1. Welcome to Tacoma World!

    You are currently viewing as a guest! To get full-access, you need to register for a FREE account.

    As a registered member, you’ll be able to:
    • Participate in all Tacoma discussion topics
    • Communicate privately with other Tacoma owners from around the world
    • Post your own photos in our Members Gallery
    • Access all special features of the site

3rd Gen HID vs LED vs Halogen H11 projector headlights

Discussion in '3rd Gen. Tacomas (2016-2023)' started by crashnburn80, Jan 25, 2019.

  1. Nov 9, 2020 at 12:18 PM
    #3601
    daveeasa

    daveeasa FBC Harness Solutions Vendor

    Joined:
    May 14, 2020
    Member:
    #328079
    Messages:
    6,733
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    David
    PNW
    Vehicle:
    2016 Tacoma OR DCSB 6MT, 2005 RC 5MT PreRunner, 2002 Tundra SR5 RCLB 4x4
    I tried to aim my OEM LED headlights last night and get some photos. Aiming is a little challenging. The spot I thought of wasn’t terrible but it wasn’t perfect either. Finding perfectly flat space near a wall is hard, everything is built for water to drain.

    BBBC9276-F75A-403D-B3B5-A05575EACD83.jpg
    6A08BBA6-A78C-46D4-8E82-20D1ECEEE650.jpg
     

    Attached Files:

    Last edited: Nov 9, 2020
  2. Nov 9, 2020 at 12:29 PM
    #3602
    mynameistory

    mynameistory My member is well known

    Joined:
    Jul 3, 2012
    Member:
    #81862
    Messages:
    1,041
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Tory
    Redondo Beach, CA
    Vehicle:
    4Runner
    Here's a few shots of the Alpharex Nova and Luxx headlights for the 5th gen 4Runner. They appear to be... terrible. The Nova is all near-field and the Luxx high beams are all over the place. The thread is over here on the 4Runner forum- not as precise as Crash data but decent comparative photos. [​IMG]
    [​IMG]

    Low beam cutoff and high beam hotspots of the Luxx posted by another member:
    8b5d3f437a50f61b6b994f9f5c36ae78_bc5b6b12e032453ed32bc83526b7a5e775bfa611.jpg
    dfee1eee6b624afb10be5cdab01f94ad_9fb12c84474ce762e300b10e580825eb51018b81.jpg
     
  3. Nov 9, 2020 at 4:03 PM
    #3603
    Toy_Runner

    Toy_Runner Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Nov 19, 2019
    Member:
    #311172
    Messages:
    765
    Gender:
    Male
    Vehicle:
    99 4Runner SR5
    3" OME lift, heavy coils f/r 3/16" steel skids Modified Coastal Offroad diy bumper 5spd swap ('98 donor)
    Are the highbeams independently aimable? That tree top spotter needs some looking at.
     
    GarlicFarts and crashnburn80[OP] like this.
  4. Nov 9, 2020 at 4:13 PM
    #3604
    crashnburn80

    crashnburn80 [OP] Vehicle Design Engineer

    Joined:
    Jun 6, 2015
    Member:
    #156893
    Messages:
    14,563
    Gender:
    Male
    Kirkland, WA
    Vehicle:
    2003 DCSB TRD OR
    Go Hawks!
    Welcome to the forum! There isn't an available standalone harness for 3rd Gen. The H4 + HD harness is for 2nd Gen. The best performing option for the halogen projectors for 3rd Gen is the Philips H9 low beam swap. Some use an adapter harness so they don't have to modify the bulb base, but I would just trim the internal plastic tab to fit. If interested in the best performing H11s, that would be the GE Nighthawk Xenon +120 (almost impossible to find now) followed very closely by the GE/Tungsram Megalight +130. Measured peak output comparisons are in post #2 of this thread.
     
    xxTacocaTxx likes this.
  5. Nov 9, 2020 at 4:42 PM
    #3605
    tclavell

    tclavell Assistant to the Assistant Manager

    Joined:
    Aug 7, 2020
    Member:
    #336897
    Messages:
    10,947
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Troy
    Phoenix, AZ
    Vehicle:
    2022 JL
    Can you confirm these are the mysterious bulbs? If so, they are in stock below?
    https://www.walmart.com/ip/Tungsram...8UKcJPBIYoJK7x-c1R1MWEB30OoUq1wsaAhDjEALw_wcB
     
    Swervin Ervin and daveeasa like this.
  6. Nov 9, 2020 at 4:46 PM
    #3606
    crashnburn80

    crashnburn80 [OP] Vehicle Design Engineer

    Joined:
    Jun 6, 2015
    Member:
    #156893
    Messages:
    14,563
    Gender:
    Male
    Kirkland, WA
    Vehicle:
    2003 DCSB TRD OR
    Go Hawks!
    I might have access to a pair of the Nova series headlights from a local member to get some comparative data, but it is pretty safe to say these are poorly engineered products that should be avoided.

    Yeah it looks really bad, high beams are not supposed to be independently aimable. I believe if they are it violates a compliance standard.

    Those are them! Nice find. :thumbsup: The +130s are slightly whiter, but the +120s are slightly higher in peak output. Those Xenon +120s are the highest performing H11 available.
     
    Last edited: Nov 9, 2020
  7. Nov 9, 2020 at 4:50 PM
    #3607
    tclavell

    tclavell Assistant to the Assistant Manager

    Joined:
    Aug 7, 2020
    Member:
    #336897
    Messages:
    10,947
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Troy
    Phoenix, AZ
    Vehicle:
    2022 JL
    Order placed. Thank you!!
     
  8. Nov 9, 2020 at 9:06 PM
    #3608
    Toy_Runner

    Toy_Runner Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Nov 19, 2019
    Member:
    #311172
    Messages:
    765
    Gender:
    Male
    Vehicle:
    99 4Runner SR5
    3" OME lift, heavy coils f/r 3/16" steel skids Modified Coastal Offroad diy bumper 5spd swap ('98 donor)
    Snip...

    That was my understanding as well... at least if they are then that guy has a chance to fix the aim. If not, that's fucky.
     
  9. Nov 9, 2020 at 9:12 PM
    #3609
    crashnburn80

    crashnburn80 [OP] Vehicle Design Engineer

    Joined:
    Jun 6, 2015
    Member:
    #156893
    Messages:
    14,563
    Gender:
    Male
    Kirkland, WA
    Vehicle:
    2003 DCSB TRD OR
    Go Hawks!
    It is really technically fuckery either way.
     
    907rx7 and Toy_Runner[QUOTED] like this.
  10. Nov 9, 2020 at 11:56 PM
    #3610
    907rx7

    907rx7 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jul 1, 2019
    Member:
    #298028
    Messages:
    1,695
    First Name:
    James
    Vehicle:
    '20 Tacoma DCSB SR 4x4
    download.jpg
     
  11. Nov 10, 2020 at 10:49 AM
    #3611
    ownubad

    ownubad Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Dec 15, 2016
    Member:
    #204934
    Messages:
    235
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Cory
    Vehicle:
    2017 Silver Sky OR
    Drop in AFE Pro Dry Filter Inchannel Vent Visors Bedlinered Rear bumper and plastic flares
    https://drive.google.com/file/d/1sd5ZR1GEKq_d7YZRrFRXk2kzR31Be5rq/view?usp=drivesdk
    Speaking of leds and ice build up. First time with leds in my headlights this year, I ran hids for last couple years. Here's a quick look at my headlights. I have some cheap ceramic coating on my heads as well. Doesn't seem to help a ton but the whole projector isn't covered. Some of it must be getting warm or I got lucky on the foggy drive. No complaints on the drive home. I still saw enough driving home! #canadian
     
  12. Nov 10, 2020 at 11:17 AM
    #3612
    ownubad

    ownubad Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Dec 15, 2016
    Member:
    #204934
    Messages:
    235
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Cory
    Vehicle:
    2017 Silver Sky OR
    Drop in AFE Pro Dry Filter Inchannel Vent Visors Bedlinered Rear bumper and plastic flares
    Flatland saskatchewan!
     
    Boghog1[QUOTED] likes this.
  13. Nov 10, 2020 at 7:58 PM
    #3613
    MikeyMcFly

    MikeyMcFly This is heavy, Doc.

    Joined:
    Aug 11, 2012
    Member:
    #84551
    Messages:
    5,959
    Gender:
    Male
    I'm a Masshole
    Vehicle:
    2016 TRD Off-Road 6MT / 1999 Corvette 6MT
    Building a Broja
    I need to suck it up and find a place to do this. I love my lights, but I'm curious on aim. With the sharp cutoff, if the road is slightly sloped, I lose a ton of distance and feel like if I bumped them up a smidge, I'd see so much further, but without a reference point, I don't want to needlessly blind people, either.
     
    Boghog1 and daveeasa[QUOTED] like this.
  14. Nov 12, 2020 at 7:56 AM
    #3614
    Swizz

    Swizz Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Sep 28, 2019
    Member:
    #306542
    Messages:
    88
    Gender:
    Male
    Vehicle:
    19 TRD OR DC
    I recently completed the modified h9 bulb swap and really don’t notice much of a difference. I used the Osram standard high performance bulbs.

    Has anyone had to go in and aim the headlights from the factory default?
     
  15. Nov 12, 2020 at 9:20 AM
    #3615
    Toy_Runner

    Toy_Runner Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Nov 19, 2019
    Member:
    #311172
    Messages:
    765
    Gender:
    Male
    Vehicle:
    99 4Runner SR5
    3" OME lift, heavy coils f/r 3/16" steel skids Modified Coastal Offroad diy bumper 5spd swap ('98 donor)
    You should check the aim of your lamps based on how your vehicle is typically loaded anyway. There is no legal requirement for the manufacturer or the dealer properly aim vehicles headlamps prior to a customer taking delivery of a vehicle.

    http://www.danielsternlighting.com/tech/aim/aim.html
     
  16. Nov 12, 2020 at 10:35 AM
    #3616
    GarlicFarts

    GarlicFarts Bang Ding Ow

    Joined:
    Dec 12, 2019
    Member:
    #313138
    Messages:
    11,253
    Gender:
    Male
    Lil Rhody
    Vehicle:
    2020 White DCSB TRD OR
    SOS bolt-on sliders In-cab sleeping platform J-Dub IFS Skid
    Now, that would surprise me if they didn't have to do anything. There's gotta be DOT and state inspection requirements that have to be followed at delivery.
     
  17. Nov 12, 2020 at 10:38 AM
    #3617
    Swizz

    Swizz Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Sep 28, 2019
    Member:
    #306542
    Messages:
    88
    Gender:
    Male
    Vehicle:
    19 TRD OR DC
    I understand not wanting to blind people but in this case Id also like to be able to keep the truck on the road.
     
  18. Nov 12, 2020 at 11:08 AM
    #3618
    Toy_Runner

    Toy_Runner Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Nov 19, 2019
    Member:
    #311172
    Messages:
    765
    Gender:
    Male
    Vehicle:
    99 4Runner SR5
    3" OME lift, heavy coils f/r 3/16" steel skids Modified Coastal Offroad diy bumper 5spd swap ('98 donor)
    I haven't read every states lighting codes, so I guess I need to qualify my statement: I have yet to see a clear cut requirement for a dealer or manufacturer to ensure legal aim for headlamps prior to a customer taking possession of a vehicle.

    Additionally, headlight aim should not be treated as a static condition. While you should aim your vehicles headlights based on typical loading (typical #of passengers, 1/2 tank fuel, typical cargo load) you should also check and adjust their aim when you have exceeded these typical loads (e.g. taking a long drive with lots of cargo, towing, etc) or have changed the vehicles ride height in some way (addition of a lift, new tires, etc etc). And obviously if you have changed aone characteristic of the lampa themselves.

    A shop that has a certified aiming machine would be best, but daniel stern has an excellent article barring that.
     
  19. Nov 12, 2020 at 4:02 PM
    #3619
    crashnburn80

    crashnburn80 [OP] Vehicle Design Engineer

    Joined:
    Jun 6, 2015
    Member:
    #156893
    Messages:
    14,563
    Gender:
    Male
    Kirkland, WA
    Vehicle:
    2003 DCSB TRD OR
    Go Hawks!
    The recommended H9 is Philips, but you should still see a significant increase. If you are driving in urban areas you might not notice as much as the light color is about the same, but if you go somewhere truly dark it should be a very noticeable improvement. Several have also said that they felt the 3rd Gen lights were aimed a bit low from the factory, it is worth checking the aim per the instructions listed by @Toy_Runner.
     
    Aws123 likes this.
  20. Nov 13, 2020 at 1:42 PM
    #3620
    fj45Jeff

    fj45Jeff Active Member

    Joined:
    Jul 2, 2020
    Member:
    #333225
    Messages:
    31
    Gender:
    Male
    Vancouver, BC, Canada, eh!
    Vehicle:
    2020 Black Taco TRD Offroad
    Wayyyyy back in this 184 page thread it was suggested that these GE's are great options for a plug n play upgrade. I checked them on Amazon, prices is pretty damn good at $36 CDN, but then it warns me this will not fit my 2020 Tacoma OR? So if that's the case, what is the simplest plug n play headlight bulb upgrade that isn't going to void any warranty?

    upload_2020-11-13_13-39-31.jpg
     

Products Discussed in

To Top