Headlights

Hi guys, I just bought a 2014 Tacoma, and the stock Halogen Refectors are a bit to be desired. I hate tinted/smoked headlights a prefer something that looks clear and fresh like OEM. Is there any recommendations out there?

 

Welcome to the forums. Everything you ever wanted to know about 2nd gen headlights:

The ultimate headlight upgrade H4 (not LED or HID) | Tacoma World

 

Welcome to TW…I run Sylvania Silverstar ZXE’s on my truck, they are bright, white and have a nice cutoff.

 

If you want great lighting your only real option is a retrofit. You can have stock housings and great light from a good set of projectors.

 

Sounds like you're wanting to reduce the amount of chrome within the headlight housing, correct? If so, you can the mpod called the BHLM (black headlight mod). There's a few toutorials on this forum for it. It's not all that difficult but will take you the majority of a day to do it. I did mine, but I used color matching paint, not black. If you have any questions about this mod I'd be happy to answer them for you.

 

Incorrect.

The link in post 2 is worthy reading. And action, if you actually are interested in seeing well.

 

Get new OEM headlights and do the H4 ultimate headlight upgrade.

 

Downside here where I live is the oem headlights do not last. The outer lens get cracks in them within a few years. Adding the increased heat from more powerful halogen bulbs will no doubt shorten the lens life.

I also found recently when replacing my headlights, the oem rated halogen bulbs cooks the wire connector.

While no doubt less powerful than hot rodded oem lights, so far the aftermarket lights I went with are superior for light output far down the road and up close.

 

I think you're about to find out a few things about aftermarket lights. First, all headlights will eventually oxidize and crack. What you will find is that aftermarket lights do this much more quickly than OEM. (Just one of the many reasons they cost less.) They also allow water intrusion much more quickly too. Second, if you actually read the Ultimate Headlight Upgrade post, you'll find that it requires a heavy-duty harness to run higher wattage bulbs or increase the performance of standard bulbs. This harness eliminates any possibility of the increased draw of more powerful bulbs generating heat and thus damage. Third, I had the upgrade in my Tacoma for 6 years before selling it. I had absolutely no damage from internal heat generated by the higher wattage bulbs. I did have unbelievable, glorious lighting though.

Finally, as for any aftermarket headlight truly outperforming the Ultimate Headlight Upgrade, I very, very much doubt it. What you most likely have is the standard aftermarket trick of dramatically increasing foreground light at the expense of distance lighting. It fools most folks into thinking they have better lighting when in actuality, they have a massive downgrade. As long as you like them though ....

 

You might go back and read the actual words of my post. Possibly read slowly and understand the words.
Realize, I never stated the aftermarket lights outperform hot rodded oem lights, you did.
As for hazing and cracking, you live in Canada, I live in South Florida, that alone creates a huge increase in both UV and heat the lens must endure.
Again, read and understand, I did not say the oem halogen lights destroyed the wires, I stated it cooked the connector.
No plans to start a debate, I fully recognize that modified oem lights can outperform both oem and aftermarket.

My aftermarket lights may not last, then again they may. I know for fact they will run much cooler than halogen bulbs, and when I give the truck to my granddaughter, she can have her dad make changes if she desires too.

 

So what kinda lights are your aftermarket’s? LED?

 

I second that ^^^

 

I run silverstar’s on my 2014 as well. Stock bulbs felt like they were not even on when driving

 

I’ve had them on my truck for 5 years and on my wife’s Honda CR-V for 4 years with no issues.

 

The only issue I’ve had is that I have to change them out about every 2 years as they seems to go dim faster than stock bulbs, but they make a big difference at night. Just my opinion. We have them in all our cars as well.

 

Phillips Race vision are nice in my aftermarket headlights. Though having a set of DD driving fogs is the shit.

 

Sorry if I hit a nerve, but I (and my son) have worked in Toyota Part and Service long enough to know the difference between OEM and aftermarket parts. Yes, Toyota (and every other manufacturer) has occasional problems with parts, but I have never seen an aftermarket part that is as well engineered, tested and built as OEM. And headlights are a perfect example. I can pretty much personally guarantee you that your aftermarket lights are not nearly as well engineered and manufactured as OEM - and they will not last nearly as long.

As for south Florida having a more extreme environment than where we live, you have a valid point. But your aftermarket lights will still succumb to oxidation and leakage faster than OEM. BTW, I went to a public school. But in the public school I went to, the south shore of Lake Ontario was New York State, not Canada.

 

Absolutely did not hit a nerve. Will not debate the engineering being better in oem lights. However, not every oem part is superior or engineered better than aftermarket. I do get a chuckle when folks praise oem being superior engineering when that is not always the case. Not headlights, but engineering wise, I doubt anyone would say Toyotas method of traction control by applying the opposite brake, vs installing a true limited slip diff is best. Ditching the oem rear diff and installing a Tru Trac was a huge improvement over oem. Advertising my truck as 100,000 mile transmission fluid, then rescinding that to 60,000 miles or less if not used for light duty seems like under engineering, and no dipstick on this lifetime sealed transmission. So no nerve hit, simply reality of not drinking the Kool Aid...

Considering my truck was bought new the last day of 2009, and has had 3 of the 4 sets of headlights replaced on account of failing for issues more than getting hazy, that is a fairly poor track record.

Compared to my wifes Corolla, that was bought on the same day, her headlights, other than needing to be polished a couple times are holding up fine. Unfortunately, the white paint peels off like a Post It Note.

So far, these LED replacements do illuminate further down the road, while illuminating the road sides well, and certainly are adequate if not better than the 2010 oem halogens.

What others do regarding their headlights on their trucks is entirely their choice. All good, have fun.