Headlight upgrade 2008 to 2013 with HID & DRL

[NetJunky]

After reviewing all the wires and figuring out what is what, I found out what is really needed.

Data is from a 2009 ->2013 headlights

1. high beam is not altered
2. T10 parking light on the sides is not altered
3. Low beam - Cut the ballast harness and tap into low beam harness from the vehicle. Alternative is to add the connector for a 9005 (2X H10 9005 9006 9145 MALE BULB SOCKET CONNECTORS LED HID HARNESS PLUG ADAPTER) onto the other end of the ballast harness
4. Cut connector for LED and soldier into the bottom parking lights (T10) wiring (from vehicle)
5. Cut the turn signal connector and replace the vehicle side turn signal wiring (bulb socket key is different as the 2013 has a 4 prong vs the 2009 which is 3 prong).

That pretty much sums it up. If you want the LED as a DRL you can connect the positive wire to an ignition on power. I will have images up once I have time to do the actual vehicle wiring.

Also for the HL leveling it will require the switch, connector and lots of wires to go from the engine bay to the switch. I'm going manual till I have time to sort that out.

 

[Markuson]

After reviewing all the wires and figuring out what is what, I found out what is really needed.

Data is from a 2009 ->2013 headlights

1. high beam is not altered
2. T10 parking light on the sides is not altered
3. Low beam - Cut the ballast harness and tap into low beam harness from the vehicle. Alternative is to add the connector for a 9005 (2X H10 9005 9006 9145 MALE BULB SOCKET CONNECTORS LED HID HARNESS PLUG ADAPTER) onto the other end of the ballast harness
4. Cut connector for LED and soldier into the bottom parking lights (T10) wiring (from vehicle)
5. Cut the turn signal connector and replace the vehicle side turn signal wiring (bulb socket key is different as the 2013 has a 4 prong vs the 2009 which is 3 prong).

That pretty much sums it up. If you want the LED as a DRL you can connect the positive wire to an ignition on power. I will have images up once I have time to do the actual vehicle wiring.

Also for the HL leveling it will require the switch, connector and lots of wires to go from the engine bay to the switch. I'm going manual till I have time to sort that out.

Hey there @NetJunky

Wondering if you are still planning to post photos, etc. Do you still plan to post that stuff? I'm an electrical moron...so pictures help a great deal!

 

[Docboy]

If you don't want to pay for a retrofit, you can still achieve a good improvement simply by replacing the halogen bulb with a good LED kit for about $100 (or less). I use the Opt7 https://www.amazon.com/OPT7-Headlig...1?ie=UTF8&qid=1471814959&sr=8-1&keywords=opt7 and it's really a good product, runs cooler with a heat sink and fan, and they are much brighter than the stock H11s and 9005s.

Is this product comparable to the HID brightness of the RX? How easy was the install?

 

[Chocolate]

Is this product comparable to the HID brightness of the RX? How easy was the install?

Definitely. These offer very good output and even offer water resistance, and run much cooler than halogens or HIDs. Being solid state LED, they are more durable than either. I originally got these after some research and saw that they were the top rated LED kit on Amazon. They are bright enough that I get flashed sometimes, I just don't care (seeing deer in time is my primary concern, they are everywhere here). And 100 bucks isn't so bad when you see the amount car manufacturers charge for LED upgrades.

Install is very easy with no custom wiring required. Check carcarekiosk.com for videos on replacing any of the bulbs.

 

[Willy beamin]

I've been running these for almost two years and they are great at night time. I had a diode or a ballast go out, contact the company through email and they sent me a new one as warranty.....thats all good in my book

 

[Docboy]

Definitely. These offer very good output and even offer water resistance, and run much cooler than halogens or HIDs. Being solid state LED, they are more durable than either. I originally got these after some research and saw that they were the top rated LED kit on Amazon. They are bright enough that I get flashed sometimes, I just don't care (seeing deer in time is my primary concern, they are everywhere here). And 100 bucks isn't so bad when you see the amount car manufacturers charge for LED upgrades.

Install is very easy with no custom wiring required. Check carcarekiosk.com for videos on replacing any of the bulbs.

Thanks. Do you have a video link on how to install these LEDs? How long did it take to install? I checked carcarekiosi.com, and the site doesn't have the LX 570. It has the GX470 though...

 

[Chocolate]

Thanks. Do you have a video link on how to install these LEDs? How long did it take to install? I checked carcarekiosi.com, and the site doesn't have the LX 570. It has the GX470 though...

I used the Land Cruiser instructions. The process is the same.

Here's a link:

Fog Light Replacement 2008-2014 Toyota Land Cruiser 2013 Toyota Land Cruiser 5.7L V8

Enjoy! Install is easy, no more than half an hour if you are taking your time and comparing outputs.
Each Opt7 bulb is rated at 3500 lumens, the fogs increase intensity and width substantially.

 

[Docboy]

I used the Land Cruiser instructions. The process is the same.

Here's a link:

Fog Light Replacement 2008-2014 Toyota Land Cruiser 2013 Toyota Land Cruiser 5.7L V8

Enjoy! Install is easy, no more than half an hour if you are taking your time and comparing outputs.
Each Opt7 bulb is rated at 3500 lumens, the fogs increase intensity and width substantially.

Thanks! Finally beginning to see how mechanically similar the LC and the LX are...

So did you replace both the headlights and the fogs? The Amazon LED link you posted was for the headlights (low and high beam) I believe? I'll likely place an order for the OPT7 LED - H11 to replace my headlights. Seems very easy and more cost effective than replacing the entire housing.

Re: the fogs, what type of lights did you replace the OEMs fogs with? Would you mind sharing a link?

 

[Chocolate]

Thanks! Finally beginning to see how mechanically similar the LC and the LX are...

So did you replace both the headlights and the fogs? The Amazon LED link you posted was for the headlights (low and high beam) I believe? I'll likely place an order for the OPT7 LED - H11 to replace my headlights. Seems very easy and more cost effective than replacing the entire housing.

Re: the fogs, what type of lights did you replace the OEMs fogs with? Would you mind sharing a link?

The 2013+ have Xenon for the low beam, until 2016 when they went to LED, so I didn't change those out. They use 9005 for the high beam (already had the Opt7 kit for that from previous vehicle) and H11 for the fog beam. Your LX uses H11 for both low beam and the fogs.

Handy resource: https://www.osram-americas.com/en-u...bulbs.aspx?year=2011&qual=&model=2485&make=68

I agree that it'll be much easier and more cost effective than replacing the housing, that's what I would do. On my previous ES, I retrofitted S550 projectors into the fogs. In the LX, I hardly ever use the highs as the fogs put out much more light and width (you'll find you can only run low+fogs or low+highs; the other shuts off when you turn one on). Here's the link again per request if you want to check out some of the customer photos. https://www.amazon.com/OPT7-Headlight-Bulbs-Clear-Arc-Beam/dp/B00VNBDWPK

 

[EverywhereBear]

Thanks! Finally beginning to see how mechanically similar the LC and the LX are...

So did you replace both the headlights and the fogs? The Amazon LED link you posted was for the headlights (low and high beam) I believe? I'll likely place an order for the OPT7 LED - H11 to replace my headlights. Seems very easy and more cost effective than replacing the entire housing.

Re: the fogs, what type of lights did you replace the OEMs fogs with? Would you mind sharing a link?

I am very interested in getting these for my LX low beams as well. Can you post some pics when you install. I am particularly interested in how these bulbs would work with the dust caps and if any modifications need to be made to the caps.

 

[Chocolate]

Also, you will be able to adjust the height of your low beam using just a screwdriver, a level surface, and some painter's tape (place it on initial low beam cutoff, it allows you to see how much you have adjusted it and keep both beams level).
The low beam is aimed low for regs but also leaves gaps in visibility particularly over elevation changes.

Adjusting those dang headlights

 

[Chocolate]

I am very interested in getting these for my LX low beams as well. Can you post some pics when you install. I am particularly interested in how these bulbs would work with the dust caps and if any modifications need to be made to the caps.

For the high beams, I was able to fit the entire LED kit in and replace the dust caps. The bulb is larger than the stock bulb because of the heat sink and fan, but the rest of the assembly is compact enough to fit with clearance.

 

[NetJunky]

Hey there @NetJunky

Wondering if you are still planning to post photos, etc. Do you still plan to post that stuff? I'm an electrical moron...so pictures help a great deal!

Sorry i deleted the pics off my phone.

low beam needs to be wired into the harness off the 13' headlights. bottom wedge bulb to be wired into 13' headlight harness and the signal wired into the harness as well. Total 6 wires and you are good to go.

When I install my SC and pull everything off I might take more pics.

 

[Markuson]

Sorry i deleted the pics off my phone.

low beam needs to be wired into the harness off the 13' headlights. bottom wedge bulb to be wired into 13' headlight harness and the signal wired into the harness as well. Total 6 wires and you are good to go.

When I install my SC and pull everything off I might take more pics.

Thanks. Any photos you could post would be GREATLY appreciated.

Markuson

 

[Docboy]

Still pondering on whether to go HID or LED. I took a look at driver's side low beams area, and not much space... how does one fit thr HID ballast in there?

How did you guys/gals remove the gray dust cap? That thing is on tight!

 

[Chocolate]

Still pondering on whether to go HID or LED. I took a look at driver's side low beams area, and not much space... how does one fit thr HID ballast in there?

How did you guys/gals remove the gray dust cap? That thing is on tight!

In my opinion the LED has some advantages. Key is better durability, enhanced water resistance (especially useful for the fog lights), no high voltage required, less heat, less ultraviolet radiation (which must be shielded in a HID system), no discoloration or fading over time, and simpler installation.

 

[HRTROB]

Sorry to bump an old thread. I'm thinking about upgrading to the 2013 headlights but want to ask first if the 2013 headlights are bixenon or just xenon low beams?

Bixenon = Projector goes into high beam mode by lowering the cutoff shield inside

 

[TonyP]

Low only

 

[HRTROB]

Low only

Damn I was hoping it was bixenon. Kinda hesitant now to pull the trigger on these unless someone figures out how to make the LED strip work as DRL (full brightness) like in other markets

 

[jcmiro]

I did this about 3-4 years ago. I recommend quality ballasts and bulbs to get good visibility at night. OEM bulbs were just okay. I could never get the LEDs to illuminate as bright as the 2013s even though my housing were OEM. I recently bought 55w Morimoto ballasts and OSram Nightbreaker bulbs. The light is truely amazing. About on par with the MB lights.