Why you need projector retrofitted headlights

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UT08LX570

UT08LX570

Joined
Aug 18, 2024
Threads
18
Messages
163
Location
Utah
I will be using this thread to document, in one place, the output differences between different years of LC and early LX and compare them to upgraded/customized setups as they come through the shop.

**Disclaimers** This is not a controlled environment but all photos for each year range will be taken within 5 mins of each other. Lux readings posted are from a factory headlight and a retrofitted one, both without outer plastic lenses. Readings measured off an Extech LT300 light meter and photos have locked camera settings to allow for light distribution comparisons. Lux is different than lumens. It measures light at a single point in the beam, not the total light theoretically emitted from a bulb.

First up, 08-11 LC which is arguably the worst of all 200 series due to being halogen reflector based.

-factory low beam 485 Lux
-factory high beam 879 Lux
-sealight led low beam 632 Lux
-sealight led high beam 470 Lux
-dual NHK m1 low beam 2484 Lux
-dual NHK high beam 2867 Lux

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08-11 LC quad projector retrofitted. If you installed just a projector in low beam reflector only, reduce low beam output by half.

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Interesting. The photos show color temperature and light distribution too. I wonder how those affect seeing at night. From the photos it’s hard to believe high beam sealight is only about half the lux of factory halogen high beam.
 
Sandroad said:
Interesting. The photos show color temperature and light distribution too. I wonder how those affect seeing at night. From the photos it’s hard to believe high beam sealight is only about half the lux of factory halogen high beam.
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Great points. The M1 projectors are rated at 6k like most any led product. I still love HID projectors for the ability to get down in the 4000-4800k Kelvin range.

The LED bulbs have horrible light distribution for low beams, so I'm not super surprised there. The low beams hot spot shifts down quite a lot. The high beam pattern doesnt really chance, the focus just isn't quite there which means the led chips are either too far out or too close to the reflector compared to a 9005 halogen bulb.
 
I actually came here to ask about the upgrade in performance from 2008-2011 headlights, going to either the 2013-2015, or all the way to the facelifted 2016+ headlights. In the conditions we find ourselves, we really need the absolute best headlights possible, and I was thinking of selling my LC200 anyway, so I could get one of the newer ones with what I assumed would be much better headlights. What are your thoughts on these dual NHK M1s in your thread vs the later factory systems? How much is this kit you've shown?

I have a co-worker friend with a 2016 4Runner with the factory projector style, and he says his low beams kinda suck, too, but the high beams are very good.
 
HiFiGuy said:
I actually came here to ask about the upgrade in performance from 2008-2011 headlights, going to either the 2013-2015, or all the way to the facelifted 2016+ headlights. In the conditions we find ourselves, we really need the absolute best headlights possible, and I was thinking of selling my LC200 anyway, so I could get one of the newer ones with what I assumed would be much better headlights. What are your thoughts on these dual NHK M1s in your thread vs the later factory systems? How much is this kit you've shown?

I have a co-worker friend with a 2016 4Runner with the factory projector style, and he says his low beams kinda suck, too, but the high beams are very good.
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I have some 13-15 on the work bench, and overall I'm not super impressed by the factory optics. They are better than 08-11 by a little bit but its not much better. I've actually got this exact 08-11 completed setup in a classifieds listing on here and FB for $1150 shipped, no core charge so you could sell stocks to recoup funds or keep them to tinker on.

The 16+ have fantastic low beams but the high beams suck. This swap is also much more costly due to needing the entire rest of the front end for the swap. The 16+ stock lights are not as bright as quad m1s, but still great factory koito low beams!

The 16 4runner uses toyotas side entry bulb projector that is quite subpar. They tried an HID variant of this in the IS350 from mid 2010s as well and it had similar iffy results.
 
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UT08LX570 said:
I have some 13-15 on the work bench, and overall I'm not super impressed by the factory optics. They are better than 08-11 by a little bit but its not much better. I've actually got this exact 08-11 completed setup in a classifieds listing on here and FB for $1175 shipped, no core charge so you could sell stocks to recoup funds or keep them to tinker on.

The 16+ have fantastic low beams but the high beams suck. This swap is also much more costly due to needing the entire rest of the front end for the swap. The 16+ stock lights are not as bright as quad m1s, but still great factory koito low beams!

The 16 4runner uses toyotas side entry bulb projector that is quite subpar. They tried an HID variant of this in the IS350 from mid 2010s as well and it had similar iffy results.
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To clarify, I was thinking of going through with the BaT listing for my 2008 Amazon Green/Ivory LC200 in order to get much better headlights along with some updated features like heated/cooled front seats, heated steering wheel and advanced Bluetooth. But if I can get the great headlight performance without selling my current LC and buying a newer one, I am also very interested. Please point me to your listing, if you wouldn't mind.
 
The 2015 low projectors are great, but the high reflectors are a mess. My baja design fogs throw a better pattern than the highs.
 
Bunga said:
The 2015 low projectors are great, but the high reflectors are a mess. My baja design fogs throw a better pattern than the highs.
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What bulbs? Mine sucked with high quality IPF LED bulbs but switching to HIRs has made them very, very good.
 
Ran top sylvannias halogen, then Morimoto led, now using Morimoto HID 55. The 35w is better for glare. The HID works the best of all but still not great.
 
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