JDM Headlights w/ HID's - Horrible Light Output

[JWaldz]

My OEMS were gettin in bad shape so I bought some of the JDM Black style headlights. While they look good, the light output on them with my HID's are significantly worse. More glare, real spotty, and less light output. I've aimed them the best I could and messed with them for a while with no change. What gives? I'm bout to sell these and get some new stockers off ebay.

Has anyone else had this issue with these aftermarket headlights and HIDs??

 

[Clemsonfan15]

Yep...it's been discussed a lot actually.

If you like the looks of the lights you could do a retrofit.

 

[SQ.MD]

Want to sell me your corners? They dont sell those by themselves. Let me know! Thanks

 

[GottaBeTRD]

yeah man its been thought to be the reflector shield bezel thingi that is in front of the headligt bulb. good luck with whatever you do.

 

[JWaldz]

Well I'm glad I'm not going crazy and these just completely suck with HIDs. I have no plans of a retrofit, my money is going elsewhere on the truck. Only reason I bought these is I got good deal on them. I'll post them up for sale soon and if anyone has interest in each piece I'll seperate. Otherwise, they will be sold together.

Has anyone had any experience with the '99+ oem style aftermarket/direct replacement type headlights off eBay with HIDs? I'm pretty crunched for time, so I don't have the availability to sit and siphon through search results, sorry. Thanks ahead of time.

 

[Clemsonfan15]

I think your best bet is to find OEM headlights. It's really hard to tell which lights are legit online.

 

[GottaBeTRD]

yeah man try to find someone parting with theirs you may have to buy them separately on ebay but for light output with those HID's its gonna be your best bet

 

[BrianSD_42]

HEY,

get the ones fightman has, you can find them in his thread "fightman build thread" I have the same ones and they are great OEM, they are GLASS not plastic. only $40 each on ebay. I posted pics at the end of my satoshi grill mod thread. sorry no direct link, I am posting via my phone at moment.

 

[JWaldz]

HEY,

get the ones fightman has, you can find them in his thread "fightman build thread" I have the same ones and they are great OEM, they are GLASS not plastic. only $40 each on ebay. I posted pics at the end of my satoshi grill mod thread. sorry no direct link, I am posting via my phone at moment.

well let me know whenever you get to where you can post the link. Thanks

 

[BrianSD_42]

Here is the link: $72 + shipping

1999-2002 TOYOTA 4RUNNER GLASS HEAD LIGHT LAMP RL NEW | eBay



Looks like this when installed! - Fits any 3rd Gen.

 

[Clemsonfan15]

Do you have a picture of the beam pattern? That is the most important part.

 

[BrianSD_42]

Nice!

Those pics are a month old, much has changed.
I need to start a build thread and post all my pics.
.
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Also, the headlights link can be found above. I just posted it.
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RE: Beam pattern .....
I do not have a pic but it is superior to the stock ones I had. These are much clearer. They do need alignment but I am pretty sure that is because of my truck. Even the stock ones were out of alignment.

 

[Atreyus]

Do you have a picture of the beam pattern? That is the most important part.

Yeah is the beam pattern good on those?

 

[JWaldz]

my biggest concerns are 1) Is the lense glass? 2) Are they made of the same construction as the JDMs? 3) HID light output.

Those in the link are obviously glass but I'm kind of thinking most aftermarket headlights will contain the same construction. In other words, other than the physical appearance, JDMs have no different construction wise than the rest of the aftermarket 'direct replacement' headlights on ebay. (not including ones with plastic lenses).

I'd need to see a night shot with eBay specials WITH HIDS before I commit to buying them. Otherwise, I'll probably just have to fork over the money for used OEMs off eBay or put my original ones back in and deal with the fact they are old and dirty.

 

[BrianSD_42]

what do you mean used oem off ebay?

I fail to see how a used oem would better than ones I linked.

all oem will have the same light bleed issues unless they have been retrofitted with projectors - right?

even 100% factory lights have this issue when using hid bulbs.

 

[Clemsonfan15]

I think all of the aftermarket lights use a glass lens. I know mine are glass, but still have a bad beam pattern.

It all comes down to how the reflective material is made inside.

 

[GottaBeTRD]

the cheaper ones on ebay i have found are made of plastic. i emailed some of the sellers and this is what they told me. It seemed that all the ones under $80 were plastic. but they may have been from the same seller too??

here are some pics of HIDs in an OEM housing. i hated it, these are aimed down somewhat too but gosh all they seemed to do was burn holes in the ground lol!

it still scatters a lot but not as bad as those black ones

 

[binhsterbinh]

the cheaper ones on ebay i have found are made of plastic. i emailed some of the sellers and this is what they told me. It seemed that all the ones under $80 were plastic. but they may have been from the same seller too??

here are some pics of HIDs in an OEM housing. i hated it, these are aimed down somewhat too but gosh all they seemed to do was burn holes in the ground lol!

it still scatters a lot but not as bad as those black ones

Now I know what you did the Morimoto D2S. That output is horrendous and blinding to oncoming drivers as well as small animals in the trees. I'm stoked to get mine on the truck in a few weeks when I get it.

 

[GottaBeTRD]

haha LMAO yeah im pretty sure i made some squirrels fall out of the trees. they seemed to shut off the street lights too yeah man and these are the factory housing too. i'm not going to be the guy to diss on HID's in factory housing cause i did it and thought it was cool for maybe the first night then after that it was bad news. people flashed me all the time. 35W kit aimed super low and everything.

I dont know i think the frosted lenses prob get better, controlled output but yeah these pretty much only lit up the signs above and then like 20 feet in front of me. it was all darkness after that. No Beuno!

and projectors just trying to tempt the OP the light output is truely amazing! i never had plans to do a retrofit either until i just got fed up with getting flashed and refused to go back to OEM bulbs

 

[96743runner]

Personal experience, don't buy any headlights other than OEM Toyota. Got a set of the Eagle Eyes brand headlights and those things sucked..took them off immediately and got a OEM 99-02 style set. Like they say, you get what you pay for.