Decent replacement head lights?

My 2000 4X4 Taco is in need of new headlights. I would like to put in a good set of headlights, but I really don't want to give the "stealership" any more of my money this year. Does anyone have experience with a good aftermarket set of headlights?

 

Check out Rockauto.com - I believe the rule of thumb is that anything CAPA Certified will be pretty much the same quality as OEM for half the price.

 

You can get a pair shipped at RockAuto for $20. That's for my 95

 

Yep. I got the CAPA certified housings from rockauto.com. I think they were $37 a piece. Well worth it, IMO over the cheaper non-certified ones. They were a super easy install, and indistinguishable from the OEM that I took out, aside from, you know, not being completely fogged over. I also tried those rehab type kits where you polish down the plastic, and it worked, for a couple weeks, then started to patina again. Just save yourself the effort and get the new headlights - same price as some of those kits, lol.

I also did the upgraded wiring harness described here, but I didn't do the brighter OSRAM bulbs (yet). At the time, it was a daily driver, so I favored the longevity of the Sylvania (I think, I dunno - been a while, lol) bulbs (though not as bright), over the shorter life-span super bright 80w OSRAM bulbs. Now that my Taco is a play truck that doesn't get a lot of use aside from off-road, I might as well go for the OSRAM bulbs...

 

Thanks for the responses guys. I'm going to go with some CAPA replacements.

 

I actually tried to order the CAPA certified headligh(s) from rockauto. The website was not clear whether I was ordering a set, or a pair. After several emails, I have come to the conclusion that nobody at Rockauto knows anything about what they are trying to sell. I think I'll have better luck on eBay.

 

https://www.ebay.com/usr/am-autoparts

I found replacements for my '04 Highlander from them. Good price, perfect fit, can't tell a difference over OE with a good examination.

Might be worth taking a look at.

 

I wish I would have seen this before I got mine from 1A Auto.... total crap... I would upload a video of just how much junk these things are if I knew how.

I emailed 1A auto and no reply yet. I will be contesting this charge when I get back from vacation.

 

There is a left and a right side, you need to order 1 of each.

 

Just looked on RockAuto, CAPA-certified start at $84 each vs $25

 

That's what I paid. They come with 60w halogen bulbs, too, FWIW. The TYC lights seem decent quality so far, and the light goes where it's supposed to. Haven't had anyone flash me while running 85w bulbs.

Dealership wanted $250 each for Toyota OEM.

 

I need headlights as well and just looked on RockAuto and the CAPA certified assemblies I saw were listed around $44 each. Was I looking at the wrong ones?

 

I've heard some pretty good feedback regarding the combo kit from Amazon. Pretty hard to beat for the price.

$70 Brock Replacement Pair Set Halogen Headlights Headlamps Compatible with 01-04 Tacoma Pickup Truck 81150-04110 81110-04110

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008G32B1O/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8

I doubt anybody here is going to recommend you buy the factory toyota parts haha

 

I can tell you there IS a difference in the beam pattern on some aftermarket lights VS OEM. And frankly that is all that counts, seeing down the road without hot spots, blinding oncoming traffic etc.

 

If you have a Certifit near you, I'd check their prices as well. I've had pretty good luck with their parts for several different vehicles. After several attempts and wasted dollars attempting to renew them, I replaced the yellowed headlights on my 2000 Crown Vic with Certifit ones and they were still crystal clear 7 years later. I've had mostly great experiences with RockAuto, but some of the CAPA-certified parts for our trucks on RockAuto suck. The door handles, for instance. Or the "shaky" mirrors the last owner installed.

 

CAPA certifies lights on Rockauto. Everything else is garbage and won’t last.

 

Mine is a year 2000, cheapest CAPA is $85

 

FWIW, I put a set of TYC's on a 2004 Honda Civic a year or two ago and they were crystal clear and have been perfect ever since.

 

Interesting, I wonder why such a large difference in price... They are different designs, but not *THAT* different...

FWIW, I would have paid that for what I got. Still worth it, IMO.

Aren't the pre-2000's sealed beams? I might be thinking of the 95.5-97's, though... @crashnburn80 has a thread where he recommended some good sealed beams I think...

So what we've learned form this thread:

> If you have a 2001-2004, the CAPA headlights are a screamin' deal.

> If you have a 2000, it's not as good of a bargain, but still worth the price of admission (IMO).