3rd gen HID headlight upgrade

[YFZsandrider]

After quite a bit of searching, I haven't found much info on HID conversions into the 3rd gen 4runners... unless you're talking about projector retrofits.

I have a '98 that the previous owner swapped over to 99+ headlight housings, and some kind of cheap Ebay 8k HID bulbs... which I never liked the blue/purple color of.

Anyhow, I had a bulb give out a couple weeks after getting the truck, and rather than spend money on buying a replacement bulb, and still have the same way blindingly bright headlights, I'd like to know what my options are?

I've seen the projector retrofit threads, but I haven't seen any mention of the cost involved, and I honestly don't have the time to mess with all the work involved in pulling it off. Can I just buy some quality H4 HID bulb with hi/lo beam and a deflector, and expect not to blind other drivers with proper headlight aiming?

 

[hoe_nah]

just go get replacement NON HID bulbs. take all the hid crap out and go back to stock. projector retrofits run from 300 and on up not including labor.

 

[bpowa]

I just did mines. 5000k bulbs. Hint of blue. But I'd rather go 4500k. Next time. I just aim mines down. No glare. No care.

 

[SantaCruzRunner]

Don't be cheap and do a projector retrofit.
Lights are lights. unless you have burnt yours out, there is no need for HIDs.

 

[BlackCat914]

HID bulbs don't work like a traditional halogen bulb, so no, you can't just plug an HID bulb in and have hi/low's.

 

[YFZsandrider]

HID bulbs don't work like a traditional halogen bulb, so no, you can't just plug an HID bulb in and have hi/low's.

My truck has already been wired for HIDs. I'm wondering if I should get 4300k bulbs(less blue/violet output) with a deflector and hi beam and call it a day.... or is there a better way?

 

[BlackCat914]

My truck has already been wired for HIDs. I'm wondering if I should get 4300k bulbs(less blue/violet output) with a deflector and hi beam and call it a day.... or is there a better way?

Right, you have an HID bulb and ballast installed. Do you have a relay or TRS module to actually make the brights work? The power routing for halogen bulbs is different than it it's for an HID bulb for the hi's to work. If you just have a cheap HID kit installed, when you turn your brights on, the headlights shut off. And yes, if you're insisting on putting an HID bulb in a halogen housing, go with a 4300k. The higher the temp, the more the light is dispersed, which would make it harder to see at night.

 

[YFZsandrider]

Thanks for the input guys. I just pulled out the HID crap and bought a set of Silver stars to get me down the road, when I can do a projector retrofit when I have more time.

 

[piecesparts]

I just replaced my factory bulbs with the lower wattage H4 bulbs from Vision X. These bulbs are quite a bit brighter than the stock H4s and when everything was adjusted in to the right spot, I have plenty of light from them.

I used the Vision X number VH LH4. They are 55/65 watt bulbs.

http://www.visionxwholesale.com/pro...-Watt-Hi-or-Low-Beam-Superwhite-Bulb-Set.html

 

[SCHUNTER1969]

HID's suck in stock housing

3rd gen. 4runner headlights use reflectors, I put a HID kit in my '99 4runner and I got some crazy reflections. In my picture you can see it. The high beam are halogens and they sucked. After 2 days I returned them and upgraded halogen bulbs.