Head Light Upgrades... [Archive]

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flyingwil

10-26-2005, 01:32 AM

I am looking for a head light that performs better than stock. I do most of my driving at night, and something a bit brighter than stock. I really don't care if it is blue or yellow or white, and not going for the bling factor, I am just looking to upgrade the el stocko's.

I have found this site (http://www.eautoworks.com/html/search-1-H4~light~bulb-TOYOTA~Tacoma~headlight.htm), but have no clue what is good and what is bad. I am currently saving the pennies up for a bentup bumper, so I don't want be going through them frequently. Since I have no bumper yet I have no offroad lights either, and a bit better than stock would be nice.

I have heard good about the Silver Stars, however I have heard they tend to burn out rather quickly. Having Day Time Running Lights, this concerns me. I also heard good about the PIAA extreme white H4's but need more input.

OH, and in upgrading the head lights I do not want to have to upgrade the wiring either (I have no time for that!)

Thanks,
Wil

Scott Brady

10-26-2005, 05:08 AM

I would like to see the results of this research...

I am using the PIAA replacements in the Trooper, and they work fantastic.

+ d

10-26-2005, 05:56 AM

flyingwil

10-26-2005, 06:04 AM

a common headlight-hopup for the grand cherokees is to upgrade the wiring harness (http://www.jeepsunlimited.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=19)...

not sure if the results would be the same for the taco's around here, but it seems like a good place to start. especially to prevent melt-downs if one is considering higher wattage bulbs.

david

Yeah I understand all that, but I am just looking to upgrade the bulbs themselves with out the wiring harness, the way I figure if I am going to up the wiring harness i might as well go all for HID's, but I am afraid that the stock assy. would melt with HID's. All I want is brighter light to up the stock and no Blinging blue lights

Jonathan Hanson

10-26-2005, 02:08 PM

So far I am not aware of a true HID replacement headlamp system of high quality. As I understand the technology, you cannot simply replace, say, an H4 bulb with an HID bulb and transformer because the reflectors of HID lamps are completely different.

I do know that the blue-tinted, HID "look" bulbs are so much garbage. The bulbs are simply coated with a blue film, and when you coat a bulb, the light output drops, period.

Take a look at

www.danielsternlighting.com (http://www.danielsternlighting.com)

for a lot of really good information.

I have Cibie H4 headlamps in my FJ40, which work well. I replaced the stock 55/60-watt bulbs with 55/100-watt for more high-beam output. PIAA quality is very good, as is IPF. I hear conflicting reports about Hellas: Some love them, some don't.

Jonathan Hanson

10-26-2005, 02:12 PM

Oh . . . I also installed the direct wiring harness that Daniel Stern sells. I believe I can detect a positive difference in light output. Assentially the kit supplies full voltage to your headlamps, which the factory harness does not. DC current drops very quickly over distance, so shortening the travel from alternator/battery to the load increases available current.