Headlight options with Amber DRLs

First-Time Poster: Need Advice on Headlights with Amber DRLs


Hey everyone, I’ve been eyeing new headlights for my 2020 TRD Sport, and I really like the look of amber DRLs. After some research, here are the brands I’ve found that offer them:

1. Morimoto XB

• My top pick, but also the priciest—especially here in Canada.

• Links: XB Evo | XB

2. Form Lighting

• Slightly cheaper and almost as good, but the DRLs don’t stand out as much as I’d like.

• Link: Form Lighting

3. AlphaRex

• Best price and most options, but I haven’t found much feedback. Anyone here have experience with these?

• Link: AlphaRex

4. Anzo

• Mixed reviews and not much cheaper than the top-tier options. If you have these and like them, let me know!

• Link: Anzo


If you have other brands that I didn’t find in my research let me know. I appreciate all pics of your trucks with ambers on (preferably at night). Like many of you, I’m addicted to upgrading my Tacoma am I’m looking forward to your responses!

PFA

 

If your priority is headlamp performance, Morimoto XB Evo is only aftermarket option to be considered. Low beam carry nearly twice distance range throw than OE LED reflector Low beam, considerably strong high beam distance object illuminance, width is modest compare to OE LED reflector, but overall, only aftermarket lamp actually make sense. (XB Evo hybrid also good, same low beam performance as Xb Evo, but high beam is not as good as OE LED reflector performance. if you are coming from Halogen projector, then no question, still a immensely solid upgrade) Morimoto XB gen2 was generally OK but nothing particularly good. Anzo is really bad optics, too much negative to comments don't know where to even start. Huge downgrade even compare to OE Halogen projector Not safe. It has odd lower angle spread doing nothing but the blowing up foreground while very poor spread. AlphaRex Nova, it also has wrongly assigned foreground flood, making road projection very poor. Not safe AlphaRex Luxx, it has strong spread and decent volume but cutoff is really bad, can't reliably aim, if aim too low to avoid glare, then then can't reach. High beam is strong. Since low beam is useless, I can't recommend. Form, Projector is weak design, chunky beam with heavy foreground, it gives fuller impression at near field but not reaching any distance zone where you want to focus, foreground and mid range is fuller volume. Distance zone is weaker than OE Halogen at working voltage, especially high beam.

 

Performance does matter to me. I believe strongly in buying a part once and buying it right. My truck does have a lift so something that aims well would be nice so I’m not blinding everyone on the road.

I was leaning towards the XB gen 2’s from the start but just heard about the Evo. The only thing scaring me off is the price. I know there’s more options out there without amber DRLs but I haven’t really looked. Do you have any other headlights you recommend? You seem like you know your stuff, and is the only difference between the Evo and Evo Hybrid the High beams?

 

XB Evo Hybrid does NOT have Amber DRL, not what you are looking for. ( Sorry about that, I should have notice your search criteria) XB Evo has Startup sequence, White or Amber selectable DRL, Fade off style turn signal or Sequential Off style turn signal, this is also selectable ( configure with function selector plug, chose what you like, you can change as you change mind too same headlamp, you can select configurations), additional high beam boost assist D optics and lens heater function for cold region. Shroud is dark titanium accent, vs XB Hybrid limited to White DRL, Fade off style turn signal, No additional high beam booster, all black interior trim XB Gen2 and XB Evo is same price, really no reason to look for XB Gen2 unless massive discount, or if you like how it looks, but performance really is night and day difference. Other aftermarket options, I can't tell What you have listed were lamps I had tested and have data with, so I was able to tell. But I can advise in general, aftermarket lamp are mostly just for looks, if you mind lighting performance, really only choice is XB Evo. Whatever lamp you ended up with, depend on lift amount, but you most likely need to aim lamp cutoff to be 3" below headlamp reference height at 25' distance.

 

Get the XB amber DRL! The low beams are bright but my favorite feature is the amber DRL. They make your truck stand out! I have them on my truck about 3 years now and no issues.

 

The new XB Evos

 

you're still at TRS?!?

 

Yep—13+ years so far!

 

Evo's ftmfw!!!
The amber drls are amazing. And freakin bright as hell! I haven't even bothered to try the whites bc I'm so in love with the amber(plus I have other amber lights up front)
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...adlights-are-here.848777/page-3#post-30343545

 

I have Morimoto’s and I absolutely love them, I get tons of compliments about how good they look and they preform well also.

 

So I know everyone is saying get the xbs. I heard the same thing and got them on my Tacoma. Brightness they were near the same, but high beams they were worse. With a lifted truck they were very difficult to level. They never went high enough to be the same as the stock. I ended up having to send a broken one in when the level tab broke and they sent me a 4Runner light. Truck was out of commission for a few weeks dealing with them. After 1.5 years they were extremely fogged up. It was a frew hurtles to get a new one. They also required the originals to go back before they would send new ones. Another month of the truck out of operation. New set in, within 6 months one of the plastic brackets broke. If you decide to get them, keep your originals, you will need them. These headlights are not near oem quality. I would not get Morimoto again.

 

Very sorry to hear of the issues. So you got a replacement set of the XBs, right?

The Evos are vastly improved in quality, longevity, technology, etc. It’s one gen Tacoma to the next, but much moreso since we dissected every component and function as part of the evolution. Its a ~5 year newer model.

I’ll be glad to assist however I can!

 

The last time with the broken tab, no. I gave up dealing with it all and went back to stock. I was originally apart of the Tacoma world group buy back when they were announced. The fog lights I got from that were pretty solid and never had issues. However the headlights were very problematic.

 

the various makers of housings are covered and their shortcomings
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/3rd-gen-hid-vs-led-vs-halogen-h11-projector-headlights.589465/

 

Wow, great write up! Have you personally tested all the lights you listed? You provided a great explanation of all of them!

 

Yes, all of what I listed were tested. I am the designer of Morimoto XB Evo line up ( design/optical/mechanical/thermal), so OE was bench marked deeply. And some popular aftermarket was also observed for later marketing purpose. ( because their past headlamp observation practice had been insufficient and lots of incorrectness)
Test were conducted by my team under my instruction. Each lamp was tested at 1min and 30min mark, aimed based on VOR ( all sample were VOR marked at least on the lens) photometric intensity was measured 7 selected points for low beam, 5 selected points for high beam
It was really my good surprise to learn OE LED was admirably well designed, I knew many talked about how good they were, and it was true, it was very well done optics. It is strongly better than 5th gen 4Runner OE LED projector performance to put in perspective. So OE LED reflector user is lucky. Tacoma got really good optics of OE LED.

Other aftermarket lamps tested that wasn't mentioned above posts were AlphaOwl and WinJet/Attica, but very rough, marketing team will have full comparison video putting together for Tacoma community for better visual reference, but whatever I wrote above is assessment message I instructed to use. So review assessment comments are bit strict from my professional standard and words.
If you have any question about above listed lamps optical performance, feel free to reach me out.

 

Do you know if the evo series are coming for 2nd gen 2012-2015 trucks? I really like the evo series for 3rd gen. Hoping they have the 2012-2015 tacoma in the works too.

 

OEM would be best although, no amber option.

Runner up would be these as mentioned...

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/new-16-23-morimoto-xb-evo-headlights-are-here.848777/

 

Any recommendations for 2gen? 2006 Tacoma.

 

There are no plans for a 12-15 Evo model sadly