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What Is your Favorite aftermarket headlight?

Discussion in '2nd Gen. Tacomas (2005-2015)' started by KUIU, May 13, 2015.

  1. May 13, 2015 at 6:36 PM
    #1
    KUIU

    KUIU [OP] Member

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    Rear Airbag Suspension, 35inch Mickey Thompson tires, 20 inch XD rims, Skid Plate, Navigation touch screen kenwood deck, Ram air K&N intake, Exhaust. 6 inch pro comp lift. Grillcraft grill, 30 inch light bar, bull bar, tail light cages.
    I was thinking about getting the Spyder Halo's but i heard they rattle when youre going off road.
     
  2. May 13, 2015 at 6:37 PM
    #2
    Justus

    Justus fucks not given

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    zero, nada

    they have sub par optics, fade, leak, yellow, and peel
     
  3. May 13, 2015 at 6:40 PM
    #3
    KUIU

    KUIU [OP] Member

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    Nice, Did you just smoke yours out yourself?
     
  4. May 13, 2015 at 6:57 PM
    #4
    EquinsuOcha

    EquinsuOcha Bourbon

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    Ft Worth, TX
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    AFE Drop-in filter, Wet Okole seat covers, Hifonics 6.5" components in front, MA Audio midbasses in rear, Kicker 8", RE Audio 2 channel for components, Elemental Designs bridged 2-channel for sub, CB, Devil Horns, Rancho QuickLift, Rancho RS9000XL rear shocks, Toytec AAL, stickers, things and stuff.
    I used Spec-D OEM style head lights for a good while, and they had very good light output. I now have Spyder halogen projectors and they're decent. Once I save up some cash, I'll retro the projectors and put in some HID bulbs

    Neither set has ever leaked or fogged up. As far as yellowing is concerned, even OEM lenses will do that.
     
    Dixon22 likes this.
  5. May 13, 2015 at 7:00 PM
    #5
    Justn868

    Justn868 Well-Known Member

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    I personally don't care for any of the aftermarket lights, but I am a sucker for some retrofits
     
  6. May 13, 2015 at 7:25 PM
    #6
    pudge151

    pudge151 Well-Known Member

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    I have Depo brand blacked out lights and have been very happy with them. light output and pattern is nearly as good as OEM, lens is clear no fading like my OEM lights did, no leaks or fogging.
    [​IMG]
     
  7. May 13, 2015 at 8:10 PM
    #7
    Maticuno

    Maticuno Resident Pine Swine

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    I'm glad someone brought this subject up. My lenses are starting to fade and I've been wanting to get some aftermarket blacked out replacements. How long have you had those Depo lights?
     
  8. May 13, 2015 at 8:51 PM
    #8
    TYetti

    TYetti 4cylinders of awesomeness

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    I got one aftermarket housing it leaks worse than the passenger light which is oem and broken cause a tree hit it. not at all happy with my aftermarket light. Might try another set and seal them up with silicone but that won't happen till I get a bumper with light hoops
     
  9. May 13, 2015 at 9:32 PM
    #9
    pudge151

    pudge151 Well-Known Member

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    A couple years and they look new. Got them on Amazon for about $120
     
  10. May 14, 2015 at 5:52 AM
    #10
    127.0.0.1

    127.0.0.1 AKA ::1

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    absolutely true

    NO ONE makes aftermarket headlights that meet FMVSS photometric requirements.
    the cost of making a legal set of headlights is far beyond the budget of any of
    these aftermarket makers.

    all aftermarket wannabe sets have one or more critical flaws...and all they do for you
    is tell everyone around you who happens to drive at night and see you coming is:
    oh wow that person has some f**ked up lights
     
  11. May 14, 2015 at 5:57 AM
    #11
    Rippin101

    Rippin101 Well-Known Member

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    I prefer OEM and performing BLHM, I think looks best. DEPO is a good aftermarket brand, lots of Euro spec modders use them.
     
  12. May 14, 2015 at 9:02 AM
    #12
    TaylorU

    TaylorU KC HiLiTES Vendor

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    If you're gonna look to get new headlights, look into Rechelon Aesthetics. I follow them on Instagram and they do some amazing work. Sometimes it is too gaudy for my taste, but they're all complete custom.
     
  13. May 14, 2015 at 9:16 AM
    #13
    steveh_2007

    steveh_2007 Pro Member

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    TRD Baja Suspension, FN Wheels BFD, TRD Cat-back Exhaust, TRD Cold Air Intake, TRD GrillCraft MX Grilles, FX-R 3.0 Bi-Xenon Retrofit with Osram CBI Bulbs, OEM Navigation/Bluetooth/Backup Camera Retrofit, WeatherTech Floorliners, Valentine One, ScanGuage II with custom V1/SGII BlendMount
    I know the thread title says aftermarket... but these are my favorite: OEM Headlights with "aftermarket" retrofit components!
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
     
    Dixon22, KUIU[OP] and Tyson like this.
  14. May 14, 2015 at 4:31 PM
    #14
    KUIU

    KUIU [OP] Member

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    Thanks for all your replies. I talked to a guy here where I live that buys OEM lights and builds them how you want. I really like the Retrofit projector lights.
     
  15. May 14, 2015 at 4:35 PM
    #15
    pudge151

    pudge151 Well-Known Member

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    Retrofit is the best way to go if you wanna spend the cash
     
  16. May 14, 2015 at 10:34 PM
    #16
    EquinsuOcha

    EquinsuOcha Bourbon

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    Do you have any data supporting this? I've looked through the requirements and they have to do with little more than spacing and measurement of the light beam (which would be dependent of the bulb being measured).
     
  17. May 15, 2015 at 9:07 AM
    #17
    127.0.0.1

    127.0.0.1 AKA ::1

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    I don't need data, it is self evident once you understand what testing is involved. a TON of money needed and a ton
    of research and testing and prototypes...with no return on investment unless you are an automaker.


    you should go read everything on the automotive lighting section at candlepowerforums.com when it comes to aftermarket
    headlights. especially the same arguments you are bringing up. the moderators of that forum -are- educated automotive lighting experts and have a take-no-prisoners approach at outlining the law and requirements to anyone who asks.


    basic FACT is you need about a million dollar facility to do photometric measurements for federal requirements.
    I guarantee only OEM headlight makers have those types of resources. aftermarket are typically only going in for the cost
    of injection molding (which isn't cheap), not the cost of testing the photometrics for each and every model of vehicle they make lights for

    for craps sake, philips (they have money) took >5 years and >5 million dollars to design just one LED bulb replacement that meets fed regs, and it only goes into a very short list of specific OEM assemblies. In any other non-listed assembly, the photometrics are off, therefore, not legal.

    do what you want but unless the light is OEM and made for your specific year it won't meet photometrics. You've seen the difference photometric testing produces...we've all seen thousands of oncoming cars at night and all the lights look good for hundreds of cars, (OEM lights) and have no glare or defects, and then you can pick out an oddball one and know it is messed up aftermarket. it is not trivial to produce a legal light assembly, it is some of the highest engineering in a vehicle today (has to be aerodynamic, has to be glare free, visible from certain angles, can't catch fire...shatter-resistant, certain optical quality of the lens...cutoff...light spillover is controlled....and more and more requirements)

    every last photon and glare in OEM is calculated by expensive equipment. aftermarket typically just copies stuff (which never has the same qualities as the original)
     
    Last edited: May 15, 2015
    Justus likes this.
  18. May 15, 2015 at 9:40 AM
    #18
    127.0.0.1

    127.0.0.1 AKA ::1

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    FYI

    SAE has a full day class you can attend, just so you can interpret the regulations.

    http://training.sae.org/seminars/c0618/

    $725 bucks, just to learn the regs.

    not even getting into lab work.

    told you... it is highly complex science, not dime-store lighting
     
  19. May 15, 2015 at 10:23 AM
    #19
    KB Voodoo

    KB Voodoo Well-Known Member

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    /thread
     
  20. May 15, 2015 at 10:33 AM
    #20
    Square

    Square Well-Known Member

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    I live in a hilly area and I always get blinded by OEM projector headlights at night. You can spend millions of dollars, but they aren't going to be perfect for every scenario. If you do a proper retrofit, you'll be fine.
     

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