Bixenon retros on 2005 Limited

CookieRoe

CookieRoe

Senior Member
This mod has been on the "to-do" list since forever. When I saw PAordanance's retros, I thought, ".....me likey!!!!!" LOL..........Anyway, I was going to go with FX projectors, but saw that the TL projectors were preferred by users. I had them done by the fellas at Lightwerkz. These are my second retros from them (my 1st ones are on my Civic...........I preferred that car be the guinea pig before I had my 4R's lights modded..........turned out to be awesome...http://www.toyota-4runner.org/all-o...-07-civic-toyota-4runner-next.html#post757198....). 4Runner retros are not here yet, but I expect them to arrive early next week and I should have them installed by next weekend. Obviously, pics to come!!

Because the runner is driven everyday, I had to get "downtime" headlights. I got them on eBay and are absolutely horrible. Beam pattern is very spotty and the quality of the fit and finish is laughable. They were $80 shipped and are temporary so I don't care.

Nothing earth-shattering:
35W, lightwerkz ballast
4300K HIDs
TL bixenons
Apollo shrouds
Factory HiBeams were left alone.
Amber reflector left alone as well.

Anyway, here is a link to the finished product (retro done with my OEM headlights). Just thought I would share :hatsoff:

Edward’s 4Runner – Acura TL Projector Conversion | HID Projector Headlight Retrofit for Subaru, Honda, BMW, Scion and More | LightWerkz.net
 
Register to hide this ad
i thought u would purchase some mini h1 projectors and do it yourself. im jealous that ur projector is better than my morimoto d2s projectors, but i have 5five ballast on 35w 6000k, might be same output or brighter.
 
riceandpho said:
i thought u would purchase some mini h1 projectors and do it yourself. im jealous that ur projector is better than my morimoto d2s projectors, but i have 5five ballast on 35w 6000k, might be same output or brighter.
Click to expand...

If I had the time and more know-who, I would do the mod myself. Mechanically I know what's involved, but I also know I like to take my time on projects. Just moved, baby on the way, new projects at work = no time. I would HATE to reseal the headlights only to find out that they are out of alignment, that would probably put me into an insane asylum. 6000K? Do they have a hint of blue? I noticed my 4300K (on my Civic) are WHITE, but with a "slither" hint of yellow. BUT, when going down the highway, I notice my light is pure white (everyone elses lights are YELLOW looking). I chose 4300K b/c I want to drive EVERYWHERE "under the radar". I'm not into getting that kind of attention.

(cops) :police: (me) :zoom:

I mentioned ebay "downtime" headlights. Check these pics and judge for yourself.

7dfec1ec.jpg~original


And these are brand new!!! The condensation occurred after I washed her....
964b6a2c.jpg~original
 
Hi, just picked up my '03 Ltd V8 a couple of weeks ago and was planning on doing this as my first mod.

Couple of questions... any particular reason you didn't use the ebay cheapy's as the donor housings? I was planning on using the ebay's so that I am not cutting up the OEM units.... figured that they will need to be resealed anyways and the beam pattern won't be an issue due to the new projectors being installed.

Did you get Lightwerks to do the actual projector install, or did you do it yourself? I am in Canada, so shipping it back and forth isn't really an option. I would like to do the install myself and wondered about the actual projector installation process.

Thanks!
 
I just had an RX330 HID projector with TSX lens retrofit into 2006 headlamps. Check my signature for some photo's. Quite happy with the results.
 
Akito said:
Hi, just picked up my '03 Ltd V8 a couple of weeks ago and was planning on doing this as my first mod.

Couple of questions... any particular reason you didn't use the ebay cheapy's as the donor housings? I was planning on using the ebay's so that I am not cutting up the OEM units.... figured that they will need to be resealed anyways and the beam pattern won't be an issue due to the new projectors being installed.

I didn't use the ebay headlights to be modified because I question the quality of the plastic they use. You mentioned beam pattern and resealing......you're correct as they are not an issue. The main reason I used the OEM housings are the quality of the plastic. The jury is still out on whether the ebay lights use an inferior plastic or not. Everyone knows that OEMs, for the most part, are usually the best. I would hate to get the ebay lights modded, only for them to yellow prematurely. I would buy the ebay lights to PRACTICE on. When you are ready, perform the surgery on the OEM ones.

Did you get Lightwerks to do the actual projector install, or did you do it yourself? I am in Canada, so shipping it back and forth isn't really an option. I would like to do the install myself and wondered about the actual projector installation process.

Lightwerkz did everything EXCEPT reinstall the finished product onto my truck. They typically ship them to you. All I do is "plug and play". I really wanted to do everything myself, but it would take me forever and I have no time.
Click to expand...

BigEd said:
I just had an RX330 HID projector with TSX lens retrofit into 2006 headlamps. Check my signature for some photo's. Quite happy with the results.
Click to expand...

The RX330 projectors are awesome! I have them on my Civic. I could kick myself for not doing it before.

EDIT: I remember seeing your project online (FB) and thought they made a mistake until I saw that the lights were 2006 and the ballast/shroud/bulb were completely different from mine. My name is Edward too, and when I saw "Edward" and "4Runner", I thought they were talking about my project, hahah. Anyway, Your retros look awesome!!
 
Last edited:
when u power a 35w bulb with 50 ballast the color changes, so my 6000k 35w bulb is at a 5000k 50w bulb now, its pure white. i did use 4300k 35w bulbs but they are still yellow to me.
 
riceandpho said:
when u power a 35w bulb with 50 ballast the color changes, so my 6000k 35w bulb is at a 5000k 50w bulb now, its pure white. i did use 4300k 35w bulbs but they are still yellow to me.
Click to expand...

Wouldn't that kill bulb life (rated at 35 and you power them to 50)? I've heard that 50W (or 55W....can't remember) ballast don't last long............. how long have yours lasted?
 
are most of you guys doing the retrofit for cost reasons? I have an 05 and swapped them out for OEM 08 headlights. Just had had to change the trim under the lights. Installed them with lightwerkz 6000k's. Looks awesome but was a bit on the costly side.
 
nethngbtstk said:
are most of you guys doing the retrofit for cost reasons? I have an 05 and swapped them out for OEM 08 headlights. Just had had to change the trim under the lights. Installed them with lightwerkz 6000k's. Looks awesome but was a bit on the costly side.
Click to expand...

Most do the retrofit because the beam pattern of the TL, FX, S2K projectors is much better than the OEM projectors on the '06 - '09 runners. I have an '05 with the reflectors and I've gone back and forth on what I want to do. Do I do what you did and go with an OEM swap w/ 4runner projectors (may be cheaper) or do I retrofit with a quality projector? Retrofit kits from theretrofitsource.com are pricey but I know it's quality.
 
my bulbs are lasting pretty good, i started my retro in like april, and these bulbs are cheap, at 45 bubks from the retrofit source, i have back up bulbs to use too, my osram 66240 (95) and my 50w morimoto 5000k (50), i did the retro to reduce glare and get a color flicker effect, my coworkers like the flicker effect when im behind them.
 
guys with the 03-05 should just get the morimoto h1 projector, complete kit is about 300 and its more cheaper than buying the projector headlight from 06-09 and the filler peice. the retro only takes about 4-8 hours , its easy and simple bolt on, but if u want oem d2s projectors then that would mean more custom work to be done.
 
krupnation said:
Most do the retrofit because the beam pattern of the TL, FX, S2K projectors is much better than the OEM projectors on the '06 - '09 runners. I have an '05 with the reflectors and I've gone back and forth on what I want to do. Do I do what you did and go with an OEM swap w/ 4runner projectors (may be cheaper) or do I retrofit with a quality projector? Retrofit kits from theretrofitsource.com are pricey but I know it's quality.
Click to expand...


hmm...I wounder how much difference there is with the TL, FX, S2K projectors over the oem ones. Once I installed the everything and adjusted the height / angle of the lights there is a lot of light being thrown out. I live in wooded area (no street lights) and I barely use my hi's. Id be curious to see the retro beam side by side with oem.....
 
nethngbtstk said:
are most of you guys doing the retrofit for cost reasons?
Click to expand...

As others haved said you get better control over the light with an HID projector over the 06 projectors which are Halogen projectors and as a result have squirrel finders requiring the squirrel finder mod when used with HID's. The squirrel finder mod is required to not blind oncoming drivers when using HID in the 2006 housing. Also you may get a better distribution pattern and sharper cut off line with HID projectors.

I believe this thread has some info on the squirrel finder issue and mod. http://www.toyota-4runner.org/4th-gen-t4rs/29458-hid-project-write-up-detail-pics.html

I used RX330 projectors w/ TSX lens inside the 2006 projectors. One of the reasons I went with the RX330 projectors and TSX lens was the wide, even light pattern and very sharp cutoff which this projector outputs. I'm quire happy with the light pattern I received as a result, wide, even distribution, and once the cutoff was dialed in, no blinding issues for oncoming drivers.
 
Last edited:
krupnation said:
Most do the retrofit because the beam pattern of the TL, FX, S2K projectors is much better than the OEM projectors on the '06 - '09 runners. I have an '05 with the reflectors and I've gone back and forth on what I want to do. Do I do what you did and go with an OEM swap w/ 4runner projectors (may be cheaper) or do I retrofit with a quality projector? Retrofit kits from theretrofitsource.com are pricey but I know it's quality.
Click to expand...

This is why I just saved and waited till I have the "smoke" to get the retros I wanted. I did the same with my Civic. Expensive to do it the right way, I didn't want to half a$$ it. Totally worth it in the end.
 
nethngbtstk said:
are most of you guys doing the retrofit for cost reasons? I have an 05 and swapped them out for OEM 08 headlights. Just had had to change the trim under the lights. Installed them with lightwerkz 6000k's. Looks awesome but was a bit on the costly side.
Click to expand...


Can you post pic's of what this looks like? I noticed that the corner around the grill is different too... do you just have empty space there now?
 
teaser pics.................

nethngbtstk said:
Sure. There is a small gap there but nothing overly noticeable
Click to expand...

They look really good! I can BARELY notice the gap. Good Job. Did you break the plastics "garnish" taps? I did, but they still fit good and don't move around.

Anyway, my lights arrived!! :drummer::guitar2:

be80770b.jpg~original

Not install yet, probably Monday afternoon, expect pics Monday night/Tuesday!

47d9601e.jpg~original


96187d73.jpg~original

Under the projector, you can notice the hi beam solenoid. It sticks out like a sore thumb at this angle, but once installed, you shouldn't be able to notice them too much. I really wanted to get Gatling Gun shrouds, but with the TL projectors, they wouldn't fit. These Apollo shrouds are awesome, I'm happy.
 
Thanks man :thumb3: Yeah i broke that piece to but didn't matter as I installed new 08 lights. Wont effect anything on yours though. Those look really good. I have my 05 lights sitting in my closet. Im toying with the idea of dual projectors for both low and hi beam. Wounder if lightwerkz can make that happen....
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Members online

Total: 500 (members: 1, guests: 499)

Forum statistics

Threads
278,316
Messages
3,554,105
Members
248,016
Latest member
Advally Service

Share this page

Trending content

Back
Top