95.5-2004 Tacomas & 96-2002 4Runners 4th gen pickups and 3rd gen 4Runners
Old 04-06-2016, 07:44 AM
How-Tos on this Topic
Last edit by: IB Advertising
See related guides and technical advice from our community experts:

Browse all: Toyota 4Runner Lighting Guides
Print Wikipost

Projector headlights

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 01-05-2010 | 12:08 PM
  #1  
AlexJet's Avatar
Thread Starter
Registered User
 
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 548
Likes: 0
From: Toronto, ON
Projector headlights

I was looking to upgrade my 2001 4Runner reflector headlights to projector ones.
I looked at the web, but can't find 4Runners projectors for 3rd Gen, but I did find ones for '97-'00 Tacoma.

1. Does anyone knows if there are 4Runner specific projector headlights? If ye, could you post up a link?

2. In case there is no 4Runners available, would Tacoma ones fit 4Runner? Is there any modifications need to be done to fit them?

Taco projector from HALO:
Old 01-05-2010 | 12:16 PM
  #2  
b0n3mast3r's Avatar
Registered User
 
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 275
Likes: 0
From: south sacramento ca
You would need some front in tacoma part like grill
Old 01-05-2010 | 12:25 PM
  #3  
AlexJet's Avatar
Thread Starter
Registered User
 
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 548
Likes: 0
From: Toronto, ON
Originally Posted by b0n3mast3r
You would need some front in tacoma part like grill
What about mounting locations for the screws???

Grilles are not much different. Or I'm missing something? ...Oh, they like inverted vs each other.....






Last edited by AlexJet; 01-05-2010 at 12:33 PM.
Old 01-05-2010 | 12:26 PM
  #4  
xskydivingdudex's Avatar
Registered User
 
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 289
Likes: 0
From: San Antonio, TX
ur best bet is just to do the retrofit urself or to get someone who knows how to do it... i looked into this a while back and thats y i dont have it done yet.
Old 01-05-2010 | 03:38 PM
  #5  
Midget96's Avatar
Registered User
 
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 432
Likes: 0
Just get the drop in G3 ebay projectors. They work great, have a good cutoff and amazing output. Rivals most OEM projectors.

Check HID Planet for a better review of them and pics.
Old 01-05-2010 | 06:16 PM
  #6  
Rock Slide's Avatar
Contributing Member
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 2,262
Likes: 1
From: B'ham, AL
https://www.yotatech.com/forums/f2/a.../#post50901220
Old 01-06-2010 | 02:40 AM
  #7  
AlexJet's Avatar
Thread Starter
Registered User
 
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 548
Likes: 0
From: Toronto, ON
Why nobody actually makes a set for 4Runner???
Old 01-06-2010 | 03:44 AM
  #8  
akaphilly's Avatar
Registered User
 
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 460
Likes: 0
From: Cape Cod
only the 1337est n1nj4s can make them.. not including me

there was a set pre made in the for sale section a few months back.. they sold quick..
Old 01-06-2010 | 05:50 AM
  #9  
Midget96's Avatar
Registered User
 
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 432
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by AlexJet
Why nobody actually makes a set for 4Runner???
It takes less than an hour to make them at home, thats why.
Old 01-06-2010 | 07:16 AM
  #10  
michalik_piotr's Avatar
Registered User
 
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 762
Likes: 0
From: Seattle
Those will not fit. I saw those a few months ago on a truck and got excited too.... plus i've heard they have a poor pattern anyways. i'm doing the ebay "len" drop in projectors next. you can get the projectors, bulbs and ballasts for $125.
Old 01-06-2010 | 08:17 AM
  #11  
AlexJet's Avatar
Thread Starter
Registered User
 
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 548
Likes: 0
From: Toronto, ON
Originally Posted by Midget96
It takes less than an hour to make them at home, thats why.
Are you sure? As far as I saw the forums, it may take a day or 2 to make them...
Old 01-06-2010 | 09:10 AM
  #12  
crackiswack's Avatar
Registered User
 
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 28
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by michalik_piotr
Those will not fit. I saw those a few months ago on a truck and got excited too.... plus i've heard they have a poor pattern anyways. i'm doing the ebay "len" drop in projectors next. you can get the projectors, bulbs and ballasts for $125.
those look goofy though. If you go through the trouble of opening up the headlights, then why not just do a full retrofit
Old 01-06-2010 | 03:14 PM
  #13  
Midget96's Avatar
Registered User
 
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 432
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by crackiswack
those look goofy though. If you go through the trouble of opening up the headlights, then why not just do a full retrofit
Because the eBay ones are cheaper, take zero fabrication, use D2S/R bulbs and have the output that most OEM projectors have. Really a tough choice...
Old 01-06-2010 | 05:10 PM
  #14  
crackiswack's Avatar
Registered User
 
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 28
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by Midget96
Because the eBay ones are cheaper, take zero fabrication, use D2S/R bulbs and have the output that most OEM projectors have. Really a tough choice...
actually, after looking at comparison to some OEM projectors, the g3s are pretty blah. Super weak width, sloped cutoff, and hot spots? I'll pass
Old 01-07-2010 | 02:42 AM
  #15  
AlexJet's Avatar
Thread Starter
Registered User
 
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 548
Likes: 0
From: Toronto, ON
As of yesterday eBay listings were showing over $150 for FX projectors for retrofit thread been linked, so retrofit can esily cost above $500 mark. Price tag is high...

Last edited by AlexJet; 01-07-2010 at 02:43 AM.
Old 01-07-2010 | 09:08 AM
  #16  
Midget96's Avatar
Registered User
 
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 432
Likes: 0

G3 "Ebay" Projectors w/cutsom shield


Nissan FX projectors

There is not a $400 and 15 man hour difference between these two.

StupidPig on HID Planet took these, and he's apparently the only person selling these right now. For $10 he puts in the custom shield for you to give you a great cutoff.
Old 01-07-2010 | 09:46 AM
  #17  
MillerPKA's Avatar
Contributing Member
 
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 1,434
Likes: 0
From: GSU/ATL/SD
Ok now I'm interested. Wheres a link to these g3s? We'd have to purchase the shields separately from a user on hid planet or does he offer the kit?
Old 01-07-2010 | 10:06 AM
  #18  
crackiswack's Avatar
Registered User
 
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 28
Likes: 0
First, lets compare similar pictures first of all
FX

Stock G3

Modded G3

If you don't think there isn't a significant difference in width, then I don't know what to tell you. Some people are willing to pay for quality, and I don't even think an FX projector is all that great, and it easily trumps the G3 in terms of width. Just look at the lower left and right corners and along the cutoff line towards the end and compare, where additional output is most important. I would hate to see a comparison to a good projector such as an ls430/TL/s2k
Second, the kit doesn't come with ballasts for that price of $150, so add in a decent set of ballasts for $100+ depending on if you go OEM or not, then you are looking at a total of around $250. If you are totally lazy you can purchase a kit from TRFS for ~$400 total. http://store.theretrofitsource.com/p...8b811d2c93ba5a
So the difference in price is $150. If you put together your own kit for much less. I picked up a set of FX's on HIDplanet for $50 shipped a while back with clear lenses, OEM matsua ballasts and phillips OEM 85122+ bulbs for $120 shipped, and built my own wire harness for ~$15. Build your own shroud for $10, and total would be around $200. LESS than the cost of these aftermarket projectors and you get OEM components.

No argument about the additional time required to do the install, except that it would take longer than an hour to do a retrofit with those g3 projectors once you factor in all the time spent removing the headlights, baking, reassembling, wiring, aiming, installing, reaiming etc. So you are probably looking at 10 hours vs. 20 hours. Also the G3 projectors are held in place by a single threaded insert and nut attached at the very end of the projector and the headlight housing. I would be very concerned about the durability of such an install if the vehicle is used offroad like its meant to be.

At the end of the day it comes down to personal choice, available time, and skill level, but to true lighting enthusiasts, a real retrofit is superior to those lights in every way
Old 02-01-2010 | 09:29 AM
  #19  
robertcrav's Avatar
Registered User
 
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 75
Likes: 0
From: Orange County, CA
Link?

Hey Midget do you have pics of yours?

Also, does anyone have a pic of the stock beam pattern vs the g3 vs fx..?
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
kawazx636
The Classifieds GraveYard
34
10-06-2021 03:03 PM
4banginRunner
2010+ 4Runner
1
11-13-2015 05:23 AM
mreagen
86-95 Trucks & 4Runners
10
10-05-2015 04:27 PM
beltcutter
Newbie Tech Section
1
09-30-2015 06:14 AM
JPV
Pre 84 Trucks
2
09-28-2015 03:15 PM



Quick Reply: Projector headlights



All times are GMT -8. The time now is 07:29 AM.