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    Quick Links: 01 3.4 front o2 part number? Transmission fluid temperature Broken Pinion Gear 7 pin trailer wiring where to connect 95.5 truck 95.5 Locking hub/CV axle length Where can I find this connector for a LOT cheaper instead of $85

looking to replace my headlights need suggestions

Discussion in '1st Gen. Tacomas (1995-2004)' started by retsamsiadoy, Jan 1, 2017.

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  1. Jan 2, 2017 at 9:51 AM
    #21
    Bxnanaz

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    Bxnanaz Well-Known Member

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    Dorman brand from Rock Auto ($85 shipped). Ignore the parking lights, new ones are on the way.
    It's also raining outside so the lighting is AWFUL, will get a better picture when possible.
    IMG_0410.jpg
     
    Bxnanaz, Jan 2, 2017
    #21
    JPinFL likes this.
  2. Jan 2, 2017 at 9:55 AM
    #22
    Bxnanaz

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    Bxnanaz Well-Known Member

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    Should've taken a before. The picture doesn't do them justice. Excited for night time to see how they light up the road.
     
    Bxnanaz, Jan 2, 2017
    #22
  3. Jan 2, 2017 at 10:23 AM
    #23
    QMEDJoe

    #23
    QMEDJoe Proverbs 3:5-6

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    Fox 2.0 Coilovers in the front and Fox 2.0’s in the rear, Total Chaos UCA’s, Al-lpro expo leafs, K&N cold air intake, TRD headers,Magnaflow catback exhaust,URD short throw shifter, switched out my 60/40 bench seat for some Tacoma Limited seats, Replaced the vinyl shift boot for a leather one, completely soundproofed the cab w/ Frost King. Replaced stock radio with a Pioneer AVH series head unit. Focal component system w/a 10" sub powered by 2 Alpine amps. Weathertech floor mats. Line-X'd the bed. SCS Ray 10’s, Installed an A.R.E. MX series camper shell. All-Pro Apex front bumper w/ All-Pro skid plates all the way back to the Trans. Low Range fuel skid plate.
    Could you post a link to the actual product you bought.I just tried looking on my phone and could only find the bulbs and not the actual headlight. I'd like to order them right now. Mine are gahbahje...
     
    QMEDJoe, Jan 2, 2017
    #23
  4. Jan 2, 2017 at 10:35 AM
    #24
    Bxnanaz

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    Bxnanaz Well-Known Member

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    Bxnanaz, Jan 2, 2017
    #24
    QMEDJoe likes this.
  5. Jan 2, 2017 at 10:50 AM
    #25
    QMEDJoe

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    QMEDJoe Proverbs 3:5-6

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    Fox 2.0 Coilovers in the front and Fox 2.0’s in the rear, Total Chaos UCA’s, Al-lpro expo leafs, K&N cold air intake, TRD headers,Magnaflow catback exhaust,URD short throw shifter, switched out my 60/40 bench seat for some Tacoma Limited seats, Replaced the vinyl shift boot for a leather one, completely soundproofed the cab w/ Frost King. Replaced stock radio with a Pioneer AVH series head unit. Focal component system w/a 10" sub powered by 2 Alpine amps. Weathertech floor mats. Line-X'd the bed. SCS Ray 10’s, Installed an A.R.E. MX series camper shell. All-Pro Apex front bumper w/ All-Pro skid plates all the way back to the Trans. Low Range fuel skid plate.
    QMEDJoe, Jan 2, 2017
    #25
    Bxnanaz[QUOTED] likes this.
  6. Jan 2, 2017 at 10:54 AM
    #26
    PROseur

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    PROseur Well-Known Member

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    Is your daughters the white one ?

    Mine looks like that now

    How much was your rock auto pair ?
     
    PROseur, Jan 2, 2017
    #26
  7. Jan 2, 2017 at 10:59 AM
    #27
    Bxnanaz

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    Bxnanaz Well-Known Member

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    Did y'all who ordered from Rock Auto get the same brand assembly? I ordered dorman for left and right, but got different brands when they came in. Rock Auto said this is normal, but it seems like they look different.
     
    Bxnanaz, Jan 2, 2017
    #27
  8. Jan 2, 2017 at 1:51 PM
    #28
    PROseur

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    PROseur Well-Known Member

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    Dorman only shows left on rock auto ?
     
    PROseur, Jan 2, 2017
    #28
  9. Jan 2, 2017 at 3:24 PM
    #29
    crashnburn80

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    crashnburn80 Vehicle Design Engineer

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    Cheap headlights from online usually made in China can be tempting, but they will not be the same quality as OEM. There is much more to a headlight than the look of a reflector assembly mounted on the truck. Optics must be precision engineered to maximize beam performance, and things like UV stabilization of the plastics and lifespan of the weather stripping and its resilience to UV are all things you cannot 'see' just by looking at the light. Many cheap aftermarket lights also tend to leak after a year or so, and get condensation inside the lens.

    If you are looking for a cheap quick fix that makes the truck look better, cheap aftermarket may be fine. If you want quality optics and longevity, OEM is the way to go. A middle ground would be to look for CAPA certified headlights.

    As for brighter, check out how the Ultimate Headlight Upgrade performs on a first Gen with stock lights:
    https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/proper-headlight-upgrade.407879/
     
    crashnburn80, Jan 2, 2017
    #29
  10. Jan 2, 2017 at 4:05 PM
    #30
    Bxnanaz

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    Bxnanaz Well-Known Member

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    When I bought, I had an option for both. It even says it in my order.

    Now that it's night, they're definitely different lights.
     
    Bxnanaz, Jan 2, 2017
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  11. Jan 2, 2017 at 4:06 PM
    #31
    Bxnanaz

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    Bxnanaz Well-Known Member

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    IMG_0418.jpg

    IMG_0420.jpg
    They're aimed too low, but they are bright (that's low beams)
     
    Bxnanaz, Jan 2, 2017
    #31
    PROseur likes this.
  12. Jan 2, 2017 at 4:06 PM
    #32
    DustStorm4x4

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    DustStorm4x4 BBC 2020

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    You know you can adjust them right?
     
    DustStorm4x4, Jan 2, 2017
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  13. Jan 2, 2017 at 4:12 PM
    #33
    Bxnanaz

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    Bxnanaz Well-Known Member

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    I know lol. I gave up after one of them (the non-dorman brand I received) came loose and started shaking. It was raining so I gave up.

    Gonna send them back, didn't pay extra to get the dorman brand just to get 2 different brands.
     
    Bxnanaz, Jan 2, 2017
    #33
    PROseur and DustStorm4x4[QUOTED] like this.
  14. Jan 2, 2017 at 4:52 PM
    #34
    Bxnanaz

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    Bxnanaz Well-Known Member

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    Awesome, Rock Auto won't take them back.
     
    Bxnanaz, Jan 2, 2017
    #34
    PROseur likes this.
  15. Jan 2, 2017 at 5:08 PM
    #35
    Bxnanaz

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    Bxnanaz Well-Known Member

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    One moves around really badly, and it's tightened down. I'm assuming that's becuase I bought aftermarket?
     
    Bxnanaz, Jan 2, 2017
    #35
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  16. Jan 2, 2017 at 5:29 PM
    #36
    cruiserguy

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    cruiserguy Well-Known Member

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    Depo is well known for generally making a quality replacement headlamp housing. I've purchased a couple items of Dorman brand and haven't been impressed at all. Dorman might be better at headlamp housings though.
     
    cruiserguy, Jan 2, 2017
    #36
  17. Jan 2, 2017 at 5:35 PM
    #37
    Scoobarooo

    #37
    Scoobarooo Well-Known Member

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    3" OME/Bilstein, Retrofits, Custom Bed rack/Toolbox, Amsoil Everything, tons of others.
    IMG_5915.jpg Installed my retrofits yesterday. I recommend a set of good retrofits for sure.
     
    Scoobarooo, Jan 2, 2017
    #37
    retsamsiadoy[OP], DustStorm4x4 and QMEDJoe like this.
  18. Jan 2, 2017 at 5:35 PM
    #38
    Bxnanaz

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    Bxnanaz Well-Known Member

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    Any idea how much an OEM Toyota Headligbt housing would run me?
     
    Bxnanaz, Jan 2, 2017
    #38
  19. Jan 2, 2017 at 5:38 PM
    #39
    crashnburn80

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    crashnburn80 Vehicle Design Engineer

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    I've had that happen a couple times with aftermarket. Or adjusters not working to the full range they are supposed to so they cannot be properly aimed. Both times I ended up having to buy a second set of lights costing more because I tried to go cheap the first time. Buy quality once.
     
    Last edited: Jan 2, 2017
    crashnburn80, Jan 2, 2017
    #39
    Bxnanaz[QUOTED] likes this.
  20. Jan 2, 2017 at 5:42 PM
    #40
    cruiserguy

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    cruiserguy Well-Known Member

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    OEM, I'd guess, is prolly around 150 bucks.
     
    cruiserguy, Jan 2, 2017
    #40
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