Projector retrofits worth it or put the $$ into suspension?

I've been thinking about doing a retrofit for a few months now but can't seem to bring myself to drop $500+ on headlights when mine are perfectly fine and match all the other OEM lights on the truck. I also want to do Kings and dakars at some point and that's another 500 or so I could put into the suspension.

What do you think? Headlights or just put it towards suspension down the road? I've got 5100s and blocks right now.

I should add that I do a decent bit of night driving. I live in rural NorCal so I don't know if the beam from the projectors would help or hurt me as far as seeing animals.

 

you do understand you answered your own question right?

 

If you lived in the dark north I would say projectors, but the answer is already in your post.

Go big, get a nice suspension and enjoy the ride.

 

Follow your heart my brotha...

 

It's your money but if decide to start polling, my vote is for suspension.

 

^ I’m with him on this. @Ccrames2018

 

Yeah, but since I haven't had projectors before I don't know if maybe they are way brighter than the halogens and I just don't see it in videos that well.

 

Put the money in the suspension.

 

Don’t waste money on rice when you can buy grit.

 

Well said haha. I'm trying to decide between King and Fox now because Fox is barely more than I can get Kings on the ongoing group buy thread, and they have high and low speed adjustability.

 

Do both, just do the ultimate headlight upgrade.

Extremely happy with mine and that’s coming from my previous TL with clear lenses and CBI bulbs.

 

Here you go btw,

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/the-ultimate-headlight-upgrade-h4-not-led-or-hid.398066/

 

Is your truck paid off?

If not, pay it off before spending money on derpy headlights.

 

since your also in candada where did you get the harness from for the upgrade?

 

I'll have to look into this

 

Yeah I paid cash for it

 

Got it locally off of a member here.

At least this way, you upgraded your headlights performance and still have money to do your suspension.

 

This is a tough one to decide. Here are a couple considerations for the retrofit.

-Are your current headlights Toyota OEM or aftermarket replacements? The reason this is important is that aftermarket replacements (even factory looking ones) have poor optics by comparison to OEM assemblies.
---If they are OEM then the "Ultimate Headlight Upgrade" would be very good for cheap.
---If they are aftermarket then a Projector Retrofit is your best option. I would go for the Morimoto MLED 2.0 or G5-BRT. The MLED 2.0 is massively upgraded over the 1.0 and is on par with the best HID setups.

Something else to think about is if you drive in snow a lot a retrofit will not keep the lenses cleaned off (from ice and snow accumulation) as well as a halogen.

 

Projector retrofits hardly cost half as much as you think! A good kit from morimoto will run you around $250. If you want to go cheapy, there are $40 2.5" retrofits on Amazon that are much better than halogen housings.

All you need is some time and patience. They are easy to install and the hardest part is taking apart the headlight. The retrofit literally screws into place, you need to re aim them to be level and then throw the shroud on and reseal.

 

The other advantage to retrofit is style...if you like that sort of thing. Your options are as good as your imagination and budget! haha

This is my setup. RX350 EU with clear lens swap, Osram Nightbreaker Unlimited bulbs, Hella Gen III ballasts, Turbine shrouds and Profile halos. The headlight bezel and projector shroud is painted a GM metallic black, if I were to do it again I wouldn't go with a fancy paint like I did, you can't really see the metallic much.

Currently I have it wired so only the amber on the halo's are on. I feel like the white light is a little overplayed and it blends well with the driving lights.

DRL on, Halo blinks with blinkers as well.



Low beam with blinker on.



Low beam with blinker off.



Wall shot about 80'-100' away. Low beam only, no fog lights on.