3rd Gen Head Lamps...

[Tilt]

I looked around a fair bit, and didn't see a thread that answered my questions. So I apologize if this has been hashed out before.

I was playing around with my front end this weekend. My head lamp assemblies are in pretty ratty shape. The lens on both are in bad condition, and the mounting bezels are rough and broken here and there. I may take a quick look around at some of the wrecker yards locally - but they hardly ever have anything 4Runner related. I was looking on the interwebs, and saw that you can get replacement ones in one of two catagories....96 to 98, and 99 to 02. The 99 to 02's are dramatically cheaper in price. Is there a specific reason for that? I'm sure they'll fit fine on my '97, so I'd much rather buy them (if I go new).

Any help on this is appreciated.

 

[RonMAIDEN]

The newer style is also more of a clear lens with reflective lighting vs the older "frosted" style with direct beam lighting;the newer is better.

 

[Tilt]

Thanks Ron. I'll have to check around to see if anyone can get it locally - or look at online sites that serve Canada.

 

[Soy]

The 99's are a direct bolt in, FYI. I too chose these over the older style for price and a better beam pattern.

 

[Shawn5800]

The beam pattern does suck on the older models...I just did the low/high beam mod to improve my overall lighting on the backroads at night. Cheaper than buying new assemblies and they throw nice light now.

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-gen-t4rs/97137-headlight-mod-must-have-cheap.html

 

[Tilt]

Yeah, that mod looks interesting. But it's more than just the light and lenses that are in rough shape on mine. The assemblies are pretty thrashed. A couple of the attachment points are busted (including support for the grille). The right side had the glass portion partially broken from the frame - so its alignment was basically null. I had to epoxy it in place so that it wouldn't flop.

I was told (from the previous owner) that my 4Runner bonked into pole once, and it looks like they used junkyard parts to fix it. Other than the light assemblies, the rest of the front is decent enough. I do need to sand down the grille, and paint it up again.....but it's otherwise good.

 

[Tilt]

Dang, I really opened a can of worms with these lights.

Looking around on the interwebs, I see '99 to '02 assemblies going for anywhere from $35 to $100 (ish). I made some calls to some parts stores here locally (Central Alberta) - and everyone is quoting around $280 per light!!!!!

So now I'm not sure what to do. A member here has made an offer on some used '97 lights - but I was hoping for the '99 to '02s. I'm assuming the lights I'm seeing online for $40 ish are cheap knock-offs. Has anyone had any luck buying online (from Canada)? I hate how prices are soooooooo warped up here.

 

[IanB]

Whatever you do, get OEM lights, the aftermarket SUCK. I would prefer the older style OEM over new style aftermarket, no question. The light output is scattered on the aftermarket, they simply don't perform the same way.