Aftermarket vs. OEM Headlight

[ryankmasuda]

I've noticed a lot of you guys have aftermarket headlights out there and I'm in need of new headlights. Is there a good aftermarket headlight out there? I've seen one aftermarket glass headlight on ebay and I really like the JDM headlights but they're all plastic lenses. If anyone has any recommendations either OEM of aftermarket please let me know. I'd prefer glass just because they will hold up better to flying rocks on the freeway. How difficult would it be to buy OEM glass ones and open them up and paint them to look like JDM? Is it possible to get JDM Toyota lights from Japan? Any info would be appreciated.

 

[Elton H]

the aftermarket 99-02's i had where horrible id stick with oem

 

[Deceptiwave]

agreed . Aftermarket suck.

 

[alaskaflyer]

the aftermarket 99-02's i had where horrible id stick with oem

Same here, going to get oem as soon as I can, the ones I have now are impossible to aim correctly and the light pattern is scattered, just awful! Stick with OEM!

 

[GottaBeTRD]

is this the same case with a projector retrofit as far as aiming?

 

[Elton H]

i think the issue is the reflector its self

 

[fattirerider]

I had the aftermarket headlights for all of 5 minutes before I had to un-install them. Light was spraying everywhere, really hazardous. I thought they might be ok since they were Eagle Eye which my led tails are and those are great! But no, only oem for headlights.

 

[ryankmasuda]

Sounds like I'm going with OEM. How difficult is it to seperate the lens to paint the inside? I've seen a thread on 4th gen headlights and warming them up in the oven to separate the housing but it looks like OEM headlights use metal clips. Any input or experience with this guys?

 

[Elton H]

na there glued just bake them not to hot though theres plenty of how to's

 

[GX4SEVEND]

Its really easy. Set light on a tray and place in oven. Set the oven to preheat 250 degrees. Once it hits 250 take them out and separate.

 

[BigRogers]

Any thoughts on the bulbs themselves?

 

[runnyrunnerton]

Any thoughts on the bulbs themselves?

HID Kit By DDM was well worth it. Bunch of threads on here about them.

before and after on my truck with stock 97 housings.
<a href="http://s126.photobucket.com/albums/p109/sdouglas712/Runny/?action=view&current=BeforeandAftyerHID35w6000.png" target="_blank"><img src="http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p109/sdouglas712/Runny/BeforeandAftyerHID35w6000.png" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

 

[durrell]

HID Kit By DDM was well worth it. Bunch of threads on here about them.

before and after on my truck with stock 97 housings.
<a href="http://s126.photobucket.com/albums/p109/sdouglas712/Runny/?action=view&current=BeforeandAftyerHID35w6000.png" target="_blank"><img src="http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p109/sdouglas712/Runny/BeforeandAftyerHID35w6000.png" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

Wow, the before pic looks just like my truck. I might have to re-order the DDMs. That's a huge difference.

 

[cordrayj1]

my DDM's are fine too. i have high/low beam. theres a shield on the bulb. think thats the difference that causes the light not to scatter so bad.

 

[sixgun86]

I had a Hi-Lo HID kit just recently. When one of the bulbs went out I gladly purchased stock headlights. It was difficult to get replacement expediently and at a reasonable cost. Also on coming traffic did not appreciate them, they flashed their high beams more than I can count on both hands. Actually was pulled over and issued a warning once being told they were for off road use only. It was 2am.. guess I looked like dope. :shrug:

I bought the vehicle with the kit installed. Couldn't say strength or Mfg.

 

[cordrayj1]

i havent had one flash from oncoming. wonder what the big difference is?

 

[GottaBeTRD]

i have the DDM hi/lo kit and OEM housings, plus i have aimed them pretty low. Either people here are stupid and always drive with their brights on or they really hate my lights and are trying to get me back? I usually see one or two people a night riding with their high beams, i dont know if its intentional or not, but i still get flashed every once in a while too.

I dont know i really dont like the light ouput, I can see everything in front of me to about 25 to 30 feet but after that its dark and it sucks! Its dangerous too. The other day i almost hit a deer until i saw it at the last moment, lucky i was going slow.

but here is mine to a wall 25 to 30 feet away

Cant wait to get my projectors lol it should fix all the problems!

 

[ksaldibar]

Body Shop Replacement Projector Headlight Housings

Hey all. Not that long ago, somebody blew a stop sign and completely sheared off my front end down the frame rails. The insurance company found them to be 100% at fault and everything was repaired at no cost to me. I thought my low beam pattern looked a little off, but I didn't confirm it until today. Driving home from one of my fishing spots tonight, I stopped in a pitch black parking lot and paced out my beam pattern. It appears that my driver's side low beam is hitting the ground about 20'-30' short of where the passenger side beam does. Is there a way to adjust this, or is it possible that the body shop utilized inferior, non-OEM replacement parts? I'm going to call them tomorrow, but wanted to educate myself a little.

When I shine my front end against a wall, the beam pattern doesn't make a flat line across like it used to make. It now makes a jagged pattern. does this sound like inferior replacement projector housings or do they have to be aimed? Thanks so much.

 

[GottaBeTRD]

yeah i think thats the way the factory does it. Usually the driver side is lower to avoid blinding on coming traffic but you can adjust it and its super easy.

I cant remember what MM socket to use but there is a white plastic nut behind the headlight its in the lower inside of the head light. i believe when you loosen it it will brig the headlight up and when you tighten it it goes down

 

[TheDurk]

yeah i think thats the way the factory does it. Usually the driver side is lower to avoid blinding on coming traffic but you can adjust it and its super easy.

I cant remember what MM socket to use but there is a white plastic nut behind the headlight its in the lower inside of the head light. i believe when you loosen it it will brig the headlight up and when you tighten it it goes down

The easy way is to use a Phillips screw driver and insert it vertically down so that it engages the little teeth on the white plastic nut at a right angle. There is a little channel for doing that. One screw does the vertical and one does horizontal. The Phillips trick I discovered myself, then I found later that it it is in the FSM and the lights were made that way.

To get to the nuts from behind, you have to start taking stuff out at least on one side.