3rd Gen HID vs LED vs Halogen H11 projector headlights

Yup. As much as I loved my Tacoma, I love my T4R even more.

 

If you need a set of headlights, I may be able to help you.

 

I’d appreciate a price quote.

 

4runner halogen high beam tests

The 4runner halogen high beams appear to be excellent with a concentrated hot spot above the low bam cut off to maximize distance projection down road while providing a nice soft flood light outside of the hot spot.

High beam only with low beam disabled


How good? Compare the high performing Tacoma 3rd Gen OEM LED high beam vs the T4R stock 9005 halogen high beam.


The T4R stock 9005 bulbs have nearly identical performance in output intensity to the Tacoma's OEM LED units.

But what about upgraded bulbs for high beam?

Toshiba 9011 HIR (left) vs stock Koito 9005 (right)


OEM 9005s vs Toshiba 9011 HIRs. The Toshibas return a 26%+ gain on the high beam output intensity.

Power draw on the OEM 9005s, 74.1w


Power draw on the Toshiba 9011 HIRs, 73.8w. Drawing less power while being 26%+ higher output.


The Toshiba 9011 HIRs put the Tacoma OEM LED high beams to shame with 25% higher output intensity than the OEM LEDs, while also being a far more ideal color temperature.


But how does the Toshiba 9011 HIR swap compare to the ultra high output intensity high beam from the Morimoto XB 2.0?


The Morimotos fail to outperform the HIR swap. The HIRs come in about 7.5% brighter than the Morimotos while also having a superior beam pattern with a focused hot spot and soft flood pattern that the Morimotos cannot match.

The T4R OEM LEDs with the 9011 HIR high beam swap seem to make for an excellent performing headlight setup. The T4R has great high beam performance and a simple bulb swap makes it significantly better. If the OEM Tacoma high beams and the Morimoto XB v2.0s cannot match the HIR swap, I'd speculate the OEM T4R LED high beam likely won't match the performance either. But that is just speculation.

Note: The Toshiba 9011 HIRs are discontinued but still available under the ACDelco brand links I posted earlier, so these bulbs will not be available indefinitely. Sylvania is supposedly launching some new 9011s that are even higher performing than the Toshibas out of Asia. Regardless there are many 9011 bulbs upgrade options out there.

 

The factory high beams were decent on the backroads coming back from late nights at Mt. Baker.
I got to experience one of the few times where I wish the Foglights stayed on as thick fog began to form below the headlights on some of the higher speed roads. Regulations suck sometimes

I cheated and turned on the Selective Yellow SS3 Pro's with clear driving lenses mounted as auxiliary high beams

 

So those lights are at my place, and you're local to me. So if you and @Too Stroked worked something out you could pickup local.

 

They were actually surprisingly good, I had far lower expectations. But the HIR swap really kicks it up a notch.

 

So the elephant in the room regarding the OEM LED low beam headlights is the issue of not getting hot enough to melt the ice when in use.

I frequent the passes and mountains in the snow season and being in WA you know the weather can get real weird.

Is there a remedy to this problem?

 

There is no specific remedy for snow accumulation on the LED low beam. All snow will not stick of course, it needs to have the right amount of moisture content to collect on a surface, especially a highly slopped one like the T4R headlights. The remedy would be to put on the high beam, which heats the entire front lens but the high beam is more harmful than helpful in snow visibility.

 

Would a hydrophobic coating on the headlamps prevent accumulation?

 

Exactly the setup in my T4R - except for the Oscars behind the lower grill. I highly recommend it. I do miss the Ultimate Headlight Upgrade with the 30" DD LED bar in the lower grill on my Tacoma though.

 

There is at least one guy who modified windshield washer nozzles to spray headlights. It’s a novel idea and also would work to some degree for mud. I can find the thread if anyone is seriously interested. Seemed to me like a fair bit of work but at least you can use OEM parts. One thing I’m not sure of is how washer fluid might affect the UV coating.

Having driven with HIR Toshibas (in the minivan) for the past year or two I will say I think they are outstanding. If I could have that setup for high beams coupled to a nice LED DRL and LED low beam with reverse sequential turns on any vehicle, it would be my ideal setup. Efficient lighting for normal use, max power for maximum need.

I like those HIR bulbs so much that I seriously consider adding 9005 aux driving lights for the Tacoma. If I lived in the PNW I might put more effort into that.

I could see carrying a cordless heat gun purely as insurance. My oh-s plan was to rely on SS3 MAX fog lights and reduce speed to something very safe.

 

What did the light bar add of value? I’m working through my design for 2002 Tundra lighting and will do a harness to OEM H4 reflectors and then play with different bulbs. Then SSC2’s in the oval fog location if I can get them to work in that space with some sort of bracket.

I always wanted a light bar but the more I learn, the less purposeful it seems to me. Is the light bar specifically for off road use at night where you want to see medium sized rocks and holes? And it’s a significant aid?

Would you take the oscars over the light bar or light bar over the oscars if you could have one and only one?

 

In my Tacoma, the light bar (an all driving pattern Diode Dynamics Stage series single row) was wired through a relay to trigger with my high beams. What it gave me was a lot more reach than the high beams alone. I should note that the DD bar replaced a CaliRaised dual row all driving pattern bar that had terrible light distribution. My intent was purely longer range lighting and I was not disappointed at all with the DD bar. I still have it in the basement waiting for an application. I can't use it in the T4R because of the center mounted sensor panel.

As for the Oscars or the DD bar, one has to remember that as good as the Oscars were / are, they're 30 year old technology. I've got some new 100 watt bulbs waiting to go into the Oscars and we'll see how much difference they make. (Installing new bulbs requires removing the whole front bumper cover.) Right now though, I'd have to say the DD bar was better.

 

Interesting, thanks.

I did more looking and don’t think cibbie has a 9005 option? Given that is a modern standard and their halogen stock is no longer produced, it makes sense.

I still haven’t found any 9005 auxiliary driving lamps. I guess that’s somewhat to be expected.

It would be impressive for a light bar to offer good longer range lighting. I assumed it would be limited to short range and even more so with a lower mounting location. Perhaps I should also consider a bar for the Tundra. It almost seems like Toyota planned for that back in 2002 with the bumper design.

 

Depends on the circumstance and mainly on temperature from my experience.

When driving around I found it to work well. However, there have been plenty of nights in WA where it would snow 8 inches and dip into the 20's causing ice to form when sitting over night.

Whether you have a hydrophobic (beading) or hydrophilic (sheeting) coating it will ultimately end up the same with enough time and precipitation.

Nicest part of having a coating is Snow comes right off when needed in the morning if not below freezing temps.

 

I have this immense desire to live where you live and have a garage which actually is used for vehicles.

 

As long as you don't mind your seasons being Spring, Summer, Smoke, Snow

 

Me trying to figure out if I need to spend more dumb money on lights or just be happy with H9s in the factory halogen set.

 

After comparing the two, no question, OEM LED all the way. The T4Rs halogen projectors are so poor.