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Headlight advice

Discussion in 'Lighting' started by BigBlack08Taco, Apr 14, 2016.

  1. Apr 14, 2016 at 12:48 PM
    #1
    BigBlack08Taco

    BigBlack08Taco [OP] New Member

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    Hey guys,

    Long time reader, first time poster.

    I need new headlights, and was hoping someone could help clear my confusion. The situation is I have an '08, I did the BHLM about 4 years ago and was pretty happy with the look, but then my headlight housings/lenses started to fade and dull. Last summer I sanded them and sealed them but now they look 10 times worse than before.

    So I was hoping to find a plug-n-play headlight, something a little brighter with an updated look - projectors, eagle eyes, etc.

    Where I'm getting stuck is that there seem to be a lot of negative reviews on every headlight out there, and unclear info on what level of labor is required. It seems there are no aftermarket headlights that don't have fogging issues, and I don't want something that will require hours of work - be it wiring, retrofitting, etc. I just want something clean looking and easy to install, in the $300 range.

    So....any suggestions? I've had these IPCW lights in my Amazon cart for a week, but I'm hesitant to pull the trigger without knowing more: http://www.amazon.com/IPCW-CWS-2040B2-Toyota-Tacoma-Projector/dp/B0071CSK3Y

    Thanks guys!
     
  2. Apr 14, 2016 at 12:48 PM
    #2
    T4RFTMFW

    T4RFTMFW Well-Known Member

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    DEPO is best aftermarket BHLM.
     
  3. Apr 14, 2016 at 12:51 PM
    #3
    stronghammer

    stronghammer STTDB

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    I too want to know a good "plug and play" headlight for a 2nd gen...sub'd for responses.
     
  4. Apr 14, 2016 at 12:53 PM
    #4
    Red Baron

    Red Baron Let's call it livabetes, no more die

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    @DCSBFTMFW is correct, get the DEPO and be happy, it wont ever hurt to seal the outside of them with RTV or Silicone when you receive them though
     
  5. Apr 14, 2016 at 12:58 PM
    #5
    BigBlack08Taco

    BigBlack08Taco [OP] New Member

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    Thanks for the replies. Is there an easy HID install, or am I stuck with incandescent if I want easy?
     
  6. Apr 14, 2016 at 1:05 PM
    #6
    Red Baron

    Red Baron Let's call it livabetes, no more die

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    Get the new housings and get a HID kit, they are pretty easy and straight forward
     
  7. Apr 14, 2016 at 1:07 PM
    #7
    oh crap its him

    oh crap its him Well-Known Member

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    Depo are decent. I have them on my truck and they lasted almost a whole year before the clearcoat started peeling on them, and a year and a half before they started getting moisture on the inside. A second sealing with silicone seems to have done the trick so far.
     
  8. Apr 14, 2016 at 1:36 PM
    #8
    T4RFTMFW

    T4RFTMFW Well-Known Member

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    HID isn't easy, IMO. Epecially budget kits.

    If you don't want finicky stay with halogen.
     
  9. Apr 14, 2016 at 8:21 PM
    #9
    crashnburn80

    crashnburn80 Vehicle Design Engineer

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  10. Apr 15, 2016 at 6:37 AM
    #10
    BigBlack08Taco

    BigBlack08Taco [OP] New Member

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    Thanks again for all the replies. I went ahead and bought the Depo housings, figured that at least fixes the worst part of the problem, and then I can decide later if I want to try to convert them to a different type.

    Crashnburn- again, I don't want to waste another weekend trying to fix 8 year old OEM housings, but thanks. I may eventually try a higher wattage bulb like you posted, but since it would probably be ill advised to run a higher power bulb without a new wiring harness, I'll push that decision off for later. I'm thinking if I'm going to invest the time to do that, I may as well just install HIDs.
     

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