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Best headlight bulbs?

Discussion in '2nd Gen. Tacomas (2005-2015)' started by infensus, Dec 10, 2020.

  1. Dec 10, 2020 at 7:06 PM
    #1
    infensus

    infensus [OP] Active Member

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    small stuff: interior lights, cigarette outlet constant power, license plate lights
    I see so many recommendations, Osram this, Philips that... Does it matter what I get if I'm just trying to get anything brighter than stock? Currently need better illumination for these long Seattle nights. Leaning towards these: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00NMEEOV...olid=1JE32OIQBN9SF&psc=1&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it

    What are you guys using? Looking for a no-fuss upgrade in brightness and not interested in changing housings, LEDs at this time.
     
  2. Dec 10, 2020 at 8:48 PM
    #2
    Island Cruiser

    Island Cruiser TVita

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    crashnburn80 likes this.
  3. Dec 10, 2020 at 8:49 PM
    #3
    centralcoastbuc

    centralcoastbuc Active Member

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  4. Dec 10, 2020 at 8:57 PM
    #4
    crashnburn80

    crashnburn80 Vehicle Design Engineer

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    Check out post #2 in the thread the other guys linked. Best plug and play is the Tungsram (formerly GE) Nighthawk Xenon +120 followed closely by the Tungsram Megalight +130. If your willing to trim a tab on the bulb to modify it to work, the Philips H9 swap is the best performance option overall.

    Also, Im just across the water in Kirkland.
     
    infensus[QUOTED][OP] likes this.
  5. Dec 10, 2020 at 10:13 PM
    #5
    infensus

    infensus [OP] Active Member

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    small stuff: interior lights, cigarette outlet constant power, license plate lights
    Thank you
     
    crashnburn80 and Island Cruiser like this.
  6. Dec 11, 2020 at 3:21 AM
    #6
    muddog321

    muddog321 Well-Known Member

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    Another lower cost choice that I used and they are 6k color white not blue and work very well had in for 3 years so far at $30 for the set.
    Got them at Headlight Depo (when I got new headlight assemblies that have leaked, I dried them, resealed again, and then drilled a bottom drain hole as I'm cheap)

    PERDE Solar Series Platinum H4 Xenon-Enhanced Halogen Bulbs Left & Right Set
    OEM: H4-60-BX2
    SKU: H4-60-BX2
    DETAILS:
    PERDE Solar Series Platinum H4 Xenon-Enhanced Headlight Bulbs Set. Solar Series Platinum bulbs provide brighter, whiter light for improved nighttime driving. They generate more light than regular halogen bulbs, while still keeping within legal wattage limits. PERDE Bulbs Features: State-of-Art Korean Engineering Assembly, Imported Japanese Filament, Quartz Crystal Capsule, Laser Etched Markings, DOT Compliant, and Lifetime Replacement Warranty*.
    [​IMG]
     
  7. Dec 11, 2020 at 3:34 AM
    #7
    Too Stroked

    Too Stroked Well-Known Member

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    That blue tint is guaranteed to reduce output. I'd highly recommend going with something that @crashnburn80 has tested and verified to be greater output.
     
  8. Dec 11, 2020 at 9:28 AM
    #8
    crashnburn80

    crashnburn80 Vehicle Design Engineer

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    Blue tints to achieve higher color temps reduce output. 6000k would require ridiculously dark tint and would have unusable output in a halogen bulb. Those look like closer to somewhere in the 4000k range of tint. But even a 4000k tint will reduce output to less than a stock bulb but the light will be whiter. Sylvania paid $30 million for falsely claiming their 4000k lights were brighter than stock when they weren't. That doesn't look to be a reputable product, not only is the color temp inaccurate for what the product will actually produce, it is mislabeled on the packaging as 6k instead of 6000k lol.
     
  9. Dec 11, 2020 at 11:16 AM
    #9
    tak1313

    tak1313 Well-Known Member

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    My wife drives a Prius (sorry...), and they are known to have headlight bulb problems (at least the 3rd Gen Prius). The problem appears to be a slight over-voltage problem, since the dealers actually have a fix for this, which is essentially just lengthening the wires to add just enough resistance to cut the voltage just enough (it's a pretty long wire).

    Anyway, her Prius was blowing through bulbs every few months before I learned about this. At the time, I was buying Sylvania bulbs because that's the only thing readily available here (Walmart, AA, AZ, etc). I then noticed that Phillips bulbs were rated for longer life, but I had to order them through Amazon (though there are other online sources - but I'm a Prime member, so...).

    The current Phillips bulbs in there have lasted 2 years at this point. Of course, now that I've put this in writing, the gods are going to punish me...
     

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