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The ultimate headlight upgrade H4 (not LED or HID)

Discussion in '2nd Gen. Tacomas (2005-2015)' started by crashnburn80, Oct 27, 2015.

  1. Jan 6, 2018 at 12:40 PM
    #901
    Unchained 5150

    Unchained 5150 Rick

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    Was that for the Fog Light Upgrade?
     
  2. Jan 6, 2018 at 12:42 PM
    #902
    crashnburn80

    crashnburn80 [OP] Vehicle Design Engineer

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    Yep. Harnesses everywhere. Now I need one for my reverse lights.
     
  3. Jan 6, 2018 at 12:43 PM
    #903
    Toy4me

    Toy4me Well-Known Member

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    I'm thinking yes, another reason I don't want to work in the cold - don't want to crack any brittle plastic. I'd be really bummed at myself if I did.
     
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  4. Jan 6, 2018 at 12:43 PM
    #904
    Unchained 5150

    Unchained 5150 Rick

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    You did the Headlight one on top of the radiator correct?
     
  5. Jan 6, 2018 at 12:44 PM
    #905
    crashnburn80

    crashnburn80 [OP] Vehicle Design Engineer

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    Correct, under the radiator shroud.
     
  6. Jan 6, 2018 at 12:45 PM
    #906
    Unchained 5150

    Unchained 5150 Rick

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    Just waiting on a little warm up
     
  7. Jan 6, 2018 at 8:05 PM
    #907
    crashnburn80

    crashnburn80 [OP] Vehicle Design Engineer

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    These 2 bulbs are end of life, meaning their companion bulb has burned out. Bulbs should always be replaced in pairs as bulbs dim 20%+ over their lifetime. These 2 bulbs are the surviving bulb after the other one burnt out.

    Hyper 85/80w left, 100/90w right
    DF1BF1F9-9F3C-47AA-90EC-90AF830F101B.jpg

    I was messing with the aiming so the driver is a bit low. Not only is the Hyper noticeably brighter in low beam with a better hot spot, it is noticeably whiter.

    I’m swapping back to the 85/80w Hypers.
     
    303tacoma, Norton and lpfe42 like this.
  8. Jan 6, 2018 at 9:35 PM
    #908
    crashnburn80

    crashnburn80 [OP] Vehicle Design Engineer

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    We did a headlight tune up on a late model 1st gen this evening. The OEM headlights were in poor condition due to life in the Arizona sun. Swapped the badly hazed headlights for new CAPA Depo units + Volsa +100 bulbs. No harness.

    Old headlights and bulbs left, CAPAs and Volsas right (beam still needed aiming)
    AF3D51F1-4860-4828-8CDB-6B6C53BE8BE9.jpg

    Before reading:
    D9645D58-3B17-455E-8281-EDABE8AE1B9B.jpg

    After reading:6BCE4874-4AAE-4BCF-A71A-2A28230F4F7C.jpg

    A 2.6x+ improvement by just keeping things in good operating condition and using stock wattage performance bulbs.
     
    kumaWRX, BenMara and Norton like this.
  9. Jan 6, 2018 at 9:55 PM
    #909
    TacoLou

    TacoLou Member

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    Tail lights and interior lights so far but I'm looking to go LEDs all the way around. I like the hood light strip and I'm considering it.
    Sir, this thread is to long to be able to read through whole thing but I'm interested in doing this upgrade cause I think it would save me a lot of money over switching over to a whole different set up but my head light assemblies are badly hazed over, what brand assemblies would you recommend for 2nd Gen? I'd like to go with the black face with the clear cover not the smoke or anything. Thanks.
     
  10. Jan 6, 2018 at 10:49 PM
    #910
    crashnburn80

    crashnburn80 [OP] Vehicle Design Engineer

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    There are no OEM equivalent or CAPA black headlights. The closest is the black chrome Pro lights I linked. If you’d like black assembly headlights, the popular option is Depo brand lights or taking the OEM assemblies apart and painting the surround black before gluing it back together in what is known as the BHLM.
     
    Norton likes this.
  11. Jan 7, 2018 at 12:21 AM
    #911
    crashnburn80

    crashnburn80 [OP] Vehicle Design Engineer

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    Volsa +100 vs Philips Xtreme +130

    While swapping to new CAPA headlights with Volsa +100 bulbs on a late model 1st Gen, I thought I would be a good opportunity to throw in the best bulbs from Philips and Osram for comparison to see if Volsa is really worth it.

    I picked up a set of the latest Philips Xtreme +130s but unfortunately I wasn’t able to get the Osram Nightbreaker Laser +130 in time for the mod day. However many sites have documented they are equivalent to the Philips, with possibly Philips having the edge. But I haven’t seen any compare either Osram or Philips go to the new Volsas.

    Philips left vs Volsa right
    AF95FC87-CC22-4651-A403-CC2CC215E9D8.jpg

    No this is not some weird angle, the Volsa bulb capsule is freakishly massive.

    You can see differences in the proximity tinting, Philips left vs Volsa right
    2CF886B2-1B01-4041-9D87-CC90C534C5D1.jpg

    Measuring output in new Depo CAPA 1st gen assemblies:
    Volsa +100
    8CEE73A7-7FF5-45B2-A363-608B6A7822A6.jpg

    Philips Xtreme +130
    4FF69650-FEB9-44F2-90CC-7E033575E2E1.jpg

    With a reading within less than 3% of each other on a tool being used freehand with a paint stick, I’d consider the readings about the same.

    Philips left vs Volsa right
    B8185891-7F20-4205-8875-6E02F093CC84.jpg

    A little hard to tell in the photo, but the Philips appeared to have a slightly larger hot spot and was a bit whiter in light color.

    In the end after comparing side-by-side and taking a few test drives, the owner selected the Philips and saved the Volsas for spares.
     
  12. Jan 7, 2018 at 8:51 AM
    #912
    Toy4me

    Toy4me Well-Known Member

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    Should you run 886 or 887 coils with the Volsas?
     
  13. Jan 7, 2018 at 8:53 AM
    #913
    Unchained 5150

    Unchained 5150 Rick

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    11201914_10205374631472957_2782493175237617685_n.jpg
     
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  14. Jan 7, 2018 at 8:56 AM
    #914
    Norton

    Norton Senior Member

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    Welcome to TW, Louie! With all due respect, you're missing the point of a forum/thread like this. While just about every thread has a bit of BS in it, many (like this one) are tremendously educational, for those who take the time to learn. Reading is part of that process. While not a specific brand, the OP's advice regarding aftermarket headlights is in the first post and restated several times throughout:
    @crashnburn80 (and other OPs) have spent countless hours researching, documenting, and answering questions in multiple threads like this. If you really don't have time to learn and understand the wealth of information, please respect OPs' contributions by at least leveraging the Search function to pull/scan their posts. Doing so will likely answer MOST of your questions with a minimal investment of time.
     
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  15. Jan 7, 2018 at 9:03 AM
    #915
    Toy4me

    Toy4me Well-Known Member

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    The Volsa bulbs are huge so...
     
  16. Jan 7, 2018 at 9:42 AM
    #916
    crashnburn80

    crashnburn80 [OP] Vehicle Design Engineer

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    Stay with OEM options and run the 650lb Bajas.

    I took it to mean it all the pages of the thread.

    @TacoLou I try to put all relevant info in the original post and update it when new relevant info becomes available, so you don’t need to dig through all the pages and read everything.

    I’ll be updating the original post to link to the last couple posts above regarding Volsa vs Philips for example so the information is easy to find.
     
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  17. Jan 7, 2018 at 10:39 AM
    #917
    303tacoma

    303tacoma Bad Karma is a Bitch

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    Where are you purchasing the 85/80 from?? Rallylights?
    I searched powerbulbs for them, either I missed them or they don’t carry them.:notsure:
     
  18. Jan 7, 2018 at 11:20 AM
    #918
    Toy4me

    Toy4me Well-Known Member

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    Candlepower.com. http://store.candlepower.com/64206.html $40/pr w/free shipping.
     
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  19. Jan 7, 2018 at 11:21 AM
    #919
    Unchained 5150

    Unchained 5150 Rick

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  20. Jan 7, 2018 at 11:25 AM
    #920
    Toy4me

    Toy4me Well-Known Member

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    You might have bought different ones but not the wrong ones. 303 asked about the 85/80 so that's what I linked.
     

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