Speedy's HID Retrofit Project w/Vid

[Speedy]

So I know you guys have been doing this for years, but I needed a project to work on. Either my 2002 4Runner's headlights were getting old and dim, or I'm getting old and my night vision is suffering, or I got spoiled by the HID projectors in my other cars, or all three, so I started looking in to aux lighting to assist and came across the HID projector retrofit as an option. Seemed like TRS (The Retrofit Source) had a bundled kit you could put together and customize as you wanted, so that's what I did. TRS gets a thumbs up from me, I actually got a person on the phone when I called to ask a question and they were very knowledgeable and gave me a tip or two as well.

It's an INVOLVED project, but not technically difficult, just time consuming. I highly recommend a set of aftermarket headlights to work on while you keep the factory ones in the vehicle so you can drive it.

Results were dramatic and some of the best bang for the buck money I've spent on the 4Runner, but Mrs. Speedy wasn't real thrilled about me cooking car parts in her oven LOL. I also updated the Satoshi grill while I was at it.

Here's how mine came out. Part 1 of the video on my install is published, I'll post up Part 2 this upcoming weekend and will come back and add it to this thread for those that like that kinda stuff.

I never get tired of tinkering on the o'l 4Runner.....I may do a new rearview mirror with temp/compass/backup camera next to continue the modernization process.

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Grill update bonus footage
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WeatherPak style connectors used for LED lighting. Cheap, easy, and durable.

Before

After

 

[Jeremy107]

I was literally about to post your videos to the forum for everyone, had no idea you were a member. Nice work I’ve watched them several times for my TBU

 

[fixxor]

Wow I want to do this in the future and was researching looking for what I wanted. You post this and that looks very nice, love the look and its now my chosen way to do this. Thank you for posting this.

 

[infantry503]

Awesome video for this!!!!!!! I used your lift video as a guide to lift my 4runner and it worked perfectly. I might do a second set of retrofits now that you have this video. Looks awesome! I used the same paint but painted mine millennium silver as my truck is also.

 

[Speedy]

Thanks! I LOVE it. Looks bad ass and works 100x better than the factory headlights to boot.

It was actually a very fun project, but it is time consuming. I worked on it a little after work each night for about a week, then a full day on the weekend to finish it up. If I'd tried to do it all over a weekend I'd have gotten really burned out on it. Get to that point and you risk taking shortcuts just to get it done. Second set of headlights and markers FTW. Whole set cost less than $100 online.

 

[BrianSD_42]

Super clean work man!

Mrs. _____ wasn't real thrilled about me cooking car parts in her oven LOL.

Yeah for real. Been there, done that. I'm pretty much banned from using the oven for cooking car parts bc of chemicals fears. Now I only bake car parts when the wife is out of town.

Btw, what type of projector did you use for the retrofit?

:bat:

 

[Speedy]

Super clean work man!



Yeah for real. Been there, done that. I'm pretty much banned from using the oven for cooking car parts bc of chemicals fears. Now I only bake car parts when the wife is out of town.

Btw, what type of projector did you use for the retrofit?

:bat:

Thanks, it's the Mini D2S 4.0 SIII (say that three times fast!). Real impressed with the light output.

 

[R Marra]

Hello, l am looking forward to the second video. I was wondering if you a going to upgrade the fog lights to hid as well. Kind of looking forward to see what you come up with.

By the way love what you have done with sport runner and I am looking to see what next.. Thanks, Ray M.

 

[prcGTI]

Very nice work and excellent video documentation....new HID conversion looks great!

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

 

[Speedy]

Hello, l am looking forward to the second video. I was wondering if you a going to upgrade the fog lights to hid as well. Kind of looking forward to see what you come up with.

By the way love what you have done with sport runner and I am looking to see what next.. Thanks, Ray M.

First post updated with Part 2.

I don't intend to upgrade the fog lights. They do enough of a job for me. I am looking at doing some LEDs for the turn signals and tail lights though.

 

[Ed_C]

Excellent videos!

As for LEDs in the front signals, some of the longer ones will not fit our lamp assemblies, even aftermarket clears, unless you plan on taking them apart and modifying. There is a diffuser in them that cuts down bulb clearance, in the OEMs they're the yellow pieces.

In my experience (I've tried several) the best "plug and play" 7440 turn signal LEDs are Philips X-treme Ultinon, not to be confused by the crappy standard Ultinon line Philips recently released to the US market (Pep Boys being one of the largest dealers), they're a downgrade from stock since they're actually dimmer. You'll have to buy these from an overseas seller though, Philips never released them here. My second choice is the Profile Peak line, I've been using these since last December. I mentioned plug and play because there is a bulb from VLEDS called the Triton V6 which was designed to replace multiple bulb styles by utilizing adapters, they're pretty bright but they're also pretty pricey at $150. In my testing on a 4th-gen turn signal the Tritons did have a larger beam pattern than stock and other LEDs but the Philips X-Treme Ultinon still had the brightest hot-spot.

The rear signals also use 7440 bulbs. I'll be changing the sockets on mine to 7443 (dual filament) so I can run switchback LEDs so the signals also do double duty as reverse lights. Best LED for brake lights are once again Philips X-treme Ultinon. Second choice are Sylvania Zevo , I use these in several vehicles including the 4Runner. Just make sure you get the style bulb I linked, they do have another style that's also a Zevo but are poor performers.

Also get a LED-compatible flasher relay. I'm using a Tridon/Novita,only complaint is the clicking noise is quieter than stock.

 

[Speedy]

Excellent videos!

As for LEDs in the front signals, some of the longer ones will not fit our lamp assemblies, even aftermarket clears, unless you plan on taking them apart and modifying. There is a diffuser in them that cuts down bulb clearance, in the OEMs they're the yellow pieces.

In my experience (I've tried several) the best "plug and play" 7440 turn signal LEDs are Philips X-treme Ultinon, not to be confused by the crappy standard Ultinon line Philips recently released to the US market (Pep Boys being one of the largest dealers), they're a downgrade from stock since they're actually dimmer. You'll have to buy these from an overseas seller though, Philips never released them here. My second choice is the Profile Peak line, I've been using these since last December. I mentioned plug and play because there is a bulb from VLEDS called the Triton V6 which was designed to replace multiple bulb styles by utilizing adapters, they're pretty bright but they're also pretty pricey at $150. In my testing on a 4th-gen turn signal the Tritons did have a larger beam pattern than stock and other LEDs but the Philips X-Treme Ultinon still had the brightest hot-spot.

The rear signals also use 7440 bulbs. I'll be changing the sockets on mine to 7443 (dual filament) so I can run switchback LEDs so the signals also do double duty as reverse lights. Best LED for brake lights are once again Philips X-treme Ultinon. Second choice are Sylvania Zevo , I use these in several vehicles including the 4Runner. Just make sure you get the style bulb I linked, they do have another style that's also a Zevo but are poor performers.

Also get a LED-compatible flasher relay. I'm using a Tridon/Novita,only complaint is the clicking noise is quieter than stock.

Good info. I just found the Philips 12763x2 for the front on Amazon which works for me.

I'm still looking through options for the rear. Found some updated tail light assemblies that include LED brake lights in them. Would then need LED turns to go in there and I like the idea of bright backup lights so now you're making me spend money on that too LOL, then the interior!

 

[Ed_C]

Good info. I just found the Philips 12763x2 for the front on Amazon which works for me.

I'm still looking through options for the rear. Found some updated tail light assemblies that include LED brake lights in them. Would then need LED turns to go in there and I like the idea of bright backup lights so now you're making me spend money on that too LOL

I bought the switchback versions of those $150 V6 Tritons when they were on pre-order,they were a lot cheaper that time but waited almost 6 months then another month for updated versions because the first batch had issues. I currently have them in my 1st-gen Tundra's tails and they're bright as F**K!

The 4Runner setup will be more reasonable priced,using Profile Peak switchbacks and Flosser sockets. Some very slight trimming of the new sockets are needed, I'll post the info when I do the modification. What's cool about this mod is you can plug in the original single-filament incandescent (or a 7440 LED) if you don't want the reverse + turn signal feature.

BTW not sure if the discount code still works but entering "junkie" at Lightwerkz's checkout may get you 10% off and free shipping.

then the interior!

Done that! I'm happy with the stock green dash lighting but hated how dim my map and dome lights were. I wanted to keep the warm white color, just brighter, so I bought SuperbrightLEDS map and dome bulbs. Double check your map lights first, most bulb lookups show the domes as wedge type but mines are festoon.

 

[JWaldz]

Your garage reminds me of the inside of a toyota dealership shop lol



and I want it.


Great job with the retros.

 

[BrianSD_42]

Can you post a link for where to buy that led strip you used in the headlight. Thanks.

 

[4Runner4Leon]

Can you post a link for where to buy that led strip you used in the headlight. Thanks.

And along with that, is that strip bright enough to work as a DRL?

I'm pondering LED strips in the filler panels to work as a DRL, but I'm also pondering an HID retrofit - it'd be nice to incorporate some DRL function into the retrofit, but I haven't seen a solution yet.

 

[Speedy]

I bought the switchback versions of those $150 V6 Tritons when they were on pre-order,they were a lot cheaper that time but waited almost 6 months then another month for updated versions because the first batch had issues. I currently have them in my 1st-gen Tundra's tails and they're bright as F**K!

The 4Runner setup will be more reasonable priced,using Profile Peak switchbacks and Flosser sockets. Some very slight trimming of the new sockets are needed, I'll post the info when I do the modification. What's cool about this mod is you can plug in the original single-filament incandescent (or a 7440 LED) if you don't want the reverse + turn signal feature.

BTW not sure if the discount code still works but entering "junkie" at Lightwerkz's checkout may get you 10% off and free shipping.



Done that! I'm happy with the stock green dash lighting but hated how dim my map and dome lights were. I wanted to keep the warm white color, just brighter, so I bought SuperbrightLEDS map and dome bulbs. Double check your map lights first, most bulb lookups show the domes as wedge type but mines are festoon.

More great info, thanks! I'm gonna check out that switchback solution for the tails.

Can you post a link for where to buy that led strip you used in the headlight. Thanks.

https://www.theretrofitsource.com/rgb-switchback/switchback-halos-strips-universal.html

And along with that, is that strip bright enough to work as a DRL?

I'm pondering LED strips in the filler panels to work as a DRL, but I'm also pondering an HID retrofit - it'd be nice to incorporate some DRL function into the retrofit, but I haven't seen a solution yet.

I thought about this actually. Yes I think they're certainly bright enough to act as DRLs, however the DRL function on my 2002 is a 6V deal I believe, I was even surprised the HIDs worked as DRL on my ride. I have a switch as you saw in the vid and disabled my DRLs years ago, but having that LED as a DRL would be trick. It's a 12V input, however, so you'd have to somehow go from 6V -> 12V or cross check the DRLs on your ride to see if it's 12V. Make sense?

 

[Speedy]

Part 3 (and the payoff) will go up tomorrow.

 

[BrianSD_42]

Thanks for the link. The Acme SMD LED strips look to be the closest to what I have installed on my bumper, just a different vendor. On another site I found an Amber only version for sale if anyone is looking for that.

The strip you used and the SMD LEDs are a bit different. I think the most visual difference is TRS's plasma style LEDs and Halos are a bit more yellow/orange vs the SMD LEDs being more burnt orange with no yellow at all. The SMD strip also has no weather protection, it's just an open circuit card. When I bought a similar type off eBay I had to protect it myself by using 2 coats PolyU bar sealer protectant and a coat of PolyU UV spray. So for the somewhat brave that is an option.

 

[4Runner4Leon]

I thought about this actually. Yes I think they're certainly bright enough to act as DRLs, however the DRL function on my 2002 is a 6V deal I believe, I was even surprised the HIDs worked as DRL on my ride. I have a switch as you saw in the vid and disabled my DRLs years ago, but having that LED as a DRL would be trick. It's a 12V input, however, so you'd have to somehow go from 6V -> 12V or cross check the DRLs on your ride to see if it's 12V. Make sense?

Thanks - yeah, I don't have DRL now, so no 6V source. I'm looking for something to tie into the 12V side that is always on when the car is running, and is bright enough to function as a DRL. So if the LED is bright enough (and I assume it's 12V), then I could use that without going to a separate light in the filler panels.