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3rd Gen HID vs LED vs Halogen H11 projector headlights

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

  1. Jul 26, 2021 at 7:47 AM
    #4921
    daveeasa

    daveeasa FBC Harness Solutions Vendor

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    On the tacoma at least all you have to do is remove the green plastic piece and H9’s fit without modification.

    If you are type A, you can get H9 connectors from the link in my signature and use the yellow plastic pieces or even de-pin and re-pin if yours are older or damaged.
     
    crashnburn80[OP] likes this.
  2. Jul 26, 2021 at 9:10 AM
    #4922
    blaklabl

    blaklabl Well-Known Member

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    This is how I am running the H9’s and works flawlessly. @daveeasa is the man for procuring those connectors!
     
    crashnburn80[OP] likes this.
  3. Jul 26, 2021 at 9:15 AM
    #4923
    graybeard4x4

    graybeard4x4 Well-Known Member

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    Great read, especially for a new Tacoma owner looking to improve stock lighting! If I wanted OEM LED headlights, where would I look for the best pricing?
     
  4. Jul 26, 2021 at 11:50 AM
    #4924
    daveeasa

    daveeasa FBC Harness Solutions Vendor

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    graybeard4x4[QUOTED] likes this.
  5. Jul 26, 2021 at 1:57 PM
    #4925
    SouthFLTaco

    SouthFLTaco Well-Known Member

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    This is an amazing thread with a phenomenal amount of information... I'll be digesting all this information for some time to come! I love all the data and the non-biased presentation of facts. Thanks so much to @crashnburn80 for all his hard work, as well as others' who have provided information!

    :101010:
     
    crashnburn80[OP] likes this.
  6. Jul 26, 2021 at 2:06 PM
    #4926
    crashnburn80

    crashnburn80 [OP] Vehicle Design Engineer

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    No need to read the whole thread! All the relevant info is in the first 3 posts, though I do need to update with @daveeasa latest info on the H9 connector swap.
     
    SouthFLTaco[QUOTED] likes this.
  7. Jul 26, 2021 at 2:10 PM
    #4927
    SouthFLTaco

    SouthFLTaco Well-Known Member

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    Thanks! Indeed I could tell you do an excellent job of keeping the posts updated and that is a huge +. Loads of information to digest and it was great to learn so much about lighting and sad to see how so many manufacturers ignore the issue of focus!
     
  8. Jul 26, 2021 at 2:55 PM
    #4928
    CoTacoTy

    CoTacoTy Well-Known Member

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    Thanks for the instructions. I would LOVE to replace my headlight assembly. But I cant justify a $1000+ purchase for just headlights to my wife. She would literally punch me in the face and call me a f*cking idiot. Which is understandable. One day tho. Im sure ill have this truck for a LONG time to come. Im sure one of my boys will be driving it in about 14 years. By then it should have some pretty sick mods
     
    SouthFLTaco and RoostrC0gburn like this.
  9. Jul 26, 2021 at 2:57 PM
    #4929
    daveeasa

    daveeasa FBC Harness Solutions Vendor

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    I mean, you describe my version of marriage to a T so what exactly is the hangup???
     
  10. Jul 26, 2021 at 5:35 PM
    #4930
    CoTacoTy

    CoTacoTy Well-Known Member

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    Lmao the punched in the face part. Wouldn't be the first time im called a f*cking idiot
     
  11. Jul 26, 2021 at 6:18 PM
    #4931
    RushT

    RushT Amateur Everythingist

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    Over the years, I’ve learned that wives have the miraculous ability to get over lots of shit they shouldn’t have had to. It’s amazing.

    But, that one time….. she’s never going to forget that. LOL
     
    tclavell and daveeasa like this.
  12. Jul 26, 2021 at 7:02 PM
    #4932
    Sasquatchian

    Sasquatchian Well-Known Member

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    I hear you. I bought mine a new Forester a year and a half ago so I get no shit about whatever I spend, plus I put $20K into building a home recording studio inside my photo studio just so she could keep doing remote recording sessions during the pandemic, which now looks like it's never going to be over. The bonus is that I get to use it all day every day and it's made my guitar playing better, faster than any other method I've come across. As Steve Swan told me - "the microphone don't lie."

    I think that 14 years from now we'll all be driving electrics, your sons included, but hopefully someone will want these then.
     
  13. Jul 26, 2021 at 7:29 PM
    #4933
    crashnburn80

    crashnburn80 [OP] Vehicle Design Engineer

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    Headlights are a safety component. IIHS rates stock 3rd Gen lights as poor/unsafe and OEM LED is given the highest score as the safest option. Remember it is for the safety of the children.
     
  14. Jul 26, 2021 at 7:45 PM
    #4934
    Sasquatchian

    Sasquatchian Well-Known Member

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    Absolutely, and one of the most important safety items on your truck. The problem with the IIHS tests is that they test them how they get 'em. Their fatal flaw is that they don't align if the lights are mis-aligned, which can often give a score more akin to a false negative test. In my opinion their rationale is bullshit so you can only assume that the lights that are rated excellent are also well aimed but not aiming the mis-aimed ones only give a false representation.

    The stock LED's are indeed wonderful and a far sight (pun intended) better than the projectors but put better bulbs and align properly and the projectors aren't half bad.
     
  15. Jul 27, 2021 at 10:37 AM
    #4935
    6MTPro

    6MTPro Well-Known Member

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    @crashnburn80 not to get off topic here, but recently picked up a 2004 4Runner which is preface lift with the reflector headlights. Any recommendations for 9005 and 9006 for the highs, lows, and fogs?
     
  16. Jul 27, 2021 at 7:20 PM
    #4936
    crashnburn80

    crashnburn80 [OP] Vehicle Design Engineer

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    The 9005 & 9006 bulbs are easily swappable to higher output HIR bulbs that don't use any more power. All you have to do is trim an external plastic tab, see instructions here:
    https://store.candlepower.com/mohirbuba.html

    Stock 9006, 1000 lumens -> 9012, 1870 lumens
    Stock 9005, 1700 lumens -> 9011, 2300 lumens

    For the 9005 I'd go with the classic Toshibas, which can still be had under the ACDelco brand. Note that Amazon recommends a newer version, but that is not a true HIR bulb, so I'd stay with the originals. Sylvania supposedly has come out with a newer more advanced HIR manufactured out of Asia, but it can be difficult to determine if you are getting that bulb or a reboxed Osram bulb out of Germany. I'd go with the high performing ACDelco/Toshibas unless you can confirm otherwise.
    https://www.amazon.com/ACDelco-HIR1...delco+9011&qid=1627438401&s=automotive&sr=1-6

    For the 9012, the most advanced bulb is the German Volsa 9012 +120 HIR. No other company makes plus efficiency HIR bulbs. Think of these as combining the GE/Tungsram H11 ultra efficiency performance from this thread with the higher output of the H9 bulbs used for low beam into a single ultimate bulb. I don't have a great source for these bulbs, but you can purchase them on ebay:
    https://www.ebay.com/itm/174099096628

    Edit: typo on the bulb numbers fixed
     
    Last edited: Sep 11, 2021
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    xxTacocaTxx and Aws123 like this.
  17. Jul 28, 2021 at 6:24 AM
    #4937
    graybeard4x4

    graybeard4x4 Well-Known Member

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    SB cold air intake, MBRP 3" cat back exhaust, Rigid Industries 360 series LED fog lights, 17" Method Racing 610 Con 6 wheels in matte black, BF Goodrich All Terrain TA tires, CaliRaised LED sequential turn signals, AlphaRex Pro Series LED tail lights
    @crashnburn80 Are the OEM LED headlights a direct swap with the factory projector headlights on a 2018 TRD OR DCSB, aside from possibly needing an extra wiring harness?
     
  18. Jul 28, 2021 at 6:50 AM
    #4938
    daveeasa

    daveeasa FBC Harness Solutions Vendor

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    Yes on direct fit, harness needed. See OEM LED mega thread for the many who have done this.
     
  19. Jul 28, 2021 at 6:58 AM
    #4939
    TacoFergie

    TacoFergie Well-Known Member

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    I think there is an edit that is needed....
    9006 = 9012 / HIR2
    9005 = 9011 / HIR1

    The way I keep it in my memory bank is that the numbers are just added by 6.

    I do have a question regarding the 900x vs HIRx bulbs. Do the HIR bulbs have more heat output than the 900x variant? I've tried finding info online but haven't come up with anything.
     
    Last edited: Jul 28, 2021
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  20. Jul 28, 2021 at 10:44 AM
    #4940
    crashnburn80

    crashnburn80 [OP] Vehicle Design Engineer

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    @daveeasa has you covered. They are plug and play with the required adapter harness as he mentioned.

    Good catch! I definitely had a typo reversing the bulb numbers, I fixed my post.

    HIRs do not product more heat, they use the same amount of power as stock bulbs. A true HIR uses an iridescent IR reflective coating on the bulb to reflect the infrared energy back to the filament to overdrive it to higher output without consuming any more power. Bulb heat is mainly directly related to power consumption (watts) and both bulbs spec the same power draw. I say true HIR as there are many 9011/9012 bulbs that are not an HIR bulb (no IR coating) that meet the output spec range with more conventional technologies, which has the advantage of being significantly cheaper to manufacture, though output will likely be lower as well as bulb life. Both the bulbs I had recommended were true HIRs.
     

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