I installed TYC light with Hella 100/80W into existing wire plug... the difference is night and day. The bulb 100/80 was installed long ago into the 97 housing but the road is poorly illuminated. With the TYC housing it made the difference. The TYC light on eBay is $50 shipped. TYC is a good brand and comes from Taiwan who makes good parts as opposed to Chinese garbage.
Aftermarket headlights
- Thread starter maxthebird
- Start date
Js'00imited4runner
Member
I got the headlights, projectors, HID bulbs and HID controller all for less then $100. DIY cheap and easy HID projector retrofit
Here's what I followed. I'm a little thrown off my your comment. Are you recommending diy? or disregarding it due to more available options of aftermarket projector headlights?
HID Retrofit and Grill Mod
Towards the bottom of this thread is the way my DIY retrofits turned out.
(cant get photos to upload).
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I'm gonna pull the trigger on this. With the "essential2020" code he gave me over text, the total including shipping is $432.50
I chose the satin black housing and panamera v2 shroud/halo.
Should look awesome with my black aftermarket front bumper
Text screenshots if you wanted to see the questions I asked and his answers.
I got the turbines with front and rear halos configured for switchbacks, blacked out housings, plus the twisted honeycomb etching. I added the blacked out corner lights as well. W/ the black Friday savings it came out to ~ $700.
I'm planning to wire it so that the halo's are white and then switch to amber flashing when the turn signal is on.
I toyed w/ the idea of the RGB lights as well, but I feel like, for the extra couple hundred bucks, I'd rather throw that money at something else like a light bar.
TYC? Can you elaborate? Can I get a link?
beklemmung
New member
Not sure if they ship to Canada, but most people get TYC headlamp assemblies from Rockauto for '99-02 4Runners since the glass is better. Usually around $40 each.
texadelphia
New member
Just be aware that there seems to be a recurring issue with the TYC lights where the driver side glare shield that covers the bulb is misaligned. It appears that TYC is using the same glare shield for both the driver and passenger side but since they're symmetrical, the orientation needs to flip 180 degrees. Unfortunately it's not possible to do this based on where the screw holes holding the shield are located. Some people have had luck bending the shield to orient it correctly so just be aware that you may have to do this modification when you get them.
Another common maker of housings is Depo. I'm unaware if these have similar problems but people seem to like those as well.
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My wife drives the 4R and she came home after work and said, I can see the road now! the only addition was the TYC pass side headlamp housing.
I am looking for the driver side. Many states TYC driver side (left) has an issue with the shield. Depo is also a good brand but no one here reports about it. I emailed a seller and still waiting to hear about the material on front lens, glass is the way to go.
I am looking for the driver side. Many states TYC driver side (left) has an issue with the shield. Depo is also a good brand but no one here reports about it. I emailed a seller and still waiting to hear about the material on front lens, glass is the way to go.
maxthebird
New member
Thank you to all that responded. It appears that the best way to go without spending an arm and a leg for projectors or new 1999-2002 OEM lamps or chancing some of the inexpensive aftermarkets, is to find a used pair of OEMs at a wrecking yard. LKQ Pick Your Part charges $36 a piece for headlight assemblies. The hard part is finding a wrecked 3rd gen as a donor. They're pretty scarce here in North Carolina.
texadelphia
New member
This guy uses Depos on his retrofit. They appear to be glass lenses.
Speedy's Garage HID Projector Upgrade Part 1 - YouTube
96RedRunner
Senior Member
Not disregarding DiY 2-3 yr been my plan. DiY effort vs a few dollar's more for plug n play is changing our way. I think, maybe.
Headlight Mod all go winter project this past week, harness on the way, time for some apples to apples on rest of needed shiite.
I ordered a pair of Turbine Switchbacks for Black Friday. But 8-12 weeks :scared:
I messaged BX and they said "Absolutely can. You just power the yellow wire of the turn signal. Switchbacks are a 3 wire system".
96RedRunner
Senior Member
That's good they told us same thing, 3 wire Industry Standard. Waiting on Ballast info from other manufacturers we'll see.
maxthebird
New member
Been following salvage yards for 1999-2002 clear headlights for my 98 limited. I think I got lucky. Was able to find local yard that had a 2000 wreck that was gutted except for the front end. Both headlights were still there and 20 minutes later they were out. $100 for the pair which included the entire headlamp assembly with bulbs. Swap was easy except for those dam grill clips. Only broke one. Used Sylvania Silverstars in place of stock bulbs. Big improvement overall. Well worth the swap if the old headlights in your 96-98 are inadequate.
brillo_76
Elite Member
I been looking for the 99s myself. Still havent hit them at the local yards.
Sent from my SM-J337V using Tapatalk
gamefreakgc
Elite Member
Just be aware that even in the used 99+ headlight housings, over time the reflective coating on the back can still dull or even peel which negates any improved beam pattern by not reflecting enough light. That's why some of us opted for brand new aftermarket housings as that coating is perfectly new.
4Runner4Leon
Senior Member
Precisely - I first upgraded my '97 headlights to a set of junkyard '99, and certainly noticed a difference. But then after chatting with Daniel Stern, who convinced me that 20+ year old reflective coating would have lost most of its properties) I sprung for a set new OEM '99+ headlights - that was a huge improvement in comparison.
maxthebird
New member
All true but the salvage yard lights are a big improvement over the 22 year old lights on my 98, they aim perfectly and the beam is well focused. I had read that some new aftermarket ones can have issues with focusing the beam. I suppose that sometime in the next 20 years, being the original owner, I'll need to spring for new ones.
