3rd Gen HID vs LED vs Halogen H11 projector headlights

I have not, yet. I've looked at their 7" round Mled kit for my Gladiator. Output looks incredible based on their marketing statements, but it also looks like they failed in the product design. From everything I have seen and researched it appears yet again they produce a product with hard cut offs and no uplight, which is not a legitimate headlight. I've not evaluated them personally, but I would not advocate for products that fail to meet OEM compliance standards. All OEM headlights have uplight. All reputable aftermarket headlight manufactures such as JW Speaker have designed uplight. Morimoto does not. This causes you to be blinded by your own low beam and unable to see beyond your cut off due to the extreme cut off contrast with no light projected beyond the low beam.

 

My wife's 2019 Forester with the steering responsive LED projector low beams doesn't appear to have an uplight, at least I don't notice one on the garage wall when pulling in. I don't often drive it at night, so I can't recall if I can see the light reflecting on road signs. My Tacoma has a very clear and distinct "box" of uplight.

Is uplight mandated by North American regulators?

 

Just wanted share this to remind people that 6000k lights suck when they reflect off the snow.. also I need to reposition my dash cam...

 

6k is way to high, try 4300

 

Yep, I have a winter set of bulbs and realized today that I never swapped them this year.

 

Uplight is required. Without it the headlights would be unable to illuminate signs in dark areas. The 3rd Gen projector headlights have a very pronounced uplight pattern that is easily distinguishable, especially after a bulb upgrade. Part of this is because the very defined box effect from the projector. On other vehicles the uplight can be less defined around the edges of the illuminated region, more of a softer distributed uplight, but it is still there.

Can confirm, I've seen it in person.

 

C'mon, Colton and a gf? Seriously???

 

4Runner owners, @19cement4xor recently went OEM LED for his Tacoma and I’m trying to convince him to do hybrid LED low w 9011 high for his wife’s 4Runner. I believe it is a 2019? If anyone has time to help the effort with part numbers or testimonials, now is the time. I already linked the review from this thread but I should probably dig it up again and link it here. If I remember correctly, it’s a pretty awesome headlight and even better than our Tacoma LED ones for the high beam with a Toshiba 9011 bulb employed.

 

Tagging @19cement4xor because I don't think he'll get the quote notification

 

got it thanks is a 2020 pro 4Runner

 

Mazda never got the memo with the first generation CX-5. My wife had one for about 8 months before I two wheeled it into a telephone pole that didn't have the tech package with the adaptive LEDs and there was effectively zero uplight. You'd go down a minor grade and your cutoff would be about six feet in front of the vehicle.

 

I did the H9 low beam conversion with a cheap

$8 iJDMTOY H11 H8 H9 Extension Wiring Harness Sockets Wires Compatible with High/Low Beam or Fog Lights Use

iJDMTOY adapter harness from Amazon about 2+ years ago. I've been having an issue for the past couple weeks with my passenger side headlight coming on and off while driving. So, I tried to pull the adapters today, but couldn't get them off the bulbs. Took out the bulbs and went into garage to try again on the work bench. After a bit of persuasion, I got the plugs off the bubs. As I suspected at this point, the plugs were melted to the bulbs. I think I'm lucky it didn't short out and start a fire. Time to buy a couple new H9 bulbs...good thing I kept the OEM H11s (old me was a pretty smart guy!).

To avoid the issue again, I'm just building my own adapters and skipping the cheap Chinese 18 AWG crap sold on eBay and Amazon. I've sourced the Aptiv H9 female connector and lock from Mouser, which use Metri-Pack 280 series terminals and rubber plugs (and I have plenty of those in 14-12 AWG on hand). What I can't find is the H11 male connector or terminals at a reputable retailer, or with anything but 18 AWG terminals, or even 12/14 AWG terminals that will work with the cheap H11 connectors.

Here's the list of parts so far:
Aptiv 15393199 2P FEMALE GRAY 281 SERIES 30 AMPS
Aptiv 12020807 LOCK SECONDARY TPA M/P GRA MD
Aptiv 12129493 TERM M/P 280 FEMALE
Aptiv 15324981 Single Wire Seal

Anyone have a lead on quality H11 parts in 12/14 AWG?

Also debating on running power direct from the battery and using a relay tied to the stock switch. Been running that setup for years in all my older Jeeps (2 FSJs and a TJ). Any one try this yet? Should provide another output boost to the stock headlights.

 

I’ve been through all this.

I have (and can sell) oem grade H9 females. There is no OEM grade male because the male side is always the bulb. I have evaluated several different male options and I go with one very specific source for mine but mostly for the nylon quality and the tabs as well as the fitment. H9 terminals are another headache, I’ve tried several and all leave me slightly dissatisfied but mostly with the seal crimp rather than the actual wire crimp. Many of these are made to crimp the wire direct with the seal on top of the terminal while I strongly prefer to crimp the seal in place.

For a Tacoma, none of this is necessary. Not a harness to the battery or even a conversion harness. Pop the center green plastic out and the h9 bulb fits properly. Trim the metal tab if desired to make insertion easier. Order H9’s from me if you want and have dual H9’s at OEM quality after a de-pin and re-pin if you like (I did this on both my H11 vehicles, one runs H9’s for low beams, the Tacoma is now OEM LED.)

I do have some of the Aptiv H9 females but never found the correct terminals. I called mouser multiple times and ordered everything even close but never located them. Or maybe I did find them somewhere but minimum order was 10,000 or something? If you have a part number at mouser on Aptiv H9 female terminals I might be keen on looking at that again. Once I got a bulk order of 250 of the OEM ones I gave up on Aptiv for these.

I would also not be concerned with wire gauge beyond 16 for such a short run. If you do the math on resistance, 14 is overkill and 12 is ridiculous for 65 watts at 4”. The reason to use 12 gauge on older vehicles is when coming off a dedicated relay from the battery with an 8’ run to the passenger side while using 100w bulbs, 14v charging, etc.

If you are in search of maximum performance, OEM LED is the way to go.

I would not waste any time with an extra harness unless you are keeping halogen headlights and need a high beam tap for switch pros and you don’t want to use an add a fuse style.

Also, since they are $6, I’d swap out those Philips H9’s every year for maximum output.

 

Or just trim the plastic tab on the H9 bulb…super easy and fast. Not to mention it’s a $10 part. If you screw up, it’s $10.

 

Thanks @daveeasa for the rundown, that's what I figured for the male connector. I have no intent to go to LED in the future, I'm going to stay with the H9s. I already have the Aptiv H9 female connector and lock on the way from Mouser and my understanding is it uses the Metri-Pack 280 series terminals. Those terminals crimp on both the wire and the seal, I'll report back with my findings. And I'll take you up on your offer for the male connectors. PM coming your way!

Appreciate the alternate method. I didn't even think of that, but seem to be a simple solution. I'm in for about $30 in parts and shipping for 4 pairs of adapters, plus whatever it costs to get @daveeasa to send me the male connectors and parts.

 

The Aptiv h9 females do not take 280 female terminals. That much I’m certain of.

Again, you do not need to trim the base. It’s a waste of time. Simply remove the green center plastic piece. It pops right out. No muss no fuss. That’s the easy button here. Tab trimming may be necessary for other vehicles but it is not necessary for third gen Tacoma.

 

I had the morimoto xb $1500 leds…they SEEM bright but aren’t…had to borrow my pops ‘04 camry after a deer hit and his cars headlights (all halogen) illuminated the sides of the road in dim better than the leds did on dim or with brights on…I had the body shop replace my headlights with factory and they illuminate MUCH better than led. Leds look hella cool but from personal experience in the country searching for deer the oem hid’s and halogen brights are superior for front and side illumination and visibility

 

@crashnburn80
Finally after 4months of waiting to get my OEM led’s installed on my 2016 OR it finally happened…!!
I’m now in the club.
My 59 year old eyes can now see at night.
Thanks for all the info you provide.
Shout out to @daveeasa for meeting me back in December to deliver the harnesses it was a pleasure meeting you.
Also. Asking for a friend what is the best headlight upgrade for a 5th gen 4 runner..?
TIA.