deer hit, morimoto over rated, back to oem?

So I hit a deer...

In the past I noticed no matter how I aimed my morimoto's they just didn't illuminate the road (brights included)

I've been borrowing an 04 camry and it's brights light up the road and the sides WAY better than my morimoto led xb's

Anyone else with these notice this? I mean, I noticed it right after install which is why I've re-adjusted them like 4x's, but paying nearly 2grand and having gotten rid of the headlights I just said oh well. But with insurance replacing my lights I might have the option to either get morimotos again or factory...I'm leaning towards factory.

Next question...do 2020 headlights plug in? They're a little different on DRL design but wasn't sure if I could just straight swap?

 

Just need the harness adapter if you are talking about going to the OEM led

 

@daveeasa

 

3rd gen lighting thread is a must read.

First few pages then the last few pages will get you up to speed.

 

"paying nearly 2grand"

I was not aware that headlights could cost so much money. Just curious why a person would need to pay so much for headlights on a vehicle, is there an improvement that would justify the cost?

 

I have a set of retrofits with Morimoto MLED 2.0 projectors and they cost a bit. Very much worth it.

What I'm confused about, is why are the Morimoto projectors so good, but their headlights suck?

 

Read the thread I linked above for numbers.

Same as any upgrade, brakes or wheels or gears. 2k is expensive, sure. The value is hard to put in objective terms beyond performance metrics which @crashnburn80 lays out in detail.

A low beam bulb upgrade offers very good improvement for minimal cost.

 

Because it’s not one brand, one design team and one manufacturing plant. Crash has explained this several times. It’s a label and some products are good performers while some have issues.

the xb v2 actually have the highest output for 3rd gen. But they have issues.

 

I got my Pro LED Headlights for $1400.00 total from my local dealership

 

Ya I get it, and understand some of the reasoning behind it. But you have some parts coming from Moritmoto that are fantastic, and some that suck, with their name all over everything. I would think a line would have to be drawn, either they make expensive high performance parts, or make cheap "OK" parts that most of the masses will be "OK" with.

 

Most companies are defined by a desire to make money, not by some coherent and consistent business plan.

 

FWIW halogen lights have always thrown light farther than LEDs

 

As @daveeasa mentioned, take a look at that thread. There are comparisons to OEM LED, Morimoto v1.0 and v2.0 headlights. The v1.0s were disappointing, the v2.0s are much brighter so consider that in your decision. But the problem you describe with the high beam is due to the projector design Morimoto uses, it is a very focused high beam, not at all like the flood with a hot spot like OEM units. The result of this is that it doesn't illuminate much to the side at all. The OEM LED high beams do. Another issue is the Morimotos don't have any uplight, so there is a hard cutoff that limits your ability to see beyond it, possibly making you feel like you cannot see the roadway ahead. That isn't how headlights are supposed to work, there should be uplight in the pattern to see above/beyond the cut off but the Morimotos are missing it. OEM of course includes uplight. Both versions of the Morimotos have these flaws and others. Check out the comparisons between the 3 in the 3rd gen headlight thread, they are all linked in post #3.

 

Love my OEM Pro Lights.

 

the main reason for the cost is because this is the latest gen so not a lot of aftermarket parts are available, those that are will be super elevated in that case. ANY aftermarket "performance" part is going to be outrageous at first...give it 10 years though. I mean you can find aftermarket headlights for older cars much cheaper, even leds...but I wouldn't recommend led's after having these

I do like the full U drl illumination as opposed to the bottom only on my '17, and the sequential turn signal...but that's all looks. I do appreciate "looks" mods but I'm mostly about functionality...if I can have both all the better

on the light output I coulda sworn the threads showed these led's put out more light than oem...which obviously they don't...I don't know what I was reading. This was the main reason I was willing to spend so much money, ONLY because I thought they put out more light...again my mistake...even if they get insurance to approve replacing the leds I won't...better to replace with hid's and then get some light bars and ditch lights that illuminate only with high beams.

Thanks for the thread links, I'll have to look them over...very much appreciated

 

OEM LED’s all the way! IMO
I haven’t seen anything that compares. Not saying there’s nothing out there but from what Ive seen, read and heard, the OEM LED’S are better than most anything out there. I think they are some of the best looking as well. FWIW

 

You don't have to spend a lot to upgrade your headlights. Direct swap in some clear lens RX-350 projectors with some HIDs and it'll be a large improvement for a few hundred dollars.

 

Another vote for oem led. I don’t regret a penny spent on them. They were the first big purchase I made for the truck.

 

that is a function of the components used and is true for the bulk of LED replacement “bulbs” however the new OEM led headlights (specifically the Tacomas) are excellent and throw light very very well. Crash talks about this in the thread everyone is talking about