Need new headlight lenses - where to get?

headlights on my tacoma are fogged and faded (with micro-cracks). I think they're the original actually. Any suggestions on where to order replacements? Any thing I should look out for? I want them to be as stock as possible.

Thanks!

 

All aftermarket will not have the same light output compared to oem. They are glass and most aftermarket are plastic. Oem are ridiculously priced new. That being said best ones are depo. Search for depo branded.

 

never had problems with aftermarket lights before but I changed mine out with Vision brand VIAP lights and just 2 years later they are faded and filled with spider web cracking you can actually feel.

in the past I have used dorman and replacement brand headlights and they lasted so I would just make sure you know the brand of what you are buying.

they aren't very expensive, but they are a PITA to replace.


since the grill has to come off you better be careful so you don't break the snap clips, they get brittle over time

 

Buy a $20 3M polishing kit (the one that goes into a drill) and try that first. You might be surprised I bet they will polish out and look great. Also Harbor Freight has a 3m knockoff for about $10. I've done this to about a dozen headlights and always loved the results. Don't get aftermarket, you'll be disappointed if you care about light output, which is pretty minimal on our truck anyway.

 

no, wrong, wrong, wrong

oem are plastic just like aftermarket, I wish someone did make one made of glass, they would last forever

if you have glass then yours is the only one ever made because they outlawed the use of glass headlights as a safety feature, I think 1980's was the last time vehicles were made with glass headlights sold in the USA

 

Maybe true on tacoma but my 96 4runner are 100% glass. Also every 80s car I owned and up to 90s are all glass.

 

I think the gripe is that the cheap aftermarket headlights's reflector design suck. That's why folks say to stay away if you care about light output.

 

Yes. It's horrible. I have one depo and one oem. It was so bad I thought I had a failing bulb. Replaced and same light output.

Disclaimer. I forget I have a 4runner and not a 1st gen tacoma when I post here. Similar but still not the same. Lol.

 

@m3bassman just installed the popular depo aftermarket assemblies on his truck.

Took a picture of the light output and it was an atrocious pattern.

 

I was only replying to the guy who thinks they have real glass headlights lol

to your point, not all aftermarket lights are the same, some are crap and some are better light output then oem because the reflectors are better.

oem are designed 15 years ago and reflector design and quality has improved over the years, if you get the right kind of decent quality aftermarket lights you will be seeing with them much better and not just because the lenses are clear. likewise if you buy the wrong ones they may not be as good as oem

 

What are the right ones? I want to know. Lol. I've yet to find them.

 

Check Rock Auto.
I have a pair and they are awesome. Came with bulbs too. I think I paid $60.00 for the pair shipped.

Good luck.

 

that is the $64,000 question lol

I have used "replacement" brand headlights on my 98 chevy 1500 and they lasted 8 years, worked the same as oem, no better no worse, but the light pattern was better then oem. I used dorman on my 99 taco and only had it for 2 years but they seemed to still be very clear when I sold the truck, they too had a better light pattern then oem.

I think the correct answer is to find out who has had success with which brands, the trouble with that is, things can change year by year, and a good brand someone bought 5 years ago might be trash junk the way its made today or that brand may no longer be sold now.

there are no easy answers but just stick to better known brands because they have a brand name to protect so they have a reason to maintain uniform quality

 

I have TYC brand aftermarket and the light output seems decent. I do not have a baseline comparison to good condition OEM though. They are brighter then the 1 foggy OE headlight that came with my truck. For the ~$30 a headlight, it was not worth my time attempting to resurrect the old headlight.

 

Very true. After searching for 5 years and an entire 4runner forum we have not found an aftermarket with good output. They all just buy depos and do projector retrofits.

Usually an aftermarket with better output is due to the original oem being foggy. If the OEM is clear it seems to always have a better reflector.

 

I'm with Victor. I have a 1998 Tacoma with original headlights that became dull and yellowed. Bought the 3M polishing kit last year, and they look new now. Well worth the purchase, imo.

 

Got a set of eBay plastic replacements. They were cheap. $40 about for the set. They are in the landfill now. Oem, make your own telescoping $$$. Or polish them bad boys with the headlight restore kit

 

I am in the same situation as you. I am just going to pay the piper and get OEM. The 3M kit is good, but you will be polishing again in no time. If you want OEM and do not want to spend the money, try to find someone that does paint and dent repair that travels (something like Colors on Parade). I have used them before on some scratch and dent stuff and the guy was great. I talked to him about the headlight restoration and he quoted me around 100.00 at the time. Not sure how many coats of clear coat will be applied at the end, but you can be sure it will be done clean. Plus you can always ask for an additional coat. Like I said, my experience with a guy on some scratch and dent stuff was great. My headlights have serious cracking and melting and I found out about the TSB too late to get them covered. At this point, I just figured it's best to replace them.

 

If you do the polishing kit, make sure to put some sort of wax on plastic lens when done. I apply the Meguiar's Headlight Protectant each time I wash the truck.
I use to use Plexus plastic cleaner and polish until it got so expensive.
I miss the glass headlights I had on my 1980 Celica ST, with the 20R!!

Also, check out this.......
http://www.4crawler.com/4x4/CheapTricks/Headlights.shtml

 

Thanks everybody! I just ordered the 3M kit - i'll order the protector too....