Lighting upgrades

blkexp98

New member
Well i just took a slight plunge and ordered a set of the Xenon Depot extreme/philips H11 kits after a long time of thinking about it. The order went smooth and i expect the install will as well.
Ill try to do the install at night so i can take some useful before and after pictures.

Now im wondering if i should upgrade (not HID) the high beams to a better bulb. Are there any good 9005 replacements that i should look into? I doubt ill be using the much but it may be a good time to change them.

How about the fogs? I thought about changing those to 3000k HID but am going to hold off until i see these. Are there any good non HID bulbs for yellow or white light. Yellow would probably be more useful but im open to suggestions.

Let me know what yall think and before i get them let me know if there are any install pictures any of you may want.

Does anyone have any good install or alignment tips? I thought i remembered someone changing something on the lense. I think ill try to use a good strong velcro along with a zip tie when i can instead of screws. That should allow the kit to be removed if need be.

For XenonDepot: I didnt screw up ordering the phillips bulbs did I? I assume ill be able to get replacements down the road or should i buy a spare set if these work out?
 
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I have the Xenon bulbs (from Xenon Depot) in my low beams. For highs I have Sylvania Silverstar Ultras which work as a great combination.

As for the Xenons for the hihg beams, there have been a few posts about this on these boards before and they are not the best option apparently. Something to do with the bulb heat-up time and the rapid on/off of the bulbs causing some problems. Just what I can recall though.
 
The heat up with HID is what i remember reading about too on the high beams. Everything i remember reading advised against it. I may have to pick up some silverstar Ultras then for the highs.
 
Hi,

I personally would not suggest upgrading the high beams on your vehicle to HID for 2 reasons:

1) HID bulbs take a moment to fully ignite and reach their desired light output. In situations where you need to flash someone and require a quick burst of light your HID high beams will not be very functional.

2) It is strenuous on the components to be turned on/off repeatedly ie: flashing people.

As for upgrading the fogs, we have had several members on this board upgrade their fogs and have been very happy with the results. Uneek recently ordered a 3000k kit for his fogs so hopefully we can get some feedback.

blkexp98 - you definitely didn't mess up going with the Philips bulbs! Getting replacements will not be a problem.

Please let me know if you have any questions/concerns installing the product and I would be more than happy to help you out.

Steve
 
But wouldn't the quick changes with flicking the fogs off and on cause the same issues with the bulbs?

And what is the lighting like with them in fogs? The 2006+ are not projector lamps so I magine that the light quality would not be as good.


BTW, I have Silverstar lights in my fogs and they are exceptionally yello in color when compared to my Xenons and this might be a good Spring mod since I cannot swing the coin for them before them, plus the weather will be too cold.
 
Couple of questions:

Do you have HIDs replacing your headlights too?

How do the fogs do with the on-off motion when turning on your high beams? Is there a delay in getting the maximum light when you turn them on and off?

Where did you hide the wires from the install?



I have HIDs as headlights, but am not sure about them for fogs yet.
 
I recieved the HID kit FAST from XenonDepot. Thanks For the very fast shiping to start.

The kit came packaged just as the other threads show and went together great. I wouldnt have minded if one of the power wires was about a foot longer and both of the ring terminals were slightly larger. They wouldnt quite fit on the bolt on the factory batter terminal. I had to route the passenger power wire over the battery instead of around it. I tried to keep the ballast and igniter close and the passenger and driver are both mounted in the same locations on each side. I ran the power wire from the passenger side along the radiator support and ziptied off to the loom in front of the radiator.

All the componets are held in place with industrial velcro but they feel secure. I will however keep an eye on it to see how it takes the engine bay heat. The glue is very good on them though.

Overall i am very happy with the kit. Xenon Depot really has a good thing going with their shipping, ordering and products. I couldnt be happier with how the order, kit and install went (other than my two wiring notes). The 4300k Phillips bulb kit was definatly the way to go. Color wise its night and day from the stock bulbs which i used to think were pretty good. Also i have not been flashed by headlights yet so thats good to know.

Ill get some better pictures later but these will do for now just to get some up. They dont really do the lights justice and i think some of my settings are off because the color is a little off and glary too.

Before
HIDBefore.jpg~original


After
HIDAfter.jpg~original


Componets
HIDpassenger1.jpg~original


Random shot through the projector
Projector.jpg~original


I know the picture quality isnt any good so ill get some better ones soon. If you have any requests just post them.
 
blkexp98 said:
No that is just as it was. Was that something i should have done and if so where should it have been?

Maybe I'm seeing things, but it appears to me the shield was taped off.

Our projectors have a bent tab in the shield rather being flat across the top. The bent tab allows light to leak out--squirrel finders, rather than have a clean cut off like a true HID projector. The intent is light up overhead signs. What some have done is bend that tab back so that it's straight and creating a cleaner cut off. Some times the tab breaks, so people taped it off.

I didn't touch the tab on mine.

Here are some pics of the squirrel finders in my other thread. Squirrel finders are the box of light above the cut off.
 
2003-05 uses 9006 for both low beam and fogs.

2006+ uses H11 for low beams and 9006 for fogs.

All 4th gen 4Runners use 9005 for lowbeams.

There's probably a bit more glare with lowbeam HID in a 2003-05 due to the reflector headlights. Glare is a bit better controlled with projectors.
 

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