SWITCHING FROM STOCK TO H.I.D.??

I am sure there is a thread somewhere here but has anyone tried switching from stock to H.I.D in 2nd gen.tacoma.base.?? If so would you recommend? ?

 

http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/lighting/

http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/lighting/191480-hid-faq.html

Yes, there "is a thread somewhere".

And no, don't put HID's in a stock headlight housing. It blinds everyone else and gives off a crappy beam. Do a proper retrofit (which you can search and find a ton of information on).

 

^X2 OP.

I'd do a proper retrofit and get a better output w/o being that A hole that blinds everyone on the road.

If you're interested check out
Insight retrofits
Ambigous
or TRS Andrew

they are members on here who build sets

 

Ok. Thanks. Just curious. Haven't figured out my way around the site yet. I don't have alot of money left after paying all the bills so a guy has got exsplore options.

 

I'd say wait and save up money and either do a retrofit yourself or have one of the guys I listed build you one. I was a little borderline on doing a retrofit because of the price, but I have been pretty much happy with my set that was built for me. The output and performance was worth the wait. but that is just me.

You'll come to find that everyone has an opinion on everything on the forum which isn't bad. It just gets tire some when some people have to always be right.

 

I just ignore or dont even waste my time reading comments posted up by the jackasses with high school kids' mentality. That being said, there are so many great and knowlegable Taco "gurus" on board so search and ask.

 

Question is.... Do you 'need' HID? You need the extra light? It's pretty complicated to do it right from what I read.

Ask yourself why. If 'Because you can' is enuff, then do it, but do it right.

 

if you need more light when theres no cars around, get a lightbar. If you need more light where there are cars around do a proper retrofit
Just changed my HID bulbs out for proper retrofit and the difference is great!

 

Just switch to LED headlights. Easy, fantastic light output with proper beam pattern, and lasts WAYYYYY longer than HID.

 

Retros are the way to go. I had HID's for about a year, and looking back, it was obnoxious. The light out put is better with the retro, but you get what you pay for. I was never stopped for the HID, but have had friends that have been. just food for thought..

 

100 watt H4's they last a long time just about as bright. Count power poles I can see 7 or about 1'400' 1/4 of a mile seems sufficient enough to dodge the average moose. Biggest problem in a retro fit is focal point.

 

what problem is that?

 

Not the H4 but the HID's H4 are no problem they are designed to work in the fixture plug and play no cutting bending or sweat keep the old one's in the glove box. The ones in my 2011 came out of my 97 (yes I had "E" spec lamps) when I sold it they got to be 8 years old now.

 

My truck had HID's installed in the stock housings when I bought it, and I HATE them, as soon as I can save up the $400 to do the retrofit, they will be gone.

The beam is all over they place, there is absolutely no cutoff and I think the visibility is worse than the stock headlights would be. The only advantage with them is the 6k bulbs light up street signs like christmas trees.

 

Got some more details?

 

http://www.vleds.com/led-headlights/h4-9003-hb2.html

The ones I got were 5000k and it looks like they have since changed to newer styles.

 

'More focused beam pattern'

Does this have a cut-off like an HID would or does it blind oncoming traffic? Do you have any night time pictures in your Tacoma?

 

After years of doing mods like this on my Subaru's and wife's old Acadia, almost always the novelty wore off quite quickly and the headaches began when things started to fail. I eventually ripped out the HID kit I had put in the wife's Acadia and went back to stock bulbs.

On my Tacoma, all I did was buy some better bulbs and am very happy!

 

this.

what bulbs did you end up using?