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Which Spyder Headlights?

Discussion in 'Lighting' started by TimtundraXP, Nov 21, 2016.

  1. Nov 21, 2016 at 6:34 AM
    #1
    TimtundraXP

    TimtundraXP [OP] New Member

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    Hey guys, got a 2016 Tundra XP and thinking about putting some new Spyders on them. I know they have 3 different housings and trying to figure out which will look best. Let me know what you guys think and what you have.
     
  2. Nov 21, 2016 at 7:01 AM
    #2
    Backslider

    Backslider Thirsty...

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    I have Spyders in the front. Mine are smoked glass with a chrome housing.

    I would not but them again. They look nice but the projectors in them are garbage. I would honestly go with a retrofit if I were to do it again. I think @eledobleu has some options that are similar in price and will result with not only great looks but better performance as well.

    20161120_154210.jpg
     
  3. Nov 21, 2016 at 7:24 AM
    #3
    TimtundraXP

    TimtundraXP [OP] New Member

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    Great to know. Thanks a lot.
     
  4. Nov 21, 2016 at 7:39 AM
    #4
    boardude

    boardude I am Batman

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    I dont think they are that bad. The lenses are def not as clear as a retro but they def aren't as expensive so its a trade off. I have the black housings and love them. Some guys on here have changed the bulbs out with LEDs like ToyTec

    93a44cfd942add67fdcfc206974b29e7_87996ac7d245910a817543d8d88f857b18fcd370.jpg

    ed40279ec17ff6041bb2d623cfc0010d_a5111c3040802d3324d15d0f1ba49fd5e777066f.jpg
     
  5. Nov 21, 2016 at 7:49 AM
    #5
    T-Rex266

    T-Rex266 Elon approved Staff Member

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    I like mine. Added the HID kit and good to go

    IMG_6254.jpg
     
    SuperSilverTundra and boardude like this.
  6. Nov 21, 2016 at 7:54 AM
    #6
    Backslider

    Backslider Thirsty...

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    I swapped out the bulbs for LED immediately, and still they are poor quality in comparison to a good projector.
     
  7. Nov 21, 2016 at 7:55 AM
    #7
    T-Rex266

    T-Rex266 Elon approved Staff Member

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    Which HID kit? Sorry to hear that.
     
  8. Nov 21, 2016 at 8:00 AM
    #8
    SuperSilverTundra

    SuperSilverTundra i didnt pull up i Landed

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    Nick
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    3"/1" TOYTEC 18x9 XD818 Heist 295/70r18 COOPER XLT DirtyDeeds BAMuffler 2018 LEDs KatzKin Leather S&B CAI
    @TimtundraXP go with black housing i switched the bulbs to LED and installed a HID kit i think they are great imo i know @Backslider seems to be disappointed but i think they work great and look great as well
     
  9. Nov 21, 2016 at 8:14 AM
    #9
    Backslider

    Backslider Thirsty...

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    If you look around a bit online you can find side by side comparisons. Almost everyone out there doing retrofits agrees that the projectors in Spyders are about the lowest quality available - this is how they are able to sell a pair of projector headlights for ~$300.

    They will light up the road but if you compare them to some good projectors you will see what I mean. My friend has a retrofit installed by Wasatch Retrofits in his shitty old Ford, using the same light output LED bulbs that I am, and his projectors are so much brighter. I honestly thought my Spyders were really great until I saw his. My wife has factory projectors in her car with LED bulbs (I'm a big fan of LED) and hers are much brighter than mine as well.

    Also the fact that you can see the individual diodes in the light bar in person (camera covers this up typically) is a big turn off for me. I really wanted the solid white light bar.

    Spyders are definitely worth the $300 you spend on them, they're just not great performers at a higher price point.
     
  10. Nov 21, 2016 at 8:47 AM
    #10
    gdiep

    gdiep I like cookies

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    You buy spyders and then a good HID kit and you are at $500 at least. Retrofits cost about $300 more though. However, you can customize, making it worth it.
     
  11. Nov 21, 2016 at 9:59 AM
    #11
    louscrw

    louscrw all jacked up on Mt. Dew

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    If I do a retrofit, that's the route I want to take. The factory projectors and LED bulbs in my wife's Lexus look incredible. I'm so jealous when I drive her car at night. I'd definitely do the RX350 LED retrofit. I just can't decide on how I want them to look as far as blacked out, color matched, black bowl TRDP look, chrome, etc. I honestly like the chrome look of the factory lights to offset the chrome bumpers, but I don't think a chrome retrofit looks right...the projector lens stands out too much like a black dot.
     
    Backslider[QUOTED] likes this.
  12. Nov 21, 2016 at 11:18 AM
    #12
    TimtundraXP

    TimtundraXP [OP] New Member

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    All of you guys pretty much have the blacked out grill with your black housings so it looks awesome. I've got the chrome grill and bumper so I'm not sure if that black housing will still fit well or I need to go with the chrome housing. Any thoughts?
     
  13. Nov 21, 2016 at 11:20 AM
    #13
    gdiep

    gdiep I like cookies

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    I did not delete the chrome on my truck. Check out my new thread on Retrofits. I had the reflector blacked out but left the bezel alone. It matches the chrome & black motif on the truck.
     
  14. Nov 28, 2016 at 7:59 AM
    #14
    Backslider

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    I just swapped the old LED bulbs with some Hikari CREE XHP50 LEDs and it has improved my light output dramatically.

    The LEDs I removed aren't poor quality, I think it's the shape of the bulb housing that resulted in a lower output. The old ones were three-sided, which I thought would be better. The new bulbs are only two-sides, and not only are the low beams much better but the high beams are incredible.

    Low beams, no fogs:

    20161127_184231.jpg

    High beams, no fogs:

    20161127_184235.jpg

    Huge improvement over both the halogens and the first LEDs I dropped in. I definitely take back what I said about the projectors sucking. They may not be as great as Morimotos but they are still pretty good with the right bulbs.
     
  15. Nov 28, 2016 at 8:20 AM
    #15
    GoHuskers

    GoHuskers New Member

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    Where did you buy the new LED ?
     
  16. Nov 28, 2016 at 8:27 AM
    #16
    Backslider

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    Amazon.. I have Prime so I usually do my research and then see if I can get it on Amazon. even if it's a couple bucks more I know it will be at my door in 2 days tops..

    They were $90 I think.
     
  17. Nov 28, 2016 at 12:03 PM
    #17
    GoHuskers

    GoHuskers New Member

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    So you got the H4 (9003) which will also fit our original headlight as well, correct? Any shots against the wall? Thanks.
     
  18. Nov 28, 2016 at 12:37 PM
    #18
    Backslider

    Backslider Thirsty...

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    No, these take an H11.
     
  19. Nov 28, 2016 at 12:38 PM
    #19
    Backslider

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    I'm in hell this week, aka Phoenix. I will get some pics up against a wall this weekend.
     
    GoHuskers likes this.
  20. Nov 29, 2016 at 7:25 AM
    #20
    TimtundraXP

    TimtundraXP [OP] New Member

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    Anybody have recommendations on an HID kit or specific LED bulb to replace when these spyder headlights come in?
     
  21. Nov 29, 2016 at 7:25 AM
    #21
    T-Rex266

    T-Rex266 Elon approved Staff Member

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    I used the Toytec HID kit...no issues thus far.
     
  22. Jul 24, 2017 at 8:56 PM
    #22
    KB Voodoo

    KB Voodoo New Member

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    So I guess the question is......Toytec HID or Hikari LED???
     
    T-Rex266[QUOTED] likes this.
  23. Jul 24, 2017 at 8:57 PM
    #23
    T-Rex266

    T-Rex266 Elon approved Staff Member

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    o_O Certainly not LED's
     
  24. Jul 24, 2017 at 8:58 PM
    #24
    KB Voodoo

    KB Voodoo New Member

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    The beam shots here look pretty good, no?
     
  25. Jul 24, 2017 at 9:00 PM
    #25
    T-Rex266

    T-Rex266 Elon approved Staff Member

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    Yep on here, but I also like my HID output
     
    KB Voodoo[QUOTED] likes this.
  26. Jul 24, 2017 at 9:00 PM
    #26
    Backslider

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    I use LED in my Spyders, did a side by side with another local guy here running a Morimoto XB 35 watt HID. You really couldn't tell the difference. =\
     
  27. Jul 24, 2017 at 9:02 PM
    #27
    KB Voodoo

    KB Voodoo New Member

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    Hrrrmmmmmm.....
     
  28. Jul 24, 2017 at 9:03 PM
    #28
    Backslider

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    The company in Utah doing my retrofits also had the opinion that HID was better, warned me not to use LED in my new Morimoto D2S 4.0 projectors because they "aren't as good output as HID."

    I told him I currently ran LED in a pair of shitty generic projectors that came with my Spyders. He was forced to admit that a good, high output, omnidirectional LED is pretty equivalent to HID.

    You should do what you want and everyone is entitled to their opinions, but my experience with LED in projectors has been a very good one. Just have to buy good LEDs.
     
    BenAZ and KB Voodoo like this.
  29. Jul 24, 2017 at 9:13 PM
    #29
    Eclipsed & Floating

    Eclipsed & Floating Over it.........

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    My HID conversion is pretty good in the output department though my passenger side shoots into my driver's side spread

    Sean, did you have this issue? Or did one seem brighter than the other because of the angle the HID sits in the projector?
     
    KB Voodoo[QUOTED] likes this.
  30. Jul 24, 2017 at 9:18 PM
    #30
    T-Rex266

    T-Rex266 Elon approved Staff Member

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    No sir
     

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