopefully someone will figure this out so we can actually have an effective high beam, because right now it sucks with only the Bi-Led!

 

[ScottR]

That too was my question when she mentioned it. But that's why she can't drive it at night without the halogen high beams on. She can't see the color range that the factory ones are. So she is essentially blind when driving at night.

Well, since you have the LED low/ Halogen high headlamps I'll bet someone who wants to upgrade would swap you. Switch the low beam harness plugs and you're set.

 

[Too Stroked]

It's been a long time coming, but for those of you that wanted unbiased scientific testing of the difference between 5th gen halogen and LED headlights, here it is. (Disregard the wording from the URL from the Tacoma forums and trust me on this one.)

3rd Gen HID vs LED vs Halogen H11 projector headlights | Page 253 | Tacoma World

Spoiler Alert: The halogens don't hold a candle to the LEDs despite some interesting (or maybe strange) engineering in the LED housings.

 

[ScottR]

It's been a long time coming, but for those of you that wanted unbiased scientific testing of the difference between 5th gen halogen and LED headlights, here it is. (Disregard the wording from the URL from the Tacoma forums and trust me on this one.)

3rd Gen HID vs LED vs Halogen H11 projector headlights | Page 253 | Tacoma World

Spoiler Alert: The halogens don't hold a candle to the LEDs despite some interesting (or maybe strange) engineering in the LED housings.

Nice, this data confirms my impressions after completing the swap. Far superior to the old halogen lows.

 

[lolvera007]

if your ever interested in doing a swap for 2020 oem headlights....let me know

 

[BimmerChop]

Is there a way to convert the 21 headlights to a warmer color range? My wife can't see whatever color range the factory headlights are on our 21 and she wants to convert backwards to halogens.

Yellow tint film over the lens would result in a warmer color if you/her don't mind the look.

 

[Too Stroked]

Yellow tint film over the lens would result in a warmer color if you/her don't mind the look.

True, but I think you'll be going too far the other way - at least with the tint films I've seen. And remember, tint is going to cut down on light output as well. Is it going to cut it down to OEM halogen levels of performance? I don't know.

 

[Xtremluck]

Thanks for lending him those headlights [MENTION=650002]Too Stroked[/MENTION]. I think it goes without saying that while the OEM LED headlights are an improvement over the halogen projectors they are still a poor execution of an LED headlight. For the same price that most are getting these lights you could get a better LED headlight (XB 2.0).

 

[Too Stroked]

For the same price that most are getting these lights you could get a better LED headlight (XB 2.0).

Although the Morimotos may perform a bit better than the OEM's, I'll take OEM any day of the week for several reasons. First, the OEM lights are built better, so they'll last longer. Second, I have not been impressed with some of the design and engineering found in the Morimotos. For instance, on their latest offering for 2nd gen Tacomas, there's a sticker on the back informing the buyer "not to turn the adjustment screws more than 3 turns." If one does turn them more than 3 turns, the adjuster breaks rendering the headlight completely useless. Really? BTW, You'll never see that sticker once the headlights are installed, so it's useless.

 

[Xtremluck]

Although the Morimotos may perform a bit better than the OEM's, I'll take OEM any day of the week for several reasons. First, the OEM lights are built better, so they'll last longer. Second, I have not been impressed with some of the design and engineering found in the Morimotos. For instance, on their latest offering for 2nd gen Tacomas, there's a sticker on the back informing the buyer "not to turn the adjustment screws more than 3 turns." If one does turn them more than 3 turns, the adjuster breaks rendering the headlight completely useless. Really? BTW, You'll never see that sticker once the headlights are installed, so it's useless.

Fair points, I'm trying to go somewhere in between myself while focusing on maximum lighting performance. I'm currently in the midst of retrofitting a Bi-LED Projector (MLED 2.0) into my OEM housings.

 

[BimmerChop]

Thanks for lending him those headlights [MENTION=650002]Too Stroked[/MENTION]. I think it goes without saying that while the OEM LED headlights are an improvement over the halogen projectors they are still a poor execution of an LED headlight. For the same price that most are getting these lights you could get a better LED headlight (XB 2.0).

Fair points, I'm trying to go somewhere in between myself while focusing on maximum lighting performance. I'm currently in the midst of retrofitting a Bi-LED Projector (MLED 2.0) into my OEM housings.

Agreed...

I personally like how the OEM housings look. My only gripe with them is all the chrome, and obviously the poor projector performance. Although they’re a monster improvement over the stock halogens, I was really hoping the New OEM LED/Bi-LED housings were better…

That dead spot right by the hotspot would be super distracting to me. I’m also disappointed the cut off isn’t as crisp and clean as it should be. Reminds me of old fresnel lenses that slightly scatter light above the cutoff. I much prefer clear lenses that adds output intensity to the beam and minimizes any light bleed above the cutoff.

Those who have sensitive eyes may prefer that though. The softer cutoff would help with the light/dark contrast. Just have to angle them slightly lower to avoid glare for oncoming drivers.

I think this settles it for me. I'm going with the Gen2 Morimotos for now. They have a better CRI, higher output peak intensity and a much sharper cutoff which I prefer. And with my stock housings sitting on the shelf, it'll allow me to play around with them in the meantime. Pull them apart, get a proper LED projector in there, upgrade high beams and paint the housings.

 

[Saker]

And with my stock housings sitting on the shelf, it'll allow me to play around with them in the meantime. Pull them apart, get a proper LED projector in there, upgrade high beams and paint the housings.

When you pull them apart, can you identify what is causing the “shadows” in the projected light path and how hard easy to remove the objects?

 

[BimmerChop]

When you pull them apart, can you identify what is causing the “shadows” in the projected light path and how hard easy to remove the objects?

Sorry for the confusion, but I don’t currently have the OEM LED headlights. I was going off of Crashnburn’s testing on the OEM LED headlights. I’ve been holding off on purchasing a a set until more testing was done. Right now I’m just running the regular halogen housings with the H9 bulb upgrade.

To me though, that dead spot to the left of the hotspot just seems like a design flaw. I don’t buy the hearsay that it’s to minimize glare for oncoming traffic… One, it’s under the cutoff and two, you’d literally be in that dead spot for a millisecond if you’re the oncoming driver, under perfect conditions no less. Nowhere near as effective as some of the intelligent adaptive LED headlight technology you see on some BMWs/Audis/etc… where it adapts to your road speed, road conditions, steering angle and follows oncoming traffic. If that was the intention, it seems silly to me.

Toyota is notorious for putting lipstick on this pig over these last few years lol, so my opinion is they just rushed getting LED headlights on for the sake of more sales and rushed the development of these lights. Just like Morimoto rushed the Gen1s to market.

I’m excited to see his testing on the T4R halogen high beams against a set of the T4R Bi-LED high beams, although he doesn’t seem to hopeful they’ll outperform the halogens. Toyota did a great job on the halogen high beams… Sort of a bummer they decided to only use it as a DRL in the Bi-LED housings. That would a a wicked combination if they allowed to use of the 9005 for highs along with the Bi-LED projector, especially with a 9011 HIR bulb upgrade! That’ll be my plan if I take my housings apart.

 

[Jrunr]

.

Toyota did a great job on the halogen high beams… Sort of a bummer they decided to only use it as a DRL in the Bi-LED housings. That would a a wicked combination if they allowed to use of the 9005 for highs along with the Bi-LED projector, especially with a 9011 HIR bulb upgrade! That’ll be my plan if I take my housings apart.

This is what I keep saying!! I want my damn halogen high beam back!!!

 

[Xtremluck]

This is what I keep saying!! I want my damn halogen high beam back!!!

That is my exact setup for my MLED 2.0 retrofit. Look for a post on it soon