New truck confirmed - wrong headlights/fog lights

Normally I’d suggest you just walk, but the truck as you’ve built it is a bit of a unicorn, and it’s close to midnight down in Mexico for Gen3.

Since it’s already 90% of the truck that you wanted, and it’s totally their fault, I’d press them on the numbers to compensate your cost to install, b/c an OEM setup won’t be cheap.

Or, better yet, press them on the numbers & don’t bother w the LED’s. I’ve had both setups on TRDOR’s, and you probably won’t miss them. Good luck.

 

Honestly, one of the last truck runs on this gen in the (almost) exact config I wanted... I'm pretty happy. Good to know that the LED headlights aren't that make or break. I've seen a bunch of people (and youtube videos) of people replacing their current headlights for factory LED at the typical ~1500 a pair so I figured it was THAT important to get from the beginning. And at $485 it was a no brainer. My buddy just replaced the halogen bulb with an LED bulb and said he was fine. So...

Thanks!

 

@Puppypunter or @daveeasa makes an adapter harness to allow the OEM LEDs to function properly without cutting any wires. See if you can get the dealer to get the lights at their price and do the install yourself, or at the dealer with a customer supplied harness.

Edit: Also, please don't put an LED into your halogen housing. If you would like to understand why check out this thread made by an actual automotive lighting expert: https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/3rd-gen-hid-vs-led-vs-halogen-h11-projector-headlights.589465/

 

Honestly having had both halogen and now the LED lighting package, not having the LED lighting package would be a deal breaker for me. I thought the halogen projectors were decent in my 2021, but after getting this 2022 with the LED's, I would never go back if I could help it.

 

As to the cost difference and everything else, I think that has been addressed here (I only read the original post, but I’m sure it’s been discussed) but it sounds like the OP is getting a TRD trim, so @daveeasa cn definitely make that happen without cutting anything. If I read that wrong, and you are getting an SR/SR5/Trail edition, then I can make it happen. Swapping headlights isn’t bad. I just pointed and a guy I work with did it all, super easy . But seriously, it wasn’t bad.

 

TRD OR. Thanks for chiming in. Helps narrow down my options...

 

Anytime Also, as to the LED fog lights, I bet you can snag some on here gently used for a good deal. A lot of people upgrade those. Or put that money toward a set of aftermarket fogs and get that better performance. I know it may not be relevant, but as an SR owner I always liked getting the basics and upgrading to what I want. But the price difference on the headlights and stuff would be a deal. Hopefully you’ll get it resolved though.

 

Dealers don’t get to custom order though.

 

Ah, AC w the upcoming 4th gen, I’d take it. See how much you can negotiate on price for the missing headlights. Maybe get them to swap the wheels or something dumb like that?

Bit of a pickle for you.

OEM fogs are crap though, DD Elite or Max there.

headlights are fixable. I wouldn’t blow the deal on that alone.

you’ll have plenty of mods to do for the fun stuff AC doesn’t come with.

 

I had most of that stuff plus adv tech plus a roof rack they wouldnt take off. I was fine with most as I wanted DCLB and then decided pearl to get white with no issues. Did not want limited. So I was ok with port ads and no dealer added grease. The items in your ‘Blackout Package’ were all listed on my window sticker separately with separate lines and dollar values. There was no blackout package listed on mine as $430 total. But all combined these three are the same just that they made the exhaust tip chrome and not black. Duuuuh! Dealer would not swap out that low dollar item from chrome to black. So dumb.
Like someone said, these are all port options and the dealers are just knobs in the whole process. Whatever that build sheet says stays.
I’d just be sure they are not charging you an agreed to price that include LED lights. If no lights it should be about $485 less. Your VIN was a temp VIN. If the tracker says no info it was probably built and you’ll have to get final VIN from dealer.

And yes I have LED and love them. Must have IMO. Get them in there one way or another at pickup or after.

 

at least you're not financing the additional 500. lol get some Morimotos

 

That's kind of the weird thing. When the truck was "ordered" I was kind of in a holding pattern for about a month. Then I got a phone call with a build date for the week of August 28th. According to the dealer, it won't be built for about 2 more weeks. If that's the case, would it be on the tracker website already?

 

Once they go to build or put the build order in they’ll print the window sticker. I kinda think the window sticker is the factory issued work order from Toyota. But that sticker has the final VIN. From what I’ve seen, once that final VIN gets issued by Toyota the Toyota systems drops the temp VIN or stops issuing any info. That Toyota Tracker app will then no longer pick up the temp VIN. So you have to get the final VIN somewhere else and put that in the Toyota Tracker. Same deal with DragonPro info, need the final VIN. Even with temp VIN he can’t find the final VIN and start tracking.

 

Filtering all of the vehicles in that list, none of them are TRD Off Road Access Cabs in MGM. VIN is irrelevant currently.

 

I dunno about you folks but I've had it up to here ( finger pointing at neck ) with all the b.s. in every corner of my daily world.

Food prices, when you can actually find what you want are stupid expensive. Stores re-arranging the layout so you have to wander around
to find what used to be on aisle 3, quality of everything down the drain. Workers at every level of every industry who could care less. People
walking around mumbling and stumbling wanting me ( or you ) to give them my ( or your ) hard earned money because they made and
continue to make stupid choices. Like it's normal or something.?.... is it me ?...?

I vividly remember back in the not so distant past walking into any car dealership and they would bend over backwards to make you happy.
Now... you practically have to jump up and down just to get someone to glance over at you.

Does the rest of the world know something we don't know - like is the earth surrounded by aliens who are about to take over and we're the
only ones who don't know it and everybody else does therefore they don't give a rats - ass about anything anymore ?...

 

You make a great point. I've never worked so hard to spend $50,000 in my life. It's insane. I literally called every dealer within 100 miles THEN called corporate then called nearly every regional office in the country. To SPEND 50k, MSRP, on a vehicle. I could easily get 5 more years on my current vehicle but I'm afraid with the new crazy eco laws and crackpot environmentalists in charge that we'll be using pedal cars by then.

 

??? is it time ???

 

If you don't want to cancel your order, I'd leverage your situation to request the OEM LED assemblies at cost. I've done this successfully in the past as part of purchasing a vehicle. Selling you parts at cost doesn't cost the dealer anything, and provides value to you. Install would need to be DIY because of the harness required which is not a Toyota part.

Ouch, no. Morimoto isn't remotely on the same par as the Toyota OEM LED assemblies, they are a big step down. Easily worth paying for the best.

No offense, but your buddy is obviously clueless. PnP replacement LEDs in halogen assemblies reduce focus, shift the light pattern toward the vehicle increasing foreground light and reducing distance light. Not only does this not allow you to see as far (which is the purpose of a headlight) the foreground shift causes reduced night vision, pupil constriction, and drawing your eyes away from the horizon down to that foreground light. It is now possible to over drive your headlights, meaning by the time something is illuminated at highway speed you will have inadequate time to react before striking the thing. But humans judge light output based on what is closest to them, aka foreground light. Which is why you see so many "influencers" claim PnP LEDs are great because it looks so much brighter, not realizing all the things I listed above and that it looks brighter because of the short range foreground light immediately in front of them, plus that they have lost their distance projection and that their vehicle is less safe. Unlike the OEM LEDs that extend your distance projection over stock, so you can see further than you otherwise would with a proper beam pattern and have greater time to react to obstacles in the dark, actually making your vehicle safer. Which is why IIHS actually rates the Tacoma as safer with OEM LED headlights. Don't be fooled in thinking those are remotely comparable, they are not.

Again, headlight info, including the OEM headlight vs halogen light review is all covered in the 3rd Gen thread:
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/3rd-gen-hid-vs-led-vs-halogen-h11-projector-headlights.589465/

Edit: I'll add the OEM LED fogs are cheap, and mediocre. You can swap them for ~$125ish. But 6000k LED fogs perform poorly in actual poor weather. You'd be much better off with selective yellow options such as the Diode Dynamics Elites which don't cost that much more, or the Diode Dynamics Max if you want the absolute best for bad weather that have the ability to melt snow.

For fogs, check out the LED fog thread:
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/the-led-sae-j583-fog-pod-fog-light-review.554813/

 

crash is either one of the most patient tinkerers or the most methodical people I've ever seen. I got lost in that first thread a couple times. I mean, I know all the words but they were assembled in a way that had me confused on occasion. SO much amazing information to process.

Someone earlier suggested I check out the Diode Dynamics and after digging around, I agree that the Max ambers set is probably about as good as it gets. I live and drive in snow and ice so the fogs are important.

I'm definitely going to push and see what solution they present. The dealership manager I've been dealing with received a screenshot of my original request the day it was "approved" by the district manager so there's no question it was supposed to have been on the truck. He'd already offered me 10% off any parts I want to order but the headlights are a real bummer. I'm crossing my fingers he'll be able to get them included on the build.

 

I'd just consider myself someone that has an arguably unhealthy obsession with lights. And since engineer I think both your statements apply.

If you drive in the snow often it could be worth considering the halogen headlights. LED headlights will not clear snow, can pack over and be rendered useless. That can be pretty hazardous, I've had it happen. That said it needs to be sticky snow, so it isn't every snow event that it is an issue. You can get some good output upgrades with the halogen assemblies with an H9 swap in the low beam as covered in the thread, though it will not be as good as the OEM LED low beam. Unfortunately there is no good upgrade for the halogen high beam, and the OEM LED high beam is better. For high beam upgrades, there are always aux driving lights if necessary.
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/the-sae-j581-aux-high-beam-thread.696597/