HID upgrade, which one to go with?

[Saker]

Just placed my order with TRS. I did call and talk to them first and they did say, although not currently known for sure, there could be heat issues with the stock projectors over time. They also told me 35W is the standard for OEMs for HID lighting. However, if you off-road alot you might want the extra juice of 50W.
Remember over-clocking your CPU? 50W is kinda like that. So, again personal preference.

Also ordered the Morimoto LED Fogs. Thanks for all the info here! It really helps me make good upgrade decisions! :bravo:

[MENTION=137357]roozter[/MENTION],

My 50W HID's have been installed since 8-14 and since I work shift work, I drive at night, so more than likely my headlights burn more than the norm. I have had no issues of any overheating of my stock projectors at this time...
I hope you enjoy your HID's as well. I don't think you will regret your decision. :thumb3:

 

[roozter]

[MENTION=137357]roozter[/MENTION],



My 50W HID's have been installed since 8-14 and since I work shift work, I drive at night, so more than likely my headlights burn more than the norm. I have had no issues of any overheating of my stock projectors at this time...

I hope you enjoy your HID's as well. I don't think you will regret your decision. :thumb3:

Thanks for the info. Really good to know you have no issues after 2+ years. BTW. Didn't want to sound like I was knocking them / you. Just providing info I heard from them today. Probably just a different opinion from the guy I was talking to.

Oh and on my previous post I forgot to mention he said it is very important to get the H11B not the H11A for the 5th gen. Maybe there are new bulb versions now, 2 years later?


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[Saker]

Thanks for the info. Really good to know you have no issues after 2+ years. BTW. Didn't want to sound like I was knocking them / you. Just providing info I heard from them today. Probably just a different opinion from the guy I was talking to.

Oh and on my previous post I forgot to mention he said it is very important to get the H11B not the H11A for the 5th gen. Maybe there are new bulb versions now, 2 years later?


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Oh, no worries!

That's why my original order was the XB35 bulbs in the kit. That's what they had available at the time.

I ordered replacements (to have as spares, when needed), and ordered the H11B's with the wires to do an easy install when needed.
I'm not sure if the are actually needed, the only difference is the orientation of the wire, to prevent from throwing a shadow....don't know if that happens on side firing projectors.

 

[philsey]

[MENTION=137357]roozter[/MENTION],

My 50W HID's have been installed since 8-14 and since I work shift work, I drive at night, so more than likely my headlights burn more than the norm. I have had no issues of any overheating of my stock projectors at this time...
I hope you enjoy your HID's as well. I don't think you will regret your decision. :thumb3:

I can report the same reliability with mine @ 55w. I do carry a spare D2S tho, as 'overdriving' the 35 w bulbs has to shorten their life. How much? Who knows. Driving a couple years on FX-Rs @ 35w tho, I wouldn't do 55w again, as I perceive no improvement for the addl cost.

 

[swva]

I have considered doing this upgrade but I've held off on it for a while now. I would like to do it. I was concerned about the light output being too bright for oncoming traffic or too bright approaching another vehicle from behind.
Some of you that have done this, what is your opinion? I was going to buy the 35w xb's from the retrofit source.
I currently have the Philips Xtreme Vision +100 halogens in my low beams right now. The Xtreme Vision bulbs did increase the light output over the stock bulbs but not by a lot. Would the 35w xb kit be considerably brighter than what I have now?
I saw one person selling their HID kit on here in the classifieds. He said he removed them because a few people had flashed their lights at him, I guess thinking he had his high beams on.
I can't imagine this set up being brighter than the lights on my wife's new Acura RDX. That vehicle throws some serious light. It has 3 LED low beams on each side. I guess the main difference would be the height of the 4Runner lights, being up quite a bit higher.
Thanks in advance for any input from you all.

 

[e60ral]

the 35W are much brighter than stock and will get you flashed unless you aim them down, you don't need 55W

 

[(none)]

I have considered doing this upgrade but I've held off on it for a while now. I would like to do it. I was concerned about the light output being too bright for oncoming traffic or too bright approaching another vehicle from behind.
Some of you that have done this, what is your opinion? I was going to buy the 35w xb's from the retrofit source.
I currently have the Philips Xtreme Vision +100 halogens in my low beams right now. The Xtreme Vision bulbs did increase the light output over the stock bulbs but not by a lot. Would the 35w xb kit be considerably brighter than what I have now?
I saw one person selling their HID kit on here in the classifieds. He said he removed them because a few people had flashed their lights at him, I guess thinking he had his high beams on.
I can't imagine this set up being brighter than the lights on my wife's new Acura RDX. That vehicle throws some serious light. It has 3 LED low beams on each side. I guess the main difference would be the height of the 4Runner lights, being up quite a bit higher.
Thanks in advance for any input from you all.

As long as you properly aim your lights after the install, you'll be just fine. If you are skilled enough to install the lights, you are skilled enough to aim them.

I installed a set of 55w HIDs from DDM tuning a week or so ago. I have these same ones in my car and motorcycle (all have stock projector beam low beams). No issues with any of them, once aimed.

The 4runners seem to be aimed pretty high from the factory, just isn't as noticeable with the crap halogens installed. I'm still completely stock and I can see how high they are, I can only imagine the guys with the fronts lifted or pulling a load, I'd imagine you do get flashed. The good thing is, the stock lights have a pretty good, sharp cut off.

 

[Angelo]

Some of you that have done this, what is your opinion?

Check out the lighting thread in my sig, I did a whole section specific to HIDs in the low beam spot, and then a followup post on my personal experience with them. Hope it helps. :yo:

 

[swva]

Thanks to all of you for the input and information.

 

[mag4rnr]

Has anyone had significant issue with their TRS kit? I just replaced the 3rd part of the kit last week due to one side not working. First it was a ballast. Second was a bulb. just last week was an ignitor. This is all since May when i got the kit. I am competent enough to install it correctly as I have good experience with electronics on vehicles over the years, so I am pretty sure that is not the problem here. A buddy of mine has the same kit, with zero problems since putting his in at the beginning of the year. I helped him put that one in too.

I tried to see if they would replace the whole kit but they said they would not. I also just asked for a refund since i am tired of dealing with wondering if my lights will work each time i turn them on, but they turned that down as well. I just want them to work as well as everyone claims theirs are. Maybe I'm just really unlucky here.

 

[Saker]

Has anyone had significant issue with their TRS kit? I just replaced the 3rd part of the kit last week due to one side not working. First it was a ballast. Second was a bulb. just last week was an ignitor. This is all since May when i got the kit. I am competent enough to install it correctly as I have good experience with electronics on vehicles over the years, so I am pretty sure that is not the problem here. A buddy of mine has the same kit, with zero problems since putting his in at the beginning of the year. I helped him put that one in too.

I tried to see if they would replace the whole kit but they said they would not. I also just asked for a refund since i am tired of dealing with wondering if my lights will work each time i turn them on, but they turned that down as well. I just want them to work as well as everyone claims theirs are. Maybe I'm just really unlucky here.

Sounds like you need to contact MATT directly at theretrofitsource.
or send him an email.

I have had zero issues with there stuff!

 

[mcarey86]

Anyone live in an area with a Safety portion of their registration? Wondering how the aftermarket HIDs fare when it comes time to go through Safety/Emissions.

 

[cheerup38]

Anyone live in an area with a Safety portion of their registration? Wondering how the aftermarket HIDs fare when it comes time to go through Safety/Emissions.

I think YMMV when it comes to this....I had one safety inspections fail me for this even with projectors (granted I stopped going there) and another one that passed all my cars every year so far. I think it depends on the idiot that is doing the inspection and whether or not they want to be a PITA about it.

 

[cheerup38]

On another note, What's the purpose of the HD Relay Harness and is it needed/required? I read earlier that the XD kits doesn't need it, not sure for the TRS Morimoto Kit. Trying to free up the engine bay of cable clutter.

 

[Nick2cd]

[MENTION=137357]roozter[/MENTION],

My 50W HID's have been installed since 8-14 and since I work shift work, I drive at night, so more than likely my headlights burn more than the norm. I have had no issues of any overheating of my stock projectors at this time...
I hope you enjoy your HID's as well. I don't think you will regret your decision. :thumb3:

Saker,
i didn't realize you were running a TRS morimoto 50w kit. that's good to know you've had no heat issues. if you had it to do over again, would you stick with the 50w kit? do you find it to be too much light (if that's a thing..haha)?

 

[Saker]

Saker,
i didn't realize you were running a TRS morimoto 50w kit. that's good to know you've had no heat issues. if you had it to do over again, would you stick with the 50w kit? do you find it to be too much light (if that's a thing..haha)?

I would do the exact same thing.
I did the same thing on my Taco retrofit years ago...50W
Never, ever regretted the extra light as long as I have them adjusted correctly.

 

[cheerup38]

On another note, What's the purpose of the HD Relay Harness and is it needed/required? I read earlier that the XD kits doesn't need it, not sure for the TRS Morimoto Kit. Trying to free up the engine bay of cable clutter.

No comments?eep:

 

[tinman831]

No comments?eep:

That harness is the wiring harness that connects everything together. It's included in the kit and is required.

 

[Saker]

Has anyone had significant issue with their TRS kit? I just replaced the 3rd part of the kit last week due to one side not working. First it was a ballast. Second was a bulb. just last week was an ignitor. This is all since May when i got the kit. I am competent enough to install it correctly as I have good experience with electronics on vehicles over the years, so I am pretty sure that is not the problem here. A buddy of mine has the same kit, with zero problems since putting his in at the beginning of the year. I helped him put that one in too.

I tried to see if they would replace the whole kit but they said they would not. I also just asked for a refund since i am tired of dealing with wondering if my lights will work each time i turn them on, but they turned that down as well. I just want them to work as well as everyone claims theirs are. Maybe I'm just really unlucky here.

[MENTION=141143]mag4rnr[/MENTION],

What was the root cause & outcome of your issue...
Please let us know so if anyone encounters the same, we know what direction to take.
Thx

 

[Gecko]

Has anyone had significant issue with their TRS kit? I just replaced the 3rd part of the kit last week due to one side not working. First it was a ballast. Second was a bulb. just last week was an ignitor. This is all since May when i got the kit. I am competent enough to install it correctly as I have good experience with electronics on vehicles over the years, so I am pretty sure that is not the problem here. A buddy of mine has the same kit, with zero problems since putting his in at the beginning of the year. I helped him put that one in too.

I tried to see if they would replace the whole kit but they said they would not. I also just asked for a refund since i am tired of dealing with wondering if my lights will work each time i turn them on, but they turned that down as well. I just want them to work as well as everyone claims theirs are. Maybe I'm just really unlucky here.

I have been toying with a TRS Morimoto kit or a Philips kit from Xenon Depot for the 4Runner, but I have had a lot of problems with the Morimoto kit in our Rav4. Similar to you, the ballasts have been replaced twice, the bulbs were replaced once, and most recently it was a bad relay. These are all kit parts, and not anything OEM. It was issues where one side would start igniting intermittently, and then not at all, and then both sides would fail. Not a great thing when it's pitch black.

TRS is cheaper than Xenon Depot and while I've always heard great things about Morimoto ("OEM Quality") my experience has been lackluster and is kind of swaying me to Xenon Depot/Philips.

As it stands today, the passenger side is brighter than the driver's side, and they have no idea how or why. It's annoying but I am just grateful that the system works.

With regard to heat issues, I've had HIDs for over three years now and never had an issue with the projectors. At one point, I did put 35w bulbs in the fogs, which only call for 19w bulbs, and that did ultimately pop a fuse and I can see a little warping in the foglight housing. I went to LED fogs and have had no problems.