Headlight recommendation.

They aren’t bad at all. If you still have the NON PRO headlights then you can paint the outer shroud black or whatever color you’d like. Just opening the head light you can’t really break anything, but I understand opening a set of expensive headlights is scary!

I made mine kinda pro like. The paint I used was a metallic black but it doesn’t really show the metallic as well as I was hoping. I haven’t reconditioned the lens yet so it’s not as clear as it will be. I’ll be doing that this spring.

 

I do have the spyder design headlight. Protuning labs set, which im sure is the same exact headlight. My light output is worse than oem. Ive always avoided HID because if one of the ballasts go out, then your SOL also. But I can see your point in it being cheaper to replace. Are there any good brands of ballasts and bulbs that I can get to where I wont have to worry about breaking or going out? My bulb size is H9/H11.

 

Morimoto, Hylux and NHK are quality brands at reasonable prices for both bulbs and ballasts. There is a REALLY high quality Philips rebased H1 (also availible for h11/h9) from Xenon Depot but I don't think it's worth the price considering the H1 (or h11/h9 housing) projector is only so good. If you are looking to upgrade an h9 or h11 bulb, check out this thread. Very good reading! But I'll break it down for ya a little. If you get halogen your best bet is GE +130 Megalight or a Philips h9 trimmed to fit the h11 plug. But alast, you can't change poor optics no matter the bulb. If it is going in the protuning labs headlights you probably won't gain much ouput since the projector is just MEH anyways. You'll also note that many PNP (Plug N Play) LEDs aren't as good as they are advertised and actually drop off as far as distance.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/3rd-gen-hid-vs-led-vs-halogen-h11-projector-headlights.589465/

If I were in your position I would do the H1 retrofit. With either NHK (lightwerkz) or ACME (theretrofitsource).

 

Until you get quality Morimoto projector headlights you won't know what you're missing

 

I have no problem baking and opening headlights, it’s the simple fact that they are Pro’s lol!

 

How much are you looking to pay for a set of used OEM headlights?

 

Have you looked at this post here at TW? Some good information to be had https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/the-ultimate-headlight-upgrade-h4-not-led-or-hid.398066/

 

Actually I got lucky and the headlights were replaced by the company I got it from. Didn't expect that. Not sure if they are stock but the light pattern looks pretty good. Thanks

 

I know the feeling. I cracked these open brand new right out of the box.

 

Those lights look awesome! What projectors did you use, and how difficult is to do the mod?

 

Morimoto D2S 5.0s and since this is my 4th retrofit, easy. It was a bit scary cracking open a brand new set of TRD Pros.
https://www.theretrofitsource.com/bixenon-morimoto-mini-d2s-stage-3.html

 

I been getting headlights from headlight depot prices are ok they just started recycle program which if ask them for prepaid label

 

If you want to stay on a budget and like your current Spyder headlights then the H1 projector is your best bet. Awesome upgrade on a budget. I will warn you, it may quickly turn into an addiction.

If budget is no issue then a new set of OEM or your old OEM headlights with a D2S projector would be your best bet. Currently the G5-BRT (the D2S 5.0 is no slouch either) projector is the best aftermarket projector available, rivaling many of the OEM D2S projectors. If you go this route it may be beneficial for you to scout some local scrap yard and find a mid 2000's Audi A4 or A6 and take the ballasts out of those, they are usually about $10 ea near me. They are Hella Gen 3 ballast and are widely regarded as the best ballast you can get with a lightening fast start up, OEM reliability and water proof.

 

Definitely projector retrofits!!

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/retrofitting-services-for-all-tacomas.342693/#post-9113857

 

Nice lights. I will probably attempt to do my own after reading everything.
Thanks.