Aftermarket headlights

[maxthebird]

Been thinking about upgrading my 1998 headlights to clear lenses for better night vision. There is a lot of discussion on this forum about it but no clear consensus on what aftermarket lights are the best. Seems to be problems with TYC, Eagle Eyes and most others on ebay or Amazon. Has anyone found an acceptable alternative to paying the dealer $160 per lamp or should I bite the bullet and pay it?

 

[Devbot]

op2:

 

[Doc3g]

Been thinking about upgrading my 1998 headlights to clear lenses for better night vision. There is a lot of discussion on this forum about it but no clear consensus on what aftermarket lights are the best. Seems to be problems with TYC, Eagle Eyes and most others on ebay or Amazon. Has anyone found an acceptable alternative to paying the dealer $160 per lamp or should I bite the bullet and pay it?

There's no real consensus on a lot of things here, which is why you have to take it all in and make a decision that best fits your needs, budget, etc.

 

[4Runner4Leon]

Been thinking about upgrading my 1998 headlights to clear lenses for better night vision. There is a lot of discussion on this forum about it but no clear consensus on what aftermarket lights are the best. Seems to be problems with TYC, Eagle Eyes and most others on ebay or Amazon. Has anyone found an acceptable alternative to paying the dealer $160 per lamp or should I bite the bullet and pay it?

I bought the '99+ OEM headlights for my '97. Couldn't be happier. The pain of the $300 goes away soon enough, but the high quality remains for a long time.

 

[Devbot]

^^^ Wise words. Buy once, cry once.

 

[Formidable]

I highly recommend going with @bx_built retrofit LED headlights. Glass lens. Outstanding performance. Zero issues in the time that I’ve owned them in rainy Seattle. Very reasonably priced with a Black Friday special going on right now as well! HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

Black out housings. Switch back halos. Etched lens.

Tell Andrew that Formidable said to hook you up!

Home | BXBuilt

 

[brillo_76]

Great headlight conversion. I just wonder how many states that have yearly safety inspections would fail them?

I see many states are starting to crack down on how bright headlights can be and if they are not OEM factory or below a specific lumins they make you remove them or change them.





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[Gill925]

Dope!! I just ordered the bxbuilt headlights and some dude on YouTube has a 10 percent off or sum. I got the at 445 but once cry once for sure!!! Also I’ll be selling my 99+ unfortunately not too soon I’d say wait it up and I’ll sell em too you I work at O so they are legit and I have extra bulbs 60 retail plus my LED ones I already have in there. 120? But that’s if you want too wait

 

[ksgoh88]

I was recently failed in VA with bxbuilt headlights. Lows don't turn off when the highs are engaged, and this shop had a thing against anything LED. Had to buy another set of headlights and tail lights to pass.

 

[Ed_C]

I was recently failed in VA with bxbuilt headlights. Lows don't turn off when the highs are engaged, and this shop had a thing against anything LED. Had to buy another set of headlights and tail lights to pass.

Odd, considering that's how even OEM bi-xenon/bi-led (projector) systems work; the lowbeam light source is the same for both low and high and it's the beam pattern that changes. And most OEM headlights that use separate bulbs for low and high do keep the lowbeams on with the highbeams.

I hear VA inspection regulations are pretty strict/stringent though so that shop probably red-flagged the headlights just for being obviously aftermarket.

 

[Doc3g]

I also picked up the BXbuilt's for black Friday. Honestly, for the price of materials alone it's an awesome deal to have someone do the work who knows what they are doing. I guess I'll keep my stock headlights around though in case I get pushback from inspection stations.

 

[sugjavier]

I also picked up the BXbuilt's for black Friday. Honestly, for the price of materials alone it's an awesome deal to have someone do the work who knows what they are doing. I guess I'll keep my stock headlights around though in case I get pushback from inspection stations.

Which options did you end up picking?
I can't decide between them. Are the shrouds literally just differ by looks, no difference functionality wise?

 

[96RedRunner]

Outstanding performance. Zero issues in the time that I’ve owned them in rainy Seattle...

Thanks for chimming in nice build going on! Dropped in for headlight's, your mirror side marker lights caught my eye. Been looking for a multi purpose light source, keep talking, ha.

 

[sugjavier]

Dope!! I just ordered the bxbuilt headlights and some dude on YouTube has a 10 percent off or sum. I got the at 445 but once cry once for sure!!! Also I’ll be selling my 99+ unfortunately not too soon I’d say wait it up and I’ll sell em too you I work at O so they are legit and I have extra bulbs 60 retail plus my LED ones I already have in there. 120? But that’s if you want too wait

BEEFPHO is the extra 10% off (-45)
It'll be $455 total since it's $50 shipping

 

[96RedRunner]

I can't decide between them. Are the shrouds literally just differ by looks, no difference functionality wise?

Lol, yea I run into that too. Functionality wise I wonder if halo's can be used for turn signals with headlights switching off during signal use..when headlights are in use, turn signal anytime. I'm seeing that function more and more would be great for any aftermarket bumper, don't have permanent blinkers on my AOR yet.
Dropping Bx a Email shortly.
Probably go ahead with order anyway that good price.

 

[sugjavier]

Lol, yea I run into that too. Functionality wise I wonder if halo's can be used for turn signals with headlights switching off during signal use..when headlights are in use, turn signal anytime. I'm seeing that function more and more would be great for any aftermarket bumper, don't have permanent blinkers on my AOR yet.
Dropping Bx a Email shortly.
Probably go ahead with order anyway that good price.

I'm gonna text them and see. I like when the headlights doesn't turn off when people use the signal, they lose light on that side and I wasn't a fan when I see them on newer cars. I rather they stay on with the halo turn signals.

Cuz I'm also curious how long these projector bulbs last and if I can just buy/do an easy replacement if they ever fail like I would normal headlights. I wasn't sure if I had to take it apart.

 

[Js'00imited4runner]

Go to a junkyard and get a set of OEM 99+ headlight housings and either install them with higher output halogen bulbs or attempt to make your own HID retrofits. I have a extra set of 99+ housings I pulled from the junkyard incase I screwed up at the HID retrofit. they were $20 a headlight. A heck of a lot cheaper than $160 a piece just to get a clear glass lens. I think the spare set I have one is a TYC and the other is OEM. Both have nice clear glass.

 

[96RedRunner]

I'm gonna text them and see. I like when the headlights doesn't turn off when people use the signal, they lose light on that side and I wasn't a fan when I see them on newer cars. I rather they stay on with the halo turn signals.

Cuz I'm also curious how long these projector bulbs last and if I can just buy/do an easy replacement if they ever fail like I would normal headlights. I wasn't sure if I had to take it apart.

I've never been behind the wheel using it something to think about. Switching projector ballast on/off considerably more
than normal use could be something Bx does not reccommend, yea parts in the picture.

 

[96RedRunner]

Go to a junkyard and get a set of OEM 99+...DIY.....

This was the go to, Price point has shifted started changing 1-2 yr ago as more suppliers arrived.
$200 cheaper now makes the cry once thing with a warranty vs DiY narrows gap swings a lot of folks.

 

[ksgoh88]

Odd, considering that's how even OEM bi-xenon/bi-led (projector) systems work; the lowbeam light source is the same for both low and high and it's the beam pattern that changes. And most OEM headlights that use separate bulbs for low and high do keep the lowbeams on with the highbeams.

I hear VA inspection regulations are pretty strict/stringent though so that shop probably red-flagged the headlights just for being obviously aftermarket.

It really depends on the shop more than anything. I've only used that shop a couple of times and after that experience I read online reviews of other people complaining of them pulling super nit-picky stuff like this. I just won't go back to them again.