HID kit vs Hella I can't see at night!

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Is it worth it to bump up $45 to the Phillips bulb? I spoke with "Danny" with the high miles and long hours I am going to run these he said it would be a good upgrade. That takes me up to $199
 
Phil, I just read you other thread, lots of good info. I am up in the Pacific NW so it is always raining, that is when I can't see much.

On a 99 LX 470 am I going to have to consider the full headlight upgrade?
 
Ok I am going to offer up some advice. My first question is what are you trying to achieve under what price range? The HID upgrade will be a million times better than your stock halogens, especially if you pair it with the TSx-r clear lens. I highly advise against the replacement headlights. Your stock ones are good and can be amazing with a few upgrades and almost all the time I see worse output/build quality from aftermarket replacements such as the one you linked. I know LCPhil just got the replacements, but has yet to report back on them.

Some threads that might help:
https://forum.ih8mud.com/threads/lx470-projector-tsx-r-lens-swap.543532/
Lexus LX470 retrofitted with Lexus SC430 projectors.

Once again there are many options out there that are going to be in the same price range as the replacement headlights, but you will get a lot more output for the money.
 
I agree, Toyota parts are better in almost every case. I didn't know I could swap that lens only. When folks mentioned lens upgrades I thought they meant the whole asy not just something like "TSx-r clear lens" I am going to keep doing some reading (thanks for the links)

Budget? I'd say I'd like to stay under $400 in parts. If I can't see at night in the rain I am going to have to sell this thing and I'd rather not do that. The goal is not a "Cool Factor" I am literately white knuckling it through the mountain passes at night now.
 
For $400 I would do an HID kit with a quality set of philips bulbs and the clear lens. You will be amazed at how bright it is compared to stock and I think it's exactly what your'e looking for. Do some research though and figure out what path you want to take. I just don't recommend the full replacement headlight path.
 
Looks like I am going to order the HID kid with the upgraded bulbs "Options:Philips Bulb 4300K"

Still on the fence about the lens swap.
 
LandCruiserPhil said:
4300K is the color you want - closest color to halogen

Better prices are out there for the same set up IMO
I just purchased new headlight assemblies for our LX w/HID option for $247
LX470 Headlight Alternate Experience?
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i agree 4300k is better color and to me brighter.
the problem is not the bulb. if you look at the headlight, low beam is not as shinny as the high beam. the chrome/ reflective part is faded.
 
The only way you gonna achieve the best lighting is to do a complete retrofit. Just changing the bulb alone would seem brighter but actually it's not. Adding a hid kit would brighten up way more than stock, but beam gets lost when it's raining. So retrofitting is the best option.
 
silverbullitt said:
The only way you gonna achieve the best lighting is to do a complete retrofit.
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While I agree, I have found it almost impossible to follow your retro. I have searched for 2 weeks for the 430 projectors at a good price and have not found a set. So while I agree it is a great upgrade, its not easy to source the parts.
 
Here's another retrofit using a TSX projector.
Retrofit HID's and TSX Projectors into my LX470

The TSX projector is a lot easier to source than the SC430 (it can be bought off the retrofit source). I would suggest this route if you are actually game for a retro, but I assume from you being strewn away from a lens swap, you wouldn't want to do a retro.

Don't be scared off by what @silverbullitt says. The beam doesn't get that lost in the rain, especially compared to stock. I'm running with HIDs and a lens swap (but I'm about to retro a TSX). And the output is 100x better than stock and I think will satisfy your needs. Are they better than a lot of modern projectors? No, but they're way brighter than stock.
 
4FLATS said:
Looks like I am going to order the HID kid with the upgraded bulbs "Options:philips Bulb 4300K"

Still on the fence about the lens swap.
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My experience with the XD 4300k kit in OE projectors is your night driving experience should be significantly better, safer. Is overall performance on par with the best projector/lens specifically designed for HID? No, probably not, but nevertheless it should be significantly better than stock. That's my experience and I won't accept any counter arguments from lighting engineer "experts" or layman telling me otherwise. Two caveats with a HID install are to ensure your bulbs are seated correctly and your lamps are correctly aimed. You haven't mentioned using your projector fogs during inclement weather. You might like to try some 3000k halogens and ensure they are aimed too. If you're not satisfied with aligned HIDs in OE projectors you can always take it to the the next level, but I honestly believe you'll be pleasantly surprised.
 
Thanks for all the feedback, I ordered the HID kit last night. The plan is to install and see where I am (of course alignments ect) If I need more I'll swap out the lens kit.

As to the fog lamps? they suck so bad I can't really tell when they are on or off. When fog rolls in here it is THICK. Throwing more light at it just bounces back in your face. The real PIA is the Seattle drizzle alllllll winter...
 
Look into getting some LED fogs or another small fog you could stick in your lower valence. That would probably help cut through the fog!
 
Here's pics of my 1st retrofit. Morimoto H1 hid kit with tsx-r clear lens. 5k color temperature bulbs. Most 4300k aftermarket bulbs are not 4300k. They stay yellow and still not that bright after you break them in. I went with the 5k to get as close to oem as possible

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Oh & 2 more thing. There are 2 little holes inside the projector that's on the cutoff shield. It's very noticeable with hids installed. When I opened my lights up, I covered them with foil tape.
 
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