Headlight options.

[Collkid]

Hey all.

I recently got LED headlights for my 98 Jeep Cherokee and they are AMAZING.
Jeep Cherokee LEDS


Truck lite doesn't make anything for the 4runner, otherwise I would go with that option.

I know there are a few headlight options, but I would love to hear with what YOU run.

What do you like?
What is bright?
What's cost effective?



J

 

[Black798]

I run a 35W HID retrofit. Really bright and doesn't blind oncoming traffic.

As for options you really get what you pay for. You can spend 50-100$ on new bulbs but they wont help that much.
Next you could get led bulbs or drop in HIDS but these make a lot of glare because the stock housings aren't designed to handle that much output.
Best option is a retrofit, you get the benefits of the lights from a brand new car in your 18 yr old vehicle, but these will usually cost upwards of 500 depending on how you do it.

 

[absalom]

55w HID projector retrofits will outshine anything else on the market per watt, including LEDs. They also have a distinct cutoff so as to not blind oncoming drivers. Additionally, you're able to select your own color temperature, so you can adjust your kelvin based on the type of driving you do. Finally, at about $180 for a complete retrofit, they are a huge cost-effective upgrade in the safety and looks department.

 

[csp]

Next you could get led bulbs or drop in HIDS but these make a lot of glare because the stock housings aren't designed to handle that much output.

Kinda right. HIDs aren't designed to be used in a reflector housing, they are for projector housings that focus the light. Reflector housings, like the stock 4Runner housings just scatter the light. That's what blinds people when HID bulbs aren't used with projectors.

 

[Collkid]

I run a 35W HID retrofit. Really bright and doesn't blind oncoming traffic.

As for options you really get what you pay for. You can spend 50-100$ on new bulbs but they wont help that much.
Next you could get led bulbs or drop in HIDS but these make a lot of glare because the stock housings aren't designed to handle that much output.
Best option is a retrofit, you get the benefits of the lights from a brand new car in your 18 yr old vehicle, but these will usually cost upwards of 500 depending on how you do it.

55w HID projector retrofits will outshine anything else on the market per watt, including LEDs. They also have a distinct cutoff so as to not blind oncoming drivers. Additionally, you're able to select your own color temperature, so you can adjust your kelvin based on the type of driving you do. Finally, at about $180 for a complete retrofit, they are a huge cost-effective upgrade in the safety and looks department.

You guys have a build thread on this?
Might be something I look into.
I am surprised that there isn't a good after market headlight.

 

[csp]

Search, it's been covered a few times

 

[Black798]

Finally, at about $180 for a complete retrofit

Where are you finding a price like that? When I did my retrofit the projectors alone were over 100?

Kinda right. HIDs aren't designed to be used in a reflector housing, they are for projector housings that focus the light.

I was refering to the cheap drop in HID bulbs like these.

You guys have a build thread on this?

There are a few pics in my build thread. These threads will give you an idea of what your looking at. Projector Retrofit Picture Thread and FAQ Rickashay's Projector Retrofit Thread
Pretty basic to do just time consuming and tedious.

 

[absalom]

You guys have a build thread on this?
Might be something I look into.
I am surprised that there isn't a good after market headlight.

Here's the exact kit I've run on my past 3 conversions. I run 4300k bulbs, 55w ballasts, and usually Panamera shrouds.

Here's a vid a bud and I made comparing TRS gear to DDM ... both are very good, just depends what you want to pay, and how influenced you are by brand names.

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/8sHSHm1ByyA" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Where are you finding a price like that? When I did my retrofit the projectors alone were over 100?

I was refering to the cheap drop in HID bulbs like these.


There are a few pics in my build thread. These threads will give you an idea of what your looking at. Projector Retrofit Picture Thread and FAQ Rickashay's Projector Retrofit Thread
Pretty basic to do just time consuming and tedious.

The newer threaded body projectors are anything but time consuming. With H4 headlights, most D2S projectors are plug and play. An entire conversion can be done in less than 3 hours.

Meant to ask you, your quotes always cuts off the name of the person you're quoting, so it's sheer luck that I recognized my quote and replied. What button are you hitting?

 

[csp]

Meant to ask you, your quotes always cuts off the name of the person you're quoting,

Probably just editing the text after hitting the quote button, just like I did here.

 

[Black798]

Probably just editing the text after hitting the quote button, just like I did here.

Exactly what I've been doing. Didn't realize it was cutting off the user name. How do you do a multi quote like that but still retain the usernames?

You guys have a build thread on this?
Might be something I look into.
I am surprised that there isn't a good after market headlight.

I used this kit to do mine with 35W ballasts and gattling gun shrouds.
Came from this kit.

 

[ComradeVlad]

Where are you finding a price like that? When I did my retrofit the projectors alone were over 100?

I was refering to the cheap drop in HID bulbs like these.


There are a few pics in my build thread. These threads will give you an idea of what your looking at. Projector Retrofit Picture Thread and FAQ Rickashay's Projector Retrofit Thread
Pretty basic to do just time consuming and tedious.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[csp]

Exactly what I've been doing. Didn't realize it was cutting off the user name. How do you do a multi quote like that but still retain the usernames?

Do your editing after the first right bracket, ] , which contains the username and ID number for that username.

 

[bentos1]

When I did my retrofit I used hidplanet.com
Great information and lots of retrofits. They will recommend Morimoto HID kits because the forum is a re seller. I could be wrong but I think that stuff is the same as other Chinese HID lights. The ballasts themselves may be better but the projectors looks like any other ones and don't have any specific markings.
I purchased a kit from AliExpress mainly because I would have been over 500 to buy from HID (I am in Canada), and I still needed to purchases the 99+ clear headlights.

octanejunkie is currently working on his retrofit.

 

[3bears]

Here's the exact kit I've run on my past 3 conversions.
The newer threaded body projectors are anything but time consuming. With H4 headlights, most D2S projectors are plug and play. An entire conversion can be done in less than 3 hours.

3 hours ? Don't you still have to heat up the housings and split the glass and reglue it all
Maybe I read wrong threads, I thought it was a longer process

 

[gamefreakgc]

Hey all.

I recently got LED headlights for my 98 Jeep Cherokee and they are AMAZING.
Jeep Cherokee LEDS


Truck lite doesn't make anything for the 4runner, otherwise I would go with that option.

I know there are a few headlight options, but I would love to hear with what YOU run.

What do you like?
What is bright?
What's cost effective?



J

The question that we are all basically asking you is, what is your budget for lights?

My question is, how much do you even use your headlights? I know for me, other than commuting home in winter or the occasional late travel day my head lights rarely get used. This is what I did.

1. Replaced the bulbs with higher output bulbs. I bought these, since they run at 67 watts (stock I think is 55w?): https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00BQWQLPO/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1. They are not blindingly bright but much better than stock.

2. I installed an LED light bar: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00EQ0LGE4/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1. Water does get inside but 1 year later and still works perfect and has a 2 year warranty. Can't beat what it is for $30! It is VERY bright and has spot and flood lights so I get a great field of vision when offroading, camping, or using my 4Runner as a portable work light. I just put it in the lower plastic valance and removed the front license plate. I did drill into the bottom of the metal bumper but there's no visible indication from the outside.

Here's the wiring kit I used: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00O72R7Z8/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1. Just buy any switch that meets your fancy and wire it up.

So for about $80 I got upgraded headlights and an LED bar for extra light when I need it. Hope this helps in your decision. Projector retrofits are nice but waaaay out of my budget!

 

[3bears]

I have been real happy with the PIAA bulbs I put in
they are much brighter than any of the Sylvania ones you buy at big box stores, and brighter than the Ostrams I had in my BMW
I don't remember the exact ones I put in,
but I remember them listed as 60/55 =110/100 watt or something like that.
if needed I can dig out the paperwork
they had been recommended by another forum member a year back

 

[Collkid]

The question that we are all basically asking you is, what is your budget for lights?

My question is, how much do you even use your headlights? I know for me, other than commuting home in winter or the occasional late travel day my head lights rarely get used. This is what I did.

1. Replaced the bulbs with higher output bulbs. I bought these, since they run at 67 watts (stock I think is 55w?): https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00BQWQLPO/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1. They are not blindingly bright but much better than stock.

2. I installed an LED light bar: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00EQ0LGE4/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1. Water does get inside but 1 year later and still works perfect and has a 2 year warranty. Can't beat what it is for $30! It is VERY bright and has spot and flood lights so I get a great field of vision when offroading, camping, or using my 4Runner as a portable work light. I just put it in the lower plastic valance and removed the front license plate. I did drill into the bottom of the metal bumper but there's no visible indication from the outside.

Here's the wiring kit I used: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00O72R7Z8/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1. Just buy any switch that meets your fancy and wire it up.

So for about $80 I got upgraded headlights and an LED bar for extra light when I need it. Hope this helps in your decision. Projector retrofits are nice but waaaay out of my budget!

I was looking around $200 for an upgraded headlight.

As far as how much I use them? All the time. Here in Colorado, we have weather! hahaha. But really, when it starts to snow and I'm up in the mountains, good headlights can be the difference between safe and unsafe.



As reading through this, I'm thinking aftermarket LED flood lights might be the best option. I was just trying to avoid this route.

 

[absalom]

3 hours ? Don't you still have to heat up the housings and split the glass and reglue it all
Maybe I read wrong threads, I thought it was a longer process

Preheat oven to 250 - 10 mins (or do it while pulling headlights)

Bake lights - 10 mins

Separate lens from body - 8 mins each

Bake lights again - 10 mins

Press lights together - 5 mins each

 

[gamefreakgc]

I was looking around $200 for an upgraded headlight.

As far as how much I use them? All the time. Here in Colorado, we have weather! hahaha. But really, when it starts to snow and I'm up in the mountains, good headlights can be the difference between safe and unsafe.



As reading through this, I'm thinking aftermarket LED flood lights might be the best option. I was just trying to avoid this route.

Another option, would be to add stock fog lights if you have the year to support them. I think it's '00 and newer? I was able to do this on my wife's Altima and it made a world of a difference. I adjusted the lights to give more field of view and peripheral view, as well as brighten directly in front. I think it was about $90 from Nissan which included lights, brackets and the new combination switch.

I just parted out a 2002 4Runner and it has the fog light wiring harness just tied up in the corner, it's pre-wired.

 

[Sean K.]

Another option, would be to add stock fog lights if you have the year to support them. I think it's '00 and newer? I was able to do this on my wife's Altima and it made a world of a difference. I adjusted the lights to give more field of view and peripheral view, as well as brighten directly in front. I think it was about $90 from Nissan which included lights, brackets and the new combination switch.

I just parted out a 2002 4Runner and it has the fog light wiring harness just tied up in the corner, it's pre-wired.

My '99 was prewired too.