3rd Gen HID vs LED vs Halogen H11 projector headlights

Philips H9 is best pick for high beams (OEM spec)

 

Wat bout low beams h9

 

Wat

 

Philips H9 is the best high beam bulb, it is what is stock.
Philips H9 is the best low beam bulb swap. You must trim the internal plastic tab on the bulb to fit the H9. The stock low beam is H11, swapping an H9 will provide a huge gain in output and the Philips H9 is best.

 

Will this make the lowbeams as bright as the high beams?

 

Output will be the same, but the low beam pattern is focused, whereas the high beam pattern is more distributed. So while raw output is the same the low beam will actually be higher in output intensity than the high beam.

 

What about the osram bulbs?

 

How long has this light setup lasted you?

 

20 years and the same bulb. Its now a faint glow but if you squint hard you can see it

 

I don’t have a 3rd gen. But the Philips bulb life is rated at 400 hours. On my 2nd Gen I ran 200 hour bulbs, which lasted me exactly one year with conservative use. So based on conservative use, I'd estimate 2 years, but with normal use I'd estimate 1-2 years. My 2nd Gen bulbs were expensive and no longer available. So I'd try to get the max life out of them, Philips H9s are cheap and readily available, so no reason to use them conservatively.

 

Gotcha yeah, I'm stoked to do this vs changing out the whole damn headlight housing. This seems to be much more better rec'd than sticking LED bulbs in the stock housing.

 

hey - just putting this out there.

I have done a ton of research including pretty much read this thread cover to cover.

I started my quest for new headlights wanting Alpha Rex for my 2017 sport because of how cool looking they were (on and off).

Then, after seeing the work @crashnburn80 does, I quickly said to myself, this guy knows his shit (and then some). So, needleless to say, I moved on from the Alpha and onto the debate over 2nd gen Morimoto's vs OEM LED. Again, stressing I am primarily doing this for looks, as I wanted to minimize the chrome look. However, at the same time, I am getting up their in age and I want to see at night. My town has a ton of deer, and no street lights. Not to mention trips up into and around New England. So, that also means snow/ice and the whole halogen vs LED ice over thing. So, I landed on the OEM light being better for me.

I also thought about OEM PRO 2019 with H9s in the interest of avoiding a harness.

Cutting through all of it finally, this all made me realize that lighting was more important than looks, and for $1,500 to $2,000 for OEM upgrading, not worth it to me when I can swap in H9s for less than $30. I am putting the money I saved toward the lift kit, tires, and wheels I always wanted.

I did the H9 mod and swap and added SS4 Max Fogs in selective yellow (again, another awesome thread and recommendation from Crash). Plenty of light now and the fogs also look sick.

So, really long way of saying a very big thank you to @crashnburn80 for helping me get to the right answer for me... and helping me justify the new lift etc... hahah!

 

What fog mod did you do? Link

 

I swapped my OEM fogs for Diode Dynamics SS3 Max Fogs in Selective Yellow. Analogous to amber, but they are a better wavelength of light for inclement weather, depending on where your preference lands in the whole amber or not debate.

Again, the info @crashnburn80 put out there was awesome. Check it out:

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/the-led-sae-j583-fog-pod-fog-light-review.554813/

Wiring is plug and play, install is relatively easy, but does require removing a few fasteners and getting between the wheel well and front bumper. Plenty of good videos on the install.

These are super bright, I use them when needed, and special attention should be given to getting them aimed correctly, which is very easy with these. Overall very happy. If too bright for you, there is a level down called pro.

https://www.diodedynamics.com/ss3-led-fog-light-kit-for-2016-2021-toyota-tacoma.html

PS Apologies, my last post referenced these as SS4... was going from my fading memory.

 

Cherry

 

Well said and could not agree more.

 

If you're still looking for more money to spend (and keep the deer in check), check out the J581 driving light thread. Street legal auxiliary lamps to supplement your high beams. Continuing with the theme of the SS3, I really recommend the pro driving lights (in 4000K white).

 

Wahh

 

I took this picture on 395 tonight when I finally got a nice lonely stretch. Didn’t get any time to contemplate using my high beams, just a bit too much traffic. Shows off the OEM LED spray. Sorry it's so blurry. With more gear in the bed and 4 passengers it’s hard to know how well the aim is vs when I tried to adjust it without any load.