I just got myself a used '08 Black Highlander two days ago. I finally ditch my old Mazda and is now a proud owner of a Highlander.
I wanna upgrade my headlights to "White" headlights. Do I have to get a the Xenon - HID conversion kits? or can I just get the Philips 80% brighter bulbs? Would they give off the same affect as "White" headlights instead of the yellowish stock bulbs?
Also I don't have any Fog lights installed on my car right now. Would after market parts that could be found on ebay be fine? or Would OEM be best? I also wanna get the "White" lights for these as well.
^ does anyone have these LED fog lights? Looks pretty cool with the LED lights but idk how they would look after they are installed. Should i just stick with the stock Circle lights? SUGGESTIONS ??
I just got myself a used '08 Black Highlander two days ago. I finally ditch my old Mazda and is now a proud owner of a Highlander.
I wanna upgrade my headlights to "White" headlights. Do I have to get a the Xenon - HID conversion kits? or can I just get the Philips 80% brighter bulbs? Would they give off the same affect as "White" headlights instead of the yellowish stock bulbs?
Also I don't have any Fog lights installed on my car right now. Would after market parts that could be found on ebay be fine? or Would OEM be best? I also wanna get the "White" lights for these as well.
^ does anyone have these LED fog lights? Looks pretty cool with the LED lights but idk how they would look after they are installed. Should i just stick with the stock Circle lights? SUGGESTIONS ??
Any Advice would be greatly appreciated
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Most high end halogen bulb (phillips xtreme) will give you a whiter light than the stock halogens. Stock halogens run mid to high 3000k color temp (I think, from memory). Those high end halogen bulbs will run right at 4000k or even a little over so it would definitely be a move in the right direction if you want white. But I am a huge fan of HID's, and with a 4500k (pretty close to pure white) HID kit you will get a much whiter light with a tiny hint of blue. Plus it will be about 2x brighter than those Phillips, and about 3x as bright as the stock bulbs.
Now if your going for just looks vs lighting performance, I'd say go with the halogen, because if you get HID's you have to take the time to make sure your lights are PROPERLY aimed otherwise you will blind all oncoming traffic. (A good site for HID's is DDMTuning, the headlights is a H4 hi/lo kit).
When I retrofitted my fog lights with projectors I ordered a set of fog lights from ebay (just the basic cheap ones not those LED ones that you linked), and I found the actual fog light to be pretty lousy build quality. The glass was not sealed to the enclosure letting water in, a Left glass cover was on the RIGHT fog enclosure so it didnt fit or seal, etc etc. Ive always thought you get what you pay for on ebay. If you are looking for a good quality fog that would last I'd say go with OEM.
Somebody on this forum has those LED fogs (Ive seen a pic of it a few times), and it looked pretty good, but I can't really help more than that on those.
If you what white lights in the fogs stick with a H11 high performance halogen (phillips xtreme, slyvania silverstar ultra, etc...) You do not want to put HID's in reflector fogs, they do not aim the light at all blinding everybody. I learned that the hard way before I retrofitted mine.
Hope this helps.
Patrick
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2008 Black Highlander Limited FWD
Nav (with override), Rear DVD | 900+ Watt Sound System | Headlight & Fog HID Projector Retrofit | LED Interior/Puddle Lights | Rattletrap Sound Deadener | Dueler HL Alenzas 255/55R19's |Updated Modification List
The Following User Says Thank You to sweeneyp For This Useful Post:
to the forum!
Most high end halogen bulb (phillips xtreme) will give you a whiter light than the stock halogens. Stock halogens run mid to high 3000k color temp (I think, from memory). Those high end halogen bulbs will run right at 4000k or even a little over so it would definitely be a move in the right direction if you want white. But I am a huge fan of HID's, and with a 4500k (pretty close to pure white) HID kit you will get a much whiter light with a tiny hint of blue. Plus it will be about 2x brighter than those Phillips, and about 3x as bright as the stock bulbs.
Now if your going for just looks vs lighting performance, I'd say go with the halogen, because if you get HID's you have to take the time to make sure your lights are PROPERLY aimed otherwise you will blind all oncoming traffic. (A good site for HID's is DDMTuning, the headlights is a H4 hi/lo kit).
When I retrofitted my fog lights with projectors I ordered a set of fog lights from ebay (just the basic cheap ones not those LED ones that you linked), and I found the actual fog light to be pretty lousy build quality. The glass was not sealed to the enclosure letting water in, a Left glass cover was on the RIGHT fog enclosure so it didnt fit or seal, etc etc. Ive always thought you get what you pay for on ebay. If you are looking for a good quality fog that would last I'd say go with OEM.
Somebody on this forum has those LED fogs (Ive seen a pic of it a few times), and it looked pretty good, but I can't really help more than that on those.
If you what white lights in the fogs stick with a H11 high performance halogen (phillips xtreme, slyvania silverstar ultra, etc...) You do not want to put HID's in reflector fogs, they do not aim the light at all blinding everybody. I learned that the hard way before I retrofitted mine.
Hope this helps.
Patrick
Thanks!!
I think I'm just going to stick with the Phillips Xtreme bulbs. I've done some research and notice that people posted that the Hi and Lo beams are separate. Does this mean it would require me to change 4blubs? Also do you know which one the are? H4 (for '08 Highlander)?
Where is a good Site to find these for cheap?? could i trust the bulbs on ebay?
Fog Lights
I'm guessing I would be putting in H11 in for fog lights. Thanks for the tip, I think im just going to go with OEM fog lights for the Highlander.
Do you know a site where I could get them?
On a separate note...
Did you ever mod the interior lights? I was thinking of changing them to White LED lights but not sure with which one to go with. On Ebay I notice they have alot of different ones 3LED -12LED+. Which would be a good amount to get?
I think I'm just going to stick with the Phillips Xtreme bulbs. I've done some research and notice that people posted that the Hi and Lo beams are separate. Does this mean it would require me to change 4blubs? Also do you know which one the are? H4 (for '08 Highlander)?
Where is a good Site to find these for cheap?? could i trust the bulbs on ebay?
Fog Lights
I'm guessing I would be putting in H11 in for fog lights. Thanks for the tip, I think im just going to go with OEM fog lights for the Highlander.
Do you know a site where I could get them?
On a separate note...
Did you ever mod the interior lights? I was thinking of changing them to White LED lights but not sure with which one to go with. On Ebay I notice they have alot of different ones 3LED -12LED+. Which would be a good amount to get?
Headlights:
the 2011's have a seperate high beam and low beam bulb. The 2008-2010 have a single bulb for both high beem and low beam. It is a 9003 or H4 bulb. 9003 and H4 are the same thing different name (US vs Europe naming, I believe). I've never ordered any halogen bulbs online, so I can't be much help when it comes to where to order from. But I am cautious of ebay (as previously mentioned), but if you are buying a name brand product (phillips, LED's are a different story..ill explain in a sec) from a highly ranked seller I don't see why ebay would be a bad choice.
Foglights:
Whenever I've ordered OEM parts I usually get it from here (http://www.toyotapartscenter.net/). They are usually cheaper grand total when it comes to part and shipping.... I just realized your not going to have any kind of wiring harness or anything like that if you just order the OEM enclosures. Im not sure if the highlander is prewired for fogs or not. A Ebay kit would have a wire-harness with it so you can wire everything up. Now that I think about it, you might be be better off looking at an ebay kit. If you order OEM your gonna need an enclosure and wiring and thats gonna get expensive quickly, and if those ebay ones go bad you can replace them with another set for far less than what your going to pay OEM. As long as you don't get like a 20-30 dollar ebay kit you should be fine. (mine was $25, probably why it was such low build quality)
LED's:
Ive actually replaced all interior lights, license plate lights, and front door puddle lights with LED's. LEDs are produced to match the OEM stocket size so look for the same type socket as your car. The type of bulb your gonna need is a 168 size bulb. the highlander uses that in every socket except the truck overhead light (which is a 31mm festoon bulb). I had ordered some off ebay before and have had the LED's burn out within 2 weeks so I don't trust those that much. So about a year ago I bought all of mine from the site super bright leds and putco (via amazon). This is what I got:
http://www.superbrightleds.com/cgi-b...FWLED-xHP5.htm
I got the natrual white color for these LED's. I had ordered 6 of those (front map lights(2x), 2nd row overhead lights (2x), and license plate lights (2x)). They are extremly bright (well, much more than stock) because they have 5x 5050 SMD LED's per bulb.
http://www.superbrightleds.com/cgi-b...HP4.htm#photos
I got cool white color for this. I got 1 of these for the trunk overhead light. The bulb is 31mm, but i think the Toyota opening for the bulb is only 30mm, it took some pushing and i bent the contacts on the bulb some, but it fit. This one has 4 LED's and lights up the whole cargo area very well.
I got these for driver and passenger front door puddle light at the bottom of the door. Its still a 168 socket, but its a longer bulb. The door can hold a bulb that size, but the map lights and license plate can't hence the shorter one. (though it wouldn't be needed the ones I got are plenty bright for interior) These have 9 LED's instead of the 5 in the other ones.
All of those bulbs have lasted over a year now without any of the LED's burning out. If you get LED's for the interior (maplights and overhead) and license plate make sure you don't get the longer ones as they won't fit. The reason I posted what I got was to give an idea of what you need. The first link you posted of the universal overheadlight would complicate things. They can't sit over the socket because of the way they are designed, plus in the highlander there isn't room in the overhead enclosure. There is the socket and a metal reflector and that it, its very tight on space. The 2nd one would work, but the light is going to be very directional because all the led's are facing forward. they wouldn't fill the reflectors in the map light and license place housings, so you would have a spotlight effect instead of light spreading everywhere.
Hope this helps, and let me know if you got any more questions or something I said makes no sense
Patrick
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2008 Black Highlander Limited FWD
Nav (with override), Rear DVD | 900+ Watt Sound System | Headlight & Fog HID Projector Retrofit | LED Interior/Puddle Lights | Rattletrap Sound Deadener | Dueler HL Alenzas 255/55R19's |Updated Modification List
I notice that Philips makes Crystal Vision Ultra and DiamondVision and people claim that both of them are "Whiter" than the Xtreme Power Philips. Just wondering whats the difference between the three bulbs??
I notice that Philips makes Crystal Vision Ultra and DiamondVision and people claim that both of them are "Whiter" than the Xtreme Power Philips. Just wondering whats the difference between the three bulbs??
They probably have a blue'er tint on the glass on the bulb. Though realize the more tint you put on the glass, the less light output your going to have. So it might be whiter, but will output less lumens. x-treme power probably has the best light intensity vs color
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2008 Black Highlander Limited FWD
Nav (with override), Rear DVD | 900+ Watt Sound System | Headlight & Fog HID Projector Retrofit | LED Interior/Puddle Lights | Rattletrap Sound Deadener | Dueler HL Alenzas 255/55R19's |Updated Modification List
I think I might go with Crystal Vision Ultra only cause I live in the city ... but before I buy them I was wondering I know these arnt as bright as Xtreme Power.... but they do appear brighter than stock bulbs right?
Also I cant seem to find how to replace the bulb in the manual... is there a thread where it gives DIY on how to change a bulb in a Highlander?
I think I might go with Crystal Vision Ultra only cause I live in the city ... but before I buy them I was wondering I know these arnt as bright as Xtreme Power.... but they do appear brighter than stock bulbs right?
Also I cant seem to find how to replace the bulb in the manual... is there a thread where it gives DIY on how to change a bulb in a Highlander?
Thanks.
It should be brighter than stock.
Take a look at this pdf. http://www.mediafire.com/?gbybymci1gw3xmb
This is from my manual, the pdf is 67 pages long. Start at page 58 and scroll down for headlight and fog light replacement procedures.
Good luck.
Patrick
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2008 Black Highlander Limited FWD
Nav (with override), Rear DVD | 900+ Watt Sound System | Headlight & Fog HID Projector Retrofit | LED Interior/Puddle Lights | Rattletrap Sound Deadener | Dueler HL Alenzas 255/55R19's |Updated Modification List
store.candlepower.com has Narva(+50 and +30), Osram Rallye(70/65w), and Phillips Extreme
I use the IPF 60/80 watt clear bulbs, which even though they are labelled 3200k, are very white and very bright. IPF also has more whitish(bluish) bulbs too. I bought my overpriced IPF bulbs at 4x4groupbuy and ARBUSA also carries them. Plus, they have lasted much longer than what is available at the local Autozone, Wallyworld, Pepboys, and AdvanceAutoparts. I find that the popular +30 +50..... bulbs just don't last too long.
I haven't changed the fogs yet since they are never used. Fog lights are a joke in this country. When they do burn out, I'm going with yellow bulbs. I only catch fog 2-3x's a year and white/blue bulbs are a joke. I wish that the neanderthals would quit driving with them on 24/7. With the local town/city/county/state budgets on the verge of bankruptcy, I've noticed some of the local PD's ticketing for improper use of fog lights. About time!
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Can we adjust the beam of the dipper on the 08 highlander. I went through the manual and the actual headlamp but dint find one.
I haven't looked yet...but if you look under the hood at the back of the headlight there is typically gears on the back of the light to assist with beam aiming both up and down and left and right to an extent.
dipper........is that another word for a headlight, I'm totally confused. you talking about aiming the actual beam??
here is how you do it on the 08-10. It can only go up and down, no left/right adjustment on our HL's
That is the back of the driver side headlight. So the bolt is toward the outside of the car and lower than the main headlight bulb.
Turn this bolt(9mm bolt) to aim the light up and down. Clockwise will lower the light, counterclockwise will raise the light.
Rule of thumb, at 25ft from a wall on level ground, the right side of the beam (the higher section) should be 2" lower than the height of the headlight off the ground. I.e. if the bulb mounted on the car is 34" off the ground, the right side of the beam should be 32" off the ground on the wall at 25ft.
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2008 Black Highlander Limited FWD
Nav (with override), Rear DVD | 900+ Watt Sound System | Headlight & Fog HID Projector Retrofit | LED Interior/Puddle Lights | Rattletrap Sound Deadener | Dueler HL Alenzas 255/55R19's |Updated Modification List
The Following User Says Thank You to sweeneyp For This Useful Post:
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Ive always thought you get what you pay for on ebay. If you are looking for a good quality fog that would last I'd say go with OEM.
....is that another word for a headlight, I'm totally confused. you talking about aiming the actual beam??
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