I un-installed my HID low beam kit. Here's why.

[proimion]

I successfully installed and used the HID low-beam retrofit kit from XenonDepot (with Philips 4300K bulb). I used it for several months. Now, though, I have pulled the kit out and gone back to stock halogen bulbs for my 2016 TE. This post explains why.

I have no complaints about XenonDepot. The kit performed very well. So much beautiful light! And therein lies the problem. The HIDs were simply too bright for other drivers. Drivers began to flash their lights at me. Some drivers aggressively expressed their, um, displeasure. This happened rarely in the city, but frequently outside town or on hilly terrain. As the days get shorter, this is happening more often.

I decided to see for myself. From my Honda Accord I drove past my 4R many times in my suburban neighborhood. Then I had someone follow me in the 4R in normal driving conditions. I got out on foot to see where the glare occurs. I asked my neighbor for his opinion, from his Toyota Sienna. My conclusion: the lights are too bright for low cars on flat terrain, or nearly all vehicles in hilly terrain where the approach angles expose the glare more easily. My opinion is that while the 2014-16 4Rs have projector housings, they were designed for halogens, not HIDs. The cutoffs are not right. Even within the cutoffs (no glare), the lights are powerfully bright, more than any light I’ve encountered on the road.

“Too bright” is a subjective opinion, although one based on my 30 years of driving experience. I realize that many of you will think I’m wrong in this opinion, or say that you’ve never been flashed, or think I made an installation mistake. Or maybe you’ll make suggestions as to how to “fix” the issue, such as changing the aim (which I think is not an optimum solution, or even one that will work in my conditions). In any case, I’m sharing my opinion in case it his helpful to someone.

The bottom line for me is that I decided to pull the kit, and that money is wasted. Live and learn, I suppose. It is hard for a guy to admit he made a mistake, especially when it is a mod to a beloved vehicle. But I did not want to wonder or worry every time I turned on the lights. I’m now going to research better halogens. I’ve researched LEDs for low-beams, and think that is not the right solution for 4Runner, for several reasons.

I did contact XenonDepot and exchanged several emails. At first they wondered if I actually had a 4R with projectors (I do) and if I installed correctly (I did). I don’t expect XenonDepot to “solve” this. It was my decision. If you have the kit or will get it, best of luck. I just hope I will be driving behind you.

 

[Jono.ful]

Any photos of the cut off from the HID set up?

 

[jmarthsr]

Good for you. You have done the right thing. I am a little tired of the I need 7 million lumin blue light specials off of Ebay and or Amazon on the highways and streets under normal weather conditions, and yea that includes a little rain. If you can't see with oem headlights and housings get your damn eyes checked. Around here their all Brodozers and mall cruisers with the "ultimate light bars" and the latest in headlight technology.

 

[NorthwoodsRunner]

I successfully installed and used the HID low-beam retrofit kit from XenonDepot (with Philips 4300K bulb). I used it for several months. Now, though, I have pulled the kit out and gone back to stock halogen bulbs for my 2016 TE. This post explains why.

I have no complaints about XenonDepot. The kit performed very well. So much beautiful light! And therein lies the problem. The HIDs were simply too bright for other drivers. Drivers began to flash their lights at me. Some drivers aggressively expressed their, um, displeasure. This happened rarely in the city, but frequently outside town or on hilly terrain. As the days get shorter, this is happening more often.

I decided to see for myself. From my Honda Accord I drove past my 4R many times in my suburban neighborhood. Then I had someone follow me in the 4R in normal driving conditions. I got out on foot to see where the glare occurs. I asked my neighbor for his opinion, from his Toyota Sienna. My conclusion: the lights are too bright for low cars on flat terrain, or nearly all vehicles in hilly terrain where the approach angles expose the glare more easily. My opinion is that while the 2014-16 4Rs have projector housings, they were designed for halogens, not HIDs. The cutoffs are not right. Even within the cutoffs (no glare), the lights are powerfully bright, more than any light I’ve encountered on the road.

“Too bright” is a subjective opinion, although one based on my 30 years of driving experience. I realize that many of you will think I’m wrong in this opinion, or say that you’ve never been flashed, or think I made an installation mistake. Or maybe you’ll make suggestions as to how to “fix” the issue, such as changing the aim (which I think is not an optimum solution, or even one that will work in my conditions). In any case, I’m sharing my opinion in case it his helpful to someone.

The bottom line for me is that I decided to pull the kit, and that money is wasted. Live and learn, I suppose. It is hard for a guy to admit he made a mistake, especially when it is a mod to a beloved vehicle. But I did not want to wonder or worry every time I turned on the lights. I’m now going to research better halogens. I’ve researched LEDs for low-beams, and think that is not the right solution for 4Runner, for several reasons.

I did contact XenonDepot and exchanged several emails. At first they wondered if I actually had a 4R with projectors (I do) and if I installed correctly (I did). I don’t expect XenonDepot to “solve” this. It was my decision. If you have the kit or will get it, best of luck. I just hope I will be driving behind you.

Thank you for this honest and frank post. And thank you for taking that POS and illegal HID off and saving us from a massive headache. I too was driving my Accord to work this morning and someone in a Silverado had those HID on. It is not very nice to get blinded from behind; it is very difficult to focus when your mirrors are fired up. These people with illegal HID think it is so cool but not if you are at the receiving end. Before people install these HID lights, they need to know what it is like at the receiving end.

 

[MTN4RNR]

There's a good chance you can re-coup some of the cost by selling the kit here on the forum, you'd likely get someone to buy them for some portion of what you paid for.

The way I see it, there are plenty of cars on the road that come stock with HID's and LED's nowadays that have the same exact effect that you are describing. My dad has a GX with their fancy LED projectors, and it has almost the same cutoff as my 4R, with about the same light output. I did a side by side comparison when I first installed them to verify that I wasn't straying outside any acceptable constraints. Any hilly roads are going to have an adverse effect with any lights, HID/LED/Halogen, it's the nature of it. I will say that it's nice to know that someone out there that's being considerate towards other drivers though.

Now if only those drivers with HID's and reflector lenses could follow your lead!

 

[Kashoggio]

Honestly I installed the 5000k and aimed them low, knowing how bright they would be but I can not say they are any less brighter than my cars with factory hid or led lights. I have not gotten flashed at all. I do how ever understand your concern but I do think aiming the lights would of given you a different perspective.

 

[NorthwoodsRunner]

There's a good chance you can re-coup some of the cost by selling the kit here on the forum, you'd likely get someone to buy them for some portion of what you paid for.

The way I see it, there are plenty of cars on the road that come stock with HID's and LED's nowadays that have the same exact effect that you are describing. My dad has a GX with their fancy LED projectors, and it has almost the same cutoff as my 4R, with about the same light output. Any hilly roads are going to have an adverse effect with any lights, it's the nature of it. I will say that it's nice to know that someone out there that's being considerate towards other drivers though.

Now if only those drivers with HID's and reflector lenses could follow your lead!

If your car is designed for HID then I don't have an issue. I see enough Audi, BMW and MB with very nice HIDs without blinding everyone. I think Acura, Infinity and Lexus HIDs are also very nice if the cars are designed for HID. I just don't care for HIDs in cars that are not properly designed for them.

 

[Doc_Fry]

Every major manufacturer needs to take note of these european or higher end manufacturers. Whats my deal? A 13 year old X5 with healdlights bot low and hi that I is comfortable and safe to drive. Anything else these days with technology and its advance as well as costs associated with it boggles my mind why they would so otherwise.

These odd comments to check our eyes gets my bottom in a ravle. I have eye sight good enough to fly a jet fighter but still feel the stick headlights are lacking in distance, throw, and brightness. These are things that even adjusting my headlights do not fix well enough. Why in sam hell would I not do everything in my power to not only make my vehicle safer and more comfortable to drive for myself but also for the safety for others?

With better distance, through, and brightness I am able to see more clearly. I am able to identify hazards before they become trouble for me. Pedestrians, wildlife especially, road hazards, changing road conditions, turns, and many more things that not only affect my safety but my life. I do have my led light bars attached to my brights and do use them on a regular basis. I drive forest roads, very dark back roads daily. I do flip off my brights and so my led bars at the first sign of oncomers. Yea of course sometimes it can be a little close but never terrible. Wht would I not i,prove my lows as well? I fixed my brights to where I am satisfied that any situation I run into I can handle. So I personally am doing the same with my low beams. I am trying out different optioms for my lows as well to satisfy my needs. If you dont like it too bad, so sad. I feel safer and happy with my choice. If you get all pissy then maybe I should play the therapist card and group everyone together in some neat little group making me feel all safe and cosy. I told you it get me ravled up!

Now I do see a flip side and there are those who have no care about safety for themselves nor others. They look for one thing only their own sadistic idea of perfection and glamour for their vehicle. Onyl interested in the latest fads without even worrying about cuttoff, their throw, diffusion nor etc. putting others safety at risk. Are the majority of users here after that? I doubt it? Yet, go ahead whine and complain all you want. I still wont be giving you a cookie. Great mow I am going to be labled the vet with ptsd.. Geesh get some clue here..

I will post up my own findings with my pruchase and will be trying out soem LED low beam upgrades from xenondepot. I personally like hid headlisght. Yet alos think there are issues in using them especially in non factory hid projectors. Ie starutup time to full output, heat, cutoff, brightness etc. I do hope that the factory projectors do a decent job for a conversion with leds. Yes I am thinking about others as they are crisper I feel without too much brightness. Is it going to be lerfect I think not. Yet hope it fills all my check boxes. I know that if it does that I will feel safer. Without the crystal blue lights so many ricers look for..

 

[1engineer]

Thank you OP.

 

[LawnDart]

Better light > more light. That said, I find HID annoying, even sitting up high in a 4Runner, when a car hits me it is not fun.

I get that it's a cheap mode, but I have to consider other drivers as well. I used to run my Rigid Ambers for my fogs during the day and night, and while technically I got the DOT legal ones, they're retarded bright. And I stopped in all but inclement weather situations.

If your headlights are part of the problem that's not a good upgrade. I commend the OP for being honest about his findings and not a "I have these lights, I must convince myself they're great" sorta deals.

 

[Victor_inox]

modifying your headlights is illegal end of story.

 

[simple]

Sooo, maybe I'm missing something, but did you try adjusting your headlights to their appropriate height? I added a .85" lift and when I installed my HID's my lights where a foot high. If your shit is too high, it's going to blind other drivers regardless of your lighting. I've been blinded by high end Acura and Lexus cars because of different angles they're driving. HID projectors can blind just as easy as our projectors. And dudes in super low cars, that's just part of the game, just like a nice responsive engine is not a 4Runner thing.

I can't believe I'm the first person mentioning adjustment.

You want *******s? Look at the clowns with HIDs in reflectors

 

[proimion]

To answer the questions about aiming...

So why didn't I aim them down? My 4R is not lifted. Stock suspension. Shouldn't need to be re-aimed.

I did think about aiming the lights lower anyway. Read a bunch on how to do it. But then I realized it would be a temp fix since hills would still be an issue. And the larger point is that I should not have to worry about it. I want lights that I can turn on and not worry about some guy getting horked off, or some cop pulling me over. And why have awesome lights if you have to point them at the ground anyway?

And just to be clear, I have no problem with people installing light bars and whatever for off road use. By all means light up the forest. You can switch those off. But low beams--kinda' essential for driving on the roads at night.

 

[Jono.ful]

So why didn't I aim them down? My 4R is not lifted. Stock suspension. Shouldn't need to be re-aimed.

Just because your 4r wasn't lifted doesn't mean that the new hid's had the exact same cut off ad the stock bulbs. In fact, the fact that you were being flashed by other drivers is a pretty strong indication that the HID's were aimed high. 5000k is annoying absolutely, but this is a measure of colour temperature (more blue than yellow), not of light output or relative brightness. Dollars to doughnuts your lights pissed people off because they were high or had bad glare. Do you have a photo of the light output from your specific truck?

 

[Woz1976-MT]

modifying your headlights is illegal end of story.

I'm assuming it is in CO, but it isn't illegal in MT (you just have to make sure you know the MCA's on vehicle lighting). Legality will vary state-by-state.

 

[Woz1976-MT]

My 4R is not lifted. Stock suspension. Shouldn't need to be re-aimed.

Well, my Tundra's headlights (low-beams) were not adjusted properly when I took delivery of it back in 2009. I never modified the headlights at all, and I got flashed all of the time. It might be the case that for some unknown reason your headlights weren't properly adjusted/aimed from the factory.

I don't want to come across as questioning your decision -- personally I do think the stock low-beams are very bright (then again, I came from a 14-year old Saturn that I've been driving for four years). Just throwing this out there as something I experienced.

 

[Doc_Fry]

modifying your headlights is illegal end of story.

Negative, defintely not the end of the story. Only in communist states do they pass so many restrictive laws. And to think this is why I moved from Colorado and I used to like ti there. Just not the politics of Denver and Aspen along with the pro weeders anti gunners. But not many states are they illegal.

For example Georiga Code on headlights.

O.C.G.A. 40-8-22 (2010)
40-8-22. Headlights


(a) Every motor vehicle other than a motorcycle or motor driven cycle shall be equipped with at least two but not more than four headlights, with at least one on each side of the front of the motor vehicle, which headlights shall comply with the requirements and limitations set forth in this article.

(b) Every motorcycle and every motor driven cycle shall be equipped with at least one and not more than two headlights, which shall comply with the requirements and limitations of this article.

(c) Every headlight upon every motor vehicle, including every motorcycle and motor driven cycle, shall be located at a height measured from the center of the headlight of not more than 54 inches nor less than 24 inches, to be measured as set forth in subsection (b) of Code Section 40-8-21.

(d) The headlights required by this Code section shall be maintained in proper working condition and shall not be covered by any type of material, provided that the covering restriction shall not apply to any vehicle on which the original factory headlights were covered.


Also - from the factory my headlights where not aimed properly. They do aim them at the factory with steel wheels and a normal suspension. Anything else wheel size, different wheels, tire size, suspension, etc are changed at the port and they do not reaim the headloghts. Neother do 99.9% of the dealers unless you ask as a customer. Now with what I have done and am continuing to do with mine the lift, tires, new lights, I will need to reaim them for proper function.

I dont personally see the stock headlights as being bright at all. Maybe there is an issue with mine! Who knows I will aim them mysekf with a pn aiming maching at an auto skills center next time to assure they are correct when my mods are finished that will affect the headlights.

 

[Victor_inox]

I'm assuming it is in CO, but it isn't illegal in MT (you just have to make sure you know the MCA's on vehicle lighting). Legality will vary state-by-state.

You are mistaken brother, 10 seconds google search:
Drivers who want a customized look for their car might be tempted to get a HID headlamps kit to install, but this popular alteration is illegal in all 50 states. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says that no HID headlamps meet the federal photometric standards, so if you install these you may end up with a pricey ticket.
here is Montana laws for you
http://leg.mt.gov/bills/mca_toc/61_9_2.htm

 

[Doc_Fry]

You are mistaken brother, 10 seconds google search:
Drivers who want a customized look for their car might be tempted to get a HID headlamps kit to install, but this popular alteration is illegal in all 50 states. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says that no HID headlamps meet the federal photometric standards, so if you install these you may end up with a pricey ticket.
here is Montana laws for you
Table of Contents, Title 61, Chapter 9, MCA

No netiehr do all rims meet dot either. Ie beadlocks. Yes many recimmend for offroad use only It does not make them illegal thoug can open up ine for litigation.

 

[Victor_inox]

No netiehr do all rims meet dot either. Ie beadlocks. Yes many recimmend for offroad use only It does not make them illegal thoug can open up ine for litigation.

Ilegal still illegal, you can interpret it any way you prefer.