Installed the new AlphaRex Quad Projector Tacoma Headlight.

The OEM LED headlights are so far tested to be the best headlight available for 3rd Gen. However Morimoto just released a new revised Gen2 version of their XB headlight with claimed improved output on both low and high beam. I’ve got them sitting in my kitchen and will be testing them soon in the 3rd Gen headlight thread, should be quiet interesting to compare.

 

Any updates to the Alpharex products or any other possible headlight housing alternatives?

I'd like to get some better headlights that also come with the black housing instead of the OEM chrome that I have. Unfortunately, $1400 for OEM headlights just doesn't make sense when I've done the bulb upgrades you recommended and it's been a phenomenal improvement over the stock Limited bulbs.

 

OEM LED is the vastly superior option covered in post #3626 here. They have excellent improved low beam and high beam, better than stock with upgraded bulbs, with unmatched quality. While the Morimoto v1.0 assemblies failed to meet the output intensity of the OEM LEDs, the Morimoto v2.0s upped the output intensity to greater than the OEM LEDs, but failed in other parts of the headlight execution such as lacking necessary uplight and poor build quality. See the full v2.0 review in post #4548 here.

AlphaRex is a subpar rebranded China headlight. The pattern is a short range flood light and not at all a legitimate headlight. AlphaRex does not exist as a manufacture. They are nothing more than an importer selling cheap non-compliant Chinese lights at huge markup to people that don't know better. The lights are actually Zjlingyi. The product is a joke and no lighting enthusiast would ever consider this as a legitimate headlight option.
http://www.zjlingyi.com/en/pr.jsp?_jcp=3_57#_pp=129_0

 

So I've read through several of the threads and posts (which is why I just ordered the RIGID SAE583 round amber fogs) and I'm still confused about your term "OEM LED". I hate to kick this dead horse, but just to clarify, does that mean the whole headlight assembly and housing or just the LED bulb? Maybe I'm confused because you mentioned the GE +130 bulbs, but those were just put into the Pro assemblies. It sounds like the only good headlight modification is to replace the whole assembly if I want to upgrade the performance and have a black, non-chrome housing assembly.

So my headlight setup basically follow this post. Is this still valid or do you have any updated recommendations?

1. Low Beam:
   Tungsram H11-55NHP/BP2 Nighthawk Platinum Automotive Bulb, 2-pack
   Tungsram Platinum
2. High Beam:
   $11 Philips 12361B1 H9 Standard Halogen Replacement Headlight Bulb, 1 Pack
   Phillips H9 with adapter harness
3. Fog Lights: Rigid 360-series 4" Yellow Fogs
4. Ditch Lights: Cali LED (cheap option when installed, will eventually upgrade)
5. Light Bar (behind bumper): Cali LED (cheap option when installed, will eventually upgrade)

And I have these GE Nighthawk Xenon bulbs that I never got around to installing.

 

OEM LED is the Toyota factory OEM LED headlights. They are full LED assemblies, completely sealed, there are no bulbs to replace. They are higher performing than the halogen assemblies with even the best bulb upgrades.

1) The Tungsram platinums are the best H11s tested, you can get slightly higher output by using a Philips H9 bulb in the low beam. Color is a little warmer that the Tungsrams though if that matters.
2) Philips H9 is the stock bulb, no adapter harness needed.
3) The Rigid 360s are arguably the best looking fog on the market. The performance is higher on the Diode Dynamics SS3s though.
4) Pattern and product really depends on use and where they are aimed. CaliRaised is certainly not a recommended product or brand though. Very low performing and low quality compared to name brands.
5) Again same as above. For light bars in that position I'd highly recommend a Diode Dynamics driving light bar. Any kind of flood optic will get more obstruction. A true driving bar (not combo) will project far further than competing bars and is best suited as an aux long range high beam. If the use case is tight trails wanting wide area shorter range flood illumination, it is not an appropriate choice.

 

Ahhh...now I understand what you mean about the headlight assemblies. Thank you for that explanation.

I have all the bulbs installed now and everything is running great! Just waiting on the fogs at this point. I'll eventually upgrade the CaliLED bar and pods. I bought them 3-4 years ago on a black friday sale and will probably upgrade this year.

I appreciate the thorough feedback and recommendations. I'll continue to upgrade on your advice. Thank you!

 

Meh I'm pretty disappointed in my v2 Morimotos. Yeah they look good during the day with their smoked appearance and the DRL output and look is pretty sweet. The night light output, however, sucks. Honestly I've tried tweaking the adjustment but it just seems pretty "meh" at night. I can't imagine how much shittier the AlphaRex ones or any of the other mainland Chinese junk brands on Ebay are.

I'll chalk it up this time as a loss financially and upgrade to OEM LED headlights pretty soon. I'm usually the type to buy OEM products as much as possible, but my fault for thinking saving a few hundred $$s would work to my favor. It did for my fake ass Made in China Ebay TRD Pro heritage grill, but not this time lol. I wouldn't even go as far as trying to recoup my cost by reselling the Morimotos I wouldn't dump a subpar used product on someone else, even at a substantial discount.

 

Has anyone changed their DRLs to amber? Can it be changed with the light still installed? 3rd gen

 

Yes people have. The halogen headlight or the OEM led headlight? Which one are you asking about? It has been done to both

 

I have the projector type. Not sure if you have to access the connector on the bottom of the assembly and have to Uninstall the light or if it's in one of the two other access holes.

 

Here's mine