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The ultimate headlight upgrade H4 (not LED or HID)

Discussion in '2nd Gen. Tacomas (2005-2015)' started by crashnburn80, Oct 27, 2015.

  1. Jan 21, 2018 at 9:59 AM
    #961
    crashnburn80

    crashnburn80 [OP] Vehicle Design Engineer

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    I recommend Mequires Headlight Protectant for that purpose. Agreed the headlights should never haze if properly maintained. It is usually Girlfriend’s friends that come over that have non-maintained headlights in poor condition. I’ll give them a quick once over for moderate improvement. In this case the girl was also running Silverstars based on the auto parts store guy recommendation, swapped those out for some Osram Hypers for an outstanding improvemt.
     
  2. Jan 21, 2018 at 3:25 PM
    #962
    Mudman

    Mudman Well-Known Member

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    20171221_163331.jpg Speaking of cleaning headlights...

    After driving with the upgraded harness and bulbs for a little while now, I can fully say they are perfect. No more desire for blinding HID lights.
     
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  3. Jan 21, 2018 at 3:45 PM
    #963
    crashnburn80

    crashnburn80 [OP] Vehicle Design Engineer

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    Wow those before lenses are painful to look at! Nice work, be sure to throw some headlight protectant on there to keep them looking good. After a good sanding like that they will oxidize quickly if you don't.
     
  4. Jan 21, 2018 at 3:47 PM
    #964
    Unchained 5150

    Unchained 5150 Rick

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    Thanks just bought some, I spend a lot of money because of you.
     
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  5. Jan 21, 2018 at 3:48 PM
    #965
    crashnburn80

    crashnburn80 [OP] Vehicle Design Engineer

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    I only return the favor that the forum has bestowed on me. It is a vicious cycle.
     
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  6. Jan 21, 2018 at 3:49 PM
    #966
    Unchained 5150

    Unchained 5150 Rick

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    Agreed at least it makes the truck look better and perform better
     
  7. Jan 21, 2018 at 3:51 PM
    #967
    Mudman

    Mudman Well-Known Member

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    Yep, I usually do two coats of wax and a sealant. Having detailing gear makes things go by pretty quick though.
     
  8. Jan 26, 2018 at 1:20 PM
    #968
    Thebttmline

    Thebttmline New Member

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    I've learned a bunch reading this thread - much appreciated, @crashnburn80. I just upgraded by 2003 Tacoma last night with the RallyLights harness and Osram 85/80s. Extremely pleased with the initial test drive after installing it.

    Question about the CAPA headlights you mentioned.
    My originals were badly faded / yellowed and I replaced them a couple of years ago with these cheap non-CAPA Depos:
    https://www.amazon.com/Depo-312-1150R-AS-Passenger-Replacement-Headlight/dp/B004I0MC7M

    What 1st gen CAPA headlight did you go with? Do you think there would be any noticeable difference from the cheap Depos?
     
  9. Jan 26, 2018 at 1:23 PM
    #969
    Unchained 5150

    Unchained 5150 Rick

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    When you tag a member use @crashnburn80
     
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  10. Jan 26, 2018 at 1:32 PM
    #970
    crashnburn80

    crashnburn80 [OP] Vehicle Design Engineer

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    When I did mine on my 1st Gen I went with OEM.

    0F858642-4FA3-4E13-97FC-46E606DFDF57.jpg

    But when we did a friends 1st Gen (mentioned in the thread) he went with CAPA Depos. The CAPA Depos cost 30% more. Is is hard to say what differences there would be as it would vary by brand. If your happy with the beam pattern and it has decent cut offs I’d leave them. CAPA is some level of assurance you are getting a half way decent product that meets the OEM specs, as many aftermarket lights out there don’t and have very poor beam patterns, which is not something you notice buying online or even opening the box when it arrives.
     
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  11. Jan 26, 2018 at 2:28 PM
    #971
    MattCowsmasher

    MattCowsmasher ( -_・)ᡕᠵ᠊ᡃ່࡚ࠢ࠘⸝່ࠡࠣ᠊߯᠆ࠣ࠘ᡁࠣ࠘᠊᠊ࠢ࠘

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    Lifted, armored, lumenz w/ switches, positraked, long legged, big tars, debadged with a hood skewp
    Finally did this upgrade had leds they were ok they had a cut off but didn't want to go full projector. I already had Sylvania silver Star ultras at home so put those in gonna order osram soon. Huge difference stock halogen passenger upgraded driver side fogloghts next.

    3A2052BD-94A5-426A-A78F-601B00DDC058.jpg
     
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  12. Jan 26, 2018 at 8:37 PM
    #972
    crashnburn80

    crashnburn80 [OP] Vehicle Design Engineer

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    Im a little confused at what we are looking at. Harness plus silverstar driver? All stock passenger? I think some of the difference in the photo may be due to the different surfaces. A harness should provide ~15% improvement. Silverstars actually produce less light than stock, though it is whiter.
     
  13. Jan 27, 2018 at 5:52 AM
    #973
    MattCowsmasher

    MattCowsmasher ( -_・)ᡕᠵ᠊ᡃ່࡚ࠢ࠘⸝່ࠡࠣ᠊߯᠆ࠣ࠘ᡁࠣ࠘᠊᠊ࠢ࠘

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    Yes harness an silver Star driver side an stock passenger side. You may be right on the surface aspect. From driving it last night it's so much better.
     
  14. Jan 27, 2018 at 9:25 AM
    #974
    crashnburn80

    crashnburn80 [OP] Vehicle Design Engineer

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    Just wait till you have the better bulbs. :)
     
  15. Jan 27, 2018 at 1:05 PM
    #975
    Toy4me

    Toy4me Well-Known Member

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    I finally got around to putting my osram 85/80s in today. Anxious to go for a drive tonight. Also pulled out my caliraised led pods and put the stock fogs back in. Ready for the next round of standalone harness and better bulbs.
     
  16. Jan 27, 2018 at 1:30 PM
    #976
    crashnburn80

    crashnburn80 [OP] Vehicle Design Engineer

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  17. Jan 27, 2018 at 1:52 PM
    #977
    Toy4me

    Toy4me Well-Known Member

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  18. Jan 27, 2018 at 3:47 PM
    #978
    crashnburn80

    crashnburn80 [OP] Vehicle Design Engineer

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    Bad new guys.

    German production of performance halogen bulbs seems to have been permanently shut down. Not sure what is going on, but the 85/80w bulbs are discontinued, German 9011/9012 HIRs are discontinued for Volsa/Osram/Philips/Sylvania. I’m not sure but I could see the 100/90w Osrams suffering the same fate.
     
  19. Jan 27, 2018 at 3:53 PM
    #979
    Unchained 5150

    Unchained 5150 Rick

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    And I have not even bought the harness yet, and I guess now I won't bother. I have 4 bulbs still in the sealed box if somebody wants some extras
     
  20. Jan 27, 2018 at 4:01 PM
    #980
    crashnburn80

    crashnburn80 [OP] Vehicle Design Engineer

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    Well I wouldn’t dump your stuff yet. It’s hard to say what all is affected and there are other brands. I highly doubt stock wattage performance bulbs are going anywhere. The harness will still get you a noticeable bump in output regardless of which bulbs you are running. The 4 bulbs should get you roughly 1.5-2 years.
     

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