Best Replacement "plug n' go" headlights

[dangros]

More in low beam 4runner 4th gen

More from Stern on the topic:
Before pondering a bulb upgrade, make sure the headlamps are in as-new condition. If the lenses are yellowed or clouded or fogged, replace the lamps with new original-equipment ones. There are various polishing/restoration kits on the market, none of which will do anything but postpone your need to install new headlamps because what you are doing in "polishing" the headlamps is scrubbing off the anti-UV/anti-scratch hardcoat that was applied and crosslink-cured under cleanroom conditions when the lamps were manufactured. With this coating gone, the degradation will come back faster and worse than before. Many of the kits contain what they claim to be a coating, lotion, wax, protectant, sunscreen or other such goop; none of these does anything to slow or stop the degradation. Don't get aftermarket headlamps; all of them -- whether original-type or restyled (projector, halo, LED, angel eye, etc.) are unsafe junk.

The HIR2 bulb is not a good match for this application. Mount height too high and optics are such that you'd have to tip the aim way, far down to avoid unsafe/illegal levels of glare. That downward aim would shorten your seeing distance significantly -- no good. Instead, use Philips 9006 X-treme Power Headlight Bulbs (Low-Beam), Pack of 2 : Amazon.com : Automotive .

From Daniel Stearn (headlight professional):
Your low beams take a 1350-lumen H11 bulb. You can easily, safely, and effectively replace this with a 2100-lumen H9 bulb, which you ought to be able to find locally by seeking the high beam bulb for a 2008 Chevrolet Malibu. Use a good brand (GE, Philips, Osram-Sylvania) and stick to colorless clear bulbs, not any kind of "whiter light" bulb such as the Sylvania Silver Star scam. You may need to shave a small ridge of plastic off the H9 bulb's connector so that the H11 socket will snap on. Other than that, it's a direct swap. The only disadvantage is shorter low beam bulb life — the H11 is optimised for very long life with relatively modest light output, while the H9 is optimised for very high output with relatively short life. Note that the H9 swap is not universal; it works well in projector-type low beams but is not safe in most reflector-type low beams or in fog lamps of any type.

If you want to upgrade the high beams, go to your local Chevrolet dealer (or GM Parts Direct: Your direct source for Genuine GM Parts for a better price)and pick up two part number 15094219. That is a 9011 bulb. They are not some tinted or overwattage version of 9005, but share the identical filament geometry and base architecture as well as the same power consumption.

Here's the comparison:

stock: 9005, 12.8V, 65W, 1700 lumens, 320 hours
new: 9011, 12.8V, 65W, 2530 lumens, 320 hours

The 9011 bulbs have a double-wide top ear on the plastic bulb base, this is
to comply with the law requiring different bulbs to have different bases.
The extra-wide plastic top ear is easily trimmed or filed to make the bulb
fit your headlamp's bulb receptacle. Once that's done, they go directly
into the headlamp, and the existing sockets snap on. Please see
HIR bulb base modification for details.

Note- This was for my 06. Check your headlights. I don't know what the 03 has.

 

[utobiaus]

The HIR is for the high beam which is supposed to flood the area with light. It's an exact match for our lighting system just with more lumens. You're not supposed to use the high beams if there is anyone on the road in front of you. So if you think you have to tip the beam down then you are already driving illegally.

 

[utobiaus]

Well mine works- pretty good actually - i good quality HIDs from xenon depot 4300k , but to your input if you are replacing the light with a much brighter light, so yes basic geometry would say you would get brighter light output keeping the space specifications ( reflectors etc)- i am sorry i am not trying to be a smart a@@

its just that i tried every kind of bulbs for our 4runners out there and the light output while increased was not satisfactory..

i have HIDs in both fogs and headlights and i am pretty happy, would i mind a projector no.. but i am not sold on the ones out there right now

No, basic geometry would show that instead of the straight lighting element you are substituting a curved one and would increase the reflections in unintended areas, ie glare.

 

[Michaelhenry4run]

i have to change my LED, both headlights- hi & lo & foglights i need a bright one.
im just confused which one is really good. just a pull-out & plug-in, i dont like those conversion kits, too complicated.

i just need the right wattage, right?
anybody out here?

thank you guys


2003 V8 SE

 

[keakar]

From Daniel Stearn (headlight professional):
Your low beams take a 1350-lumen H11 bulb. You can easily, safely, and effectively replace this with a 2100-lumen H9 bulb, which you ought to be able to find locally by seeking the high beam bulb for a 2008 Chevrolet Malibu. Use a good brand (GE, Philips, Osram-Sylvania) and stick to colorless clear bulbs, not any kind of "whiter light" bulb such as the Sylvania Silver Star scam. You may need to shave a small ridge of plastic off the H9 bulb's connector so that the H11 socket will snap on. Other than that, it's a direct swap. The only disadvantage is shorter low beam bulb life — the H11 is optimised for very long life with relatively modest light output, while the H9 is optimised for very high output with relatively short life. Note that the H9 swap is not universal; it works well in projector-type low beams but is not safe in most reflector-type low beams or in fog lamps of any type.

If you want to upgrade the high beams, go to your local Chevrolet dealer (or GM Parts Direct: Your direct source for Genuine GM Parts for a better price)and pick up two part number 15094219. That is a 9011 bulb. They are not some tinted or overwattage version of 9005, but share the identical filament geometry and base architecture as well as the same power consumption.

Here's the comparison:

stock: 9005, 12.8V, 65W, 1700 lumens, 320 hours
new: 9011, 12.8V, 65W, 2530 lumens, 320 hours

The 9011 bulbs have a double-wide top ear on the plastic bulb base, this is
to comply with the law requiring different bulbs to have different bases.
The extra-wide plastic top ear is easily trimmed or filed to make the bulb
fit your headlamp's bulb receptacle. Once that's done, they go directly
into the headlamp, and the existing sockets snap on. Please see
HIR bulb base modification for details.

Note- This was for my 06. Check your headlights. I don't know what the 03 has.

Here's my thread in installing 9011 bulbs in the 4th Gen 4Runner. I've found it to be easy and with significant increase in light output.

just came across this thread

thanks guys, my 06 needs some better eyes and after new headlights i wanted brighter bulbs and your post gives me lots of info i needed :cheers:


so you are saying to just put in h9 bulbs to replace the h11 low beams and then use the 9011 for replacing the high beams and just use dremel to do a little trimming on the tabs as needed?

.

 

[KruzSR5]

Interested as well.

 

[TowMeOut]

I know this thread is a little old but it's exactly what I'm interested in doing. Any long-term updates from anyone that's swapped the H9 bulbs into the 06+ low beam projectors?

My lenses are kind of cloudy which is already killing my lighting. I plan to do exactly what is NOT recommended which is polish and possibly clearcoat them. I've done it on other vehicles and while it's not a great fix it's only about 20 minutes for each side and last maybe a year or two. Compare that to replacing both headlamp assemblies ($250 each??) and it's not such a bad option.

I can't see myself springing for a HID retrofit and from various threads I get the idea these don't work so well in these 06+ projectors. They'll be brighter but with all kinds of hot spots and strange cutoff patterns (at least that's the idea I get).

Anyone have any legality problems or wiring issues running the H9? We don't have state inspections so I don't think anyone is going to be looking too closely. However, I think you're limited to 55W for the low beams and these are 65W, correct? So long as they're aimed correctly it shouldn't be a problem. I get blasted by folks in new vehicles with their super HID lights all the time so I think people just come to expect brighter lights on the highway.

 

[Bluesky 07]

I recently did the H9 (low) and 9011 (high) upgrade. Minimal skills needed to trim the tabs and from there, it’s just plug them in and reseat them in the housings.

As for results, I wish I had known to do this when I bought the truck in 2014. The difference is very noticeable, especially where I need it most, on the rural roads we drive regularly. I also saw a huge improvement on the interstate during a recent cross-country drive.

No adverse results at all - nobody flashing their brights or anything like that.

Your results should be outstanding given that you plan to clean up your lenses too. Let us know!

 

[Shiftless Joe]

I know this thread is a little old but it's exactly what I'm interested in doing. Any long-term updates from anyone that's swapped the H9 bulbs into the 06+ low beam projectors?

My lenses are kind of cloudy which is already killing my lighting. I plan to do exactly what is NOT recommended which is polish and possibly clearcoat them.

My 2007 4Runner came out of Arizona, the headlights were sandblasted and yellowed real bad, but after a few hours wet sanding and polishing they look like new and are as bright as new; couldn't see wasting money on new headlamps until I at least tried that.

 

[ran]

why is the 9006 Fog always sold out everywhere? Found some JDM Yellow Fogs, have not burned out yet, 4-5 months. cheap on ebay.
___________________
2007 SE V6 Titanium

 

[Terminator03]

I recently did the H9 (low) and 9011 (high) upgrade. Minimal skills needed to trim the tabs and from there, it’s just plug them in and reseat them in the housings.

As for results, I wish I had known to do this when I bought the truck in 2014. The difference is very noticeable, especially where I need it most, on the rural roads we drive regularly. I also saw a huge improvement on the interstate during a recent cross-country drive.

No adverse results at all - nobody flashing their brights or anything like that.

Your results should be outstanding given that you plan to clean up your lenses too. Let us know!

Good to hear. I just came across this thread for the first time so I’m glad it got bumped since my ‘04 was upgraded to the ‘06 projector lights by the prior owner. While the lights are much better than my previous truck because of the halogen projectors, it’s nice to know that they can so easily be improved even more.

 

[Bluesky 07]

My 2007 4Runner came out of Arizona, the headlights were sandblasted and yellowed real bad, but after a few hours wet sanding and polishing they look like new and are as bright as new; couldn't see wasting money on new headlamps until I at least tried that.

You’re absolutely right in terms of a full housing replacement. This is a bulb swap only and significantly increases the lumens. IIRC, the stock bulbs are 1300 lumens each and the H9s are 2100.

 

[TowMeOut]

Here's step one in the process, getting rid of some of the haze on the lenses.

The side-by-side after doing the passenger side:

Here's a closeup of how rough the driver's side was to start with

I think I did a bit better job on the passenger side (it's crazy hot in the garage today). Overall not a bad finished product.

I still get a "hot spot" where the lens isn't optically perfect, but it's much better than before. The whole lends was kind of a weak yellow glow.

...and another shot with the high-beams on.

Some more or less basic Phillips H9 bulbs and some adapter cables are on the way from Amazon. I'll do an update once I get those installed. I opted to get the adapter cables for $7 rather than modifying the bulbs. They're not gonna be plug-and-play though. It's kind of silly. I think they're made to adapt an H11 bulb to H9 wiring (who does that??). Anyway, from the pics it looks like the "socket" (end to interface the stock wiring) only has 2 plugs and no tabs so anything will plug into it. The "bulb" end of the adapter has a deep slot on one side between the two contacts (as though it's meant to attach to a H11 bulb). I mean to cut away the very thin section between the two contacts so it will basically be the polar opposite of the other end. It should plug onto any bulb with the right dimension contacts (H8, H9, H11, etc.).

 

[riceandpho]

Here's step one in the process, getting rid of some of the haze on the lenses.

The side-by-side after doing the passenger side:

Here's a closeup of how rough the driver's side was to start with

I think I did a bit better job on the passenger side (it's crazy hot in the garage today). Overall not a bad finished product.

I still get a "hot spot" where the lens isn't optically perfect, but it's much better than before. The whole lends was kind of a weak yellow glow.

...and another shot with the high-beams on.

Some more or less basic Phillips H9 bulbs and some adapter cables are on the way from Amazon. I'll do an update once I get those installed. I opted to get the adapter cables for $7 rather than modifying the bulbs. They're not gonna be plug-and-play though. It's kind of silly. I think they're made to adapt an H11 bulb to H9 wiring (who does that??). Anyway, from the pics it looks like the "socket" (end to interface the stock wiring) only has 2 plugs and no tabs so anything will plug into it. The "bulb" end of the adapter has a deep slot on one side between the two contacts (as though it's meant to attach to a H11 bulb). I mean to cut away the very thin section between the two contacts so it will basically be the polar opposite of the other end. It should plug onto any bulb with the right dimension contacts (H8, H9, H11, etc.).

stop by harbor freight and get that 6 inch buffer, itll help with some polish. only a small price to pay.

 

[TowMeOut]

Got the H9 bulbs and a set of plug adapters. I'd rather modify these cables rather than hack up the bulbs. I kept the old bulbs as spares and will only take a minute to swap them back in should the need arise.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00TXRWOPA/

These adapter are kind of dumb and had mixed reviews. However, they seemed pretty well made to me and modifying the bulb end only took a few minutes with a hacksaw blade and razor knife.

I picked up a pair of "standard" Phillips H9 bulbs. As it turns out I haven't had a chance to drive in actual darkness in a rural area yet. With the summer it seems to be twilight every time I'm headed somewhere. Hopefully we'll make a night run when we're out camping next weekend.

I didn't modify the bulbs or housings. I think Toyota must have been very forgiving with the sizing on the locking tabs. So long as I tilted it to get the largest of the 3 tabs to engage first, I was able to kind of push gently and wiggle the bulb into position. Then it twisted/locked right in. No fuss, no muss....

 

[harsim]

I like to prefer the brightest replacement bulbs have the warm white light so the visibility is clear in the day and night time.
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