need help/suggestion pleaseplease

[sugjavier]

I found this in Amazon:
Amazon.com: GOgroove FlexSMART X2 Wireless In-Car Bluetooth FM Transmitter with Charging, Music Control, and Hands-Free Calling for Android, iPhone, Blackberry, & Windows Smartphones: Car Electronics

It seems like the best but cheapest way for me to play music thru my phone.
THOUGHTS?
I still need help on #2 and #3.
I think replacing just the front shocks/struts is good enough. I'm kinda expecting more of something that has many 4-5star reviews. Yes I do know its a truck so I can't expect a big difference but it's been intense on small cracks on roads.

2) I'm noticing that I can feel the bumps/cracks on the road more intensely than when I first bought this car. So I think I'm planning on upgrading the shock absorbers. Any suggestions on a best but cheapest possible. I'm in college and don't have a lot of money. Please include average cost including labor since I have no clue. I'd prolly get it done in the dealership (note: I'm the 2nd owner, and the 1st owner probably never changed the shocks/struts or springs)

3) Headlights: my dad bought this
But I don't notice a difference between that and the OEM headlights it came with. Also, he tells me NOT to use hi beam since it kills it faster. In fact, he had to get a replacement because after 3 months, the visionplus headlights were outperformed by the OEM headlights in terms of brightness.

Anyways, I'm looking into this as a backup. Can I expect a noticeable brightness difference between this and the OEM?
Also which is better of the 3? VisionPlus, XPS 2, or X-treme?

Also 1 last thing, is the 27 point inspection at the dealership free? If not, can you tell me an average price?

Thanks in advance

 

[AZTOY]

The cheapest way to listen to your ipod or phone is a tape deck adapter. $20 or so. That's what I use. 2) don't go to dealership for shocks if you want to save money. For cheap acceptable shocks try Gabriel, Rancho, Tokico, Bilstein. Go to your local garage if you can't do it yourself.
3) can't get much brighter without converting to hid or changing wiring harness. These are quality bulbs in this link: 1997 Toyota 4Runner Headlight Bulbs, 97 4Runner Headlight Bulbs - Tunersdepot.com No. 1

 

[Nelsonmd]

1. There are lots of cheaper solutions as AZTOY said, there are even cheaper FM transmitters. Shop around a bit, don't go with one with all the bells and whistles.

2. If you are at all mechanically inclined, you should buy shocks yourself and install them yourself (lots of info already on here, plus folks will help walk you through it). If you get separate shocks and coils for the front, then you can take them to a shop to have pressed together much less than the hourly charge will be for any service.

BTW, Hourly charges for a mechanic will probably be around $100/hr. $70/hr is probably the lowest you could possibly find, and a dealer will probably be more, maybe $120/hr or more. You can ask if they will be using the "book time" for the service or bill you for actual time, and you should be able to get that quoted up front.

Also, does your 4runner wander on the highway when hitting bumps (symptom of truly shot shocks)? I am always for preventive maintenance, but if you are on a really tight budget, then perhaps a little comfort issue is not worth dropping $500+ dollars for shocks until you really know you need them.

3. You're a poor college student, so don't worry about having the brightest and best bulb. Get whatever the cheapest bulb at autozone is (or maybe second cheapest). I ran those for years, as well as a large portion of the rest of the country does every day (or rather every night) and they see just fine.

As far as the high beam advice goes, you dad sounds like an overly frugal dad, like the ones that disconnect the AC because it wastes gas (I don't mean that as an insult, just a reality check). It is better to be safe than get 5% longer life on a $15 light bulb (which is probably optimistic). That said, do be concerned with other people's safety, and make sure you turn your high beams off if someone passes you or comes by in the other direction of traffic...

 

[sugjavier]

1. There are lots of cheaper solutions as AZTOY said, there are even cheaper FM transmitters. Shop around a bit, don't go with one with all the bells and whistles.

2. If you are at all mechanically inclined, you should buy shocks yourself and install them yourself (lots of info already on here, plus folks will help walk you through it). If you get separate shocks and coils for the front, then you can take them to a shop to have pressed together much less than the hourly charge will be for any service.

BTW, Hourly charges for a mechanic will probably be around $100/hr. $70/hr is probably the lowest you could possibly find, and a dealer will probably be more, maybe $120/hr or more. You can ask if they will be using the "book time" for the service or bill you for actual time, and you should be able to get that quoted up front.

Also, does your 4runner wander on the highway when hitting bumps (symptom of truly shot shocks)? I am always for preventive maintenance, but if you are on a really tight budget, then perhaps a little comfort issue is not worth dropping $500+ dollars for shocks until you really know you need them.

3. You're a poor college student, so don't worry about having the brightest and best bulb. Get whatever the cheapest bulb at autozone is (or maybe second cheapest). I ran those for years, as well as a large portion of the rest of the country does every day (or rather every night) and they see just fine.

As far as the high beam advice goes, you dad sounds like an overly frugal dad, like the ones that disconnect the AC because it wastes gas (I don't mean that as an insult, just a reality check). It is better to be safe than get 5% longer life on a $15 light bulb (which is probably optimistic). That said, do be concerned with other people's safety, and make sure you turn your high beams off if someone passes you or comes by in the other direction of traffic...

Lol u described my dad really good. He's like super OCD and kinda hard to reason with him on many issues.
I only use hi-beam for like 2sec cuz I got work at 4am and go through this dark road that usually have deer crossing the street. Other than that I don't use hibeam at all.

I have no idea about cars really. I know its so sad lol. I'll work on it.
For the shocks, I actually will get it inspected at a local Tuffy for free. I think its ok on the freeway though. Gotta intentionally hit a bump and see if it wanders sidetoside?