Headlight Help - Worth the money?

P_nlsn

P_nlsn

Member
I need some new headlights cause mine are old, leaking, and yellowed. Was just gonna pick up some blacked out ones from yotanation: Black Out Headlights with Halos for 2006-2009 4Runners
– Yota Nation

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But now I've started looking into TEQ Customs retrofit options: Retrofit Headlights / 4th Gen 4runner / 03-05 – TEQ Customs LLC

If I got TEQ, I'd probably go black out housing, black Apollo 3.0 shroud, ACME H1 projector, quad projector upgrade (multi high beam), and dual front halos - but that totals to about $675

If I DIY retrofit, I'd go more this route: stock housing (DIY black out), ACME Super h1 projector, black Apollo 3.0 shroud for low and high beams, 35w ACME speedy start ballast, dual front halos, and the LED Morimoto mini high beam or the LED Profile Hi-Lens 2.0 - which runs me about $600, so not really a ton cheaper

I think my main concern is this: I use my truck for what its built for. I take it out trail riding and camping, so it takes a beating and goes down some narrow trails sometimes. So I don't want to spend that much money on some good lookin retrofits from TEQ if they're just gonna get all scratched up and beaten down on the trails

I hate to be that guy that just hops in here and ask so many questions, but my research has left me more empty handed than I'd prefer, so I'm getting anxious for answers

So what's y'all's experiences like? Do your headlights get pretty banged up out there, or am I over-exaggerating? Is the price of retrofits really worth it? I thought about a DIY retrofit, but that sounds pretty involved, and not much cheaper - is it fairly difficult to DIY retrofit our 03-05 housings, making the saved $100 not worth it? Do I really need all of that, or should I get a more basic retrofit and make both options cheaper?

And lastly, am I overthinking all of this and I should just get some oem looking headlights or yotanations?

Sorry for the question dump. Thanks a ton guys!
 
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You can always upgrade to 06-09 as well. If you were to go form over function. I would go OEM with a D2S projector and not a mini h1. Retrofitting is not hard, just takes some time and patience.

and to answer your question about the headlights getting banged up...unless you are driving through brush and branches, I don't see them getting that thrashed.
 
originalg00kster said:
You can always upgrade to 06-09 as well. If you were to go form over function. I would go OEM with a D2S projector and not a mini h1. Retrofitting is not hard, just takes some time and patience.

and to answer your question about the headlights getting banged up...unless you are driving through brush and branches, I don't see them getting that thrashed.
Click to expand...

I originally thought about a 06-09 upgrade, but I honestly didn't want to have to worry about getting those little trim pieces paint matched with the body - If I end up going just oem looking housings though, I'll probably go 06-09

I was looking at the H1's for their price. the ACME h1 kit is fairly cheaper than the morimoto d2s kit from the retrofit source

That's the thing though, some of the trails I run can get pretty narrow. So branches and brush overhang and stuff - I'm not sure what the scratch resistance on a headlight housing is, but I imagine overtime, it would take its toll on the clear plastic. Now granted, I don't go trail riding all that often, so I'm not sure how quickly they would end up looking bad. But I'd hate to ruin my expensive headlights after just one trip out there, so I was curious what you guys thought

I appreciate the input! Thank you!
 
P_nlsn said:
I originally thought about a 06-09 upgrade, but I honestly didn't want to have to worry about getting those little trim pieces paint matched with the body - If I end up going just oem looking housings though, I'll probably go 06-09

I was looking at the H1's for their price. the ACME h1 kit is fairly cheaper than the morimoto d2s kit from the retrofit source

That's the thing though, some of the trails I run can get pretty narrow. So branches and brush overhang and stuff - I'm not sure what the scratch resistance on a headlight housing is, but I imagine overtime, it would take its toll on the clear plastic. Now granted, I don't go trail riding all that often, so I'm not sure how quickly they would end up looking bad. But I'd hate to ruin my expensive headlights after just one trip out there, so I was curious what you guys thought

I appreciate the input! Thank you!
Click to expand...

You should be able to get pre-painted trim pieces to convert to the 06-09 easily. At least mine were already painted white to match. I couldn't justify the cost of the retrofit stuff, and I wouldn't have a clue how to do it myself, so I bought some used 06-09 housings from a guy on here, polished them up, and installed some drop-in LED bulbs. Overall the setup is pretty cheap and simple, and way brighter than my old stuff. Then you can spend the rest of the money on a lightbar.
 
Inv4drZm said:
You should be able to get pre-painted trim pieces to convert to the 06-09 easily. At least mine were already painted white to match. I couldn't justify the cost of the retrofit stuff, and I wouldn't have a clue how to do it myself, so I bought some used 06-09 housings from a guy on here, polished them up, and installed some drop-in LED bulbs. Overall the setup is pretty cheap and simple, and way brighter than my old stuff. Then you can spend the rest of the money on a lightbar.
Click to expand...

Do you happen to remember where you got yours? All I know is the good ol' rockauto, and those are "customer paints to match"
 
The upgrade to the 06-09 will be an improvement from your halogens. I don’t imagine those ones you linked are as good of quality as OEM housings, but you never know.

I’d just do the 06-09 swap and some good LED bulbs. Check the 4th Gen specific sale thread there might be lights in there.


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If you decide to do a retrofit, get some BX built projectors. Their output is insane.

I believe Nomad retrofits using BX built projectors as well.
 
JONBOY345 said:
If you decide to do a retrofit, get some BX built projectors. Their output is insane.

I believe Nomad retrofits using BX built projectors as well.
Click to expand...

I looked into BxBuilt, and while his products look impressive, they're also a little out of my price range. If money wasn't an issue though, I would definitely get his stuff
 
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