Looking for suggestions to replace OEM headlights on 2006.

You got 15 years out of your original set of OEM. I would pony up the extra couple hundred bucks and get OEM again. $200 per side.

https://parts.mcgeorgetoyota.com/oem-parts/toyota-headlight-right-8111004163?c=cT04MTExMC0wNDE2MA==

https://parts.mcgeorgetoyota.com/oem-parts/toyota-headlight-left-8115004163?c=cT04MTE1MC0wNDE2MA==

 

If you sanded and polished for that long and didn't get the oxidation out, I'd suggest that at least some of it is on the inside of the lens and thus out of reach. There comes a point where restoration is not practical or possible and it's simply time for new headlights.

 

You also have to decide what you're trying to achieve. If you want to maximize the amount of light that actually passes through the lens and hits the road, you've probably achieved that with your efforts and it's likely good enough for years to come. If you want it to look purdy like new, then Too Stroked has it right - get some new ones. The weight of recommendations certainly is on the side of OEMs.

The headlights on my 2011 looked fairly icky when I bought it, but with about ten minutes work, they polished out to about 95% with regards to clarity. But the driver's side has something going on inside, a non-uniform white stain that's rather unsightly. Since it's not blocking the light appreciably, I'm going to ignore it for a while. But when I do swap 'em out, I am going to go with a set from Headlights Depot. We'll see how that goes.

 

The details in the OEM light is the manufacturing of the reflective part behind the bulb. This is what is going to give you the best reflective beam pattern for distance and volume of light. Aftermarket does not compare in ths area.

 

Resurfacing this because the post-recall OEM lights are backordered indefinitely.

So... if you couldn't get the OEM lights, what would you get?

 

A used set of OEM lights. No aftermarket crap for me.