Led or hid (no war please) just info

[Jaden_C]

So I know there is a whole debate/war about hids and LEDs in stock headlight housings. I've done enough research on that front to know what to look for as far as glare after an install. So please this thread is just for info.

Ok now that's out of the way. Here's the deal, I just got a 2016 trd pro runner, super stoked and in actually happy with my lights although I may upgrade later later down the line. I know this is a 4Runner forum however my wife has a Scion tC with projector headlights same as my runner. I tried posting on the scion forum but it seems to be dead haha. Anyways my question should still be valid here since both cars use projectors and both are toyotas (hoping it's valid at least). My wife's stock projectors seem to be super low light and I'm considering either hids or leds. My experience with hids have not been good. I installed a set 4 years ago I forgot the brand but the instructions were crap but I managed to figure it out (I think). Installed and the light output was great however they would flicker and one headlight would shut off after about 20 minutes (I'm guessing it overheated). I had to turn the car off and then turn it back on and the headlight would come on again. It was crap. Secondly there's no place around here that I really trust to install unless I drive like an hour away. So I've found 2 led conversion kits that fit into the stock wiring with inline ballasts. Seem super easy to install. However there are 2 models, one with a fan and ones with copper heat sink loops on the back. Those are my only 2 options as far as I know for her car without replacing the whole headlight. So now my question, have any of you used a similar type of bulb or bulbs and if so we're they worth spending 120 dollars on? Has anyone tried both routes? Which did you like better?

Also my wife drives a dangerous mountain highway some of you may be familiar aka highway 17. She needs good lights and something reliable that won't burn out, flicker, overheat etc. I just want a good setup for her to be safe driving at night. Any help would be awesome. Thanks

 

[Ducmonsta]

She needs good lights and something reliable that won't burn out, flicker, overheat etc. I just want a good setup for her to be safe driving at night. Any help would be awesome. Thanks

If the above is your concern, stick with the factory lights and have her use her high beams appropriately. I know that's not what you want to hear but it's the truth.

If you just want the look (because anything above 4500k doesn't provide better lighting), then just get replacement, name brand (sylvania/phillips) halogen bulbs.

 

[Slow]

If the above is your concern, stick with the factory lights and have her use her high beams appropriately. I know that's not what you want to hear but it's the truth.

High Beams are not really a good option on Hwy 17 a lot of the time (the road the op seems most concerned with).
I would take your advice and go with a good halogen bulb or a good Xenon Depot or TRS kit.
OP Though they are both projectors they may not use the same lens and the Squirrel finders may need adjustment on the scion for cutoff.

 

[quicksandTRDPRO]

After a lot of research, I went with Xenon Depot's Xtreme HID kit, with the upgraded Philips bulbs (4300k). The actual light output from them compared to stock is a HUGE difference. The kit is very easy to install and great quality. With a lot of the complaints about them blinding other drivers, being in a projector housing; I had my wife drive while I drove in another vehicle and I didn't feel they bothered me any more than any other lights out there. Everyone has their own opinion, but I really feel these are an upgrade and worth the money. Here's a good ongoing review of them.
XenonDepot Xtreme HID Kit Review - 5000k & 4300k - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

 

[Jaden_C]

If the above is your concern, stick with the factory lights and have her use her high beams appropriately. I know that's not what you want to hear but it's the truth.

If you just want the look (because anything above 4500k doesn't provide better lighting), then just get replacement, name brand (sylvania/phillips) halogen bulbs.

Thank you for the reply, the only thing is her lights are so dim and it's not exactly a low traveled highway it's a main artery going to and from my city so using the high beams would not be something she could do without blinding other drivers.

 

[Jaden_C]

High Beams are not really an option on Hwy 17 a lot of the time(the road the op seems most concerned with).
I would take your advice and go with a good halogen bulb or a good Xenon Depot or TRS kit.
Though they are both projectors they may not use the same lens and the Squirrel finders may need adjustment on the scion for cutoff.

That was actually one of the brands for the led conversions was from xenon depot. Is that a good company to buy from?
Also it seems most kits have a can bus option that costs a bit more. What is the can bus for and also is it needed or how do I know of its needed?

 

[Ducmonsta]

High Beams are not really an option on Hwy 17 a lot of the time(the road the op seems most concerned with).
I would take your advice and go with a good halogen bulb or a good Xenon Depot or TRS. Though they are both projectors the probably are not the same lens and the Squirrel finders may need adjustment on the scion for cutoff

Interesting... What is it about Hwy 17 that the rules of lighting don't apply? Serious question.

Is it a really curvy road where you can't see around corners and no amount of lighting will help?
Is there an inordinate amount of traffic where high beams would become offensive?

 

[Jaden_C]

Interesting... What is it about Hwy 17 that the rules of lighting don't apply? Serious question.

Is it a really curvy road where you can't see around corners and no amount of lighting will help?
Is there an inordinate amount of traffic where high beams would become offensive?

Yes it is an extremely curvy road, and yes it is also very high traffic unless you drive between 10pm and 3am.

 

[Slow]

Interesting... What is it about Hwy 17 that the rules of lighting don't apply? Serious question.

Is it a really curvy road where you can't see around corners and no amount of lighting will help?
Is there an inordinate amount of traffic where high beams would become offensive?

Highway 17 is usually pretty busy and a twisty high speed romp only time i have ever been able to effectively use high beams is really late at night on 17. If you like traffic you will love 17.

 

[Jaden_C]

Highway 17 is usually pretty busy and a twisty high speed romp only time i have ever been able to effectively use high beams is really late at night on 17.

Seriously glad your here to validate my claim of highway 17 haha. 17 is no joke, born and raised in SC and it's not a road you mess with. Bad enough people drive over it stupid especially in the rain but then you got freakin deer jumping out too. The road is seriously built to kill people haha.

 

[quicksandTRDPRO]

I personally wouldn't put LEDs in your low beams if it's usable light you're going for. An HID kit would be your best bet, with Philips ultinon LED bulbs made for fogs. That combo will give you great visibility.

 

[Slow]

Seriously glad your here to validate my claim of highway 17 haha. 17 is no joke, born and raised in SC and it's not a road you mess with. Bad enough people drive over it stupid especially in the rain but then you got freakin deer jumping out too. The road is seriously built to kill people haha.

Yeah it is no joke i did the 17 commute for 13yrs and seen more accidents than i can count. I am born and raised here also.

 

[Jaden_C]

Yeah it is no joke i did the 17 commute for 13yrs and seen more accidents than i can count. I am born and raised here also.

It's good to hear from a real local. Ya unfortunately I drive it everyday as well to San ho or frisco. Pretty much anyone here has to drive that hill to make any real money to live here. Back on topic tho I do like the idea of the xtreme hid kit. Def looks like a quality product and reviews are good as well. I may just end up trying that. Also back to my other questions about the canbus. What is it? I've never heard of it and where do I find if my wife's car needs it? That xtreme kit has it as an option and don't want to order unless I know I have everything I need.

 

[Slow]

It's good to hear from a real local. Ya unfortunately I drive it everyday as well to San ho or frisco. Pretty much anyone here has to drive that hill to make any real money to live here. Back on topic tho I do like the idea of the xtreme hid kit. Def looks like a quality product and reviews are good as well. I may just end up trying that. Also back to my other questions about the canbus. What is it? I've never heard of it and where do I find if my wife's car needs it? That xtreme kit has it as an option and don't want to order unless I know I have everything I need.

You will not need the Can bus on a toyota. Short answer on what a Can bus is is that it facilitates communication with certain manufacturers control systems/ECU's.

 

[quicksandTRDPRO]

Yep, what Slow said. It is basically for fancy cars that tell you when and what bulb is out. You also won't need the Mopar option on their site. If they still don't have the 15% off right now, use the promo code, t4r and get 10% off.

 

[Jaden_C]

You will not need the Can bus on a toyota. Short answer on what a Can bus is is that it facilitates communication with certain manufacturers control systems/ECU's.

Ok gotcha, ya I kept seeing it and had never heard of it before. Thanks for all the help man appreciate it.

 

[Slow]

Ok gotcha, ya I kept seeing it and had never heard of it before. Thanks for all the help man appreciate it.

No Problem Best of luck.

 

[quicksandTRDPRO]

Also the kit comes with relays, you won't need to use these. It seriously is plug and play. Your hardest part will be figuring out where to mount your ballasts. :guitar2:

 

[Jaden_C]

Also the kit comes with relays, you won't need to use these. It seriously is plug and play. Your hardest part will be figuring out where to mount your ballasts. :guitar2:

Ya I remember when I installed the other hids the ballast placement was the hardest part. What exactly are the relays for? I'm an electrician and to me relays are just switches pretty much in my field. What exactly are they doing in hids?

And if I have this right pretty much the install will just require me to mount the ballasts which plug into the existing stock connector for my headlights and then plugin the new bulbs into the other end of the ballast and twist into the projector correct? I won't need to take any cables to the battery or is that sill required?

 

[codyHTX]

Also the kit comes with relays, you won't need to use these. It seriously is plug and play. Your hardest part will be figuring out where to mount your ballasts. :guitar2:

Ya I remember when I installed the other hids the ballast placement was the hardest part. What exactly are the relays for? I'm an electrician and to me relays are just switches pretty much in my field. What exactly are they doing in hids?

And if I have this right pretty much the install will just require me to mount the ballasts which plug into the existing stock connector for my headlights and then plugin the new bulbs into the other end of the ballast and twist into the projector correct? I won't need to take any cables to the battery or is that sill required?

i actually installed this kit yesterday (XD Xtreme HID w/ 4300K Phillips) and while many have installed without relays I found that I had to use a relay to get the passenger side to fire, even after switching polarity around. with the relay it lit just fine, so i ended up using both just for uniformity. the link below is a post i made yesterday in another HID install thread with some pics/description of the layout i ended up with.
http://www.toyota-4runner.org/2282682-post123.html