Headlight upgrade recommendations

Question for the Crew: Any Recommendations on upgrading headlights? I will be replacing my headlight housing on my 2006 Tacoma real soon. As they are as yellow as grandmas teeth. Wanted to see if anyone has any great recommendations on where to buy from?
I see a lot of people recommending Retrofit or RGB Halo’s. But some say the retrofit OEM pair is the best.
Any and all headlight recommendations would be much appreciated. Thank you!

 

Retro fit or not OEM is the best you can get.

 

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/the-ultimate-headlight-upgrade-h4-not-led-or-hid.398066/unread

 

OEM is expensive and they are old looking. I just got a set of LED DRL No name brand Taiwan made from Extreme Terrain, They are kinda shitty to be honest but I do like the look of them a lot. I'll try them till they fail.....

People talk about TYC off Rock Auto....I wonder which set is better

TYC 20657800SET Set; Includes Bulbs and Sockets
Left & Right; Base Model; w/o Sport Package; Type 2

or

TYC 20657890SET Includes Bulb & Socket
Fits Left & Right; Crew Cab Pickup; Standard Cab Pickup; Pre Runner; w/ Sport Package; Type 1
or Left & Right; Extended Cab Pickup; Pre Runner; X-Runner; w/ Sport Package; Type 1

This is what I got

 

CeraKote restorer is what your headlight casings need. It's at least inexpensive enough to try.

Then go with the data In post 3 that @AllTacosFloat linked.

If you actually seek usable light, not just style.

 

Is there anything beyond the first post to really look at in that thread? I ask cause it's 243 pages long and I don't want to read it all.

 

OEM is the best.
TYC and Depo are cheaper alternatives that don't totally suck.
Spyder and Alpha Rex also make good lights, but some people don't like the light patterns.
Spyder can often be found relatively cheap, so they're what I bought when my originals started to literally fall apart.

 

Glad you posted this. OEM is the best OP is going to find, especially on a truck that old.

Vast majority of aftermarket headlights suck, and LED bulbs turn you into the asshole that blinds everyone.

 

Go on Amazon and find some DEPO blacked out housings that retain the use of OEM style reflector housing.
Supposedly the actual factory kind of that is marginally better, but costs a ton more.

Do the Headlight Services ground-switched harness mod upgrade to safely run more power to the bulbs, and put better bulbs. I forget if they're 100/80w.
That or supposedly they came out with years ago stock power draw bulbs (that still wear out a bit faster) that do provide more/better lighting at the cost of being a more expensive bulb. Headlight Services should also sell or have info on what those are.

Coat the lens.
Make sure they're aimed.
Consider sealing with silicone against moisture or be prepared to deal with it if one does leak later on.
Like it did in my case. It leaked quick. I want to buy another pair then return the leaky one because seller doesn't want to do shit about it (defective production)

2G Taco has real estate space for a big reflector, similar to an old LandCruiser, to have a good performing headlight.
Other vehicles can't do that because they don't have a big headlight.

And that is the cheapest way.

If after that you want to look at projector retrofit mods, or something like AlphaRex, to try and figure out if they actually perform better and not just look cooler, you can
but that route is going to be expensive as shit

I once had a car that I upgrade projectors. Bosch/AL E46 gen2 bi-xenon. Clear lens. $200 set of Osram CBI's. Because that's one of the very few projectors that would actually fit in that headlight, and had a higher level of performance. They worked well.
I believe the forum for that is HIDPlanet.
There is info there comparing different projectors which one is better than another.
And nowadays you also have LED versions coming out, that have the vehicle set up differently to not freak out sensing lower voltage draw inherent to LED's (more efficient) as well as the cooling fins (and usually a fan) necessary to vent out the heat that LED's also naturally create.
Which again, is more money, research, customization, etc.
bi-xenon meaning a motor that flips down a shield to open up letting more light come out the main beam, in addition to a halogen high beam also turning on, for vehicles that fit multiple light units in their housing.

I do wonder how different a projector is.
For example, on a street car, I can see why having a cutoff is fine. The car is on a flat road, with stiff suspension staying flat.
The Tacoma however has a softer ride, more bodyroll, and capability to go off road where the surface is not flat.
In which case I imagine the cutoff would be constantly shaking around, leaving visible only what is underneath the cutoff, and everything above it black
as opposed to a halogen just throwing light out there
and being easy to repair keeping cheap spare bulbs in the glovebox, without dealing with ballasts. Though good ballasts usually last at least 10yr, as do HID bulbs such as D1S, D2S, D3S (green stick made environmentally more friendly mercury-free)

I may be wrong, considering the amount of OEM's that now do use those types of lights as standard in their truck
the 3rd gen projector has a reputation for being bad; I don't think that speaks to all projector lights
just that projector in particular being shitty, which does happen.
For example, the vehicle I upgrade projector on; the stock one was shitty, and what I put in was better

Also, being a truck, you have more room for modification
especially if you have a bumper
for example, lets say you have good headlights.
They are still not aux driving lights. Which is why race cars have them.
You have the option to add those separate. Like putting Diode Dynamics on the bumper or ditch light brackets.
To have the capability of a far out pencil beam type of driving light manually engaged in certain situations.

I forget the exact prices. But harness, $100. DEPO lights, $100. Bulbs, $15.
Much cheaper than $1000+ Alpharex

 

With a couple of $50 gift cards I bought these last February. They are DEPO lights from Auto Parts Giant sold through Evan Fischer. I can't say how they are, they've been stashed in my shop since they arrived. My house flooded from a broken pipe in late February and we've only moved back in a month ago. Although, it's getting closer for the install. I'm keeping the OEM lights and most likely will try the projector retro fit.

$165 Evan Fischer Headlight Set Compatible with 2005-2011 Toyota Tacoma Left Driver and Right Passenger Side Halogen With bulb(s) CAPA Certified

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B009DJKDG0?ie=UTF8&th=1

 

www.tacomabeast.com

 

Ultimate headlight mod, or retrofits. Anything else is trash. I.e aftermarket headlights like tacomabeast, ebay specials etc. Leds in stock housings will practically get you banned from this forum

 

If you don't want to read why are you here?

But yes, most of the pertinent info is on the first page. It's very good write up with actual data based results

Long story short, as far as halogen housings are concerned, anything less than OEM is a downgrade

 

Just installed these OEM smoked headlights on my 07 (came on the 09-2011 Sport but will fit the 2005-2011 Sport and Offroad. Got them online from Boch Toyota South... OEM part# 81150-04173 / 81110-14173.

 

I have the 15 TRD Pro version of these, can’t go wrong with the OEM smoked/chrome delete look

 

OEM with the ‘ultimate headlight mod’. Fantastic light output with OEM quality. Can’t beat it.

 

My $0.02:
Having purchased some Spyder "projectors" a few year back, they faded and yellow'd weeks to a month out of warranty. I forgot which on-liner I threw away my money to, but they were only happy enough to offer me a discount on a new set... (insert your favorite FU emoji here)

I then tied completely sanding down and clear painting back, ect... which lasted another year maybe, and back to shit....

Unless you really want that look by going full Custom (too bad BX Built went caput....) Buy OEM.
Just show your dealer the price on line at any of the on-liners, and your dealer should give you a pretty good deal right there and can have them the next day.

Buy once, Cry once...

I performed the Post #3 above, and also did the same as Post #14... got to improve the early 2nd gen look some! (I'm 2006)

I went with this Osram NB 200 and I'm super impressed with the result.
That said, (PM'ing with @crashnburn80 ) "Philips Racing Vision +200s are better. With the wiring harness the Osram Superbright 100/90w are better still."

Good luck and have fun!

 

I bought a set of after market headlights a year ago, but didn’t install them after doing some reading. Read all the horror stories about everybody’s headlights leaking. Decided I would bite the bullet and buy oem. The passenger side leaked. Hopefully you have better luck than me. Good luck brother.

 

How much were these for the set?

 

$440 plus shipping... came out to $529. Had a shop install Xpel UV protection film afterwards.