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Headlights

Discussion in '3rd Gen. Tacomas (2016-2023)' started by caitlin739, Jun 19, 2021.

  1. Jun 19, 2021 at 8:51 PM
    #1
    caitlin739

    caitlin739 [OP] Active Member

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    What sites have you bought your headlights from? Any advice?

    Pictures would be appreciated!

    I have a '20 TRD Sport and would love to upgrade to some bright LEDs.
     
  2. Jun 19, 2021 at 8:52 PM
    #2
    Skydvrr

    Skydvrr IG: @kalopsianick

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    OEM are your best bet.
     
    slowlane, Newwt, suaveflooder and 4 others like this.
  3. Jun 19, 2021 at 8:53 PM
    #3
    AJKlug1

    AJKlug1 Well-Known Member

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    SE Wisconsin
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    Full sound system, 3rd gen OR suspension, pro headlights & more
    Not the exact same but I've bought lots of lighting products from Cali raised LED for my 2nd gen and have been very pleased. Will never change out my main headlamp though. OEM for the win. Better bulbs will do the trick.
     
    rdgm71 likes this.
  4. Jun 19, 2021 at 9:09 PM
    #4
    Rainoffire

    Rainoffire Well-Known Member

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    OEM LED is the current recommended, I got mine from Mcgeorge Toyota online.
    If you are looking for drop in bulbs, please refer to @crashnburn80 lighting thread.
    https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...11-projector-headlights.589465/#post-19689308
    Most of which can be gotten on Amazon.
     
  5. Jun 19, 2021 at 9:13 PM
    #5
    SRBenjamin

    SRBenjamin Well-Known Member

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  6. Jun 20, 2021 at 3:05 AM
    #6
    SouthernFried

    SouthernFried Well-Known Member

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    What are those OEM LED headlights going for? Aren't they $1,500 or so? Absolutely ridiculous. I'll rock my halogens proudly at that price.
     
  7. Jun 20, 2021 at 3:29 AM
    #7
    Rainoffire

    Rainoffire Well-Known Member

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    Around $1250 is the usual. If you get it at the time of purchasing your truck, it is a $500 option.

    Even at $1250, it is a far better alternative to say Alpharex or other lower end headlight assembly. Morimoto is pretty good though, with a price similar to OEM.
     
  8. Jun 20, 2021 at 4:15 AM
    #8
    rdgm71

    rdgm71 Well-Known Member

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    5FB24922-D7B8-42F3-AE4E-4A4F25FB052D.jpg
    This is what I have for low and hi beams and I recommend

    NINEO H11 LED Bulbs | 60W Halogen Replacement 6500K Cool White Extremely Bright All-in-One Conversion Kit | 360 Degree Adjustable Beam Plug & Play
    by NINEO
    Learn more: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01MDOWGY3/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_JQ9WFE6C9A4H7C3PMFD0?_encoding=UTF8

    Although I believe it’s true everything you read in here about LED bulbs and how they are not meant to be in a projector housing, all of this information is just too technical for me just to make a decision on what I should and not should do regarding my headlights. I’m the one who likes to read and learn as much as possible before doing a mod on my truck, but in this case, I just went with a pair of LED bulbs that fit right, feel right, and that improve the visibility in my Tacoma. I have not had once a single driver flash their lights at me in the three years that I have had these lights and I have travel as far as TX and NC from FL on both highways and rural roads without a problem. So, just find a good quality LED bulb for your truck and don’t get hung too much on all of this technical talk unless you want to go thru all the hassle of replacing headlights or making modifications to your headlights and spent money that I believe in not necessary. The best thing would have been to have gotten your truck with LED headlights from the factory but that’s not your case.
     
    Last edited: Jun 20, 2021
  9. Jun 20, 2021 at 4:25 AM
    #9
    oogielaflick

    oogielaflick Well-Known Member

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    Quicksand with hood protector, color matching decals on tailgate latch, mudflaps, glovebox, and tailgate hitch cover.
    I just did this only a few weeks ago on my 2019 TRD Sport! I hated the chrome inside the stock headlights, but honestly didn't want to spend the money to change them out. I got some "found money", so I decided to spend a little of it on headlights. I advise anyone who wants to do this, to take a LOT of time to look around, because the prices vary A LOT. There are places that want over $1000 for a pair of headlights! Insane! I bought mine off of Ebay, and they have been fantastic. I wanted the chrome blacked out, but I did NOT want smoked or black lenses, as they are illegal in some places. I wasn't really looking for sequential turn signals, but the lights I ended up getting, came with sequential turn signals. The DRLs are over twice as big as those that came on my OEM lights, and they are at least twice as bright too. My lights have two LEDs on each side, for low and high beams. The turn signals are integrated into the DRLs, which are white on DRL and they turn to amber when the turn signals are activated. I will include a picture of my truck with the new headlights on it, as well as a direct link to the Ebay page where I bought mine. They are currently $375 for the pair, with free shipping. Because I live in CA, I had to pay tax, but it came to just over $400. Here is the direct link: https://www.ebay.com/itm/133378578896?ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT
    TRDnewheadlights20210521a.jpg
     
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    #9
    caitlin739[OP] likes this.
  10. Jun 23, 2021 at 2:30 AM
    #10
    VaToy

    VaToy Life Long Member

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    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 run Diode Dynamics SL1 high and low beam. I have said this before and will say it again. They are far better than the stock bulbs, brighter and project further. Never been flashed, truck is lifted slightly front and rear, run LED fogs roo and they light up these country roads I travel way better than stock bulbs. I know what test show but its seeing is believing. They cost about $250 high and low beams.
     
  11. Jun 23, 2021 at 3:06 AM
    #11
    philth

    philth .

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    2DA63130-1AF6-4740-8C69-F4E1F117EFA7.jpg
    Some of ya’ll driving around like this — people aren’t flashing you because they aren’t exactly sure whether highs are on or not, and they don’t want to high beam you.
    Looks cheap, looks bad.

    You probably have that weirdness going on with your headlights where they appear to be ‘floating’ or flickering when looking at them from a rearview mirror, tripping out peoples vision from behind as well — angles and views that you yourself will never see when standing and admiring your work on your driveway.

    But you saved some money and feel good about it, so that’s all that matters after all. *thumbs up*
     
    sdshack and Tacotoast like this.
  12. Jun 23, 2021 at 3:09 AM
    #12
    VaToy

    VaToy Life Long Member

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    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 agree, but I'm thankful my DD LEDs don't look like that in my stock headlights. Wow looks like some cheap Amazon stuff. That's bad!!!
     
  13. Jun 23, 2021 at 3:41 AM
    #13
    brandon78lusch

    brandon78lusch Well-Known Member

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    I had those for a while. the stock fog lights shine further than those lights lol.
     
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    #13
    sdshack likes this.
  14. Jun 23, 2021 at 9:45 AM
    #14
    suaveflooder

    suaveflooder Well-Known Member

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    you have obviously never seen OEM LED’s in action. I live in BFE. Worth every penny. Just my opinion, of course….enjoy your halogens

    FFE3DE5E-9666-4957-8D6A-109BF4FC2FB2.jpg
     
    Rainoffire likes this.
  15. Jun 23, 2021 at 4:07 PM
    #15
    CDNTacoma2019

    CDNTacoma2019 Well-Known Member

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    Time to get them is buying new....$500 option vs $1500 later. I have a 19 SR5 so just did HIDs in the low beam instead. I am happy and it was $100 vs $1500.
     
  16. Jun 23, 2021 at 4:13 PM
    #16
    philth

    philth .

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    This man knows what’s up.

    As nice as some LEDs look (I came from a slew of high performance german stuff) - they absolutely sucked during winter months (I’m in Canada), to the point that they became a hazard doing any sort of night runs with the build-up.
    I purposely went halogens on the Tacoma for that exact reason. I don’t even get the hate for them.

    Be considerate of other people is basically the point of this thread OP. I’m sure you’ve been on the road and thought “does that idiot have his high beams on or not?” Or looked in your rearview and thought “the hell is wrong with that idiots headlights?”
    Don’t be that idiot.
    Either go all in (OEM) for headlights or save that money for another mod - or save up for that mod.
     
    caitlin739[OP] likes this.
  17. Jun 23, 2021 at 4:14 PM
    #17
    VaToy

    VaToy Life Long Member

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    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.
    Thats you opinion and you know the old saying about that? Kinda like that Asshole thing your referring too. I had the GE130 and they were not as good as my Diode Dynamics. Mine work great for me and thats all that matters.
     
    caitlin739[OP] likes this.

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