Headlight assembly replacement

[twojciac]

I have a 2004 with hazed front lenses and from the reviews I've read, the restoration kits last 3-6 months at best. I'd rather swap out the assemblies and do it right.

My question is... I plan on doing quite a bit of driving on rural dirt roads, so I'm looking to get the best light output at a reasonable cost. If I'm already dropping some money on the assemblies, I don't mind dropping a few bucks more on a better design.

Looks like the options I see so far are simple OEM replacements with some Silverstar lamps... the assembly is $80, then $70 in new high/low bulbs.

Next option is Spec-D Halo Projectors for $220, and I can't tell if these are HIDs or what exactly they are. The specs on their website are non-existent. My fear is that they look a bit ghetto. Anyone running these and have more info?

Any other suggestions? I'd like to keep it under $250 and minimal work beyond the pain of removing the assembly itself. I'm not much of a mechanic.

 

[chaz]

the spec-d will be just a projector headlight for the 04 but you could add a HID kit to them for an upgrade. best thing is a retrofit but if you cant spend the $ on a new lights with a hid retrofit & what/need to keep cost to 250, best/cheapest thing to do is get a new set of 04 headlights (oem or aftermarket) & install HIR bulbs for a good upgrade. HIR 9011 and 9012 bulbs are exactly identical in all dimensions to 9005 and 9006 bulbs, except for two areas, the second of wh heres a couple of many threads on them http://www.toyota-4runner.org/4th-gen-t4rs/69166-high-intensity-infrared-hir-bulb-install.html http://www.toyota-4runner.org/4th-gen-t4rs/99221-best-replacement-plug-n-go-headlights.html for an even cheaper bulb option, you can also mod a 9005 to fit in the 9006 socket.

 

[zopperman]

I have a 2004 with hazed front lenses and from the reviews I've read, the restoration kits last 3-6 months at best. I'd rather swap out the assemblies and do it right.

My question is... I plan on doing quite a bit of driving on rural dirt roads, so I'm looking to get the best light output at a reasonable cost. If I'm already dropping some money on the assemblies, I don't mind dropping a few bucks more on a better design.

Looks like the options I see so far are simple OEM replacements with some Silverstar lamps... the assembly is $80, then $70 in new high/low bulbs.

Next option is Spec-D Halo Projectors for $220, and I can't tell if these are HIDs or what exactly they are. The specs on their website are non-existent. My fear is that they look a bit ghetto. Anyone running these and have more info?

Any other suggestions? I'd like to keep it under $250 and minimal work beyond the pain of removing the assembly itself. I'm not much of a mechanic.

I am!

They DEFINITELY look less ghetto in person, take my word for it. Living in Philly makes me an expert on things that look ghetto.
I was worried too, but i'm pretty happy with them. I eventually want to do a FXR retrofit though

 

[chaz]

its under 250 so this might work for you. HID Xenon + 03-05 Toyota 4Runner Angel Eye Halo LED Projector Headlights - Black

 

[Asmara]

I replaced my housings with OEM after they fogged up. I tried the compounds that polish them back up but ask you noted, they only last about 6 months.

The intermediate step between HIDs and normal halogen is HIR bulbs. They will absolutely give you the light output you want and are easy to install. Check out my signature for details. Since I wrote that they are easier to find. I also will note that I have yet to replace an HIR bulb in my vehicle and we've passed the year three install mark

 

[wvuviv30]

Hey Zopperman, how's the light pattern compared to stock?

 

[twojciac]

its under 250 so this might work for you. HID Xenon + 03-05 Toyota 4Runner Angel Eye Halo LED Projector Headlights - Black

Awesome... same site has the clear ones for the same price. I think this looks like my best option so far.

 

[zopperman]

Hey Zopperman, how's the light pattern compared to stock?

Its good. I have HIDs

 

[earthrealm]

Its good. I have HIDs

@zoppermn..could you wlk me through on how you hooked up the hids. i bought the same spec d assy, but having problems on installing the hids.
i though the hids would be plug nd play, but its appearing as if i would need to splice some cables nd cut up the black plastic cover @ the back of the hid bulb?

 

[zopperman]

@zoppermn..could you wlk me through on how you hooked up the hids. i bought the same spec d assy, but having problems on installing the hids.
i though the hids would be plug nd play, but its appearing as if i would need to splice some cables nd cut up the black plastic cover @ the back of the hid bulb?

I'll reply to your pm when I get home, but in the mean time can you post some pics of your hid kit? I had to do some splicing since these are h1s and ours are 9006. Not hard though. You may need a 9006 make harness

 

[earthrealm]

see the pics of my setup....when i ordered. i ordered the hids as an extra option, so the setup was pri,marily a projector angel eyes based - plug and plaay.the ballasts are normally. my problem is with the items circled in yellow

the cable ends mrked b... i believe is the input voltage for the ballaasts....but where do i hook them upto?...dont think its safe running them direct to the battery.

the black plstic cover marked c, i think i need to cut it up to pass through the rubber gromet marked a?

 

[earthrealm]

I'll reply to your pm when I get home, but in the mean time can you post some pics of your hid kit? I had to do some splicing since these are h1s and ours are 9006. Not hard though. You may need a 9006 make harness

i hope the pics above are self explnatory....for aa projector assy its plug and play...but i run into some hitches if i want to hook up the hid option

 

[zopperman]

i hope the pics above are self explnatory....for aa projector assy its plug and play...but i run into some hitches if i want to hook up the hid option

Right - so the wires "B" are for an H1 style harness, but your truck has 9006. You have two options:

1) attach a 9006 harness to those (buy one and splice it one, I used one form the set of 9006 HIDs that I had in my reflector housings)
2) attach the HID wires directly to the factory headlight wiring, removing the harness altogether - free, but PITA when you have to change a bulb or remove the assembly. I recommend option 1, harnesses are cheap

As for cover "c" you need to drill a 1" hole to allow the grommet to fit in place, i can take some pics of what I did when I work on the truck later today

 

[earthrealm]

thanks 4 the tips....waiting for the pictures..

 

[A10GAC]

Where did you find OEM replacements for $80??

 

[sonerick]

Any nighttime shots with the halo projectors? I'm thinking about this as well.

 

[earthrealm]

also noticed that the hid bulbs will not fil properly in this bulb holder........any way around it?

 

[chaz]

earthrealm, did you buy from protuning labs, they're site says hids preinstalled? http://www.protuninglab.com/03to4raneyeh.html

 

[earthrealm]

i bought from spec d.......they werent pre instlled....the hids cme as an option for $35 extra or so.....really quite unhappy how it turned out... i might just stick with the [special] halogen bulbs that were preinstlled......n leave out the hid/ballast option... they said everything would be plug and play...but its not turning out to be so.... i could deal with a lil cutting of plastic and splicing cable.............but this bulb fitment issue... i really dont hv a clue

 

[amg_w211]

Polish, then seal the headlights

Most headlight restoration kits are great polishers and get the lenses initially looking like new. However, the polishing oftentimes takes off the clearcoat as well as the oxidized haze, to reveal virgin, unprotected plastic. This exposed plastic will easily oxidize (i.e. haze up again) without a clearcoat protectant, or a clear bra film applied to it.

Here's what I've done with success:

OPTION 1. Light headlight oxidation: Just use a clay bar kit and rub out the light oxidation (just like you would with oxidized paint). This fixed it (90% clarity) for my 2003 truck after 2 minutes of rubbing. No oxidation as of yet, as this doesn't take all of the clearcoat off the headlight at all.

OPTION 2. Headlight restoration kit. A more involved process. This will polish lights to new condition. However, I would say 95% of the kits do NOT have the additional hard chemical sealant to keep the headlights in new condition. Again, you either need a clear bra film to protect it from re-oxidizing or a hard sealer. Here's a suggestion of a full kit w/ polish and sealant (I have this in my garage and was going to try it out, but #1 above did the trick thus far):

Detailer’s Total Headlight Restoration Kit, how to restore headlights

Alternatively, you can of course use your favorite headlight restoration kit (if you bought one already) and apply this hard sealant onto your lense (or apply to your new lens to protect it from future oxidation)--it's one of the few headlight sealants on the market:

Optimum Opti-Lens Permanent Headlight Coating, headlight coatings protectants

Of course, you can always buy a new set of lenses, but with either option 1 or 2, you'll be pretty satisfied with the results, as the rest of your car will invariably look aged/used and not new--why not save some money?