The ultimate headlight upgrade H4 (not LED or HID)

You use the driver side female headlight plug (plugs harness to bulb) to plug the male harness connector into. You then use the female harness connectors to plug in the headlights. You will still need the factory relays in place.

 

Oooohhhh. Gotcha. Doh!

 

I'm assuming all 2015 Tacoma's are the same so I would need the HL28200 harness? Have you re aimed your headlights? I'm lifted with 885 coils and occasionally get high beamed and I'm running Piaa Night Tech bulbs, but I haven't re aimed my lights.

 

That is likely a safe assumption, so yes HL28200.

Since I swapped my headlight housings, I had to reaim, but I just resumed to the stock setting. My front is lifted 1.75" and the rear 1.5., so there was not a significant rake change. I don't get flashed, even with my high power lights. If you did more of a leveling lift, that could be a problem. Adjusting the cut off horizon down is very simple, just one adjustment bolt/screw (don't recall which) on the headlight body.

 

Dielectric grease necessary or no?

 

i guess ill be changing my bulbs soon and save 1k on a retrofit great write up!

 

I finally installed the harness this weekend. Here is the side by side shot, the harness on the left and factory on the right. I don't know if I can tell a huge difference although the right shot isn't focused and both were taken with my phone. This is with the factory bulbs.


And the mounting bracket I made using plexiglass.

 

What's the 'push button' like switch beside your mounting bracket.

The left is brighter, not sure by how much though. Enough to tell the difference though.

 

I can tell a difference. It's not much but I'm sure there is more of a difference in person. I just ordered my harness this morning. Hopefully I'll have it before thanksgiving. I still haven't picked out my bulbs yet but I'm thinking I'm going with the osram 70/65w.

I did this same style upgrade with my old '01 Cherokee. It made a huge difference with new harness and new (brighter) headlights. I'm looking forward to seeing how this turns out.

 

That is a piezo buzzer from Radio Shack. Wired up to make the truck beep when locking & unlocking it with keyless entry.

That's the bulb I went with. I installed those yesterday and haven't taken any night pictures yet.

 

Oh ok. So now with those bulbs and harness, how do you think it compares to the factory setup?

 

It's definitely brighter but I haven't driven it at night yet (just dusk) to tell exactly how much. I'll try and get some pictures tonight once it's really dark.

 

Sweet! Looking forward to seeing pics of that setup.

 

The improvement there is noticeable for stock bulbs compared to stock bulbs. The improvement becomes substantially more noticeable when you up the wattage with better bulbs.

Also where did you get your harness? Those are not the Hella relays that come in the harness I used.

 

It isn't something I've ever worried about for headlights. I did get some grease transfer by plugging my harness into my stock lights before plugging them into the new lights. They lubed the connectors up with copious amounts from the factory.

 

I got the harness kit from Daniel Stern. It comes with everything except the wire. You have to put it together yourself. Everything was top notch quality. I've never heard of Flosser before either but it's German. The relay holders were Hella I believe.

 

Why 70/65 and 85/80?

 

Here's the aftermath. This is the build it yourself Daniel Stern kit with Osram 70/65w bulbs using 12ga wire. This is low beam without fog lights on. A very noticeable difference.



This is a screenshot showing side by side. Harness and new bulbs on left, harness and OEM bulbs on right.


Just a reminder these were taken with my camera phone. It doesn't have the best camera especially in low light.

 

Wow, amazing how the new set up on the left actually improves the OEM coverage of the right.

 

I see what you're saying now. Definitely. Although I'm sure my truck isn't in the exact same spot.