corolla led retrofit in 5th gen 4runner.

[D Farms]

I finally convinced my dad to do a retrofit for him, all he does is long cross country trips and he really needs the light at night on the highway. anyways i was looking in the trs closeouts and saw a set of perfect 2014 corolla led headlights. i called my dad and told him to buy them as fast as he could. they were $200 with drivers and shrouds. now thats a good price for an hid retrofit. thats an amazing price for an led retrofit, but the catch is no one has ever done this before. anyways i just took the bumper off and got the lights off, a lot more work than my 3rd gen. ill add more updates and pictures as i go. also any tips would be appreciated.

all done:

 

[hoe_nah]

good luck..those projectors have an odd shape, but the cutoff and color are pretty amazing coming off a toyota. post pics when u get the chance, im trying to figure out which projectors im going to use in my 14' 4runner.

 

[D Farms]

id suggest contacting trs to see if they are doing a retro quick kit for the 2014+ 5th gens.

as far as the lens, yeah its a funky shape. its a wierdly shaped trapezoid with a circular lens in the center, and then fresnelesque ridges that fill the rest of the trapezoid. however it has a flat plate with the mounting holes built into it. one advantage is that there will be no need for access to the bulb. im going to tig up an aluminum tube and silicone it to the rubber cap to give enough room around the back of the projector.

 

[mdogg]

I've seen a guy Frankensteining IS350 lenses onto the Corolla LED reflector.... makes it round when you're done. Something to think about if you're shy about the trapezoidal lens.

 

[gm350reratliff]

Interested in how this turns out. Those LED projectors are awesome. I also like the LEDs my friends new TLX has. The color and light output is amazing.

 

[BlackWorksInc]

This is something I had planned to do later down the line on my 4th gen. Love to see how it turns out.

 

[D Farms]

sex
10char

 

[mikey's2010SR5]

My opinion, it does not fit or flow. I would go with a HID projector that better fits.

I have 2014 Corolla and really am not impressed with the LED output. Where as my HID retro in the 4Runner puts out better light and in a wider more usable pattern.

But I bet you are the first to do this retro.

 

[D Farms]

I disagree, these have a good output and soft cutoff, which still allows a small amount of light near the cutoff area. keep in mind this is going to be used only on the road, and the width is irrelevant due to the fact that there are the wide fog lights. the trapezoidal shape actually matches the lines of the hood to give an agressive look, unlike a round projector with its absent stare. even after doing my retrofit on my 3rd gen, i always thought it looked off. most retrofits look wierd because the projector is centered around where the existing bulb is, but this is different because there is no bulb, i guess you wouldnt know that since you had someone else do the work for you. and sure you can get more light out of a an hid, but these draw less than 30 watts, will never need a new bulb and there are no bulbs to focus or break.

everyone is entitled to their own opinion, ill post some more pictures soon when i have the whole thing back together.

 

[D Farms]

also anyone know how to reset these clips?

 

[mikey's2010SR5]

Wait you mean I have a bulb with my HIDs and the LEDs don't. Mind blown. I also just found out you have to put air in tires too.

I agree everyone is entitled to their opinion. I will say now you have it together and on the truck it looks better. But I still am not impressed with the output of the unit considering I have been using it for over a year now. I actually like a wide headlight pattern because I want to see what is to the left and right of the front of my vehicle while driving. But again my opinion only.

 

[mikey's2010SR5]

also anyone know how to reset these clips?

Pop the center part up. There is a catch that you might have to pull away from the center to get it to pop up.

 

[The Waco Kid]

also anyone know how to reset these clips?

Pull the little fins outward some then press the spike back through them.

You can do this by prying them back with your finger nails then pushing the spike against a hard surface, making sure not to press on the top "button" portion.

Probably not the best description, but the best I can do. Hope that helps.

 

[mdogg]

I disagree, these have a good output and soft cutoff

I think it's widely agreed by most that the Corolla LEDs look much better from observers (pure aesthetics) rather than from the driver's seat (functional performance). They are unique, I'll give you that. I don't think the lines match up to the bezel curves at all though, seems very mismatched. Might be better if you vacuum form your own bezel in there.

FYI, what happens when the LED/driver fails? You won't have the "luxury" of making a quick and easy bulb/ballast swap to troubleshoot.... In that case, you'd have to remove the entire thing.

 

[marshal]

the truck looks high as ****

 

[dekeman]

You're brave, as is your dad. This is interesting, though myself I'd be leery of anything that didn't look as good as OEM, something easily accomplished by a projector.

Any night pix, or before and after pix?

 

[paddlenbike]

I could live with that, nice work; now it's time to color-match the fog light bulbs.

You managed to update the '10-'13 model year's cheap reflector bowl housings without having the hideous front end on the '14+ models.

 

[D Farms]

man you guys over here in the 5th gen section remind me of the people on ih8mud.

 

[D Farms]

I think it's widely agreed by most that the Corolla LEDs look much better from observers (pure aesthetics) rather than from the driver's seat (functional performance). They are unique, I'll give you that. I don't think the lines match up to the bezel curves at all though, seems very mismatched. Might be better if you vacuum form your own bezel in there.

FYI, what happens when the LED/driver fails? You won't have the "luxury" of making a quick and easy bulb/ballast swap to troubleshoot.... In that case, you'd have to remove the entire thing.

it has an external driver, and the led solders in.

 

[Mannydc5]

They look beautiful.. :thumb: