Headlight Beam Pattern - Normal or No??

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'01T4R

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This is on my '01.....Does this beam pattern look normal? The light lines just above th red throw me off but maybe thats a normal pattern on these rigs...anyone elses look like this? Not the greatest pic but I hope someone can tell what I'm talking about.

 
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'01T4R said:
Does this beam pattern look normal? The light lines just above th red throw me off but maybe thats a normal pattern on these rigs...anyone elses look like this? Not the greatest pic but I hope someone can tell what I'm talking about.
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yeah mine kinda do the same. they jump up to the right on each one.
 
My 4runner is locked up in the garage right now but I've noticed that on some other vehicles and the only sense i can make of it is that it keeps the beam from going into the oncoming traffic, nice strong beam straight ahead to see the road and at the same time lighting up the right side (curb side) to light up street signs and a better view off to the right...
I could be way off but it's the only logic i could come up with
 
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Joe Z said:
My 4runner is locked up in the garage right now but I've noticed that on some other vehicles and the only sense i can make of it is that it keeps the beam from going into the oncoming traffic and at the same time lighting up the right side (curb side) to light up street signs and a better view off to the right...
I could be way off but it's the only logic i could come up with
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Makes sense...I've just never seen it before on any vehicle and the 4r is new to me
 
I've driven Semi's all my life and the headlights are up much higher but i always noticed the curb side got more light than the white line drivers side....
You have a real solid beams dead center for the road in front of you so that's the main concern.
Maine.... That's a beautiful state. Wish i was there right now as this Arizona 110 degrees is a bit much right now LOL
 
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The timing of this is impeccable. I was looking at my headlight glass yesterday (no I wasn't stoned like StreetCreeper) and I noticed a strange pattern that didn't make any sense to me. The glass on the passengers side has an etching that slopes down towards the grille but the driver's side, instead of mirroring it, slopes down towards the tire. I thought for a second I had a defect but couldn't figure it out.
 
A bit off topic, but does anyone have a perspective on the beam quality of a 96-98 4runner compared to a 99+.

I am very disappointed with the low beam headlight in my 97, and considering swapping to 99+ lenses and a LED plug & play kit like OPT7.... But I am unsure if that's what I really need to be looking at doing.
 
TXLX1 said:
A bit off topic, but does anyone have a perspective on the beam quality of a 96-98 4runner compared to a 99+.

I am very disappointed with the low beam headlight in my 97, and considering swapping to 99+ lenses and a LED plug & play kit like OPT7.... But I am unsure if that's what I really need to be looking at doing.
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My 96' has one original headlight casing and one new casing.... both lenses are not faded from the sun but the inside chrome is nowhere near the quality of the newer side and it definitely shows in the quality of the light output. I will someday replace the older one but definitely a very big difference
 
Joe Z said:
My 96' has one original headlight casing and one new casing.... both lenses are not faded from the sun but the inside chrome is nowhere near the quality of the newer side and it definitely shows in the quality of the light output. I will someday replace the older one but definitely a very big difference
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Nice, so the newer side is a 99+? I'm thinking about rolling the dice on the Depo 99+ headlamp assembly and the OPT7 LED kit. It can't be worse than what I have. I outdrive the head lights at about 50-60mph in dark areas.
 
TXLX1 said:
A bit off topic, but does anyone have a perspective on the beam quality of a 96-98 4runner compared to a 99+.

I am very disappointed with the low beam headlight in my 97, and considering swapping to 99+ lenses and a LED plug & play kit like OPT7.... But I am unsure if that's what I really need to be looking at doing.
Click to expand...

Well, I was pretty disappointed with the beam strength with stock lights on my 98.

I didn't want to do a HID conversion, so I opted for the easiest way, changing out the bulbs.

I use those, much brighter than stock, and the advantage is that they have a long lifetime compared to most high illumination bulbs. Kinda expensive though, those are canadian dollars. My daytime running lights are now as bright as the old normal night setting with the stock ageing bulbs.

https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B00544ZD86/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
 
TXLX1 said:
Nice, so the newer side is a 99+? I'm thinking about rolling the dice on the Depo 99+ headlamp assembly and the OPT7 LED kit. It can't be worse than what I have. I outdrive the head lights at about 50-60mph in dark areas.
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I purhased the vehicle like that so i am not sure what year it is but it looks identical to my 96' light..... It's like the shiny inside got duller over the years. If they are identical i would go for the 99' ones but the last poster just made a good suggestion to get the brighter bulbs....nice suggestion
 
I'm happy with my Piaa bulbs in the stock 97 headlights. That said however, I would like to get the later year clear glass headlights just for aesthetics and of course maybe a bit more light.

The pic doesn't really do them justice, they are a very nice improvement over stock. With the Piaa bulbs, the passenger beam definitely angles up the shoulder area.

​
 
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Are they the ones that look bluish inside the lens but shine out on the road white? I hate to be noticable out on the highway.
just brighter is just fine

Somewhat like the house CFL bulbs cool white vs warm white
 
TXLX1 said:
A bit off topic, but does anyone have a perspective on the beam quality of a 96-98 4runner compared to a 99+.

I am very disappointed with the low beam headlight in my 97, and considering swapping to 99+ lenses and a LED plug & play kit like OPT7.... But I am unsure if that's what I really need to be looking at doing.
Click to expand...

I also contemplated this until I asked people about the 99-02 headlights and some complained it was even worse than the 96-98 in term of light output.

diverscale said:
Well, I was pretty disappointed with the beam strength with stock lights on my 98.

I didn't want to do a HID conversion, so I opted for the easiest way, changing out the bulbs.

I use those, much brighter than stock, and the advantage is that they have a long lifetime compared to most high illumination bulbs. Kinda expensive though, those are canadian dollars. My daytime running lights are now as bright as the old normal night setting with the stock ageing bulbs.

https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B00544ZD86/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Click to expand...

HID conversion easily can be $400+, so I don't think anyone really tries that option. I did the same thing with these: https://smile.amazon.com/Philips-90...-2283-199-2-0&sr=1-32&ymm=1998:toyota:4runner

They run at 55 watts so higher than stock. More wattage = more light. I noticed the PIAA's are at 60 watts, so that's not bad at all. Here's the link for the US site: https://smile.amazon.com/PIAA-10704...ech+High+Performance+Halogen+Bulb,+(Pack+of+2

$40 is a small price to pay when compared to a wreck because you didn't see the tree/deer/car on the road in time.
 
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