Drop-in headlight upgrade?

[Unner]

New 99+ headlights put out a lot more light than any old 20 year old assembly, like mentioned above. They get coated in dust and the reflective material inside becomes not so reflective. I just swapped mine out for depo brand ones. Under $100 and I can see so much more at night now. That and Phillips xtreme vision bulbs are a good compromise for me. You'll never get the output of a modern car without doing a retrofit of some sort, but that comes with more cost and less reliability than a simple halogen setup.

If it isn't enough light for you you can also run a new headlight harness that pulls power straight from the battery with less voltage drop than the stock wiring.

 

[Langcow1]

Much thanks to all those who recommended the TYP headlight assemblies. I just installed a set from rock auto and the lighting is significantly better.

One question: what do I do with the old 22 yr old original headlights? Toss em, or are they the kind of thing someone might want to recondition?

 

[Brian.]

One question: what do I do with the old 22 yr old original headlights? Toss em, or are they the kind of thing someone might want to recondition?

I'd take them for experimenting (taking apart to try out a projector upgrade without touching mine). I'm sure there are plenty of others who'd do the same, and are Not as far across the country as possible.

 

[Langcow1]

Ok well you’re welcome to them if you want to pay for the shipping!

 

[gamefreakgc]

Much thanks to all those who recommended the TYP headlight assemblies. I just installed a set from rock auto and the lighting is significantly better.

One question: what do I do with the old 22 yr old original headlights? Toss em, or are they the kind of thing someone might want to recondition?

I heard they went up considerably in the past year - I think they figured out they were the best alternative to overpriced OEM ones. Could I ask what you ended up paying for them? Once upon a time they were $36 each.

 

[Langcow1]

The grand total was $94.81 but that includes $15 for shipping and $8 in tax. Each light was $35.90. Rock Auto!

 

[Romeo1]

Sequence of events:
2013: Bought '97 4Runner.
2019: Lived with dim old lights until backing frame broke on one side.
2019:Bought/installed new OEM 96-98 headlights. Everyone says the 99+ units are better, but Toyota USA ran out a few years ago.
2019: New 96-98 units are brighter.
2020: Realize that Amayama sells the OEM 99+ units at reasonable price.
2020: Bought a pair and installed the 99+ units.
2020: The fresh, clean 99+ units are not substantially brighter...maybe not any brighter... than the fresh, clean 96-98 units.
So...now I have 99+ headlights installed, and a good, clean pair of 96-98 units as spares.
If I knew then what I know now, I wouldn't have bothered to get the 99+ units. The new, clean 96-98 units were fine.

The 99’ headlights are available from Toyota. You just have to dig through the parts catalog is all. I can’t remember is it’s an assembly now or just the “lens”. I have the boxes in the garage, I’ll post the part numbers later on today. Once I get my arm out of this sling, they’re going in.

 

[Ed_C]

The 99’ headlights are available from Toyota. You just have to dig through the parts catalog is all. I can’t remember is it’s an assembly now or just the “lens”. I have the boxes in the garage, I’ll post the part numbers later on today. Once I get my arm out of this sling, they’re going in.

No longer available complete assemblies, although I see Conicelli in PA (AKA partznet) still has a driver side available.

But like Romeo said the headlight housings themselves are still readily available, just a matter of piecing together the other components like the mounting bracket etc, which are also readily available. I'd just clean up and re use the original brackets if they're still in good shape...they're definitely built and fit better than the ones on the aftermarket replacements

 

[pluton]

No longer available complete assemblies, although I see Conicelli in PA (AKA partznet) still has a driver side available.

I just checked---They are available from the overseas suppliers, like Parts Souq and Amayama. Shipping cost will probably be the decider.

 

[gamefreakgc]

No longer available complete assemblies, although I see Conicelli in PA (AKA partznet) still has a driver side available.

But like Romeo said the headlight housings themselves are still readily available, just a matter of piecing together the other components like the mounting bracket etc, which are also readily available. I'd just clean up and re use the original brackets if they're still in good shape...they're definitely built and fit better than the ones on the aftermarket replacements

You can't put a 99+ lens on a 96-98 housing. For the 96-98's the beam pattern is in the lens and the housing is just a smooth bowl. For the 99+ headlights the beam pattern is in the housing and the lens is smooth. Putting a 99+ lens with no beam pattern on a 96-98 housing with no beam pattern will result in no beam pattern and all and light being scattered everywhere - meaning very little of it will actually be in front of you on the road.

 

[Jakeepoo3]

Much thanks to all those who recommended the TYP headlight assemblies. I just installed a set from rock auto and the lighting is significantly better.

One question: what do I do with the old 22 yr old original headlights? Toss em, or are they the kind of thing someone might want to recondition?

Yes i just busted a lense on the trail and need a whole new headlight assembly, I can't get just lenses for my year. They are pretty easy to renew so I'd keep or pass on to a new life!

 

[Jakeepoo3]

The 99’ headlights are available from Toyota. You just have to dig through the parts catalog is all. I can’t remember is it’s an assembly now or just the “lens”. I have the boxes in the garage, I’ll post the part numbers later on today. Once I get my arm out of this sling, they’re going in.

Hey while you're looking I need just replacement lenses. I found them for every year except my 2010. Maybe you'll stumble across them

 

[Ed_C]

You can't put a 99+ lens on a 96-98 housing. For the 96-98's the beam pattern is in the lens and the housing is just a smooth bowl. For the 99+ headlights the beam pattern is in the housing and the lens is smooth. Putting a 99+ lens with no beam pattern on a 96-98 housing with no beam pattern will result in no beam pattern and all and light being scattered everywhere - meaning very little of it will actually be in front of you on the road.

I didn't say anything about a lens swap

I'm talking about reusing the BRACKET the actual headlight housings bolt on to, which bolts onto the radiator support, and the metal trim pieces below each headlight screws onto. They're the same part numbers from 1996 to 2002

(photo credit Bandit Runner) - black bracket

 

[pluton]

Bracketry for my 99+ looked and worked the same as the old '97s. They appear to be identical.

 

[Romeo1]

Hey while you're looking I need just replacement lenses. I found them for every year except my 2010. Maybe you'll stumble across them [emoji106]

I can’t help you with a 2010. Sorry.

 

[yuckscott]

Quick current update on the TYC headlights - I got a pair last summer off Rock Auto, easy swap but the drivers side glare cap was bent out of position like others have stated. Pretty easy to bend it back but a bit annoying. The new housings definitely make a difference compared to my original 99 ones. The reflective material inside the housing was severely faded and peeling off, therefore not reflecting much light. The new TYCs are way more shiny and it helps. However, the lights are still pretty dim especially in the rain. Seems like the issue boils down to low voltage at the headlight connectors, although I haven't measured it.

Does anyone know of a good place to get a relay wiring harness for 100/80W bulbs? Any special considerations to be made for us with mandatory DRLs? That amazon link still works but the thin wires/thick insulation is a red flag.

 

[pluton]

HL282S SMS Upgrade Headlamp Harness for Switched Ground Vehicles | Rally Lights
I've used harnesses from this place for every Toyota 4WD vehicle I've had since about 2004. Last time was 2013 when I got my current 4Runner. St that time you could talk or email with them to make sure it'll be right for your vehicle. I even sent them the wiring diagram FSM for my 4Runner in 2013 ---to make sure the harness would be correct for my '97--- which they returned with the harness.