The ultimate headlight upgrade H4 (not LED or HID)

The car had cibbes h4s on it. (I probably spelled it wrong). The taco will be getting those most likely

 

I agree for the most part. The H4 ECE (I have pn 003427811) does have good throw. But what I find lacking is width. Maybe it's just because the car is so low. They tend to light up the lane I am in very well, however outside of that lane they don't tend to illuminate well. The left side of the beam pattern seems to have even less than the right side due to the slope. So essentially, the left shoulder or ditch is barely illuminated. I have them aimed with about 1" drop at 25' as well. I tried finding a comparison between the Hella ECE and the Hella SAE out of curiosity to see what the beam pattern differences are, but couldn't find a good picture.

 

It has been a long time (like a decade) since I ran them in my 94 pickup, I used the 100/90w Osrams and the harness. I don’t recall width being an issue, although none of the vehicles I had back then had particularly good headlights to compare to.

 

Yea.. I’ll be doing the TRD springs so the cars dropping ~1”. So I’ll likely have issues like you

 

Exactly my thoughts! I know they are a solid upgrade from the sealed beams that were in it before. But I'm now comparing that to all my other vehicles that have 30+yrs of lighting innovation and retrofitted lights.

 

Mine isn't even lowered yet... I'd be very curious where you found TRD lowering springs, but that's getting a bit off topic. If you want to shoot me a PM, feel free.

 

We can take it to the thread for the car. I need to update it anyway

 

Just did this upgrade a few weeks ago on our 2014 Tacoma and its a huge difference. The wife and I have a 2020 Ram2500 with LEDs and a 21 Rav 4 with LEDs and this made the tacomas lights just as bright. Thank you for all of the hard work put into figuring this hack out.

 

Not a hack. Just utilizing the light source the assemblies were designed for while boosting the output performance with some basic traditional means that seem to have been forgotten in the age of everything must be LED.

Edit: Also, welcome to the forum!

 

Thanks, you are correct not a hack but you really spent some time figuring out this upgrade.

 

Science all the things. When you are ready check out the fog upgrades, and just go to the Diode Dynamics SS3s linked at the top as best performing.
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/the-led-sae-j583-fog-pod-fog-light-review.554813/

 

which headlights do you have, halogen or LED? The LED's just F'ing SUCK.

 

I’ve got the halogens. They blow. Just put some DD factory fogs in and they’re very nice. I ordered some Phillips Crystal Visions. Not sure if those are what we talked about here, but they can’t be any worse than what’s in there now haha

 

Actually… Crystal Visions will be worse. They are blue coated for a whiter light output, blue coatings remove yellow light (the bulk of a halogens light color output) to make it appear whiter. Meaning they are subtracting output, not adding it. Tungsram Platinums are what you want in an H13/9008. The real performance Philips bulbs are not available in that base.

 

Well poo. I’ll return these. Thanks for the heads up. I may just pick something up from a parts store since I have a long night drive coming up this weekend. I don’t see any available. Is there anything else that’s worth buying?

 

Fred Meyer carries Tungsram, so you might check that out to grab some locally if there is a location by you. Philips Xtreme +100 is also available in H13/9008. Amazon sells them with 1-day shipping depending on your area.

Philips Automotive Lighting 9008 X-tremeVision Upgrade Headlight Bulb with up to 100% More Vision, 2 Pack, 9008XVB2

$27 Philips Automotive Lighting 9008 X-tremeVision Upgrade Headlight Bulb with up to 100% More Vision, 2 Pack, 9008XVB2

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00U1OLOP0

 

Never heard of Fred Meyer haha but you’re the man. I appreciate your help. I’m going to ride around and see if there are any of those locally.

 

Look what just showed up! I’ll be installing tomorrow for proper setting.

 

I put those X-tremeVision bulbs in my father's F-250. He said they are better than the stock bulbs.

 

One other F150 headlight bulb to consider if Tungsram Platinums are unavailable, is the Tungsram Xenons, slight step below the Platinums. But if you can’t get Tungsram in time, then it doesn’t help. Recommended order would be:
Platinums>Xenons>Xtreme +100s