Gen 2 Headlight upgrade

[usarmymp911]

Does anyone know of a place or was to upgrade from the stock headlights in the gen 2 camry? Im looking to improve the more modern headlights with the higher intensity beams. I tried to used the so called birghter bulbs but did not see too great of an imporvement and I do alot of early morning driving and would like the upgrade if its possible. Thanks!

[nogard]

I have a set of BMW e36 headlights I was going to use on my Tercel. I often debated putting them in the Camry. It would give it a different look, and they would fit real easy. They would need a little filler strip around them along the top.

But for your original question about improving the quality, I think these lights are the same vintage of optics.

One thing I noticed really helps is running the Sylvania Silverstar head lights. These by far are the best out there is my opinion. I've tried the Hella and they are much more yellow. The silverstars even have a white/blue tint when the head lights are off and another car is pulled in front of it with the light from its headlight reflecting out of them. They are very white and very bright and clear. I think they are about the best you would get out of what you have to work with as far as the optics of the stock headlight go.

[joeykrim]

ive also wondered this question but haven't found a very good solution. after a long winter in Idaho/Washington with lots of snow, cleaning off the front of the headlight housing helped a bit. i wish there was a way to get a more clear/cleaner plastic cover on our headlight housing...
if you do find a great bulb which seems to work better, please post back!

[white90dx]

First, make sure your headlights are adjusted to point down the road where you need them. You can adjust the gen2 headlights up/down and left/right to make it the best possible.

Try the Silverstars if you haven't already. They are noticably better, but may not make as much difference as you want.

You can also get an upgraded harness for the headlights. Make sure you have good power and ground connections if you do that.

You can also consider a set of additional fog/driving lights with a good sharp cutoff for better road illumination.

Sadly, the lens design makes any other changes unsafe (HIDs) or ineffective (projectors behind the glass).

-Charlie

[91 Camry]

what about buying an HID kit with xenon as the low beam setting and Halogen bulbs as the high beam setting. Would the light pattern come out normally with the High beams on? (Halogen bulb on, rather than xenon bulb)

[white90dx]

Originally Posted by 91 Camry

what about buying an HID kit with xenon as the low beam setting and Halogen bulbs as the high beam setting. Would the light pattern come out normally with the High beams on? (Halogen bulb on, rather than xenon bulb)

I would be more concerned with the quality of the pattern with just the low beam on. An HID capsule has the wrong shape of light source and causes significant glare when used in a 9004 housing. Just don't do it if you care about others on the road.

-Charlie

[91 Camry]

but i mean driving normally with the high beams on (halogen) and then using the low beams (HID) for show purposes, like at meets etc.
This way, normal driving will be like having the regular lights and i can still have the option for HID when im around people.

[Blakeman]

Be sure to polish the headlight exteriors too. You would be surprised how foggy they don't seem until you clean them with something like meguiar's polishing kit. We did this to my camry wagon, my kia and took it out to the rest of my families cars and it did wonders.

A good set of bright bulbs and then the installation of some fog lights will do good as well.

[2wickedtoyz]

if you are willing to modify the headlight surrounding. you could try for 92 honda accord headlights

[91_ToYoTa_CaMrY]

I have 6000K HID kit with the Xenon and Low Beams. They don't really glare that much and they are projected to the ground so that they do not kill peoples eyes. It's not that blinding and it really helps me to see. I could not see anything before and I had tried different bulbs. With the halogens on I can see as well they are a nice regular yellow so you can see the road.

[AlaricD]

Originally Posted by usarmymp911

I tried to used the so called birghter bulbs but did not see too great of an imporvement and I do alot of early morning driving and would like the upgrade if its possible.

Many bulbs claim to be upgrades for the 9004 but few really are. I recommend the GE

Nighthawk Platinum

Nighthawk Platinum

(not the "Sport").

You may need to install a set of relays to ensure the bulbs get the full voltage they need, and of course the lights need to be aimed properly.

Make sure the lenses are clean and clear, as well.

Do not install an "HID kit" in this headlamp assembly. It's unsafe, ineffective, and illegal.

[AlaricD]

Originally Posted by nogard

One thing I noticed really helps is running the Sylvania Silverstar head lights. These by far are the best out there is my opinion. I've tried the Hella and they are much more yellow. The silverstars even have a white/blue tint when the head lights are off and another car is pulled in front of it with the light from its headlight reflecting out of them. They are very white and very bright and clear.

They are LESS white than those lights you call "yellow", because they have a blue tint on the bulb that subtracts yellow light. Subtracting the yellow light produces a gap in the emitted spectrum (hence making the light less white because it is missing a component), and, of course, is subtracting light in general.

[91 Camry]

Originally Posted by nogard

I have a set of BMW e36 headlights I was going to use on my Tercel. I often debated putting them in the Camry. It would give it a different look, and they would fit real easy. They would need a little filler strip around them along the top.

MORE MORE MORE!!!!! THIS SOUNDS LIKE A GOOOOODDD IDEA! DO IT AND TAKE PICS!
haha

[stanno]

I too was wondering about brighter lights. Don't get me wrong, they are sufficient, but when i'm driving at the speeds i do, i like to have something that can show a little brighter.

i had thought merely upgrading to some 90/100watt bulbs would've done the trick.

Would doing that cause an aray of problems ? Namely, blowing fuses or burning up wires ? I had a bad experience with a swift i had when i upgraded the wattage on the bulbs and ended up having to install a relay.

[AlaricD]

Originally Posted by stanno

i had thought merely upgrading to some 90/100watt bulbs would've done the trick.

Would doing that cause an aray of problems ? Namely, blowing fuses or burning up wires ? I had a bad experience with a swift i had when i upgraded the wattage on the bulbs and ended up having to install a relay.

They'd have done the headlight assembly in, caused some melty goodness and all. They can also cause legal problems.

A lot of the overwattage bulbs have sloppy filament placement and can mess up the focus of the bulb. The Nighthawk Platinums (again, not "Sport") provide much better filament control and higher filament luminance. Installing relays on almost any car results in an improvement.

The change in light output is exponential to the power 3.4.
Using a hypothetical bulb rated at 1000 lumens (low beam) at 12.8V
10.5V : 510 lumens
11.0V : 597 lumens
11.5V : 695 lumens
12.0V : 803 lumens
12.5V : 923 lumens
12.8V : 1000 lumens ←Rated output voltage
13.0V : 1054 lumens
13.5V : 1198 lumens
14.0V : 1356 lumens ←Rated life voltage
14.5V : 1528 lumens ←dramatically shortened life

High beam at 1350 lumens
10.5V : 688 lumens
11.0V : 806 lumens
11.5V : 938 lumens
12.0V : 1084 lumens
12.5V : 1245 lumens
12.8V : 1350 lumens ←Rated output voltage
13.0V : 1423 lumens
13.5V : 1618 lumens
14.0V : 1831 lumens ←Rated life voltage
14.5V : 2063 lumens ←Dramatically shortened life