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QUESTION ON Reflector to projector headlight 2014

Discussion in '2nd Gen. Tacomas (2005-2015)' started by KCCOtx, Dec 9, 2020.

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  1. Dec 9, 2020 at 10:08 AM
    #1
    KCCOtx

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    KCCOtx [OP] Active Member

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    I want to change my reflector headlights on my 2014 to projector. But unsure if I should go halogen projector or led.... and how hard wiring is as im not a wiring guy. Any suggestions????
     
    KCCOtx, Dec 9, 2020
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  2. Dec 9, 2020 at 11:17 AM
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    Greenedmc

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    Greenedmc Well-Known Member

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    Are you wanting to go with aftermarket housings or custom retrofits?
     
    Greenedmc, Dec 9, 2020
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  3. Dec 9, 2020 at 12:28 PM
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    Levalexi

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    Levalexi Well-Known Member

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    Levalexi, Dec 9, 2020
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  4. Dec 12, 2020 at 7:11 AM
    #4
    KCCOtx

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    KCCOtx [OP] Active Member

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    I was looking these to replace my stock headlights... there projector but use halogen bulbs and just curious if worth it... better then the stock refelctor...

    Screenshot_20201212-090906_Samsung Internet.jpg
     
    KCCOtx, Dec 12, 2020
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  5. Dec 12, 2020 at 7:16 AM
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    Greenedmc

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    Greenedmc Well-Known Member

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    You’ll have better light output from the stock housings with halogen bulbs usually.
     
    Greenedmc, Dec 12, 2020
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    Island Cruiser likes this.
  6. Dec 12, 2020 at 7:25 AM
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    donaldt24

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    donaldt24 Well-Known Member

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    I have the same headlights but I replaced the bulbs with these ones for brightness. They have worked well so far. Definite improvement on cut off and glaring over HIDs in the oem headlight. No complaints on brightness after the bulb swap. You have to use the LED tipped bulbs if you do decide to swap the bulbs.


    DC49FEC9-ED38-4BD5-A16E-44390258A1CF.jpg
     
    donaldt24, Dec 12, 2020
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  7. Dec 12, 2020 at 8:00 AM
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    KCCOtx

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    KCCOtx [OP] Active Member

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    Cool, so wiring wise does anything have to be changed from stock?
     
    KCCOtx, Dec 12, 2020
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  8. Dec 12, 2020 at 9:15 AM
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    EMR

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    EMR Well-Known Member

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    Did the Morimoto HID retrofit on my 2012. ~$350 for the kit. Lighting is amaze-balls!

    893AE273-53D7-45CD-9408-CE8E512BFA51.jpg
     
    EMR, Dec 12, 2020
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  9. Dec 12, 2020 at 9:26 AM
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    CraigF

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    CraigF Well-Known Member

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    Last edited: Dec 12, 2020
    CraigF, Dec 12, 2020
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  10. Dec 12, 2020 at 12:21 PM
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    G-shock!

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    G-shock! Well-Known Member

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    BI-LED retrofit projectors. No start up lag and light for dayyyss. Although I do like the look of some of the newer lights being offered but from what I’ve read here, the lighting is dismal.

    B3708CFA-09B3-47E2-AE97-6BA2D189A26A.jpg
     
    G-shock!, Dec 12, 2020
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  11. Dec 12, 2020 at 1:24 PM
    #11
    Too Stroked

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    Too Stroked Well-Known Member

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    Projectors can improve your lighting, but you get what you pay for. Cheap projectors - which is most of them - are pretty dismal. If you really want to do projectors right, you pretty much have to go with a custom retrofit through somebody who knows what they're doing.

    As for LED bulbs, lord help me. 99% of what's out there is crap - with awesome marketing. (That includes the one's mentioned above.) Generally speaking, LED bulbs will decrease your performance in projectors. In housings designed for halogens, all you'll do is glare the hell out of oncoming drivers. Don't be that guy.

    As has already been mentioned, The Ultimate Headlight Upgrade is absolutely awesome. I have it in my 2014 Tacoma and would never go back or change it.
     
    Too Stroked, Dec 12, 2020
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  12. Dec 12, 2020 at 1:27 PM
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    Clearwater Bill

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    Clearwater Bill Never answer an anonymous letter

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    Clearwater Bill, Dec 12, 2020
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  13. Dec 12, 2020 at 1:36 PM
    #13
    davidstacoma

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    davidstacoma Friendly Curmudgeon

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    I thought my Tacoma projector low beams gave me terrible light, IIHS ratings were poor as well. I replaced my oem H11 bulbs with Tungsram +130 bulbs and they are much better now. If I had reflectors I sure wouldn’t replace with projector headlights, my old 2007 Colorado with reflector lenses were far better.
     
    davidstacoma, Dec 12, 2020
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  14. Dec 12, 2020 at 2:23 PM
    #14
    Too Stroked

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    Too Stroked Well-Known Member

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    The OP has a 2014 / 2nd gen which came with pretty decent halogen headlights. Yes, the halogen projectors on the 3rd gen leave a bit to be desired. There are some pretty awesome OEM and retrofit projectors out there. Unfortunately, the Tacoma ones aren't that good. The post on the Ultimate Headlight Upgrade has a complete listing of better bulbs - both ones you can use with the standard harness and ones that need an upgraded harness.
     
    Too Stroked, Dec 12, 2020
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  15. Dec 12, 2020 at 2:31 PM
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    davidstacoma

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    davidstacoma Friendly Curmudgeon

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    Yeah I’m a reader and contributor at times on that thread. That’s how I ended up with the GE/Tungrsram +130 bulbs to improve my 3rd gen OEM projectors. Wouldn’t consider any aftermarket unless testing was against the headlights I have. And cost ;) So no, I wouldn’t trade reflectors like in the 2nd gen for any projectors. IIHS ratings for 3rd gen Tacoma halogens (low beam projectors):
    45618D48-CD91-4C2D-B36A-F402C63BC831.jpg
     
    Last edited: Dec 12, 2020
    davidstacoma, Dec 12, 2020
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  16. Dec 12, 2020 at 8:41 PM
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    KCCOtx

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    KCCOtx [OP] Active Member

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    Awesome. I appreciate the input guys alot, been going around and around what I wanna do.... my stock headlights are glazed over so bad I just need to replace them, and been back and forth on it becuase wiring isn't ny fortay.
     
    KCCOtx, Dec 12, 2020
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  17. Dec 13, 2020 at 2:49 AM
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    donaldt24

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    donaldt24 Well-Known Member

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    No wiring involved, unplug stock then plug them into new ones
     
    donaldt24, Dec 13, 2020
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  18. Dec 13, 2020 at 4:55 AM
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    sanchez

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    sanchez Off Road Member

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    If you can wait a few months and spend about 1000 bucks, these is coming from Morimoto https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eX6YuGl3xkY Alpharex is also coming out with a Led headlight for the 2012-15 similar to their 2006-11 headlights.
     
    Last edited: Dec 13, 2020
    sanchez, Dec 13, 2020
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  19. Dec 13, 2020 at 5:30 AM
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    Too Stroked

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    Too Stroked Well-Known Member

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    But if they perform anything like the existing models from both brands - which is to say poorly - I'd say your best bet is replacing the worn out OEM housings with new (or used) OEM ones, then doing the Ultimate Headlight Upgrade.
     
    Too Stroked, Dec 13, 2020
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  20. Dec 13, 2020 at 5:34 AM
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    Too Stroked

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    Too Stroked Well-Known Member

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    Just remember that generally speaking, aftermarket headlights just don't have the build quality, optical quality or longevity of the OEM housings. Most of them leak water, oxidize quickly and have poor light patterns. But many of them look cool! If you dig into that post on The Ultimate Headlight Upgrade from our resident lighting expert @crashnburn80, you'll find he's a former 2nd gen owner and has done a ton of testing on options that fit your exact truck.
     
    Too Stroked, Dec 13, 2020
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