Good headlights for 2nd gen Tacoma

In need of new headlights for my 2009 Tacoma , I was thinking of getting some AlphaRex but I’ve been seeing around the problems it has. If someone can please recommend me some good headlight I would appreciate it .

 

Those are junk. Do not waste your money if you actually plan to drive at night.

If you're just posing for the internet fame, sure, they'll work fine.

OEM housings are good (and best).

 

welcome

OME is best
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/the-ultimate-headlight-upgrade-h4-not-led-or-hid.398066/

 

Thank y’all !

 

Alpharexx lights are just fine. Why do you say they're junk? I've had mine installed since last Dec and have never had a problem. They're far brighter than my OEM with new bulbs have ever been.

 

Out of curiosity, why do you “need” new headlights?

 

A) they are known to fail
B) the do not have a legal light patterns
C) the are cheap units off Ali Express that are just rebranded for a considerable mark up

 

The 2009 and not sure which others anymore have the DRL that causes the internal plastic to melt - same bulb as blinker. Toyota F-up on that design and they had a 3yr unannounced replacement but if you never went to the dealer for anything you missed out but they would melt again anyway. That's why plus the headlight cover lense gets hazy and pitted where even the restore kits are only so good.
At least that has been my experience. You can change to LED 4157A if you add a resister but those don't last and burn out yearly so you can't win.

 

If you must have aftermarket, the Morimoto headlights will be your best bet.

That said, OEM still reigns supreme

 

OEM with a quality halogen bulb is the way to go. Very thorough write ups and explanations on here on lighting performance.

Yes, the housings only last so long before hazing over, but I’ve had that happen on other car makes, not just Toyota. Consistent uv exposure on plastic will do that. Just refinish them if they’re hazy. Not too expensive or difficult to do

 

Got my truck new in 2012, now over 10 years later my headlights have had enough. I've done the 3M polishing / sanding kits twice before. The first time worked great and really made a difference in the foggy, hazy appearance of my headlights. The 2nd time made little difference and while trying to achieve a good sanding (cause it really wasn't going well) I applied too much pressure and put some minor cracks and burn marks on them. I lived with it for a couple of years now, thinking a new set of OEM lights would be 600 plus bucks, but a member here showed me a set from a dealership that was just over 400 for 2. So I've got them ordered up and waiting for delivery (Friday they say).
Yes, ive looked at aftermarket lights, and some look really good. I would have loved to have some of them BHLM lights put in, but it's just too much money to fock around with. I would much rather pay for the OEM and be done than buy some "cool looking" aftermarket lights and just have to replace them again a year or 2 later.

 

??? I have a 2009 TRD sport 4x4 I bought new. My headlights are original that came with the truck. I’ve only replaced the bulbs once. I’ve never had a single problem with them. Never had any plastic melt problems. They are bright, light up the road just fine. About 4 to 5 years they became cloudy and I used a headlight restore kit. Twice a year I apply a UV protectant and they still look like new.
Pic taken about 3 years ago, looks the same today.

 

Go OEM. Just find the cheapest Toyota Parts department online and buy them. I bought the ones that came with the bulbs pre-installed so it was like 3 or 4 bolts each and a couple plug and play connectors. Poof, done.

 

I'm not even sure if the new OEM lights I ordered is coming with new bulbs. I hope so... I was planning to buy all new bulbs anyway

 

They had two options on the Toyota site. one with, one without. Obviously cheaper without, but it sure made it easy.

 

Here's the thread I used to find 2nd gen headlights. They have both Smoked and Non-Smoked PNs listed and links. I bout non-smoked, and both housings, with new bulbs, shipped were like $502.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/recommendations-for-headlight-assembly.789941/

 

Because this is like the "butt" dyno when people waste money on "performance" "upgrades" and confirmation bias tricks them into thinking it's better. AlphaRex are not measurably better in any way than OEM unless you aren't measuring by function.

Just because your eyes tell you that it's brighter, does not mean that it is. It just means light is more scattered, less focused and since the foreground is lit up more, you think it is brighter.

 

I haven't seen any threads about them failing, but ok. As far as "legal light patterns" they have a cut off just like other projector headlights, so I'm not sure what "legal" you're referring to. I've driven by and crossed paths with many patrol cars. No one has ever pulled me over for "illegal" light patterns. Alpharexx lights aren't on Ali Express. I checked before purchasing mine. I'm not saying they're not chinese made, but they're not there.

 

you must not make very far drives or you disabled your DRL. the stock lights are notorious for melting the DTRL lens. i've gone through 3 sets of OEM housings that have melted the lens within 3 months of daily driving

i had the non melting TSB headlights but unfortunately a front end accident destroyed one of the lights and the body shop wasnt able to get the correct one with non-melting lens so now i have one with a non melted lens and one with a melted lens

 

My lights work just fine for me. I can and have driven down dark freeways. You guys can argue about lights all you want. The fact is, they work just fine and work better than aging halogens that you would need to replace every year. Also, I don't need to "upgrade" any wires for them to work.

Also, I don't look at the foreground of what's directly in front of me. I rode motorcycles for years so my eyes are very much further down the road. My headlights project light so that I can see the beam and the cutoff hit the road or vehicles at a distance.

The opinion that aftermarket lights are all junk because they don't produce enough light is valid. However, the amount of light an individual needs to drive safely is up to the person driving. If the aftermarket light can produce the light needed by the person to drive safely, is it truly "junk"? It just depends on your opinion.

Now, if they're prone to leak water, burnouts, melting housings, etc., then yes, they would be junk.