1. Welcome to Tacoma World!

    You are currently viewing as a guest! To get full-access, you need to register for a FREE account.

    As a registered member, you’ll be able to:
    • Participate in all Tacoma discussion topics
    • Communicate privately with other Tacoma owners from around the world
    • Post your own photos in our Members Gallery
    • Access all special features of the site

Lifetime LED Install and Review In Progress

Discussion in '2nd Gen. Tacomas (2005-2015)' started by RearViewMirror, Apr 11, 2014.

  1. Jul 3, 2015 at 1:15 PM
    #981
    novadesigns

    novadesigns Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Feb 19, 2010
    Member:
    #31670
    Messages:
    92
    Gender:
    Male
    Los Angeles, CA
    Vehicle:
    2011 Tacoma DC LB 4x4 TRD Sport
    mini antenna... I'm getting to it! Sheesh!
    I put my stock Silverstars back in this morning... god they are SO YELLOW. :(

    So how do I go about getting these replaced? I bought them from Henry over a year ago.
     
  2. Jul 3, 2015 at 1:39 PM
    #982
    RearViewMirror

    RearViewMirror [OP] Saw things so much clearer once you... were in my

    Joined:
    Apr 13, 2013
    Member:
    #102010
    Messages:
    24,069
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Craig Christ
    State of Love and Trust
    Vehicle:
    2023 Subaru WRX GT

    Well that's the problem. Henry is a great guy to deal with. Problem is you have to send your bulb (or ballast) back on your dime and then wait for the replacement. To a degree I understand this. Problem is you are without bulbs until then. This is my own opinion... LED TECHNOLOGY IS NOT READY FOR AFTERMARKET YET. It will be eventually but as it stands now you have to think that any bulb that has to have moving parts to function is not going to last for a long period of time. Especially if you go off road and get dirt and dust in the fan housing. That is just my opinion. I miss the LED's every day and I loved them when they worked. But... a 10 month life cycle for $150 worth of bulbs is not a good investment IMO. Technology will eventually catch up and they will be more reliable but until then I'll forgo the LED route.

    I agree with the silverstars being yellow since they are around 4100K IIRC. I bought a set of 6900K bulbs off Amazon for around $20 and they are white when turned on but I hate the blue tint in the reflector when turned off. That said... They have lasted longer than the LED bulbs and have the same white color when turned on (if you can tolerate the blue tint when turned off).

    I'm going to Retro mine then I'll be done with fucking with my lights for a while.

    I'll reiterate LED's are NOT the way to go at this point and time. If you do you are sitting on a time bomb that will eventually go off long before a regular halogen bulb will.
     
  3. Jul 6, 2015 at 11:12 AM
    #983
    novadesigns

    novadesigns Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Feb 19, 2010
    Member:
    #31670
    Messages:
    92
    Gender:
    Male
    Los Angeles, CA
    Vehicle:
    2011 Tacoma DC LB 4x4 TRD Sport
    mini antenna... I'm getting to it! Sheesh!
    [QUOTE="RearViewMirror]
    I agree with the silverstars being yellow since they are around 4100K IIRC. I bought a set of 6900K bulbs off Amazon for around $20 and they are white when turned on but I hate the blue tint in the reflector when turned off. That said... They have lasted longer than the LED bulbs and have the same white color when turned on (if you can tolerate the blue tint when turned off).

    I'm going to Retro mine then I'll be done with fucking with my lights for a while.

    I'll reiterate LED's are NOT the way to go at this point and time. If you do you are sitting on a time bomb that will eventually go off long before a regular halogen bulb will.[/QUOTE]

    I don't mind the blue tint when off, since my truck is silver. As for your last statement, I don't totally agree as there are MANY vehicles on the road today with factory installed LED headlight systems that are quite reliable. But the difference is that they are sealed units. Don't forget, our tail lights are all LED as well.

    I think saying that its a time bomb, is a little alarmist though, its not like they start fires or cause you to crash. I got 15 months out of my LEDs and really liked them. I have never once gotten more than a year out of Silverstars... they're very fragile.
     
  4. Jul 6, 2015 at 11:15 AM
    #984
    Sterdog

    Sterdog Offline

    Joined:
    Sep 26, 2013
    Member:
    #113290
    Messages:
    18,201
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    I am Groot
    People's Democratic Republic of Canuckistan
    Vehicle:
    15 FoST
    The LEDS your talking about are usually signal or running lights. They don't have to put out the candella that headlights do. There's the problem right now. These aftermarket lights fail because, at some point, the compact design with that much output can't handle the hot/cold stress cycle and shit stops working.
     
  5. Jul 6, 2015 at 11:17 AM
    #985
    MGMTacolover55

    MGMTacolover55 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jan 31, 2013
    Member:
    #96545
    Messages:
    4,316
    Gender:
    Male
    Orygun
    Vehicle:
    2013 MGM Taco TRD Off Road
    floor Mats
    Rigid Industries lights seem to last and they put out 3000 lumens for the duallys.
     
  6. Jul 6, 2015 at 11:30 AM
    #986
    Sterdog

    Sterdog Offline

    Joined:
    Sep 26, 2013
    Member:
    #113290
    Messages:
    18,201
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    I am Groot
    People's Democratic Republic of Canuckistan
    Vehicle:
    15 FoST
    That's a sealed unit. The current LED headlights leave everything exposed to the elements to some extent.

    That's also why if Rigid developed some LED headlights I'd buy them right away. Better quality goes a long way right off the bat.
     
  7. Jul 6, 2015 at 11:53 AM
    #987
    Jester243

    Jester243 all I wanted was a god dang picture of a hotdog...

    Joined:
    Jun 25, 2008
    Member:
    #7552
    Messages:
    10,408
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Dan
    Spokane, WA
    Vehicle:
    2016 Trail Premium 4Runner w/ KDSS
    some of this, a little of that

    unless they fail at night while your driving...
     
  8. Jul 6, 2015 at 12:00 PM
    #988
    Sterdog

    Sterdog Offline

    Joined:
    Sep 26, 2013
    Member:
    #113290
    Messages:
    18,201
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    I am Groot
    People's Democratic Republic of Canuckistan
    Vehicle:
    15 FoST
    Odds are both won't fail at the same time. Mines went one at a time about 1 week after each other, so the time bomb analogy could work there.
     
  9. Jul 6, 2015 at 12:08 PM
    #989
    IPNPULZ

    IPNPULZ Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jun 16, 2014
    Member:
    #132087
    Messages:
    13,445
    Gender:
    Male
    Deeper in the South…….
    Vehicle:
    2023 TRD Off Road Premium 4R
    going to be fun!
    I was at a car show 2 weekends ago and there was a Rigid distributor at the show and he was saying he is hearing of them doing a LED head lamp conversion kit......

    The only bad thing was that he said it would most likely by for Honda at first.
     
  10. Jul 6, 2015 at 12:34 PM
    #990
    RearViewMirror

    RearViewMirror [OP] Saw things so much clearer once you... were in my

    Joined:
    Apr 13, 2013
    Member:
    #102010
    Messages:
    24,069
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Craig Christ
    State of Love and Trust
    Vehicle:
    2023 Subaru WRX GT
    The one manufacture that comes to mind with total LED light's is Acura (I'm sure there are more). Difference between these bulbs and a "factory" unit is the factory designed the headlight with LED technology in mind. Toyota (at least the trucks we drive) most likely didn't intend for us to throw these shitty aftermarket LED bulbs in our housings. As I said before, I love the LED's (when they work). The technology just isn't there "yet"

    I wasn't saying that to be alarmist. Mostly to prove a point that these bulbs (due to the cost) will go out as fast if not faster than a average set of halogen bulbs. Your mileage may vary. I wish anyone with them right now good luck with them. I hope they last for a very long time. I "personally" haven't had much luck with them.

    Add to that the actual moving parts to a bulb and the dust and debris that get in them from off roading or just normal driving.

    I've got a set and yes they are amazing. Mine are not DOT approved (they make some that are) so I don't get to use them unless I'm the only one on the road or off road. I love them and as the old adage goes.... You get what you pay for


    IMG_0356_zpsmoctktlv_70d3ee0af0c4a5c953c4d023d04579ada5983f7a.jpg

    IMG_0355_zpsefy1h5bx_90b21d7104a750c04ad9a38571ead44b92a36b21.jpg
     
  11. Jul 6, 2015 at 2:44 PM
    #991
    MGMTacolover55

    MGMTacolover55 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jan 31, 2013
    Member:
    #96545
    Messages:
    4,316
    Gender:
    Male
    Orygun
    Vehicle:
    2013 MGM Taco TRD Off Road
    floor Mats
    I do have DOT ones but dang are they worth the price :D also your truck is sexy man!
     
  12. Jul 6, 2015 at 3:18 PM
    #992
    RearViewMirror

    RearViewMirror [OP] Saw things so much clearer once you... were in my

    Joined:
    Apr 13, 2013
    Member:
    #102010
    Messages:
    24,069
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Craig Christ
    State of Love and Trust
    Vehicle:
    2023 Subaru WRX GT
    Thanks brother :)

    Looking back I kind of wish I would have picked up the DOT instead of the D2's but damn they are bright when I need them
     
  13. Jul 6, 2015 at 3:26 PM
    #993
    MGMTacolover55

    MGMTacolover55 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jan 31, 2013
    Member:
    #96545
    Messages:
    4,316
    Gender:
    Male
    Orygun
    Vehicle:
    2013 MGM Taco TRD Off Road
    floor Mats
    The dot duallys are just the hyperspot optics with a diffusion one of sorts.
     
  14. Jul 6, 2015 at 3:34 PM
    #994
    Benson X

    Benson X My build thread sucks...

    Joined:
    Nov 13, 2010
    Member:
    #46123
    Messages:
    5,671
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Ben
    Olympia, WA
    Vehicle:
    '11 MGM DC/LB
    If you don't draw blood, you're doing it wrong!
    Sorry in advance for the HUGE pic, but it's the best one I could find.

    These are the ones I ordered from DHgate. $60, 4 months old, working great, NO fan or moving parts, no moisture (used the OEM dust boot), bright as hell on Low and High
    [​IMG]
     
  15. Jul 6, 2015 at 3:43 PM
    #995
    RearViewMirror

    RearViewMirror [OP] Saw things so much clearer once you... were in my

    Joined:
    Apr 13, 2013
    Member:
    #102010
    Messages:
    24,069
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Craig Christ
    State of Love and Trust
    Vehicle:
    2023 Subaru WRX GT

    Here's to hoping you have good luck out of them. Keep us posted
     
  16. Jul 6, 2015 at 3:48 PM
    #996
    o0oSHADOWo0o

    o0oSHADOWo0o Just lurking in the darkness

    Joined:
    May 7, 2014
    Member:
    #129360
    Messages:
    8,889
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Shadow
    Va Beach
    Vehicle:
    2012 Double Cab Short Bed 4x4 TRD Sport
    Just a few LEDs...
    I kinda like the whitewashed trees in the pictures giving the false appearance of sharp cutoff lines. :rofl:

    My "Plasma Glow" LED headlights that I got from AutoAnything (Essentially the same thing as Lifetime LEDs) are still going strong after over a year of service. I guess I got mine from the one "good" batch
     
    Lord Helmet likes this.
  17. Jul 6, 2015 at 5:11 PM
    #997
    Benson X

    Benson X My build thread sucks...

    Joined:
    Nov 13, 2010
    Member:
    #46123
    Messages:
    5,671
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Ben
    Olympia, WA
    Vehicle:
    '11 MGM DC/LB
    If you don't draw blood, you're doing it wrong!
    :pray:
    Only time will tell :)

    Yea, the pics are weird. I need to get out and take some comparisons of my own. The cutoff is decent, definitely not a sharp horizontal line. I have not been flashed by any oncoming traffic, so I guess they are not too bad :)
     
  18. Jul 11, 2015 at 12:02 PM
    #998
    kd8bao

    kd8bao Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Mar 29, 2011
    Member:
    #53990
    Messages:
    507
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Henry
    Cleveland
    Vehicle:
    2000 Excursion 7.3L - Ex '11 Taco DCSB
    Well, i was scanning posts and came across this. I haven't been on as much since I sold my Taco. I have upgraded to an Excursion. Anyways, the warranty for the lights is as was stated in later posts. You have to send back your bulbs with a copy of the receipt and they will send out the replacements. About a year ago they had to revamp the warranty process because people were claiming defective bulbs, getting new ones and then never returning any lights. I also am not directly involved with Wired Installation anymore, but i can redirect anyone who needs help. I am not sure some of the issues with the lights and Tacos. It could be the electrical system, original batch from manufacturing or a number of other factors. I had the original set and then upgraded to the high power ones when they came out. I have since gave them to my brother who has a taco and he has been running them for about 3 months. I am going to get a set for my Excursion here shortly. I still believe in them. However, I did keep a cheap set of halogens in the glove box just in case.

    I do still monitor the forums just not as often and I do get PM notifications.

    happy trails and ride safe

    Henry
     
  19. Jul 11, 2015 at 4:32 PM
    #999
    KB Voodoo

    KB Voodoo Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Dec 20, 2012
    Member:
    #93425
    Messages:
    9,687
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Chad
    Glenwood, NY
    www.kbvoodoo.com
    Not sure if that's an upgrade.
     
  20. Jul 11, 2015 at 5:29 PM
    #1000
    RearViewMirror

    RearViewMirror [OP] Saw things so much clearer once you... were in my

    Joined:
    Apr 13, 2013
    Member:
    #102010
    Messages:
    24,069
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Craig Christ
    State of Love and Trust
    Vehicle:
    2023 Subaru WRX GT
    The lights weren't.... well they were then they weren't ;)
     
    KB Voodoo[QUOTED] likes this.

Products Discussed in

To Top