The ultimate headlight upgrade H4 (not LED or HID)

You don't need a harness unless you're trying to run bulbs that are higher than stock wattage. What is it that you're trying to accomplish, are you currently running the oem headlamp housings and are they in good condition?

 

I’m currently running faded old stock head lamps. I need to purchase a new set and want more light output.

 

There are 2 separate things to address then, the housings themselves and then the bulbs. A lot of this is dependent on what your budget is.

As far as the housings go, you could try and use a headlight restoration kit like the Cerakote or the 3m kit and see if you're able to bring those stock housings back to life or not. It's difficult to say without seeing how far gone they are, but IMO it's worth a try since worst case scenario you're only out like $20.

If they're just completely cooked and can't be restored then get out the wallet and buy a new set of OEM housings. Toyota dealerships are running a 15% off sale right now and free shipping for labor day.

As far as bulbs go, you have a number of options, all are significant upgrades over stock and it's just a matter of what your budget is and how bright you want to go.

Best budget option are a set of Osram night breaker +220's. These are stock wattage bulbs (60/55), will run you about $30 for a pair and are a very noticeable upgrade over stock. Beware there are MANY variants of Osram bulbs in h4, you want the night breaker 220's (

$29 64193NB220-2HB , Folding Box (2 Lamps)

64193NB220-2HB).

Next option, if you want more output and more importantly significantly better high beam performance are the DSL +250's. These will run you twice as much $ as the night breaker +220's but perform better across the board, especially the high beams. These are the best stock wattage h4 bulbs available on the planet.

Still want to go brighter and have the budget for it? Then you want to get a set of Osram Super Brights (100/90). While these are also h4 bulbs they are significantly higher wattage than stock which requires you to run a custom harness in order to power them. The harnesses are covered in detail in the OP but are not cheap compared to the previous 2 options.

 

Step 1 should be to replace your faded old stock head lamp (housings?) with new OEM new ones - do not go aftermarket. Whether you go with Pro housings is a purely personal choice.
Step 2 should be to decide whether you want to simply replace old bulbs with stock wattage, higher output ones; or you want higher wattage, higher output ones.
If you go with stock wattage, higher output bulbs Step 3 is to install them on stock wiring and enjoy better illumination.
If you go with higher wattage, higher output bulbs, Step 3 is to install an upgraded wiring harness, followed by the upgraded bulbs. and enjoy much better illumination.

 

First, take a look at the condition of your current lamps. If the lenses are hazed, or starting to haze over, the factory UV hardcoat has failed. Lots of options to clean that up. Wetsanding with 400, 800, 1k grit sandpaper in that order should remove the rest of the hardcoat and get the lens clear enough to assess the reflective coating. If you see signs of flaking or cracked reflector coating, its time for new lamps. If the reflector surface is good, not blotted, burned, flaking or visibly corroded, then re-coat the lenses with a clearcoat. I have used clear gloss outdoor polyurethane on a few vehicles with good success. But there is also "Light Rite" which is a UV hardcoat which should be on par eith the oem clearcoat once allowed to cure, or you could use clear gloss 2k clearcoat, or a ceramic coat for headlight lenses. 2k and ceramic should last a few years depending in your climate/uv exposure levels, poly is the easiest to apply and remove if you mess it up, but should also last at least a few years before it hazes (I've re-coated my sisters scion twice using poly in the past 5 years, she lives on the coast and parks outside year round).

You *can* go aftermarket. They will not be made as well as OEM, and the beam pattern will likely not be as good. CAPA certified just means they will fit, not that the lamps are equivalent.

Any halogen bulb will both perform better, and not last as long, when paired with a quality relay harness. The harness shortens the length of the wire run power must travel to reach the bulbs from the battery.

 

Any OEM housing will do just fine. Skip the aftermarket junk.

 

Thanks for the reply’s. These headlights are cooked for sure. They have been sanded and buffed and rebuffed many times throughout their lifespan. I like the idea of the projector headlights but I don’t there’s any worth the money out there. The definitive line they create when on is simply awesome.

Is there a “pro” headlight housing for the 2nd gen? I have a 2007 so it’s the older style and not the 2.5 I will purchase the brightest bulbs listed above and see what happens! Probably the one’s right below the ones that require a harness.