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MTwiford Headlight Retrofit

Discussion in 'Lighting' started by MTwiford, Jun 20, 2017.

  1. Jun 20, 2017 at 5:55 AM
    #1
    MTwiford

    MTwiford [OP] The second mouse always gets the cheese

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    Hey guys, the first thing I wanted to do with my Tundra after purchasing a couple weeks ago was to improve the headlights. I naturally went to the forums to see what my options were. I started to go towards LED headlights but after reading about the beam patterns, opted to retrofit with @eledobleu. He sent me a set of loaners last week and I sent my stock lights to him. I wanted to stay with a factory look and I couldnt find a ton of images out there with the options I wanted. Hopefully this post will help someone decide easier than I did :) The lights are completed and currently being shipped back to me. I will post pictures once they are installed but for now I will post pictures of the lights out of the truck.

    Options I went with:
    • RX350 projectors with TRD lens etching
    • Panamera LED shrouds
    • 5500K HIDs
    • Morimoto LED strip
    • Plug and play harness

    Before:
    IMG_0490.jpg IMG_0493.jpg

    After:
    20170619_143003.jpg 20170619_143003_1.jpg 20170619_143006.jpg 20170619_143017.jpg 20170619_143025.jpg 20170619_143031.jpg
     
  2. Jun 20, 2017 at 5:57 AM
    #2
    Y0TA PR0

    Y0TA PR0 Dirt biking & fishing

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    Nice!! Looking good!
     
    MTwiford[OP] likes this.
  3. Jun 20, 2017 at 6:20 AM
    #3
    MotoTundra

    MotoTundra The Ocho

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    -TRS Mini D2S Retrofit on TRD Pro Headlights (Apollo 2.0 Shrouds, 35w XB Ballasts, 5500k Bulbs) -Baja Designs Squadron R Sport Aux lights. -TRD Pro Grill -TRD Rear Sway Bar -BakFlip VP Tonneau w/BakBox -Dipped wheels & bumpers -Iron Cross HD steps -Undercover Swingcase -SunTek Paint Protection film -Tinted glass -Bedmat -OEM Towing Mirrors
    Nice! The TRD etching looks great!
     
    Backslider and MTwiford[OP] like this.
  4. Jun 20, 2017 at 7:23 AM
    #4
    831Tun

    831Tun heartless Bastrd

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    TC long travel. Deaver 420 SU leaf packs.
    It's cool to see someone keep the chrome. Those are definitely unique.
     
    MTwiford[OP] likes this.
  5. Jun 20, 2017 at 8:28 AM
    #5
    WatTundra

    WatTundra New Member

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    Damn! I want your setup, hmm now i need to contact @eledobleu, thanks!
    Any installed pics yet?
     
    MikeyMTBs likes this.
  6. Jun 20, 2017 at 5:44 PM
    #6
    MTwiford

    MTwiford [OP] The second mouse always gets the cheese

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    Not yet, FedEx should be delivering tomorrow. Hopefully I will have them in tomorrow night. I’ll post pics once I have them
     
    WatTundra likes this.
  7. Jun 21, 2017 at 2:32 PM
    #7
    inferno_pro_satx

    inferno_pro_satx New Member

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    Where did you get the diffuser for the led strip?
     
  8. Jun 21, 2017 at 5:40 PM
    #8
    MTwiford

    MTwiford [OP] The second mouse always gets the cheese

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    You will have to ask Leo, he did the retrofit for me
     
  9. Jun 21, 2017 at 7:00 PM
    #9
    r4z0r51o

    r4z0r51o have fallen off the forum, but I’m still alive.

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    Looks great! I love my Panamera shrouds and Led strips and the RX350 projectors are sweet. I didn't even think to do any etching :thumbsup:.
     
    MTwiford[OP] likes this.
  10. Jun 23, 2017 at 7:36 PM
    #10
    MTwiford

    MTwiford [OP] The second mouse always gets the cheese

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    Got the lights installed. Here are a few pics of the installation. I’ll take more of the finished product once I get everything together. These are before the Amber DRL delete.
    .IMG_0521.jpgIMG_0525.jpgIMG_0527.jpgIMG_0529.jpg
     
  11. Jun 24, 2017 at 8:49 PM
    #11
    walter93

    walter93 a Newbie: speak slowly and use small words

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    What is the amber DRL delete? I love your lights!!
     
    MTwiford[OP] likes this.
  12. Jun 24, 2017 at 9:20 PM
    #12
    AnonVet

    AnonVet That's what she said!

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    Takes the amber and replaces it with white. You can get switchback leds for that also
     
  13. Jun 25, 2017 at 7:13 AM
    #13
    walter93

    walter93 a Newbie: speak slowly and use small words

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    I haven't been able to get a consensus on which switchback LEDs work consistently with the '17 Tundras. Lots of different opinions and comments about they work for some people and not others. Too much confusion for me to spend the $$ and take a chance. In Texas we have to have amber colored turn signals in the front so I can't switch to white without a potential ticket.
     
  14. Jun 25, 2017 at 12:23 PM
    #14
    MTwiford

    MTwiford [OP] The second mouse always gets the cheese

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    Finally took some pictures of the finished product.

    The amber DRL delete mod simply removes the DRL Amber light. There is no bulb change or color change to that specific bulb. The reason for the mod is because I have LED strips (like the factory platinum headlights) to replace them. No need to have the amber on as well as the white. DRL can be white with no legal issues. The turn signal is still the same amber bulb from the factory and functions like it did from the factory because I chose not to do the switchbacks right now (not really a fan).

    Now one thing I did do was remove the amber parking light function of that bulb when the headlights are on. Again, no changes to the bulb or the turn signal. Still works just like factory but really is on a turn signal now. See the pics I’m uploading. Notice when the headlights are on, there is no Amber parking light on the inside portions of the headlights ( where non platinum/1794 DRLs usually are).

    IMG_0540.jpg IMG_0541.jpg IMG_0544.jpg IMG_0545.jpg IMG_0548.jpg IMG_0549.jpg IMG_0550.jpg IMG_0551.jpg IMG_0554.jpg IMG_0555.jpg
     
    SouthBoundSteve likes this.
  15. Jun 25, 2017 at 12:50 PM
    #15
    walter93

    walter93 a Newbie: speak slowly and use small words

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    That is exactly how I want mine to work when I do you retrofit. Did you have to cut factory wires for the amber DRL delete? Or was it part of the wiring harness included in your retrofit? Please teach this young grasshopper, oh wise one!
     
  16. Jun 25, 2017 at 3:29 PM
    #16
    MTwiford

    MTwiford [OP] The second mouse always gets the cheese

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    Lol, the drl delete is just clipping the small gray and black wire under the dash, going to the flasher module. The parking light mod was just bending the tab in the turn signal plug where the purple wire comes in. I did that rather than cutting it because there was not much slack in the wire and it would be difficult to splice back if I chose to go back to factory. If I ever want to go back now, I just bend the tab up and go.
     
    walter93 likes this.
  17. Jun 25, 2017 at 7:32 PM
    #17
    walter93

    walter93 a Newbie: speak slowly and use small words

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    Why did you clip the wire to delete the DRL if your new retrofit lights have LED DRLs? When do the LEDs come on?

    Bending the tab on the parking light plug just makes the amber parking light bulb not turn on when the headlights are on?
     
  18. Jun 26, 2017 at 6:04 AM
    #18
    MTwiford

    MTwiford [OP] The second mouse always gets the cheese

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    Yes, but not on the bulb itself, on the bulb socket. There are 3 tabs. The purple wire going into the socket controls the parking light.
     
    walter93[QUOTED] likes this.
  19. Jun 26, 2017 at 6:36 AM
    #19
    walter93

    walter93 a Newbie: speak slowly and use small words

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    So if you cut the purple wire you no longer have a working parking light, but it still works as a blinker?

    In what position do the LED DRL come on? It seems they would only come on when you have the headlights or parking lights turned on. Shouldn't a DRL be on any time the vehicle is running no matter what position the light switch is in? Sorry about all of these questions, but I'm just wanting to be 100% sure of how it will work before I cut any wires on my 2 month old truck. Normally I wait until the warranty expires to do these types of mods, but the factory light setup is driving me crazy!!!
     
  20. Jun 26, 2017 at 9:43 AM
    #20
    MTwiford

    MTwiford [OP] The second mouse always gets the cheese

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    The LED strip is always on. It only turns off when the vehicle is off. Its not that difficult and you don't have to do any of the above. It is just what I chose to do with mine. You can get a retrofit and plug everything back up just the way it was if you would like.
     
  21. Jun 26, 2017 at 9:58 AM
    #21
    walter93

    walter93 a Newbie: speak slowly and use small words

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    Thanks. This seems to be exactly what I want to do. I appreciate your patience and using small words for me (ha ha). Now, to decide on exactly what my retrofits will look like and how much they will cost. I've had good luck with Morimoto HID in the past, so I will likely go that route. Did you get 35W or 55W headlights in your retrofit?
     
  22. Jun 26, 2017 at 10:16 AM
    #22
    MTwiford

    MTwiford [OP] The second mouse always gets the cheese

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    Mine are 5500K
     
  23. Jul 18, 2017 at 7:10 PM
    #23
    MTwiford

    MTwiford [OP] The second mouse always gets the cheese

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    Similar in looks, projector performance is very different though. I had the extra money at the time so I had Lexus RX350 projector lenses installed. Light output and cut off is excellent. Anything is better than the crap stock headlights though! Enjoy your lightsman
     
  24. Jul 18, 2017 at 7:20 PM
    #24
    MTwiford

    MTwiford [OP] The second mouse always gets the cheese

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    Awesome, you will love them!
     
  25. Jul 19, 2017 at 5:14 AM
    #25
    MTwiford

    MTwiford [OP] The second mouse always gets the cheese

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    Thanks Steve. He really did and his customer service was 5 star. He sent out a set of loaners so I could still use my truck while he was doing the work, at no charge other than the shipping. I would use @eledobleu again in a heartbeat.
     
    SouthBoundSteve likes this.

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