This is my first post, so please don't get mad at me. I have been browsing the forums here for several weeks, and I just picked up my brand new Flint Mica tC a couple of days ago. Yesterday I had the windows tinted (18% all around, 35% windshield), I have ordered my black Figure grilles, and I am getting the TRD drop this week.

So I am trying to plan how to modify the headlights, but I guess I need some advice. I have searched (thoroughly), and in fact, I am suffering from information overload. I have seen so many different mods, from stock modifications to HID retrofits to eBay projectors. I really can't decide what to do.

To be honest, I have very little experience with wiring or DIY mods, so I feel like an HID retrofit is beyond my ability. In my previous car, I just opted for a pair of 8000k halogen bulbs - a nice blue output without all the hard work. But I was always unsatisfied with the low output and the annoying orange reflector inside the housing.

So I saw the JLevis projectors with the black housing and the clear turn signal, and I thought wow, that is just the look I want. But I am also hearing people say the quality is not great or they are too tacky. I think the black housing would look good with my Flint Mica, and I want to get all the orange out of my headlights, but I also want to keep my car looking classy.

So yeah, some advice or some pictures to help me decide would be great.

Thanks!

 

IMO, dont buy those projectors cause the output doesnt look worth it. I would go buy some 9005 Silverstars from Wal-Mart and do this mod....
https://www.scionlife.com/forums/vie...121672&start=0

honestly, the light output on this is amazing. I noticed it right away. I was looking more of the HID look as in color but this grew on me and it was alot more WHITE! I was suprized on how much more light it gave out by just throwing a new bulb in there. this was all back then when i wasnt educated on HID's yet. Im currently doing a retro and its actually not hard, just time consuming and takes patience. Im almost done with it and cant wait! Im also leaving my side marker abmer since it doesnt bother me?

p.s.- dont buy those crappy bulbs anymore!

 

a simple 9006 HID for your low beams is not a hard install... Hardly no wireing is really invovled, it's mainly plug and play... Only hard thing is mounting the Ballasts and makeing sure you DO NOT touch that bulb!!!

 

check out cliff's hid kit, it's super easy to install and the quality is great. For $170 you won't find a better kit. Look in the sponsored sales.

 

^-----Agreed! I bought cliff (moblie HID) kit and I love it. I got the 9006 4300K kit. It was $170 shipped and the install took around 15 min. I used this kit to replace my silverstars. The silverstars was a big improvement over stock, but WOW the HID rocks. I love the look and how they start up. IMOP a must buy

 

What about glare? Isn't that an issue with just the HID and ballast with no projectors?

 

the kit I got came with glare shields and I have only been brighted a couple of times

 

https://www.scionlife.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=164832
That's a LOT of HID info... but I don't think it looks too difficult. Sorry if it's not exactly what you are looking for, just trying to help.

 

Thanks for all the replies so far.

I was interested with what you guys said about Cliff's HID kit, so I looked at the thread and I read all 22 pages of it. Installation seems to be pretty easy, and I think I could handle it on my own.

My only concern now then is the orange reflector. What are some of the best looking solutions to eliminate the orange? I understand it doesn't bother some people, but it bothers the heck out of me.

Has anyone done Cliff's HID kit through a projector housing (such as the JLevis one). Any thoughts on this? Would this work? Too tacky?

 

I dont know if anyone has done it through JLevis projectors, but I know that he sells a kit w/ his projectors. I do think though that most/all the projectors out suck and either wait for the 08 tC and buy those projectors or just retrofit. Thats my opinion. Good luck and welcome to SL.

 

yea i agree with Yanki.. if your not too sure with what your doing just do that. I did this mod with 9005 silverstars and It looks great.

 

If you get HID's make sure you relay it or go buy some harness that can handle the wattage for the HID kit. I hear they will last but dunno how long. Always do everything right the first time around then going through all the trouble again. Just my .02 cents.

 

www.xenonpros.com is where I bought mine from. comes with everything you need. Relays are built in and all. No problems. Rather expensive, but no problems.

 

I bought mine from hondaboi on the sponsored sales. he is a great seller and you get a great quality kit.

 

I think I will initially go with the 9005 mod - Silverstars for both low and high beams. Looks like I can get the bulbs on eBay for 18 bucks a set. This is a small expense, so I won't feel bad about upgrading to HID later if necessary.

I am also thinking of going with chrome-coated turn signals to eliminate some orange, but the orange reflectors might have to stay for now. I wish I was brave enough to open up the housing and do something about it.

 

I would stronly suggest getting the HID kit from Oznium. I've had that kit for about 6 months and have not had one person flash me. Not to mention their customer service is fantastic. I have the 6000k color and it looks great.

As for the orange reflector, get an overlay from Bat. Email him and he can get you set up.

 

Quick question about that: There is a bulb behind the reflector, right? (Sorry, I've only had the car a few days). Is it an amber bulb or a clear bulb? I imagine it would be clear (yellow) since the orange lens provides the orange color. Can this bulb be changed? Does it need to be changed? Could it just be disconnected? I am thinking about getting the overlay and just disconnecting that bulb, depending on how it would look through the overlay.

 

It is a clear bulb.

 

What do people do with it if an overlay is applied? Does it look okay shining through the overlay? Does it shine through at all?

 

It shines through, just looks smoked. The benefit is it doesn't look orange during the day when your lights are off. And at nights, it doesn't stand out as much.