Morimoto, Alpharex, or DIY Retrofit?

Just curious to hear the community's opinions. I want to go with something that has an amber DRL, and LED projectors. I would go OEM, but you can't get those with an amber DRL. And I don't think there's a point to buying OEM and then attempting to retrofit them with one, because for the cost and time I might as well just go morimoto xb ambers. Not to mention voiding the warranty by cracking them open and modifying.
So here are my thoughts:

Morimoto
- PROs: are known for quality close to OEM. Have the look that I want. Great reviews.

CONs: price. I know that in the world of lighting you get what you pay for, but the $1,400 price tag is nothing to scoff at. They're expensive.


Alpharex

- PROs: couple hundred bucks cheaper, have the look and options that I want.

- CONs: reviews are hit or miss. Some people love them, others say they're cheap rebadged Chineseium. For around a grand, I don't necessarily want to take that chance.
I have been convinced these are indeed shite.

DIY Retrofit
PROs: most cost effective, can customize to my hearts content. Love a good project.
CONs: Can't get the plank style amber DRL that I want since I would be using my stock 2018 OR headlights. Time constraints are a factor too since I would need to knock it out quickly as the truck is my daily driver.

What do you guys think?
I don't want to cheap out and get something that is ultimately going to have quality control issues/crap out on me. At the same time, idk if I can justify spending 1.5k just for looks and a slight improvement over my current 2018 Offroad OEMs

 

Morimoto Gen 2 peeps say are great but not as good as OEM. @memario1214 can get you a sweet deal on some. Alpharex is garbage just ask @crashnburn80 but to nail it OEM LED Headlights are the way to go.

Retrofit I have no clue but I never liked the look of them anyways, they just didn't look like a natural placement headlight. Good Luck in your search

 

Thanks for the reply. Like I said, the only reason I wouldn't want OEM is because I want the amber day time running light. @memario1214 you have my attention lol

 

Alpharex are proven to have garbage light output.

 

Another vote for OE LED headlights.

 

I sold my Morimotos to retrofit my OEM with RX350 projectors so that's my vote. I love the output of projector HIDs. And since I have an SR I couldn't get the DRL boards so I wired up some halos

 

Get a sweet custom set from @no vtec 4me then you don't have to worry about time constraints and can do cooler stuff.

 

Hmm, so if I essentially wanted to do something like this MS paint masterpice that I've created, do you think they could make it happen?

 

I don't believe so. But he's super responsive, send him a PM. He has retrofit OEM LEDs before tho

 

I have the Morimoto Gen 2 with the amber DRLs. Pricey for sure but they’re great.

 

Honestly if I were to go the retrofit route again, I'd probably pay someone to do it. The actual retrofit is super easy especially if you go with RX350 projectors since it's the same mount. But splitting the headlights open is a pain in the ass because of the permaseal. I've opened up headlights in all my previous cars but these sucked.

 

Anyone with the AlphaRex headlights know if you can rewire for an Amber DRL + Sequential turn?

 

Don't buy alpha rex. I spent a ton of time trying to decide between OEM LED, alpha Rex, or morimoto. Ultimately went with morimoto and would choose morimoto again and again. They are seriously high quality and have amazing light output and the beam pattern is adjustable.

 

Thanks! I keep reading the same thing. The only reason I sway toward the AR, is the slightly more aggressive look with the sharper angles on the corners of the DRL. The Mori's are slightly rounded. I don't know if I am willing to sacrifice function for form. Morimoto's it is!