LX470 '06 headlight upgrade! Glass/polycarb and LED or HID

[TTN]

Is there a Bi-LED or Quad-LED build thread. Seems like these are the best two options. For those who have done an upgrade or two, if you were to offer your buddy advice on what to go with based on your experience what is the "just do this and don't look back" best option?

Amen, @OldManJ. Couldn't have articulated the ask better.

 

[TTN]

This thread might be useful.

Thread 'TEQ Custom Retrofit Headlights - Anyone Tried'

Feb 22, 2023

Hi all,

looking to get some aftermarket headlights on my '01. The OEM ones aren't doing it for me anymore and have been really overhauling my truck recently (will include pictures when it's all said + done) so I thought I might as well get some new headlights.

Has anyone had any experience with TEQ Customs? This is the kit I'm thinking of getting.

Also, any recommendations on how to waterproof/seal them during installation?

Thanks.

• csmith1202
• Replies: 90
• Forum: 100-Series Cruisers

• 

 

[TTN]

Amen, @OldManJ. Couldn't have articulated the ask better.

Bi-LED (low-hi) projectors is the better option. Less components, less troubleshooting (no more ballasts, no more faulty wiring harness, no more burned-out xenon bulbs and best of all no more “pre-heating” which defeats the purpose of the high beam flash if needed). Retrofitting your LX with aftermarket bi-LED presents a lot of options: pair of bi-LED (10,000-15,000 lumens) or a quad-LED setup like mine (25,000 combined total lumens). You can go with a 2.5” diameter lens or 3” like what I used. Brands: Morimoto and NHK are the top shelf brands.

 

[TTN]

Bi-LED (low-hi) projectors is the better option. Less components, less troubleshooting (no more ballasts, no more faulty wiring harness, no more burned-out xenon bulbs and best of all no more “pre-heating” which defeats the purpose of the high beam flash if needed). Retrofitting your LX with aftermarket bi-LED presents a lot of options: pair of bi-LED (10,000-15,000 lumens) or a quad-LED setup like mine (25,000 combined total lumens). You can go with a 2.5” diameter lens or 3” like what I used. Brands: Morimoto and NHK are the top shelf brands.

I've been ChatGPT'ing - sounds like the Morimoto M-LED-2.0 (3 inch lens which is also the size of the native Lexus projector lens) is the premium way to go (TEQ has a bad reputation and long lead times, NHK is inferior). With a tight space behind the high beam on the driver side (almost hitting the windshield washer reservoir, as is) it suggests to leave the high beam compartment as is and use a 9005 high beam LED that's widely available on Amazon (I have been using this Sealight https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DN5WVMGV?tag=ihco-20 and it seems to work great with the reflector housing. The high beam in the Morimoto M-LED-2.0 has a relay (designed to pull the shield down for high beam) would be wired to the native high beam wires so that when high beam is toggled on, the 2 high beams per side (native and M-LED-2.0) would work in tandem. The rest is academic but the work to modify the low beam compartment might require skills. What say you @OEMGUY0720? Thanks for getting us going.

 

[OEMGUY0720]

Amen, @OldManJ. Couldn't have articulated the ask better.

Very few headlight retrofitting shops / craftsmen are willing to take on a quad-bi-LED custom setup. The aiming itself is labor intensive once everything is buttoned up, not to mention the custom work needed to fit a second set of bi-LED projectors in the housing and the amount of trimming it requires. I haven’t seen one yet done here on mud on any LX470 with the same quad bi-leds I did but I’ll try to put up something when I get the chance.

@TTN YouTube has a ton of videos about Morimoto and NHK bi-led lenses you can decide after you watch them. Easiest way is go for a 2.5” lens which is the same diameter lens of the factory ones (sorry chatgpt is incorrect on that). 3.0” lens involves a ton of work with trimming the opening of the chrome shroud. The bracket for the 2.5” lens is available here on mud from LB.

 

[TTN]

Very few headlight retrofitting shops / craftsmen are willing to take on a quad-bi-LED custom setup. The aiming itself is labor intensive once everything is buttoned up, not to mention the custom work needed to fit a second set of bi-LED projectors in the housing and the amount of trimming it requires. I haven’t seen one yet done here on mud on any LX470 with the same quad bi-leds I did but I’ll try to put up something when I get the chance.
View attachment 4016174
@TTN YouTube has a ton of videos about Morimoto and NHK bi-led lenses you can decide after you watch them. Easiest way is go for a 2.5” lens which is the same diameter lens of the factory ones (sorry chatgpt is incorrect on that). 3.0” lens involves a ton of work with trimming the opening of the chrome shroud. The bracket for the 2.5” lens is available here on mud from LB.

Thank you, Sir! With the 2.5 in lens, would I need to modify the chrome shroud at all? Also, does the Morimoto 2.5 in Bi-LED give ample brightness with a clean cutoff? With that, I've just talked to another tech at Morimoto - he said, although the Bi-LED doesn't have a ballast, it requires a "driver" so space-wise, it's about a wash. He also said, if anything went wrong with the LED emitter, heat sink, fan . . . it would be dejavu again with the complete rework - baking and removing the lens to get to the LED projector module to swap it all out . . . He is convinced that the better route for the LX470 is the Morimoto HID 2.5 inch projector housing and a GTR H1 HID bulb (dual filament) which I could also configure as both low and high beam through the use of a splitter to trigger a solenoid/relay triggered through the native high beam wiring to activate the HID high beam (and the native high beam). Thanks.

 

[OEMGUY0720]

Thank you, Sir! With the 2.5 in lens, would I need to modify the chrome shroud at all? Also, does the Morimoto 2.5 in Bi-LED give ample brightness with clean cutoff that the quad would be nicer and brighter but not necessary? Look forward to you clip notes. Thanks.

For comparison the picture below is a Morimoto 2.5” lens next to the factory Koito lens, same diameter. Morimoto utilizes clear projector with blue lens tech and Koito is not 100% clear w/o blue light coating. No need to trim the chrome shroud if you’re going to use 2.5” inch.

A pair of Morimoto 2.5” inch bi-LED is more than enough light for usual use. It’s nice to have the quad bi-led setup especially on long night road trips if you’re willing to do all the work. On regular urban driving, my quad LED 3” + 2.5” inch is overkill (not exaggerating). The light ricochets from the rear bumper/trunk/tailgate of any vehicle in front of me when we’re on a stop back to me. I have to momentarily turn them off and run my 6-inch Rigid SAE lights. But then again it’s still up to you if you really want the quad setup.

 

[TTN]

For comparison the picture below is a Morimoto 2.5” lens next to the factory Koito lens, same diameter. Morimoto utilizes clear projector with blue lens tech and Koito is not 100% clear w/o blue light coating. No need to trim the chrome shroud if you’re going to use 2.5” inch.View attachment 4016593
A pair of Morimoto 2.5” inch bi-LED is more than enough light for usual use. It’s nice to have the quad bi-led setup especially on long night road trips if you’re willing to do all the work. On regular urban driving, my quad LED 3” + 2.5” inch is overkill (not exaggerating). The light ricochets from the rear bumper/trunk/tailgate of any vehicle in front of me when we’re on a stop back to me. I have to momentarily turn them off and run my 6-inch Rigid SAE lights. But then again it’s still up to you if you really want the quad setup.

Thank you! Should have asked you - after all said and done with the lens sealed back up, does the Morimoto 2.5 projector housing have aim adjustment screws, vertical and horizontal, in the back of the module? Or must I adjust the aim before sealing the lens up? Thank you.

 

[OEMGUY0720]

Thank you! Should have asked you - after all said and done with the lens sealed back up, does the Morimoto 2.5 projector housing have aim adjustment screws, vertical and horizontal, in the back of the module? Or must I adjust the aim before sealing the lens up? Thank you.

With the aftermarket projectors and the correct aftermarket bracket to support it, you will still use the factory horizontal and vertical adjusting screw/knob.

 

[TTN]

With the aftermarket projectors and the correct aftermarket bracket to support it, you will still use the factory horizontal and vertical adjusting screw/knob.

Thanks for your help and quick response.