Please post pics of HID lights (low beams and/or fogs) in the OEM light reflectors

[philsey]

@SilverGS.

PM'd you.

 

[JCC]

I have the projectors, but want HID. Any recommendations? I was thinking about getting the Silverstar Ultras if nothing else, but I would prefer HID.

 

[zimm]

I have the projectors, but want HID. Any recommendations? I was thinking about getting the Silverstar Ultras if nothing else, but I would prefer HID.

I really like the xenondepot's premium kits- they are on sale for $160 (normally $200). If you're looking for cheap, DDM makes good kits. Both work well, xenondepot uses name brand components where DDM is chinese stuff.

 

[zimm]

I have the projectors, but want HID. Any recommendations? I was thinking about getting the Silverstar Ultras if nothing else, but I would prefer HID.

I really like the xenondepot's premium kits- they are on sale for $160 (normally $200). If you're looking for cheap, DDM makes good kits. Both work well, xenondepot uses name brand components where DDM is chinese stuff.

Don't waste your money on the silverstars- the difference is minimal. I made that mistake myself.

 

[thegreatdivorce]

I have the projectors, but want HID. Any recommendations? I was thinking about getting the Silverstar Ultras if nothing else, but I would prefer HID.

I've had 3 sets of DDM, and they've always been great.

While you're in there, try bending/covering your squirrel finders, if you're not swapping in better lenses and bowls. It'll help with some of the glare (yes, still there even with projectors). You'll still have some hotspots, and the spread won't be as wide as it should be, but it'll be a good upgrade.

 

[JCC]

I really like the xenondepot's premium kits- they are on sale for $160 (normally $200). If you're looking for cheap, DDM makes good kits. Both work well, xenondepot uses name brand components where DDM is chinese stuff.

Don't waste your money on the silverstars- the difference is minimal. I made that mistake myself.

I've had 3 sets of DDM, and they've always been great.

While you're in there, try bending/covering your squirrel finders, if you're not swapping in better lenses and bowls. It'll help with some of the glare (yes, still there even with projectors). You'll still have some hotspots, and the spread won't be as wide as it should be, but it'll be a good upgrade.

Thanks guys! I'll do some research. I haven't looked into it very much yet.

I'll skip the Silverstar Ultras. That's a valuable tip.

 

[SilverGs]

So I decided to go ahead and do this the right way and get an HID retrofit.

I contacted Caesar at lightwerkz and Andrew at thehidretrofitsource. The kits are roughly the same, however the labor to install the kit in the headlights vastly different. Lightwerkz charge $755 (this is not the sum of the kit + install, it's just the install cost) to install the kit in the headlights and theretrofitsource charge $450.

Any idea why the install cost is not anywhere close for the exact same work?

 

[zimm]

Wow! You think the $$$ is worth the upgrade over the stock projectors in the 2006+? I know they can be improved a bit, but not sure about $500 more improvement. Plus I trust the sealed housings from Toyota to not leak as much as someone glueing them together themselves.

 

[crackiswack]

So I decided to go ahead and do this the right way and get an HID retrofit.

I contacted Caesar at lightwerkz and Andrew at thehidretrofitsource. The kits are roughly the same, however the labor to install the kit in the headlights vastly different. Lightwerkz charge $755 (this is not the sum of the kit + install, it's just the install cost) to install the kit in the headlights and theretrofitsource charge $450.

Any idea why the install cost is not anywhere close for the exact same work?

Are you sure that Caesar's price doesn't include the components?

 

[philsey]

... Any idea why the install cost is not anywhere close for the exact same work?

I'll take a WAG: Competition.

Originally LW was strictly a retrofitter, and relied on the customer to obtain the needed parts, often from TRS. And, originally, TRS was strictly a reseller of HID and lighting componentry. My 4R retrofit was performed by LW with components obtained from TRS.

For my second retrofit (on the wife's CRV) I went back to LW, and found they now sold componentry, so I did the whole deal with LW.

So, I conclude that TRS has now decided they're missing out on a business opportunity, and gone into the retrofit business too.

"Exact work", yes - exact quality work, perhaps.

If'n it were me, I'd talk to TRS and find out how much experience they have, and make your decision based on that. I'd also come right out and ask them why their price is so much less. I'm guessing they are quite new at this. Remember, you get what you pay for - just sayin'.

Also, I follow TRS' forum (HiD planet) closely, and have not seen mention of TRS doing this. Nor is there anything on TRS' website, FWIW. What you're telling me is news to me.

Do what's right for you, but LW's rep is stellar.

EDIT: My comments are based on the ASSUMPTION that "thehidretrofitsource" is the same/affiliated with "The Retrofit Source" - a potential error on my part, I see in hindsight.

Googling "thehidretrofitsource" gets zippo.

 

[SilverGs]

I'll take a WAG: Competition.

Originally LW was strictly a retrofitter, and relied on the customer to obtain the needed parts, often from TRS. And, originally, TRS was strictly a reseller of HID and lighting componentry. My 4R retrofit was performed by LW with components obtained from TRS.

Interesting background information.

For my second retrofit (on the wife's CRV) I went back to LW, and found they now sold componentry, so I did the whole deal with LW.

So, I conclude that TRS has now decided they're missing out on a business opportunity, and gone into the retrofit business too.

"Exact work", yes - exact quality work, perhaps.

If'n it were me, I'd talk to TRS and find out how much experience they have, and make your decision based on that. I'd also come right out and ask them why their price is so much less. I'm guessing they are quite new at this. Remember, you get what you pay for - just sayin'.

Good suggestion, I will.

Also, I follow TRS' forum (HiD planet) closely, and have not seen mention of TRS doing this. Nor is there anything on TRS' website, FWIW. What you're telling me is news to me.

Do what's right for you, but LW's rep is stellar.

Yeah, this was news to Caesar as well. But your point about the fact that this is not mentioned anywhere on HID planet or their website, points to the fact they are probably new at this too.

Which means the cost to do this properly is > $1500 (new OEM headlights $500 + install $755 + kit $450 - old OEM headlights $?)

That was my typo - its theretrofitsource.com

 

[philsey]

Perhaps use this to get a better price out of Caesar?

He CAN negotiate, trust me.

 

[Doozi]

Bulb color makes a huge difference!

I just thought that I'd share a recent discovery. I swapped the bulbs in my DDM kit from the 5000k to the 4500k and was shocked by the difference! I liked them with the 5000k bulbs, but kind of expected more from the HID swap. After I went to the 4500k, it seems like the light it so much cleaner and much more visible. I will say that blue light and I don't get along... I can't see enough contrast to read blue-lit signs and the VW dash is terrible for me so maybe the presence of some blue light in the 5000k bulbs really ruined it for me. I probably couldn't see anything with those 8000k bulbs!

They are in the stock '06 projectors and I agree with the fact that a retro-fit would be better, but now, with the 4500k bulbs, I am extremely happy with my HID kit. I actually was looking head-on at my 4Runner with the DDM kit and a newer Audi with factory HIDs and my lights actually had less glare. I was also next to a BMW with HIDs while stopped at a light and I had a much more pronounced "cut-off" across the back of the vehicles in front of us. I've also spent a lot of time aiming my headlights.

I don't think that this looks too bad...

 

[SilverGs]

That does look really good ^ with a very sharp cutoff.

Problem is that I have a 2005 and the shape of the bottom edge of the 2006 headlights is not straight, but has a distinct "elliptical" sort of indentation in the middle , so I don't know if it would fit a 2005.......

 

[Doozi]

That does look really good ^ with a very sharp cutoff.

Problem is that I have a 2005 and the shape of the bottom edge of the 2006 headlights is not straight, but has a distinct "elliptical" sort of indentation in the middle , so I don't know if it would fit a 2005.......

You just have to get the body-colored trim piece that fits below the headlamp... I'm not sure how the newer headlights interface with the '03-'05 grill, but I know that several guys have done the swap.

You probably wouldn't come out that much ahead versus a retro-fit after piecing everything together and potentially painting the trim pieces to match, but it might be another option for you. If I had an '05, I'd probably just go with a retro-fit. My '06 with the DDM kit is pretty nice, but a couple of these guys have amazing looking lights with razor-sharp cut-offs using the retro-fit set-up.

 

[CookieRoe]

So I decided to go ahead and do this the right way and get an HID retrofit.

I contacted Caesar at lightwerkz and Andrew at thehidretrofitsource. The kits are roughly the same, however the labor to install the kit in the headlights vastly different. Lightwerkz charge $755 (this is not the sum of the kit + install, it's just the install cost) to install the kit in the headlights and theretrofitsource charge $450.

Any idea why the install cost is not anywhere close for the exact same work?

$750 for labor???!!! Holy crap he's gone up a lot. I hope he's not pricing himself out of the market. Typically when there is more competition, prices go down. Anyway, for what its worth, lightwerkz has an excellent reputation. I've had nothing but good service from them. I'm a loyal customer. For now. As Philsey alluded to, how much experience does The Retrofit Source have? Doing a retro isn't bonkers easy, but it's not TERRIBLY difficult to do either. For $450 (TRS), that's pretty good, BUT how's the workmanship??

Anyway, if you have any questions SilverGs, I'm here to help!

Doozi: Your lights look awesome! I have 4300K and do notice a TAD of yellow, but compared to the rest of the halogens lights on the road, my lights look very white. Stick with 4300-4500K. Getting 6000K+ really never made any sense for me since lumens go down as Kelvin go up.

 

[Doozi]

Doozi: Your lights look awesome! I have 4300K and do notice a TAD of yellow, but compared to the rest of the halogens lights on the road, my lights look very white. Stick with 4300-4500K. Getting 6000K+ really never made any sense for me since lumens go down as Kelvin go up.

Thanks dude! I started with the 5000k first because I wanted super-freeky white light and it was, but then I switched to the 4500k and it's awesome... so much more light, seemingly crisper, and still super white. I can actually see the cut-off bouncing up and down in the distance when I drive over bumps and never noticed that with the 5000k bulbs.

 

[ARGO]

I have HID conversion kit in my 4Runner and Silver Star Ultra's in the fogs..

I will post some daytime and eve photo's...

I noticed I need a new HID bulb on one side as pulling in last night one bulb seems slightly brighter and bluer than the other...

I have 5000k bulbs..

It was an alternative than putting in new lamp units just to get the projector style beam.

 

[Jesse1983]

any 4th genners looking for a discount on projectors from TRS see this Group Buy in the 5th gen section

 

[AleksV]

So after reading trough the whole thread, i'm wondering what parts are needed for an 06+ swap. Headlights + little piece under half of the headlight. is the bumper same fit? I know its a bit different, with the orange DRL changed to inside the headlight., and same question about grill, does it need to be changed? I really like the look of the 06+headlights, that's why i would rather get that.

Otherwise, the white 05 with retrofit looks perfect