aftermarket headlights

OEM isn't the only way to get correct beam pattern, I think @jbrandt has already attested to that.

I definitely agree with clear coating lenses though. I'll be doing that when I replace mine, just haven't figured out what I'll be using for replacements.

 

That depends. Mine were 13ish years old when they finally yellowed enough to notice, which is pretty good I think.

Those headlight restoring kits are crap, too. That's what I tried (twice) before just getting the new CAPA headlights. The thing is that no amount of sanding and polishing will remove the UV damage from the entire thickness of the lens. So if you have bad headlights, just replace them.

I'm still not really sold on the clear coat stuff, either. Read some of the comments with that MeGuiar's stuff. People are having it peal off after 8 months, then another said that after a rain, it fogged, pealed and blistered... It doesn't seem to pencil out. Assume you have to do this treatment 1x a year (it's probably a lot more than that, actually), but even still, that'd work out to $130 over 13 years, of which my new headlights cost $80 in that same time.

My problem is also that I'm lazy. If I can spend $80 on headlights every 13 years and not have to do a single thing to them that whole time, I'm good...

 

As far as I know 98-00 headlights are glass as opposed to the plastic ones on 01-04 which is probably why they cost more.

 

Nope... my 98 is most definitely plastic.

And ALL plastic sealed-beam headlights are subject to yellowing over time. Proper care will indeed limit that.

 

Yeah, NOT glass. My 99 are plastic as well.

 

Thanks for the correction.

 

Rock Auto site shows the right headlight ass. for 26.00, while the left one is 80.00 something...? So the pair is 100 and change for the tyc' s

 

TYC

 

Aim in the market for headlights so depo's are pretty good ? How about the ones with a ligth strip build in any one here have those ?

 

Um, no, not really. They should be the same price each side. YOu sure you're looking at the same brand/type?

 

I have a set that look identical to the one linked in OP. I don’t recall the brand/seller though. I’ve had them for quite a while now with no quality issues.
I was going for the “not so much chrome” look.

Note:
The lower valence turn signal housings are NOT smoked lenses.
They are a clear lense with a flat black “reflector”.
They look fine as long as the bulb isn’t lit up.
I’m considering putting the stock lower housings back in, but with smoked vinyl film applied.

 

Rock Auto. Got them in one day, shipped from GA. Not NOS but close. Well packaged. First time using RA, you can navigate their site, find anything you need, and
customer service is A+. Looks like they are the Amazon of car parts. You also get a choice on quality.
Crank

 

The CAPA certified cost more which is why the right is cheaper.

 

Yeah, the left one is CAPA certified, which basically means it has a higher standard for construction/quality.

At least for the 2001-2004, the CAPA's aren't that much more expensive, though. For mine, they were like $45 for CAPA. But different year I suppose...

 

I was ready to buy no name cheap headlights for my 2000 then I read your information posts......I just upped my game to the mid level TYC brand.
Tacoma forum is terrific !

 

Wierd that they only show the left CAPA...Sold all the right ones, I guess!!

 

The light pattern with my eBay headlights sold by GTRacers in the pics below.

And again, what i dont like about this kit, the lower valence turn signal housings and side marker housings are not smoked lenses like I thought they would be. The lense is clear and the reflector is flat black. When the bulb illuminates, you don't get the the whole lens lighting up. Looks rather silly. But the headlights look/work great...IMO.

Low Beam from about 15'


Low beam from about 30'


And high beam from about 30'


Old eBay listing screenshot.

 

Man, that transforms the entire look of the truck. Looks sharp.

 

My TYC headlights arrived today......this is probably not news to most of you but I couldn’t believe the difference in clarity.
I always kept my 18 y.o. headlights polished with Maguires plastic cleaner but apparently the yellowing is clear through the plastic lens and the only solution to dull headlights is occasional replacement.