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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. Mar 20, 2018 at 3:42 PM
    #1161
    crashnburn80

    crashnburn80 [OP] Vehicle Design Engineer

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    Gotcha, didn’t realize you had new non-TSB OEM assemblies.
     
  2. Mar 20, 2018 at 3:44 PM
    #1162
    Superman910

    Superman910 Epic Dirty

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    Yeah it's a long drama filled event with a dealer ship but I got hooked up with an oem set for 50bucks
     
  3. Mar 21, 2018 at 10:28 AM
    #1163
    kek413

    kek413 New Member

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    Back on the thread again, finally decided to pull the trigger on this upgrade. Ordered the housings, wiring harness and 6 of the Osram bulbs. I was poking around a bit to see what folks had been saying recently and noticed that folks are going with the cheaper harness now, in hindsight, I should've done this before I ordered the more expensive harness. I don't think rally lights has built my hearness yet (order is still pending), should I cancel and order the other harness?

    Thanks!
     
    MattCowsmasher likes this.
  4. Mar 21, 2018 at 10:47 AM
    #1164
    jet123

    jet123 Well-Known Member

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    Update to my upgrade (Headlight Service harness + Osram 80w/85w (now discontinued) bulb)...

    I was getting flashed about every 20 cars (seemed to be sedans, not SUVs or trucks). I rechecked my hot spot / alignment at 24ft of distance and it still was where I adjusted it to - about 1" below bulb height in the housing. I since lowered to about 2" below bulb height and no flashing since. With this new adjustment, both my low & high beam performance is great and I can't tell an honest difference from being about 1" below bulb height.
     
    G.T. likes this.
  5. Mar 21, 2018 at 10:53 AM
    #1165
    crashnburn80

    crashnburn80 [OP] Vehicle Design Engineer

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    Couldn’t hurt to try if you wanted to. The Headlight Services harness is just as good if not better as it uses real German Relays vs German brand Hella relays now made in China that are on the Rallylights Harness.
     
  6. Mar 21, 2018 at 11:00 AM
    #1166
    crashnburn80

    crashnburn80 [OP] Vehicle Design Engineer

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    Is your truck leveled by chance?
     
    MattCowsmasher likes this.
  7. Mar 21, 2018 at 11:08 AM
    #1167
    MattCowsmasher

    MattCowsmasher ( -_・)ᡕᠵ᠊ᡃ່࡚ࠢ࠘⸝່ࠡࠣ᠊߯᠆ࠣ࠘ᡁࠣ࠘᠊᠊ࠢ࠘

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    If you already spent the money I wouldn’t. When I ordered mine came within a week but for a cousin his took about 2 weeks. The harness from rally lights is super high quality.
     
  8. Mar 21, 2018 at 12:05 PM
    #1168
    Toy4me

    Toy4me Well-Known Member

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    If you can why not and save yourself some money. Great communication from Headlight Services, and possibly a better product. I ordered my fog light harness from Rally Lights and got no order confirmation, no shipping confirmation - it just showed up a few weeks later.

    As quoted from the op above, the Headlight Services harness might be better. And I can confirm better communication.
     
  9. Mar 21, 2018 at 3:10 PM
    #1169
    jet123

    jet123 Well-Known Member

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    @crashnburn80

    2013 TRD Sport / oem suspension (no TSB/recall on springs) / P265-70-17
    The truck looks level to the eye (no tacoma lean, no ass-high, no front high)
    I believe my headlight bulb height is 38" installed. At 24ft back from my garage wall (driveway is flat and level with garage floor, to the naked eye), both headlight 'hotspots' are at 36" in height. The horizontal adjustment measures fine. I also had my my wife drive the truck while I approached her in a stock 2013 4Runner and on my KTM 990. In both tests, I wouldn't have had reason to flash my lights at her.

    oem bulbs + oem harness + 37" hotspot height = rarely if ever was flashed
    Volsa +100 (stock wattage) + oem harness + 37" hotspot height (no adjustment to vertical / horizontal from all oem before putting these bulbs in) = rarely if ever was flashed
    Osram Hyper 85/80w 2400 lumen H4s + Headlight Services harness + 37" hotspot height= getting flashed about every 20/30 cars (early I said 20, likely was a bit more) - almost all sedans.

    Current:
    Osram Hyper 85/80w 2400 lumen H4s + Headlight Services harness + 36" hotspot height. I still need to go test this adjustment and see if the flashing is reduced.
     
    crashnburn80[OP] likes this.
  10. Mar 21, 2018 at 9:53 PM
    #1170
    jet123

    jet123 Well-Known Member

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    Granted, it may be a case of someone not liking the overall brightness level...not necessarily the aiming of that brightness.
     
    Norton and Rick_Taco like this.
  11. Mar 22, 2018 at 2:40 AM
    #1171
    replica9000

    replica9000 Das ist no bueno

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    Why not an aftermarket flasher instead of resistors?
     
    Muddinfun likes this.
  12. Mar 31, 2018 at 8:10 AM
    #1172
    jsucraig

    jsucraig Well-Known Member

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    Mudflaps removed, MESO LED Interior lights, 886 Fog Lamps for Reverse Halogens, Redline Tuning Hood Struts, Garmin Dashcam 20, 17X8 Chrome Helo HE791 MAXX Wheels, Cooper Discoverer AT3 265/70R17, JBL Speakers, JL Sub, and Alpine & Memphis Amps, mattgecko LED Bed Light & Under Hood Kit, Truxedo Low Pro QT Tonneau Cover, OEM Bed Mat
    Has the price on the Headlight Services harness gone up to $89.50? I was going to place my order so I added it to the cart. When it redirected me to PayPal one was already there from a previous cart addition. The first was $84.50 and the second was $89.50. Can anyone confirm that these are the same harness?
    This is what the descriptions are:
    Premium-Plus Headlamp Wiring Harness for conventionally SWITCHED POWER vehicles with two H4 lamps

    $84.50

    +5 Premium-Plus Headlamp Wiring Harness

    $89.50

    Edit: Which would be the better bulb choice as far as output: Osram 100/90 from Rally Lights or the Phillips Racing Vision 150%?
     
    Last edited: Mar 31, 2018
  13. Mar 31, 2018 at 12:53 PM
    #1173
    crashnburn80

    crashnburn80 [OP] Vehicle Design Engineer

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    Unsure on the possible price increase, but it is still a very reasonably priced product given the quality.

    The Osram 100/90s will put out significantly more light, the Philips are a high efficiency more precise bulb to project light further.
     
  14. Mar 31, 2018 at 1:14 PM
    #1174
    jsucraig

    jsucraig Well-Known Member

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    Oh, I agree on the price. It still is a reasonable price.

    Then I would go with the Philips to see further down the road using Low Beams in the morning.

    Thanks for the reply.
     
  15. Apr 3, 2018 at 1:33 PM
    #1175
    APynckel

    APynckel Well-Known Member

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    Bakflip MX4 Tonneau Cover XenonDepot ExtremeHID w/ Phillips bulbs
    Should be getting my new TRD OR 4x4 this weekend, looking into good upgrades for it. I do a lot of driving during hunting season, and seeing those pesky bucks before they ruin my truck is something I'm keen on investing into.

    I read the first post, but it was more geared to a 2nd gen..

    With a 2018 headlamp, what would be necessary? The same parts? Are there any key differences?
     
  16. Apr 3, 2018 at 4:21 PM
    #1176
    BenMara

    BenMara That Asian RedNeck

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    Yep your in the 2nd Gen forum

    Your looking for this thread
    https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...-upgrade-not-led-or-hid.475064/#post-14386437
     
    crashnburn80[OP] likes this.
  17. Apr 3, 2018 at 4:22 PM
    #1177
    APynckel

    APynckel Well-Known Member

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  18. Apr 4, 2018 at 2:08 PM
    #1178
    TheFang

    TheFang No Big Deal

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    Great write up, thank you OP. Installed and loving it.
     
    crashnburn80[OP] likes this.
  19. Apr 5, 2018 at 10:45 AM
    #1179
    4for1

    4for1 Well-Known Member

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    Bulbs ordered, need harness. Question: I have a 2009 PreRunner v6 dbl cab: anyone know if my truck has "conventionally switched wiring" ? I don't have a multi-meter so I thought I'd ask before I buy one to run the test CrashBurn posted....

    Thanks !
     
  20. Apr 5, 2018 at 10:51 AM
    #1180
    crashnburn80

    crashnburn80 [OP] Vehicle Design Engineer

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    I’d highly expect you to be conveniently switched. But if you’d like, PM me your address and i’ll send you a multimeter for free.
     
    Biscuits likes this.

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