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

Headlight upgrades

Discussion in '3rd Gen. Tacomas (2016-2023)' started by ncyrider, Apr 3, 2020.

  1. Apr 3, 2020 at 1:09 PM
    #1
    ncyrider

    ncyrider [OP] Active Member

    Joined:
    Jul 7, 2019
    Member:
    #298595
    Messages:
    42
    Gender:
    Male
    2017 SR5...What are the best setups when it comes to upgrading the stock headlights to LED? Ive seen plenty of the complete headlight replacements. But I don't want to spend $250+ and just want to get the headlight (mainly the projectors) bulbs from halogen to quality LED bulbs...if it's worth it, and doesn't blind oncoming traffic like some of the led bulb upgrades for other/older vehicles.
     
  2. Apr 3, 2020 at 1:12 PM
    #2
    Rockefelluh

    Rockefelluh Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Aug 18, 2018
    Member:
    #263236
    Messages:
    2,051
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Rocky
    Orange County, CA
    Vehicle:
    2018 DCLB TRDOR 4x4
  3. Apr 3, 2020 at 1:14 PM
    #3
    SD_Taco

    SD_Taco Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Mar 26, 2018
    Member:
    #248520
    Messages:
    182
    Gender:
    Male
    San Diego
    Vehicle:
    2017 Sport DCLB
  4. Apr 3, 2020 at 1:16 PM
    #4
    grubburg

    grubburg Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jan 13, 2014
    Member:
    #120579
    Messages:
    2,328
    Gender:
    Male
    Vehicle:
    2019 TRD OR MT
    K & N Intake, Gibson Catback (chopped), Weathertech floormats, 285/70/17 Ridge Grapplers, Black Rhino Glamis wheels, Kicker Key, Kicker Hideaway, Infiniti Speakers, OV Tune, 888's, 5100s X 4, HS 3-leaf, LR SPC UCAs, Diff Drop, Carrier Bearing Drop, OEM Bed Mat, Morimoto HID low beams, Morimoto LED 2 Stroke High Beams, KC 336 LED bar, KC C3 LED pods for rear, KC LED 6'' SlimLites ditch lights, N-Fab Steps, Auxbeam Interior Blue Lights, 7r41lbr34k3r Shift Knob, Wet Okole Seat Covers, Diode Dynamics SAE Pro Fogs, Cali Raised ditch light brackets, hidden light bar brackets, tailgate light brackets.
  5. Apr 3, 2020 at 1:33 PM
    #5
    VaToy

    VaToy Life Long Member

    Joined:
    Mar 26, 2018
    Member:
    #248467
    Messages:
    4,421
    Gender:
    Male
    Parts Unknown
    Vehicle:
    2018 TRD DCLB Sport 4x4 Silver Sky
    Bilsteins 5100s on the top setting, 4runner Gray TRD Pro Sema wheels, 285/70/17 Toyo AT3s, Sumo Bump stops, TRD exhaust, ECGS Clamshell bushing, 1/4 shim for the lean and one inch rear block, OEM Pro grill and garnish OEM TRD Skid plate, TRD CAI, Demon Brackets, Rigid Industries Pro fog lights, OEM Trail Rails sidebars, Diode Dynamics LED SL1 high and low beam lights, OEM Roof racks, Clazzio leather heated seats, Remote Start, TRD Pro shift knob, tinted windows, Rockford Fosgate 4 channel amp for the headunit and sub and amp combo, OEM Puddle lights, OEM tailgate lock, OEM bed mat, LED interior lights, OEM blackout kit for letters, JLT catch can, upgraded 27F toyota True Start battery, Vleds led tail light kit with Pro tail lights, OEM Rave4 side mirrors with convex spotters,just to name a few mods.
    I just did the Diode Dynamics SL1 for $150 and removed my GE Mega 130. To me they surpass the GEs and are more focused and way brighter. I don't get any flashing from other vehicles.
     
    Last edited: Apr 3, 2020
  6. Apr 3, 2020 at 1:42 PM
    #6
    grubburg

    grubburg Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jan 13, 2014
    Member:
    #120579
    Messages:
    2,328
    Gender:
    Male
    Vehicle:
    2019 TRD OR MT
    K & N Intake, Gibson Catback (chopped), Weathertech floormats, 285/70/17 Ridge Grapplers, Black Rhino Glamis wheels, Kicker Key, Kicker Hideaway, Infiniti Speakers, OV Tune, 888's, 5100s X 4, HS 3-leaf, LR SPC UCAs, Diff Drop, Carrier Bearing Drop, OEM Bed Mat, Morimoto HID low beams, Morimoto LED 2 Stroke High Beams, KC 336 LED bar, KC C3 LED pods for rear, KC LED 6'' SlimLites ditch lights, N-Fab Steps, Auxbeam Interior Blue Lights, 7r41lbr34k3r Shift Knob, Wet Okole Seat Covers, Diode Dynamics SAE Pro Fogs, Cali Raised ditch light brackets, hidden light bar brackets, tailgate light brackets.
    Headlight upgrades are a no brainer. They just make driving safer, in my opinion, but you get the added benefit of fun installing and customizing.
     
  7. Apr 3, 2020 at 1:43 PM
    #7
    awynne56

    awynne56 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Oct 4, 2019
    Member:
    #307053
    Messages:
    217
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Andy
    Vehicle:
    2019 Taco trd sport
    front grill pro
  8. Apr 3, 2020 at 1:44 PM
    #8
    grubburg

    grubburg Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jan 13, 2014
    Member:
    #120579
    Messages:
    2,328
    Gender:
    Male
    Vehicle:
    2019 TRD OR MT
    K & N Intake, Gibson Catback (chopped), Weathertech floormats, 285/70/17 Ridge Grapplers, Black Rhino Glamis wheels, Kicker Key, Kicker Hideaway, Infiniti Speakers, OV Tune, 888's, 5100s X 4, HS 3-leaf, LR SPC UCAs, Diff Drop, Carrier Bearing Drop, OEM Bed Mat, Morimoto HID low beams, Morimoto LED 2 Stroke High Beams, KC 336 LED bar, KC C3 LED pods for rear, KC LED 6'' SlimLites ditch lights, N-Fab Steps, Auxbeam Interior Blue Lights, 7r41lbr34k3r Shift Knob, Wet Okole Seat Covers, Diode Dynamics SAE Pro Fogs, Cali Raised ditch light brackets, hidden light bar brackets, tailgate light brackets.
    I would caution you to stay away from The Retrofit Source. I purchased through them and had a terrible time with their customer service. Often, I'd be on hold for 20 minutes, then the call would just drop me. Sometimes they had the "enter your number, we'll call you back" feature on. Other times, they didn't. In addition, on hold, their auto message is about as annoying as you can possibly fathom.
     
  9. Apr 3, 2020 at 1:52 PM
    #9
    awynne56

    awynne56 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Oct 4, 2019
    Member:
    #307053
    Messages:
    217
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Andy
    Vehicle:
    2019 Taco trd sport
    front grill pro
    :thumbsup:I was waiting for that @Boghog1 to be thrown out. Lots of info In that one.. long story short hid better in the halogen projector lens than led.
     
  10. Apr 3, 2020 at 1:59 PM
    #10
    joechef

    joechef Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Feb 18, 2019
    Member:
    #283549
    Messages:
    189
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Joe
    Seattle, WA
    Just to clarify - it is STRONGLY recommended to NOT run LED bulbs in the stock halogen projectors. You will downgrade your effective light output and you will create glare for oncoming traffic. Please read the posts made by @crashnburn80

    https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/why-leds-should-not-be-run-in-halogen-reflectors.454371/
     
    Last edited: Apr 3, 2020
    AZ_Tumbleweed and awynne56 like this.
  11. Apr 3, 2020 at 2:11 PM
    #11
    crashnburn80

    crashnburn80 Vehicle Design Engineer

    Joined:
    Jun 6, 2015
    Member:
    #156893
    Messages:
    14,563
    Gender:
    Male
    Kirkland, WA
    Vehicle:
    2003 DCSB TRD OR
    Go Hawks!
    Note those are not an SAE product, despite what the add says. The are copies of Baja's SAE lights, which were also not SAE compliant and Baja issued fixes for them which involved putting blockout plates behind the lens which significantly reduced output. Money is far better spent on the Diode Dynamics SS3 lights which are far brighter than Baja and actually SAE compliant.

    Note he is asking about projectors which the internal light shield will prevent glare, that post is about reflectors.
     
    grubburg and herecomesace like this.
  12. Apr 3, 2020 at 2:15 PM
    #12
    awynne56

    awynne56 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Oct 4, 2019
    Member:
    #307053
    Messages:
    217
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Andy
    Vehicle:
    2019 Taco trd sport
    front grill pro
    @crashnburn80 well that sucks butt. I searched and I so nothing on these. Or maybe I just suck at reading lol. Thanks for the heads up. Fudge
     
  13. Apr 3, 2020 at 2:21 PM
    #13
    BlessThisMess

    BlessThisMess Fried

    Joined:
    Mar 14, 2020
    Member:
    #322139
    Messages:
    44
    .
     
    Last edited: Apr 26, 2020
    VaToy likes this.
  14. Apr 3, 2020 at 2:21 PM
    #14
    crashnburn80

    crashnburn80 Vehicle Design Engineer

    Joined:
    Jun 6, 2015
    Member:
    #156893
    Messages:
    14,563
    Gender:
    Male
    Kirkland, WA
    Vehicle:
    2003 DCSB TRD OR
    Go Hawks!
    The Baja product is covered in post #964 here: Baja Designs. Note at the end the 'fix' for the lights is shown. The iJDMToy is a knockoff without the fix.
     
    Yann likes this.

Products Discussed in

To Top