6 Pre-Built Headlight Housing Replacement Options For the 5th Gen 4Runner
We all know that the stock halogen headlight bulbs are terrible, but is it worth it to replace the headlight housing as well? In this post, we will discuss some of the best options for headlight housing replacements and what makes each option more unique than the others.
If you have considered aftermarket headlight housings, you have likely considered other common options such as HID bulbs, LED bulbs, Bi-LED retrofits, and probably the highest lumen output option of them all; Bi-Xenon (HID high-intensity discharge) retrofits.
LED & HID Bulbs
Although HID and LED bulbs are fairly easy to install, they don’t transform the look of your 4Runner, nor do they provide “outstanding” light output. However, the term “outstanding” is to be debated. Many owners run these lights because they offer plenty of light performance for their intended use.
Another reason why so many owners upgrade to LED bulbs and HID bulbs is the cost and ease of installation. If you are looking for a quick solution to the terrible 5th Gen 4Runer halogens, then upgrading your factory bulbs might be the best option for you.
If you are looking for something a bit more powerful that also offers a unique look, consider retrofits.
Retrofitting Headlights
If you are looking for the highest possible lumen output from your headlight housings, then an LED or Bi-Xenon Retrofit is usually the way to go; and more so a Bi-Xenon retrofit. With that said, retrofitting your headlight housings can be an incredibly time-consuming process and very challenging depending on your skill level with mods.
Retrofitting your factory headlight housing is going to take lots of time, energy, and more of anything; patience. To properly open the housings and seal them back up again, you need to throw your lights in the oven to bake the permaseal open. Then, you install your retrofits. Finally, you throw them back in the oven to seal the housings up. This is much easier said than done, however, the results can be super rewarding.
Custom Retrofit Companies
There are companies out there that you can pay to custom retrofit your headlight housings for you. These companies will often use aftermarket headlight housings, such as TYC or DEPO brands to retrofit a pair of headlights. Then once the retrofit is complete, they send you your custom pre-assembled headlight housings complete with LED or hid projector retrofits, halos, shrouds, demon eyes, and much more – ready to plug and play install. Since these companies are typically 100% custom-built to order, they can be very expensive. They can be upwards of $1,000 to $2,000+ for a pair of retrofit headlights. A pair of TYC housings can be $300 alone.
If you have ever attempted to retrofit your own headlights, then you may be able to justify the cost because you understand how difficult a professional custom retrofit can be.
Pre-Assembled Headlight Housings
Pictured: USR Headlight Housings with full LED Upgrades Built-in
If you don’t want to go through the hassle of retrofitting your own headlights or hiring a company to retrofit a pair of aftermarket brand (TYC, DEPO) headlights, you have an easier option. Ordering a set of pre-assembled and mass-produced housings might be the answer you’re looking for.
Pre-assembled and mass-produced headlight housings are just that; customized headlight housings typically built with LED or HID projector retrofits and designed to sell at mass quantity. Some of these can be custom-made to order, and some are pre-packaged.
Much like custom retrofits, aftermarket headlight housings are not cheap and can get very expensive depending on the options you have configured. However, there are affordable options that may provide what you are looking for at a lower price point.
Performance is a big one to consider here. Depending on the brand of lights you go with, some may not last long or may be prone to inconsistencies so we will go over that as well. There are some long-established brands and some exciting up and coming ones to consider before you make your purchase.
Table Of Contents
1. AlphaRex Pro Series
Specs
- Polycarbonate Plastic Lens
- Polypropylene Housing Material
- Sequential Turn Signal/ LED DRL light tube
- Rectangular Projector Lens
- Low Beam: H7 (Halogen)
- High Beam: H7 (Halogen)
- 26 lbs
- 3 Color Options: Black, AlphaBlack, Chrome
- Cost: 459+
Overview
These are the cheapest headlight replacement housing options on the market. For someone working on a tight budget, these are perfect. They have a very bright DRL light tube with an amber sequential turn signal. The light tube is in the shape of the chrome check from the stock headlights. The Pro Series also has three color options: AlphaBlack, Black, and Chrome. The chrome color option is great for someone who has kept most of the chrome trim on their 4Runner. While the AlphaBlack and Black color options are great for blacked-out or chrome deleted 4Runners.
The best feature of these headlights is that the bulbs can be swapped. Some of the more expensive headlight housings already come with LED bulbs installed, but if those go out or aren’t bright, then you are out of luck. The Pro series doesn’t come with LED bulbs, it comes with halogens which aren’t super bright. The Pro Series basically allows you to still chose which bulbs you want. If you want a cheap pair off of amazon or a really expensive set of LEDs or HIDs, that’s up to you.
Find it online:
Pros
- DRL Light Tube/ Turn Signal
- Multiple Color Options
- Ability To Swap Out Bulbs
- Cost: $459+
Cons
- Halogen Bulbs
- Will Cost Extra To Upgrade To a Better Set of Bulbs
2. Morimoto XB LED Headlights
Specs
- Polycarbonate Plastic Housing Material
- 5000k Osram LED DRL
- Amber Sequential Turn Signal (same as DRL)
- Low Beam: Tri-Kurla Optic LED
- High Beam: Tri-Kurla Optic LED
- Quad-Projector Optics (DOT Approved)
- Cost: $1,470
Overview
In terms of quality, these headlights are probably number one on this list. The quad projection technology provides the maximum utilization of the TRI-Kurla Optic LED bulbs. Basically, you are getting a lot of light coming from these headlights. The 5000k Osram DRL is another great feature on these headlights. They give off a clear white light that can be clearly seen in the day or the night.
The Morimoto XB’s all have a smoked black look. Providing the ultimate aftermarket look for your 4Runner. These lights are built to last and each bulb comes with its’ own die-cast heat sink, creating a longer lifetime for the lights. Also, the headlights are equipped with a UV-coated polycarbonate lens, allowing the housing and bulbs to withstand the test of time.
There is one major downside to the Morimoto XB’s, the cost! These headlights are extremely expensive. If you don’t have a budget and are just trying to buy the best of the best then these are for you, but if you’ve got to keep everything cost-effective these just won’t make the cut.
Before you buy:
There have been many reviews on Instagram of them not living up to their expectations for $1400+. Some guys have been really happy and others… pretty disappointed. The biggest complaint has been their light output. For $1400 you would expect some outstanding performance but the Morimoto XB version 01 seems to be lacking. They are working on a version 02 model so be on the lookout for those soon.
Check out the install & review of the Morimoto XB LED Headlights that Felix wrote.
Find it online:
- Morimoto XB LED Headlights: Check Price
Pros
- High-Quality Projection Technology (for maximum light output)
- 5000k Osram DRL
- Built To Last (UV and heat sink protection)
- Blacked-Out Housing
Cons
- Cost: $1470
- Can’t Replace Bulbs
3. AlphaRex Nova Series
Specs
- Polycarbonate Plastic Lens Material
- Polypropylene Housing Material
- DRL Tube/ Sequential Turn Signal
- Built-In Osram LEDs
- 3 Low Beam LED Lights
- 3D “Ice Cube” Projector Lenses
- Color Options: AlphaBlack, Black, Chrome
- Weight: 26 lbs
- Cost: $1,135+
Overview
These lights are killer! The Nova Series gives the Morimoto XB Headlights some intense competition in terms of being the best high-end housing on the market. With the 4, “Ice Cube Projector” lenses, you are sure to get a lot of light output from your headlights. The built-in Osram LEDs save you the hassle of having to purchase your own bulbs and buying 3 low beam bulbs wouldn’t be cheap! With three color options, you can pick what looks best with your vehicle.
Like the Pro and Luxx series, these headlights also come with a DRL/ Sequential Turn Signal. Unlike the Pro Series, the DRL tube in the Nova series has a startup feature, where the LEDs flash when the ignition is started. This little feature does not seem like much but it adds a cool intro for your headlights.
The main problem you could face with these is the inability to replace the Osram LEDs if one goes out. If just one of the six low beams burns out, you will either have to send the housing back to get the chip replaced, get new housing, or deal with it on your own. None of these options would be fun and will be a serious pain to deal with. The Nova Series headlights are extremely well made and built to last, but after many years this could be a possibility.
Find it online:
Pros
- 3 Osram LED Low Beams
- Color Options
- DRL/ Sequential Turn Signal
- Start-Up Feature
Cons
- Pricey: $1,135+
- Can not replace the LEDs
4. AlphaRex Luxx Series
Specs
- Polycarbonate Plastic Lens
- Polypropylene Housing Material
- DRL Tube/ Sequential Turn Signal
- Rectangular Projector Lens
- Low Beam: AlphaRex Luxx LED
- High Beam: AlphaRex Luxx LED
- 26 lbs
- 3 Color Options: AlphaBlack, Black, Chrome
- Cost: $730+
Overview
These headlights by AlphaRex are a great mid-tier option for headlight housing. They have their own built-in LEDs saving you the time and hassle of having to but and install your own bulbs. The Luxx series use AlphaRex’s specially designed rectangular housing to provide clean cutoffs on the beam patterns.
The headlights come with a DRL/Sequential Turn signal. Like the NOVA series, the Luxx Headlights have a startup feature that gives the 4Runner a cool look when the engine is started.
The Luxx Series is very similar to the Pro Series in almost all aspects of its design. The only difference is the built-in LED bulbs and the startup feature. If you don’t want to find your own bulbs or would rather that they already are installed, you should go with the Luxx series. If you have your own bulbs in mind or if you want to be able to swap bulbs as you please, you should purchase the Pro series.
Find it online:
Pros
- Built-in LEDs
- Rectangular Projector Lenses
- Cost: $730+ (more expensive than the Pro but already has high-quality bulbs)
- Color Options
Cons
- Can not replace bulbs
- Cost: $730+ (more expensive than the Pro but do not forget it already has high-quality bulbs installed)
5. Unique Style Racing Depot LED
Specs
- Polycarbonate Lens
- Black Housing Material
- White Lexus Styl DRL/ Parking Light
- Low Beam: Stanley LED (Built-In)
- Stanley LED- 1800 Lumens Per Bulb
- High Beam: Halogen
- Turn Signal: Halogen
- LEDs for High Beam & Turn Signal Can Be Added to Purchase to Replace Halogens
- $579+
Overview
The USR Depo LED Headlight comes in last on the list but it still has some really good benefits to consider. The Depot brand headlight from USR comes with built-in LED low beams. They are Stanley LEDs and provide 1800 hundred lumens for each individual LED. That is a 250% increase from stock headlights.
The other two bulbs, high beam, and turn signal are halogens if you purchase the base tier Depo lights, but you can add LED replacements at just $75 more. This is great because you get to decide if you actually need better high beams or turn signals. If you live in the city and this is just a daily driver, you might just want good-looking low beams so you don’t need to pay the extra money for more bulbs.
The built-in LEDs included with these headlights are not as bright as some of the other aftermarket bulbs. For example, the new LASfit bulbs have 4000 lumens per bulb, which is over 4x brighter than the stock headlights and 2x brighter than the Stanley chips. So, the included LEDs are brighter options than stock halogens, but they are still not near the best quality you can get.
Like the AlphaRex Pro Series, the USR Headlights are a cost-effective alternative to the expensive Morimoto headlights. The built-in low beams are good but not the best, and you can’t switch them out if you want something better. On the other hand, the high beams and turn signals can be replaced when you purchase the housing. Making it easy to get what you want for your vehicle.
Check out the most recent install of the USR Depo LED Headlights.
Find it online:
- USR Blacked Out Retrofit Housings (new model 2024): Check Price
Pros
- Built-in LED low beams
- Other lights are halogens
- Can upgrade different LEDs
- Cost-effective
Cons
- Depo brand headlights have a bad rep
- Not TYC housings
- Factory design
6. GTR Carbide
Recently added to this list, are the new GTR Carbide Headlights. GTR Lighting is yet another company owned by The Retrofit Source which also owns Morimoto and was recently acquired by The Wheel Pros. GTR Lighting specializes in many makes and models and recently launched these new, what we like to call “Reebok-inspired” GTR Carbibe Headlights for the 5th Gen 4Runner.
They feature full LED lighting and are plug-and-play for any 5th Gen 4Runner. For 2021+ model years with factory LED low or high beams, an additional wire harness adapter is needed. However, that holds true for every aftermarket headlight option that is currently available.
There is a solid white LED DRL that is very bright, which is a major improvement over the dim halogen bulb that you get from the factory. The DRL dims a bit when the low beams are activated, which is a nice detail. This same strip of LED lighting doubles as a sequential amber turn or hazard signal, which adds that extra bit of flair to an already unique-looking headlight.
The main lights of the housing comprise 3 projector beams. The outer two are used for the low beams, while the innermost third projector is used for the high beams.
The side marker is available in both amber and clear variants. However, only the former is SAE/DOT compliant. Regardless of the reflector color, there is still an amber LED used for the actual side marker light.
Find it online:
- GTR Carbide Amber or Clear Side Marker (YotaMafia.com): Check Price
Pros
- Unique look
- Built-in LEDs
- Triple Pod Style Projector Lenses
- Amber or clear side marker options are available
Cons
- Can not replace bulbs
- Cost: $1000+
Final Thoughts
Upgrading your headlight housing is a great way to improve the look of your 4Runner.
The bright, white, built-in DRLs on most models will give your vehicle a clean and modern look. With different color options, you have the ability to match the color scheme of your 4Runner. There are different tiers of headlights depending on what you need or can afford.
In the first-tier, there are the AlphaRex Pro Series and Depot LED lights; these options are the best for those with a low budget. Another thing with these housing options is that their bulbs can be swapped, giving you the ability to pick which bulbs you want. The second tier of the headlight housing includes the AlphaRex Luxx Series, which comes with built-in, powerful LED bulbs without costing too much more than the first tier.
Lastly, the third tier is for owners who want the most powerful and highest quality headlights on the market. The two options in this tier are the Nova Series and Morimoto XBs. Both of those come with high-end LED replacements and improved aftermarket projection technology.
Ultimately, it is up to you to determine what you need most and/or what you can afford.
Which brand is the cleanest? I hate that bubble on the front lights. Do they all shave that obnoxious,obtrusive bubble off????
Hey there! I am ridiculously excited about these new headlights for the 5th gen 4Runner!!! My question is that look like they are on a newer 5th gens… My 5th gen is a 2012 SR5. would these fit my year???
That depends on what brand you are considering, most of these companies usually list compatibility.
The XB, for its faults, is at least a proprietary product by Morimoto. All of the AlphaRex headlights are just re-branded Alibaba junk sold at an inflated price. The product engineering and quality control on them is very poor.
https://m.alibaba.com/amp/product/1600140819744.html
This article has a lot of discussion mostly about how the lights LOOK, which is fine- but little to no discussion about how they PERFORM as headlights. I’m not talking about the advertised lumens or “cool white color temp”, I mean how well do they illuminate the road ahead at speed, without glaring at oncoming traffic? A lot of engineering goes into OEM headlights to make them perform correctly.
The AlphaRex lights are bright, but hotspot focus and distance projection is very poor, even compared to the stock halogen lights. Another way of putting it is that it’s much better to have dim headlights that reach 200 feet than it is to have bright headlights that wash out and lose focus after 50 feet. And they have poor high beam placement, as seen in these comparative photos here:
https://www.toyota-4runner.org/3568580-post44944.html
True retrofits may be expensive, but the boutique shops (if they are reputable) will sell you headlights using proper optics and components, not this Saturday night special stuff.
The stock headlight housings with performance halogen bulbs will massively outperform most of these “upgraded” headlights. And are extremely cheap to install in comparison. They may not be as sexy or get you as many instagram likes, but they’ll get you down the road more safely.
I replaced my 5th Gen OEMs with the LUXX Morimoto. They look fabulous, but are seriously low on performance. They aren’t safe and I’m returning them and reinstalling my factory headlights, but upgrading to LED. I wanted a brighter and better looking light. I only got better looking. I live in the mountains and need my lights to light up the dark roads. The upgraded lights would be fine if you’re just driving around in a city.
Makes sense, but fck, those 5th gen headlights are uuuugly
They may be, but it’s better to have ugly headlights that work properly instead of pretty ones that don’t.
The aftermarket housings look better and perform better. I have recently installed H7 Lasfit Bulbs paired with the Alpharex Pro Series, and they totally outperform the stock housings and bulbs. Most of the time, I didn’t even know the stock headlights were on, my new headlights are bright and clear, I can even see the beam pattern under bright street lights.
This might sound counterintuitive, but your headlights are not designed to throw a large splash of light on the ground 20 feet in front of your truck so that you can see the ground more brightly under street lights (that’s just wasting light). They’re designed to project a precise pattern hundreds of feet down the road using hotspots at the top of the beam pattern. This is the same reason you shouldn’t have your fog lights on at 70 mph- they’re just constricting your vision and you’ll be looking right in front of your truck, instead of towards the horizon where you need to.
Again, I’m not arguing that your new headlights are dimmer. They likely ARE brighter. I’m arguing that the beam pattern is not correct, and your distance vision has been severely and unsafely reduced.
I understand your concern about the performance of these headlights. However, the Alpharex and Morimoto housings have become extremely popular and have gained widespread use across the 4Runner community. Also, the products in this article use top of the line projector optics to ensure quality light output. If you need evidence of this performance go check out TRD JONs series of videos on the Alpharex Headlights here. I don’t know what stock headlights you have for your 4Runner, but mine are very dim. In fact, when I’m on the road, I barely even notice that they are on. So to say that the stock headlights outperform these headlights is untrue.
How about option f0r the 2010-2012 models?
Alpharex just released their new headlights for 2010-2013.
Do you have a link, the website still only lists 2014-21
What about 54kustom?
What about swapping 2021 LED parts in?
Do you mean swapping the factory LED headlight bulbs into new housing? If so, it really depends. For example, if you bought the Alpharexx Pro Series housing, only H7 bulbs would fit into the new housing. Factory bulbs are H11s so you just have to pay attention to the bulb numbers.
Hope this Helps,
Heath
No I mean swapping in whatever changes Toyota did for the 2021 LED equipped fourunners, housing bulbs, etc.
https://www.toyota-4runner.org/5th-gen-t4rs/295352-2021-oem-led-headlights-fogs-installed-into-2018-t4r.html
Did you manage to get any light output shots of the beam pattern comparing the before (halogens) and after (LEDs)? We definitely want to see what the beam cutoff looks like. 25′ out on a wall or your garage would work as well. Upload somewhere when you have a chance.
I haven’t had the chance but will as soon as possible. It just looks like a factory 2021 4 runner headlight cut off. There are a few videos and photos on you tube about it. I will say this, the cut off, beam pattern, distance out put, non glare, is far superior to any drop in led bulb, drop in 55w 4300k hid kit. Since it’s an Oem Toyota headlight, you know it will be reliable and dependable. I tested the incoming glare and it was a non issue. The 2021 fogs also have a very nice output that produces 0 glare unlike drop in led bulbs in the halogen fogs. I will keep updating my thread.
These are all for 2014+ 4runners. 5th gen started in 2009. Where are the ones that work on earlier models?
I have been looking and so far Alpharex and Morimoto don’t make housings for the early 5th gens. I will continue to look at options and let you guys know what I find.
Heath,
Alpharex has released headlights for 2010-2013.
We always get left out of everything
Unique Style Racing (USR) Depo Headlights VS Lasfit “Custom” LED with fan dust cover?
Which is worth the upgrade? Depo is more expensive but the DRL is awesome. Lasfit is apparently brighter but still a very expensive option for just a bulb upgrade. Is it worth putting the extra money into a full Depo housing or just settle for the expensive Lasfit bulb upgrade?
It’s your preference. I bought the Alpharex Pros and bulbs from LASFIT so that I could get the best of both worlds. Ultimately, it’s up to you to decide what you want and what works best for your lifestyle.