What's everyone doing for headlights in right hand traffic countries?

[John Young]

Obviously to do the round headlight conversion, you'll need the trim, bucket, mounting to retrofit. In case you decide to go this way, OEM glass round headlights are available for $20 on up (this set was $32 shipped to me), and includes a wiring harness with relays to power them directly off the battery:
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I suggest having a look at this option. Not only are they OEM Toyota, they are very reasonably priced. Strangest thing I have seen from Toyota in terms of pricing. And I was able to get the kit both in the US and in Dubai for essentially the same price (@cruisermatt actually came in lower than the price in Dubai but either one was a deal). I've installed now on two 70s series and they are a big improvement.

 

[OM617YOTA]

I've driven with the round headlight conversions for a couple months now, they're great. Not a stranger to such things, I used to run Hella and Cibie sealed beam conversions in my other sealed beam headlight cars. Still need to install the wiring harness and the high power Daniel Stern bulbs.

I looked into the 7" round LED conversions on the market. Almost all the options on the market are utter garbage, very important to get GOOD LED conversions. I specifically didn't want blue or even significantly white light, and needed headlight heating - just drove to work this morning in freezing fog. Quality 7" round LED headlights with heating are hundreds of bucks each, or the Toyota Koito lights with harness were $30 for the pair with shipping. They check all the other boxes and work perfectly, no reason to look at LED. Very happy.

There's no way Toyota is making any money on those Koito 7" round headlight kits. Wonder how long they'll last at that price.

 

[John Young]

There's no way Toyota is making any money on those Koito 7" round headlight kits. Wonder how long they'll last at that price.

I have a strange suspicion that they supply these things at that price because of a lawsuit or some safety reg thing that makes it a good decision for Toyota. I have no facts to back it up but that's what my gut is telling me.

 

[little_joe]

I've driven with the round headlight conversions for a couple months now, they're great. Not a stranger to such things, I used to run Hella and Cibie sealed beam conversions in my other sealed beam headlight cars. Still need to install the wiring harness and the high power Daniel Stern bulbs.

I looked into the 7" round LED conversions on the market. Almost all the options on the market are utter garbage, very important to get GOOD LED conversions. I specifically didn't want blue or even significantly white light, and needed headlight heating - just drove to work this morning in freezing fog. Quality 7" round LED headlights with heating are hundreds of bucks each, or the Toyota Koito lights with harness were $30 for the pair with shipping. They check all the other boxes and work perfectly, no reason to look at LED. Very happy.

There's no way Toyota is making any money on those Koito 7" round headlight kits. Wonder how long they'll last at that price.

They've been around this price for many years. Other enthusiasts learned about them and have been installing in them Miatas and other vehicles for a while now. Their use the past several years is well-documented here on 'Mud too if you look in the 40 and 60 sections...

 

[OM617YOTA]

Alright, installed the wiring harness that came with the Koito 7" round headlights.

Plug and play as it is, it won't work with our first gen Prados, leaves the low beams on when the high beams kick on. With separate high and low beam bulbs this wouldn't be bad, but in our case both filaments are in the same bulb and the bulbs aren't built for that much heat. Glad the harness was both easy to install and easy to uninstall.

In addition, this harness isn't a good choice if reduced voltage drop is your goal. It did reduce voltage drop compared to the factory wiring, but not as much as a proper custom built harness with appropriately sized and routed wires, which really isn't difficult to build.