First gen one piece headlights

Looking at getting some one piece headlights to retrofit and put on my 04. Anyone ever buy these off Amazon?

ZMAUTOPARTS Toyota Tacoma DRL LED Black Crystal Head Light W/Chrome Trim Corner Signal

$168 ZMAUTOPARTS DRL LED Black Replacement Head Light W/Chrome Trim Corner Signal Compatible With 2001-2004 Tacoma

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B010154ZMW/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_awd_tcZFwb6GBNFYV

I know spyder is the official name brand... But figured maybe I could save $100 if these aren't bad

 

I'd say stay with name brand stuff because cheap stuff is usually... Well... Cheap. And it's best not to cheap out on the things that help you see (and be seen) at night.

Maybe it's really good. Maybe it's really bad. It's a gamble with the cheap stuff.

 

Well I will be putting my projectors in them from my headlights now and sealing them back up with new sealant so I don't have to worry about leakage or light output. I guess the main thing I'm worried about is bad fitment and/or the leds going out. Most of the time I do go name brand, I'm just trying to spend my Amazon gift card and the name brand spyder ones aren't on there anymore lol

 

I have these. Have had 3 sets actually. They are not very good at all. My first set was not sealed properly. Second set didn't hold up to a retro very well. Still waiting to do my new set. Purchased the third set a while ago now and just haven't got around to doing it. I'm determined to get it perfect next time. Also plan to be more careful on the splitting process as to not bake them as hot/long. As I think the internal plastics are lesser quality and may have been affected when I baked it. The reflector bowls on both sides are now popped loose a lil and rattle around a bit. But the projector alignment is still acceptable. Part of this was also due to offroading, as well as driving down a really rough dirt road everyday to/from home. All the vibration must notve been good for em.

But besides the retrofit issues, there's others such as a crappy clear coat. They hazed in one summer here in az. As well as the trim cracking.

I plan to be extra careful with my new set. And clear coat the whole thing better. And add uv protection. If they don't last I'll definitely be done and go back to the two piece units.

 

I did a retro on these once. I'm pretty sure I had to stick them back in the oven 5 times before I could get the lenses all the way off. Definitely epoxied together. Definitely not retro friendly. Stick with the DEPO or TYC headlights for retroing.

 

Yep same here. Took me like 3or 4 times. can't remember. Wondering if I should try the heat gun on em next go. Just so bummed. I really wanted these to work. But even if you do get a retro nicely installed, they just don't last in the elements..

Edit: Not to mention the hassle to install the housings into the grille. Most say that cutting of the outside vertical tabs of the grille is necessary to install. It is actually not. But it does make it much easier. I didn't cut mine. You gotta remove the grille, carefully insert the headlights into the grille, then hold the whole assembly juggling the headlights and grille into place on the truck, then bolt in the headlights partially, snap in the grille, and finish tightening the headlight bolts down.battery and air box may have to be removed to get in behind the headlights at that point as well.

 

Dang alright well you guys are kind of scaring me away from these. I already have my retrofit done on mine I've changed it up a couple times but I like the look of these lights especially with a retro. I can't find the corner lights I want on eBay anymore (sort of smoked, no Amber) I might get the clear lense ones and paint the insides black. Oh well. Thank you guys for your input.

 

I mean, they are sick looking... Especially with a retrofit.. That's why I bought my third set. To hopefully get it done right this time with no issues. I'm gonna try and be extra careful when baking it. And try clear coating the lens as well as the trim. And see how long they hold up. I've had my new set sitting in storage ALSO with new projectors, for at least a year now. Not that I haven't had time but also because I'm anxious to do it. If you're feeling lucky, then go for it. But if you would rather risk it then stay away. Stick with decent two piece units.

Here's some shots when I was doing mine.

Ccfls inside with the led dtrls:



Ccfls and led halos with dtrls disabled:



Ccfls,led halos, dtrls, and metallic blue passive demon eye (ccfls helped light up the demon eye)




Dusk shot:


Passive daytime shot

 

Heck yeah! I love retrofits. Good job.

 

Can you post on how you installed these lights i need help with the 2 bolts on the side of the headlights.

 

How do you wire the LED strip at the bottom of the light ?

 

Just splice it to the running/parking lights with some T taps or similar. Easy peasy.

 

Did you ever finish making and installing your 3rd set?? How are they holding up?

 

No but I will be starting on it real soon. I just did a retrofit for my bike so figured I'd tackle the taco lights too while I still have all the stuff ready to go. But I'm not even gonna try to wrap or coat them or anything (in an attempt to extend the life of the housings). Just gonna throw it together and slap em on. And hope that they hold up longer this time. I WAS thinking of putting a clear uv wrap, or even clear coating them better. But not gonna mess with that. I may tear an old set apart and see if I can make some plates to bolt the projectors to( like i did with my bike) and eliminate the reflectors completely. But not sure if that'll be possible or not.