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Installing Morimoto HID Headlights - installation guide?

Discussion in '3rd Gen. Tacomas (2016-2023)' started by MGMTaco17, Jan 29, 2017.

  1. Feb 4, 2017 at 2:45 PM
    #21
    SkolChipz

    SkolChipz Well-Known Member

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    Anchorage, Alaska
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    LEDs, Snow, Dirt, Dogbed
    I have the 6500K 50W setup; I was going for 5500K white and supposedly you lose 1000K with the 50W ballasts. I noticed with the included rubber fittings that the bulbs were really difficult to rotate all the way, however I have not noticed any shaking at all. Just spitballing, but maybe some of you want to double-check that yours are rotated all the way? Both of mine are 90 degrees up-and-down.

    A lot of people on here may have seen the OPT7 LEDs as an option for the Lows, and that's what I replaced. I have opt7 6000K in the fogs, and the color of the Lows/DRLs/Fogs are all about an identical match. I think the brightness is about equal to before, but the morimotos have about twice the throw. Directly in the middle, I can see a bit of blue/purple along the top edge of the cut-off. I'll upload a picture when it's not high noon.
     
  2. Feb 4, 2017 at 4:57 PM
    #22
    MGMTaco17

    MGMTaco17 [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Orange County, CA
    Vehicle:
    2017 Tacoma DCSB TRD Sport
    2017 DCSB TRD Sport. TRD Pro Grille. Morimoto Elite 35W HID Headlights. Morimoto XB LED Fog Lights. Clazzio All Black Leather Seat Covers. 32" LED Light Bar Bumper Stealth Mount. BHLM. Raptor Light Kit. Leer 100R. Bilstein 6112/5100 set at 3rd notch. LT275/70-17 C-Load Hercules Terra Trac AT2. Bora .750" Wheel Spacers.
    Hey Jared,
    Ya I have to agree with you. Just got done installing the kit and can totally see the white/blue/purple transition. It was 4:30pm when I took this pic in my garage so it still pretty light out but you can clearly see the colors you're taking about. Going to see what they look like at night.

    IMG_9471.jpg
     
    SkolChipz[QUOTED] likes this.
  3. Feb 4, 2017 at 4:59 PM
    #23
    MGMTaco17

    MGMTaco17 [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Orange County, CA
    Vehicle:
    2017 Tacoma DCSB TRD Sport
    2017 DCSB TRD Sport. TRD Pro Grille. Morimoto Elite 35W HID Headlights. Morimoto XB LED Fog Lights. Clazzio All Black Leather Seat Covers. 32" LED Light Bar Bumper Stealth Mount. BHLM. Raptor Light Kit. Leer 100R. Bilstein 6112/5100 set at 3rd notch. LT275/70-17 C-Load Hercules Terra Trac AT2. Bora .750" Wheel Spacers.
    I ended up unbolting the windshield fluid reservoir to get my hand in there to turn the light in place. Great idea. Thanks for the advice. Worked easy
     
  4. Feb 4, 2017 at 5:03 PM
    #24
    MGMTaco17

    MGMTaco17 [OP] Well-Known Member

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    2017 Tacoma DCSB TRD Sport
    2017 DCSB TRD Sport. TRD Pro Grille. Morimoto Elite 35W HID Headlights. Morimoto XB LED Fog Lights. Clazzio All Black Leather Seat Covers. 32" LED Light Bar Bumper Stealth Mount. BHLM. Raptor Light Kit. Leer 100R. Bilstein 6112/5100 set at 3rd notch. LT275/70-17 C-Load Hercules Terra Trac AT2. Bora .750" Wheel Spacers.
    Hey Mike,
    Finished the install. Thanks for the idea on the brackets. I really didn't like the idea of drilling into the engine cab to make holes for the ballasts so I found preexisting holes and mounted off them. One hole had a nut welded on it so it worked out nicely.
    Used some 1/8" aluminum sheet, drew out two brackets, painted with black textured bed liner spray.

    IMG_9452.jpg
    IMG_9456.jpg
    IMG_9458.jpg
    IMG_9460.jpg
    IMG_9461.jpg
    IMG_9464.jpg
    IMG_9466.jpg
    IMG_9468.jpg
     
  5. Feb 4, 2017 at 5:23 PM
    #25
    mthopton

    mthopton Well-Known Member

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    Man... that looks GREAT! I need to step up my game. I see you mounted your passenger side on the same spot. I don't remember there being a hole with a nut on the back. I hated to drill two small holes also, but I can easily pop in a black rubber plug and it'll disappear if I need to remove, or redo the mounting point.

    Solid work man.
     
    MGMTaco17[QUOTED][OP] likes this.
  6. Feb 4, 2017 at 5:28 PM
    #26
    MGMTaco17

    MGMTaco17 [OP] Well-Known Member

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    2017 Tacoma DCSB TRD Sport
    2017 DCSB TRD Sport. TRD Pro Grille. Morimoto Elite 35W HID Headlights. Morimoto XB LED Fog Lights. Clazzio All Black Leather Seat Covers. 32" LED Light Bar Bumper Stealth Mount. BHLM. Raptor Light Kit. Leer 100R. Bilstein 6112/5100 set at 3rd notch. LT275/70-17 C-Load Hercules Terra Trac AT2. Bora .750" Wheel Spacers.
    Thanks! Ya the passenger side is mounted in the same spot as yours, which I got the idea from you. Worked great in that spot. The blue arrow points to an existing hole that was a clearance hole for an M8 bolt size. The red arrow was the hole that had a nut welded on the front side which was for an M6 size bolt. Both those two holes are preexisting in the engine cab.

    IMG_9466.jpg
     
    YDCtaco likes this.
  7. Feb 4, 2017 at 5:31 PM
    #27
    MGMTaco17

    MGMTaco17 [OP] Well-Known Member

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    2017 Tacoma DCSB TRD Sport
    2017 DCSB TRD Sport. TRD Pro Grille. Morimoto Elite 35W HID Headlights. Morimoto XB LED Fog Lights. Clazzio All Black Leather Seat Covers. 32" LED Light Bar Bumper Stealth Mount. BHLM. Raptor Light Kit. Leer 100R. Bilstein 6112/5100 set at 3rd notch. LT275/70-17 C-Load Hercules Terra Trac AT2. Bora .750" Wheel Spacers.
    Wait that's wrong. It's opposite actually lol. Red is clearance for M8, and blue is the hole with welded nut for M6 bolt.
     
  8. Feb 4, 2017 at 6:14 PM
    #28
    mthopton

    mthopton Well-Known Member

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    Awesome. I'm going to redo my setup and follow your lead. Looks great.
     
    MGMTaco17[QUOTED][OP] likes this.
  9. Feb 4, 2017 at 6:17 PM
    #29
    MGMTaco17

    MGMTaco17 [OP] Well-Known Member

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    2017 Tacoma DCSB TRD Sport
    2017 DCSB TRD Sport. TRD Pro Grille. Morimoto Elite 35W HID Headlights. Morimoto XB LED Fog Lights. Clazzio All Black Leather Seat Covers. 32" LED Light Bar Bumper Stealth Mount. BHLM. Raptor Light Kit. Leer 100R. Bilstein 6112/5100 set at 3rd notch. LT275/70-17 C-Load Hercules Terra Trac AT2. Bora .750" Wheel Spacers.
    Nice! Let me know if you need any help with pics or anything.
     
    mthopton[QUOTED] likes this.
  10. Feb 6, 2017 at 8:09 PM
    #30
    jake slatnick

    jake slatnick Well-Known Member

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    285/75r16 KO2's, Baja XL 80's on CBI ditch brackets, TRD intake, opticoat pro, clear bra running the bottom sides, morimoto LEDs, all white LEDs inside, mounted shovel and axe above wheel well in the bed, linex'd the bed...
    I'm going with the 50W ballast and want the light to be as white as possible. Which bulb should I go with?
     
  11. Feb 6, 2017 at 8:12 PM
    #31
    MGMTaco17

    MGMTaco17 [OP] Well-Known Member

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    2017 DCSB TRD Sport. TRD Pro Grille. Morimoto Elite 35W HID Headlights. Morimoto XB LED Fog Lights. Clazzio All Black Leather Seat Covers. 32" LED Light Bar Bumper Stealth Mount. BHLM. Raptor Light Kit. Leer 100R. Bilstein 6112/5100 set at 3rd notch. LT275/70-17 C-Load Hercules Terra Trac AT2. Bora .750" Wheel Spacers.
    I got the 35W 5500K and they look pure white to me. Didn't go with the 50W ballasts cuz I heard they can prematurely ruin your clear lenses, and also the warranty is less I believe 3yr instead of 5yr with the 35W ballasts
     
  12. Feb 6, 2017 at 8:13 PM
    #32
    MGMTaco17

    MGMTaco17 [OP] Well-Known Member

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    2017 Tacoma DCSB TRD Sport
    2017 DCSB TRD Sport. TRD Pro Grille. Morimoto Elite 35W HID Headlights. Morimoto XB LED Fog Lights. Clazzio All Black Leather Seat Covers. 32" LED Light Bar Bumper Stealth Mount. BHLM. Raptor Light Kit. Leer 100R. Bilstein 6112/5100 set at 3rd notch. LT275/70-17 C-Load Hercules Terra Trac AT2. Bora .750" Wheel Spacers.
    Pic for color reference compared to the DRLs

    IMG_9472.jpg
     
  13. Feb 6, 2017 at 8:24 PM
    #33
    an-T1

    an-T1 Well-Known Member

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    This is awesome... wish you would sell some to ppl who aren't handy... like me!
     
  14. Feb 6, 2017 at 8:29 PM
    #34
    MGMTaco17

    MGMTaco17 [OP] Well-Known Member

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    2017 Tacoma DCSB TRD Sport
    2017 DCSB TRD Sport. TRD Pro Grille. Morimoto Elite 35W HID Headlights. Morimoto XB LED Fog Lights. Clazzio All Black Leather Seat Covers. 32" LED Light Bar Bumper Stealth Mount. BHLM. Raptor Light Kit. Leer 100R. Bilstein 6112/5100 set at 3rd notch. LT275/70-17 C-Load Hercules Terra Trac AT2. Bora .750" Wheel Spacers.
    Thank you!
    I was actually thinking about making a batch of 10 or so, including all the socketcap bolts and hardware needed, wasn't sure if people would actually buy them? You interested?
     
  15. Feb 6, 2017 at 8:34 PM
    #35
    an-T1

    an-T1 Well-Known Member

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    I sure am interested... I was actually searching TW for install notes today and almost pulled the trigger on buying the lights... If ya make these I will surely buy! I put OPT7 LEDs in because its an easy plug and play install but I can't stand the blue color. Do you have a night shot of your lights?
     
  16. Feb 6, 2017 at 8:39 PM
    #36
    MGMTaco17

    MGMTaco17 [OP] Well-Known Member

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    2017 Tacoma DCSB TRD Sport
    2017 DCSB TRD Sport. TRD Pro Grille. Morimoto Elite 35W HID Headlights. Morimoto XB LED Fog Lights. Clazzio All Black Leather Seat Covers. 32" LED Light Bar Bumper Stealth Mount. BHLM. Raptor Light Kit. Leer 100R. Bilstein 6112/5100 set at 3rd notch. LT275/70-17 C-Load Hercules Terra Trac AT2. Bora .750" Wheel Spacers.
    Cool! I'm still thinking about it but I will keep you in mind when I do. I'll create a thread about them the brackets.
    That's the only picture I currently have with them on during the evening. I can post a picture tomorrow night if you want
     
    an-T1[QUOTED] likes this.
  17. Feb 6, 2017 at 9:49 PM
    #37
    jake slatnick

    jake slatnick Well-Known Member

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    285/75r16 KO2's, Baja XL 80's on CBI ditch brackets, TRD intake, opticoat pro, clear bra running the bottom sides, morimoto LEDs, all white LEDs inside, mounted shovel and axe above wheel well in the bed, linex'd the bed...
    thanks! maybe ill go with the 35 also... I wonder what a standard Audi or bmw headlight puts out in terms of lumens. I don't need to be the brightest vehicle on the road, just want to have a good quality. Have my Baja designs xl 80's mounted putting out 9,000 lumens to turn the road into daylight if I need it :)
     
  18. Feb 9, 2017 at 7:37 PM
    #38
    MGMTaco17

    MGMTaco17 [OP] Well-Known Member

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    2017 Tacoma DCSB TRD Sport
    2017 DCSB TRD Sport. TRD Pro Grille. Morimoto Elite 35W HID Headlights. Morimoto XB LED Fog Lights. Clazzio All Black Leather Seat Covers. 32" LED Light Bar Bumper Stealth Mount. BHLM. Raptor Light Kit. Leer 100R. Bilstein 6112/5100 set at 3rd notch. LT275/70-17 C-Load Hercules Terra Trac AT2. Bora .750" Wheel Spacers.
    Here are the night pics:

    IMG_9520.jpg
    IMG_9518.jpg
    IMG_9517.jpg
     
  19. Feb 9, 2017 at 8:14 PM
    #39
    an-T1

    an-T1 Well-Known Member

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    yes that is the white i'm aiming for... purchasing tomorrow thanks again!
     
    MGMTaco17[OP] likes this.
  20. May 2, 2017 at 8:17 AM
    #40
    MGMTaco17

    MGMTaco17 [OP] Well-Known Member

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    2017 Tacoma DCSB TRD Sport
    2017 DCSB TRD Sport. TRD Pro Grille. Morimoto Elite 35W HID Headlights. Morimoto XB LED Fog Lights. Clazzio All Black Leather Seat Covers. 32" LED Light Bar Bumper Stealth Mount. BHLM. Raptor Light Kit. Leer 100R. Bilstein 6112/5100 set at 3rd notch. LT275/70-17 C-Load Hercules Terra Trac AT2. Bora .750" Wheel Spacers.
    @Gooney look at these
     

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