T4R's reflective headlight housing vs HID

[MeetJoeAsian]

I just got my 2010 T4R, and the several vehicles I've owned spanning the past 8 years have all had HIDs. I want to add HIDs to this truck, but I've heard many stories of the reflector headlights scattering light and blinding drivers. And I've seen that on the road.

Now, I just want to add 4300K 35W D2Rs to my T4R and I want it to look as OEM-HID as possible (meaning, I want it to look like something that comes out of the factory vs ricing it up). I don't want to do any mod to my housing (ie: projector mod). However, I don't want to get hated on.

For those of you who have added 4300K/35W D2R (since this what most manufacturer considers OEM) to your T4R, please give me your inputs on the light output and how scattered are the lights from afar. I don't want to be annoying on the road. Now if there was an OEM-projector housing for this generation from Toyota, i wouldn't mind spending up to a grand to buy the housing to have HIDs. But since that's not an options, please give me your inputs on how it went for you.

I've had vehicles that have OEM-reflector HIDs (ie: 2002 Acura TL-S, 1998 Lexus GS400), but what makes their housing different from the T4R? i don't mind spending a little money to make it happen or add something to the assembly, but I just don't want to open it up and actually cut up and mod the housing.

ThanX!!!

 

[TrailHawk]

I don't have any advice, but I want to thank you for your consideration to other drivers!!

 

[MeetJoeAsian]

I don't want to get those budget HIDs either. I'm willing to shell out $500 for a set cuz I hate those bluish or cheap looking ones...

 

[philsey]

About 2-3 months ago, I put Xenon Depot HID Philips bulbs/ballast into my reflector headlights. I'm running them now. I was not disappointed with the install, and the light scatter was evidently minimal, as I never once got flashed, and I'm still not unhappy with them.

They simply whetted my appetite for the real deal. See this thread:

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/5th-gen-t4rs/73866-who-s-interested-hid-projector-retrofit.html

My Xenon Depot kit will be for sale for cheap, if that's what you want to do. If you're willing to spend the kind of money mentioned however, it will get you the real deal, done by experts. My spare headlights are there right now.

This is the retrofit outfit: HID Projector Headlight Retrofit for Subaru, Honda, BMW, Scion and More | LightWerkz.net

This is the supplier of the equipment: The Retrofit Source online: headlight upgrades for all applications

Here is an excellent forum: HiDplanet : The Official Automotive Lighting Forum

 

[T4Fun]

i have the TSX projectors for sale if anyone wants them whoever is interested in a proper HID fit

 

[jreiter]

If you guys do HID retrofits in your 4runners (or any truck), definitely make sure to get an auto-leveling system of some sort. If you put a load of stuff in the back or hook up a trailer that weighs down the back of your truck, you'll be effectively raising up the light's cut-off line right into the eyes of on-coming traffic. With HIDs, that's pretty bad. Auto-levelers will take care of that.

Honestly, I think trucks should stick with non-HID, non-projector headlights. It's not as "cool," but it's safer.

 

[san~man]

I have yet to see a retrofit with an auto leveling system.

 

[Ryan_S]

Do they make manual leveling kits for aftermarket HIDs? My STi has a little knob you turn to aim the headlights down if you have a lot of junk in the trunk.

 

[jreiter]

I have yet to see a retrofit with an auto leveling system.

That's exactly the problem. OEM HID units now days almost always have some sort of leveling system, especially in a vehicle which is likely to have load in the back, causing the headlights to point up on occasion. As Ryan_S mentioned above, even his STI's oem HID lights have a leveling system. In Europe, I think auto leveling systems are even required! Aftermarket HID retrofit kits almost never have this feature, though, which is why retrofit kits are very rarely DOT approved.

Of course, you can always pop the hood and adjust the lights manually using the adjustment screws, just like you would with the oem headlights. The problem is that most people won't bother. How many people will load a bunch of stuff in the back or hook up a trailer, then pop the hood and adjust the headlights down to compensate? Some responsible people will do that, but I'll bet most will not bother. The people who don't do the adjustments end up blinding on-coming drivers with extraordinarily bright HID lights that are now pointing straight into their faces.

I don't mean to be a wet blanket on the HID idea. I had oem HIDs on my 350Z that I liked very much. However, I just don't think they serve any purpose on a truck other than looking cool. I find the oem lights on my 4runner to be extremely bright, even on pitch black back roads.