LED headlights?

Dealing with decisions about which allocation to choose, and deciding if LED headlights are a necessity... I know they're supposed to be way better than the stock halogen headlights, and I've also read that aftermarket LED headlights can be really problematic. If the LED headlights are the only thing missing from my wish list, should I go with the allocation anyway, or wait for one the LED headlights? Can the OEM LED headlights be installed at a later time? (I'd need to pay a mechanic or dealer to do it, since I am admittedly very unskilled mechanically.) Tried searching the forums but please point me to a thread if there's one I missed. Thanks.

 

OEM LED only. Aftermarket are iffy. I love the LED lights. But they aren’t cheap!!

 

Can you install the OEM ones at a later time, though? Or do they have to be factory/port-installed? I'd be happy to pay for dealer or mechanic to install them later. Just not sure if that's possible.

 

You can install them later but they will run around $1500 instead of $450 as a factory option.

 

Luke,

There are at least 3 very good videos to describe the steps to self install. With a reasonable afternoon worth of time anyone with the desire and a few functional brain cells can self install. Maybe have a friend to watch and help with dropping the bumper, it only has to loosen, doesn’t have to come off completely.

if you get to that point and need those 3 video links I’ll post them for you.

the big upside to getting them at time of purchase is cost. Way cheaper that way

 

You can’t ”add” them when you are at the dealer. You can either buy a truck with them installed already (on the build sheet) or install them yourself later. About two hours at a mechanic and they are installed. I’d go to a body shop since they are more versed in installing headlights. You will need to get the harness adapters that aren’t OEM but are raved on there…the ones linked earlier in this thread. Placing a deposit on a truck with them installed already will be cheaper for the headlights but may add other things you don’t want to the truck that you aren’t able to take off.

 

if you are going to buy a V6 Tacoma, just get a TRD grade with factory installed option
I had to buy OEM LED for $1.5k and another $100 something or harness to install on my 4 cylinder SR. Those upgrades are hard to recuperate when you sell to carmax

Luckily I sold my fully pimped out 2.7 2WD to a family member for $37k and got those upgrades money back.

 

Do you drive a lot at night or just like the way they look? Hard to tell the difference driving in daylight behind the wheel.

 

Buy the aftermarket bulbs with the little fan built in. Mines are perfect along side the rest of my LEDs! Put the savings toward your kid’s braces or college.

 

Don’t get SR / SR5 if you like OEM LED as the harness is way more complicated.

 

Getting a V6 TRD-OR. Are you saying to get the factory-installed LEDs? Or just the factory-installed halogens?

Are the headlights were different on the V6s? Seems like that’s what you’re saying…

 

Thanks, good to know. Getting an OR.

 

Any TRD trim and you are good. Get LED if you can but if not add after. Only complicated for SR/SR5. Unrelated to engine choice. V6 is way better than the I4.

 

get the factory installed LED, it's only $400 something that way

 

I love the OEM LED headlights on my 2022 compared to the OEM halogens on my 2018.

 

I'm not sure what's going on exactly but lately Tacomas are flooding the dealerships, you should be able to find exactly what you want relatively fast at MSRP, or maybe if lucky slightly lower.

Don't settle for halogen if you want TRD grade

 

I got the I4 for it's reliability and 1 million mile legendary status, but after I got the 4.0L 4Runner, I feel there's no need for me to keep 2 legendary engines, I can risk having the 2GR-FKS Tacoma being less reliable while I vow never sell the 4Runner.

You won't believe it, but I get better mpg in the 3.5L V6 running 0W-20 than the I-4 running 5W-30.
Not to mention way more power and sounds better.

 

I bought morimotos on a sale $1200 out the door. I still have to install them .