Are HIDs worth the trouble?

[Krayziekid]

Hey everyone. So recently began researching HIDs and they seem pretty awesome! Definitely seems like it provides a noticeable boost in lighting and stuff, but here is the main question, is it worth it?

I swapped the 06+ headlights on to my 03, so I have projectors to work with, but I keep seeing people arguing back and forth that they are good enough/not good enough for HIDs. Seeing as they are brand new, I'm not too keen on cracking them open for a retrofit, but is a PnP kit with some adjustment on the squirrel finder worth it? Or should I just stick with my current lighting? In my mind, I would love some extra light up front, but I'm not sure about it. Can someone give me their opinions on it? Thanks!

 

[850lifeguard]

I bought some 6ks off amazon and I will never go back to halogen. I had one go out after 4 months and the seller sent me another ballast with quick shipping for free. Worth every penny in my opinion. I have an 06 with projectors

 

[Ol'Blue]

That is like asking "Blond's, Red Heads, or Burnett's"

Blue

 

[preacher35]

I remember, two years ago, when I dropped my truck off at my friend's shop, thinking to myself "did I just make a mistake, dropping that money into HID's, when I could have spent it on LED light bars or something else? Well, I ate those words, later that evening, when I went to pick it up and fired those new headlights up. WOW! Talk about lighting up the road in front of me and peripherally! As a previous member stated, I will NEVER go back to halogens! I mean NEVER! I love my HID's as much as I love my Shrockworks bumper and Toytec Ultimate lift kit. I think, assuming that they are properly installed, you will be quite pleased and satisfied with your purchase!

 

[chompster4runner]

Just get it and you'll be happy with the output. Just aim it down a wee bit. I got the 4300k on my halogen and output is great compared to stock light brown output. There's a big debate on this but do what you feel. Its your truck. Good luck!

 

[coldwiz]

I bought 2 sets of the 5000k plug n play HIDs over black Friday from XENONDEPOT - HID & LED Lighting Products, a set for the wife's Subaru and a set for my 4Runner. I haven't gotten to the 4Runner yet but installed them in the Subaru Saturday and they are pretty awesome. Well worth the money. Yes opening them up and replacing the projectors would be even more awesome but so far I am very happy with the results.

 

[Erkelbot]

Unless you're 100% sold on the idea, don't retrofit. Spendy (arguably worth it), and fairly involved. You've got projectors -- use em. Just aim right so you don't blind people. Bend those squirrel finders, get some Phillips 4300k bulbs, and never look back. Cheapest mod I've done that had such an everyday impact...

 

[Erkelbot]

I bought 2 sets of the 5000k plug n play HIDs over black Friday from XENONDEPOT - HID & LED Lighting Products, a set for the wife's Subaru and a set for my 4Runner. I haven't gotten to the 4Runner yet but installed them in the Subaru Saturday and they are pretty awesome. Well worth the money. Yes opening them up and replacing the projectors would be even more awesome but so far I am very happy with the results.

+1 for Xenon Depot. Great product at a good price. I've ha 2 kits -- both were great.

 

[iBison]

+1 for Xenon Depot. Great product at a good price. I've ha 2 kits -- both were great.

+2 Super company with super support. Steve from XD is on here and will answer any questions you have. Get the 35watt, more than enough light, get 5k if you want the brightest and whitest.

 

[BlackWorksInc]

Hmm.. Honestly I would say it depends on a couple factors...

For example:

-Do you run more than the stock headlight/foglights? (i.e. Are you or do you plan on running LED bars, spotlights, ect.)

-Do you do most of your driving in urban areas or in rural? (Most urban areas are washed in enough streetlamps, secondary lighting you almost don't need any headlights, but you'll notice it on rural highways)

-Do you have a lot of money to spend on extra stuff?

I thought about HIDs for a long time, but I think I'm going to wait for better quality/output LED retrofit kits to come out at this point. I have a nice bright, clean light from my '06~'09 style headlights and the ZXE bulbs I'm running, even out in the boonies I'm getting good light coverage; I also plan on going with LED Bars in the future to get larger coverage, so HIDs seem more of a finishing touch than a need right now.

 

[S4TA]

Another vote for Xenon Depot. Replaced my 05 with 06+ headlights and did the 4300k hid kit. Cutoff is great and output is much better than stock.

 

[LOSTR4]

I too have been weighing the pros and cons..far more pros after my research...I upgraded to 06 housings and bought the DDM versions at 5k...looking forward to giving these to the 'ole girl...and not just the wife

 

[ua330]

I highly recommend HID's, I did a HID retro on the wife's Prius and everytime I go from the Prius to the halogens on the 4runner I'm disappointed. Can't wait to put projectors in the runner

 

[hendy.27]

I have a 2006 that I decided to install HID's in a few months ago. I absolutely love them. I got some 5000k's off of amazon for around $60.00. I liked them so much I ended up getting some 3500k's for my fog lights.

Here's a pic of the difference between the 5000k and the stock halogens.

 

[Krayziekid]

I have a 2006 that I decided to install HID's in a few months ago. I absolutely love them. I got some 5000k's off of amazon for around $60.00. I liked them so much I ended up getting some 3500k's for my fog lights.

Here's a pic of the difference between the 5000k and the stock halogens.

Did you move the squirrel finders around?

 

[Krayziekid]

Hmm.. Honestly I would say it depends on a couple factors...

For example:

-Do you run more than the stock headlight/foglights? (i.e. Are you or do you plan on running LED bars, spotlights, ect.)

-Do you do most of your driving in urban areas or in rural? (Most urban areas are washed in enough streetlamps, secondary lighting you almost don't need any headlights, but you'll notice it on rural highways)

-Do you have a lot of money to spend on extra stuff?

I thought about HIDs for a long time, but I think I'm going to wait for better quality/output LED retrofit kits to come out at this point. I have a nice bright, clean light from my '06~'09 style headlights and the ZXE bulbs I'm running, even out in the boonies I'm getting good light coverage; I also plan on going with LED Bars in the future to get larger coverage, so HIDs seem more of a finishing touch than a need right now.

I currently have a stealthier LED bar behind my lower grille. My driving is a massive mix. Because of school, I go from city driving, to small-town backroads, to off-road very very quickly. I'm honestly uncertain whether or not new lighting will be added. If I get a roof rack, I will likely add more lighting, although not necessarily facing forward.

And I wouldn't say I have a lot of extra money, but if it is worth it, then I could be convinced to make the investment.

 

[MrRoo]

The difference between HID and stock is incredible!! But do it once and do it right. Use a dedicated HID projector. Yes the 2006+ projectors will work, but they are not ideal for true HID setup. I've done a couple retrofits and the difference is absolutely worth the time and money invested. I'm doing a FXR swap in my 04 this winter. I did a TSX swap in my 2003 Accord and did Morimoto setup in my G8. Both resulted in amazing light output that didn't blind people. I hate the stock lights in the 4runner.

 

[S4TA]

I have a 2006 that I decided to install HID's in a few months ago. I absolutely love them. I got some 5000k's off of amazon for around $60.00. I liked them so much I ended up getting some 3500k's for my fog lights.



Here's a pic of the difference between the 5000k and the stock halogens.

I did the same thing: 3500k with my fog lights. More functionality for fog and it looks good with the contrast.

 

[Erkelbot]

The difference between HID and stock is incredible!! But do it once and do it right. Use a dedicated HID projector. Yes the 2006+ projectors will work, but they are not ideal for true HID setup. I've done a couple retrofits and the difference is absolutely worth the time and money invested. I'm doing a FXR swap in my 04 this winter. I did a TSX swap in my 2003 Accord and did Morimoto setup in my G8. Both resulted in amazing light output that didn't blind people. I hate the stock lights in the 4runner.

There's the other side of the HID argument. The 'do it right' folks. They'll shame you and make you feel like less of a human. Citing 'glare'. Sure, it can be terrible if done improperly...you have to aim them and fiddle with them a bit. But it's no reflector lens HID. It's all about budget and comfort with baking your lights in an oven...

Both arguments are right. And both are wrong. Best solution: retrofit. Great solution with MUCH less hassle: HID kit with projectors.

 

[yosh2000]

Just aim it down a wee bit.

Just aim right so you don't blind people.

i always laugh when guys say to throw in HIDs, but just aim them down...isnt that defeating the purposing of getting better light on the road? one would then actually be able to see less of a distance. but i guess if you factor in the glare...

Hey everyone. So recently began researching HIDs and they seem pretty awesome! Definitely seems like it provides a noticeable boost in lighting and stuff, but here is the main question, is it worth it?

HIDs are a HUGE improvement...if done right. TRS makes a quick retro kit for your '06 lights. simply crack open your headlights, replace the projector (only takes 4 screws) and you are in business. much easier than retro'ing the 03-05 lights.

throwing a HID bulb into a halogen projector may give you more lumens than a halogen and may look decent on a garage door at 15', but it will not be as good of an output as a true projector designed for an HID bulb down the road. optics are optics, i dont care what anyone says about that!

spend an evening on HIDplanet.com, and you will see what you are missing.

i will be retro'ing some RX330 projectors in my 05 housings. i will be using OEM philips D2S bulbs and OEM Matsushita ballasts. entire setup will run me under $300 for parts and its all OEM stuff.