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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 12, 2016 at 7:44 AM
    #261
    PoweredBySoy

    PoweredBySoy Well-Known Member

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    Great writeup, Crash!

    Has anybody been using the 70/65 bulbs with the stock harness? Issues?

    Does Osram have comparable bulbs for the fogs as well?
     
  2. Jan 12, 2016 at 8:07 AM
    #262
    Indianstick

    Indianstick New Member

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  3. Jan 12, 2016 at 10:32 PM
    #263
    erion109

    erion109 Well-Known Member

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    Any leads on an OEM TRD pro headlamp assembly for an older model 2ND Gen (i.e. 2006)?

    I cannot wait to do this mod. Factory lamps got old, polished them. Dull again. Bought aftermarket lamps and they suck! Put in HID bulbs, sucked even worse. Back to stock bulbs. Need stock housings. Would like to buy the BHLM look, but want factory. I'm tired of condensation in my lamps and terrible beam dispersion. Any help is appreciated.
     
  4. Jan 12, 2016 at 10:49 PM
    #264
    erion109

    erion109 Well-Known Member

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    Answered my own question...shit these are expensive. Any aftermarket recommendations? I don't want to fight condensation any more! image.jpg
     
  5. Jan 12, 2016 at 11:06 PM
    #265
    BrettBretterson

    BrettBretterson Wild Ginger

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    There was no TRD Pro for the early-model 2nd Gen's. I think your best bet is to get a nice set of factory housings and BHLM them.
     
  6. Jan 12, 2016 at 11:12 PM
    #266
    T4RFTMFW

    T4RFTMFW Well-Known Member

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    Or get DEPO BHLMs instead.
     
  7. Jan 12, 2016 at 11:29 PM
    #267
    JohnNP

    JohnNP ForeRunners Future Wife :)~

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    Nice Job OP!!! Had I seen this before I did first a LifetimeLED Bulb (what a damn waste that was as you said) and then finally did a full HID retrofit thru TRS (which I LOVE with my 4400 lumens of light) I would have totally done this instead!!!! Great write up, love having the extra options if I decide to switch back down to a halogen bulb down the road. Super nice!!!
     
  8. Jan 13, 2016 at 4:50 AM
    #268
    KMKtacoma

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    Has anyone done this on a first gen?
     
  9. Jan 13, 2016 at 9:57 AM
    #269
    Lfaub03

    Lfaub03 4wd wannabe

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  10. Jan 13, 2016 at 10:07 PM
    #270
    VE7OSR

    VE7OSR нет войне

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  11. Jan 14, 2016 at 12:20 AM
    #271
    Backt

    Backt Well-Known Member

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    I believe the Osram fogs are called night breakers.
     
  12. Jan 14, 2016 at 12:59 AM
    #272
    tacotruck 2.7

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    What is the lifespan in hours for these bulbs. Typicaly the hotter the bulb the sooner they burn out plus higher temps normaly burn up your plastic conectors and become brittle to when you go to conect/disconect they brake off.
     
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  13. Jan 14, 2016 at 5:33 PM
    #273
    crashnburn80

    crashnburn80 [OP] Vehicle Design Engineer

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    This makes complete sense as the reduced voltage would not throw the relay to activate the headlights, and the relay will just be an on/off switch, not capable of running at reduced voltage. Thanks for posting this info, I'll add a comment in the original post with this note as I was not previously aware of any 2nd gens that used the headlights as DRLs.

    Yes, I have.

    I did not even know that existed. Good to spread the knowledge to other sections, I'll have to check in over there periodically.

    There are more tricks to bulb manufacturing than just wattage to get more lumen output and as mentioned the tint actually reduces light output. If you are looking for a less expensive/other option, I would suggest the German made Hella bulbs instead (vs Indonesian bulbs). One of the issues with going to 100w bulbs is bulb life, it tanks. I specifically recommend the Osrams because they offer the best balance of lumen output vs bulb life, IMO.
    Hellas, with life comparison:
    http://www.rallylights.com/h-412-hella-h4-9003-hb2-12volt-halogen-bulb.html

    Fogs were covered many pages back in this thread, with output ratings. They don't make Hypers in the fog light bulb size. I would suggest the Night Breakers as a good alternative though they are stock wattage.

    Also covered many pages back. Typically last me 12-15 months. Yes, normally the hotter the bulb the shorter the lifespan, as mentioned above I specifically recommend these because of their balance in lumen output and good life span. I did this same mod on my girlfriends truck in December of 14, and they are still going strong. Will report when they fail.

    The plastic connectors are not an issue because the stand alone harness uses ceramic connectors to resist the high temperature, safely protecting your plastic connectors on the other side of a relay so they don't see the higher current load or temps.
     
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  14. Jan 14, 2016 at 11:37 PM
    #274
    TheSpeediTurtle

    TheSpeediTurtle Tappin' kegs, Spreadin' Legs

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    Has anybody tried this with the Hella 200mm old square lights?
     
  15. Jan 15, 2016 at 12:05 AM
    #275
    crashnburn80

    crashnburn80 [OP] Vehicle Design Engineer

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    Yes. I have on my 94. Works even better than the composite headlights if you get the Hella E-code version, which puts far more light to the pavement than the crappy DOT spec beam pattern. Couldn't recommend this with the Hella E-codes enough. I put a comment over in the first gen thread earlier regarding the same thing.

    Note that I have tried a few different 200mm E-code conversions, and Hella was by far the best fit and finish. I would not skimp on a lesser brand.
     
  16. Jan 15, 2016 at 12:13 AM
    #276
    Hartford

    Hartford Well-Known Member

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    Just ordered up the harness for conventionally switched, and some of the hella bulbs. The osram 80/85w are backordered so I will be getting two of those later. Wondered why that order was pending for two or three days.
     
  17. Jan 16, 2016 at 1:19 AM
    #277
    ToyTacoNM

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    Great write up OP. The guys from rallylights.com are exellent to work with, very friendly staff. I received both the harness and bulbs last week and installed them earlier this week. What a difference. The light output is amazing. My headlights easily compete with, if not surpass stock projectors from any manufacturer.
     
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  18. Jan 16, 2016 at 1:50 AM
    #278
    Ravistae

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    Is there a bulb for my fog lights that will match the new Osrams? I want to install the Osrams headlights but do not want them to drown out my fog lights. What is a good bulb to upgrade my fog lights as well to match this set up?
     
  19. Jan 16, 2016 at 8:40 AM
    #279
    ToyTacoNM

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    Check out this post for info on which foglight bulbs to try.

    After having installed the osram bulbs, I can tell you that the lights do not washout your fog lights. The beam pattern on the fog lights is different. This upgrade doesn't alter any of the beam patterns, it only increases the overall light output of your stock headlights.
     
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  20. Jan 16, 2016 at 12:53 PM
    #280
    Norton

    Norton Senior Member

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    Yes. I ran this setup for years. NO PROBLEMS, but only moderately increased light output.

    Several of us have. Discussion ongoing here. Strongly recommend you test for Conventional vs Ground Switching before buying. (My First Gen turned out to be Conventionally Switched, while others have been Ground Switched.)

    Lifespan will be less than with stock bulbs but, having run Osram's 70/65 bulbs for years, I didn't find the difference significant. (IMO, worth the increased light provided.) As reported by crashnburn80, the new/upgraded harness is equipped with ceramic bulb connectors.
     

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