I think I am going to try GE nighthawk replacement bulbs for the DRL and the high beams.

Can anyone tell me what size of bulbs I need? I get conflicting info off the net between 9005/9006

 

9006 is low beam...9005 is high beam...
this is whet my low and high beams look like...retrofitted 2.5 inch projectors and am using a 50 hid kit from morimoto...not cheap or easy, but well worth it...adding fog lights will do nothing for distance light...once you replace the stock bulbs make sure they are aimed correctly...if you still need more light some auxiliary should be a cost effective solution...

 

I had HID in my 2007, and the beam was not that good, I would not waste my time with HID in a pre 2010 : I ended up buying projectors since there was way too much glare... on my 2012 the beam is a lot better.

bulbs do lose output with time, I think its something like 5% per year on average so new bulb would help for sure.

HID in the fogs are not a good option either IMO, since you put out a lot of light close, and that will decrease your far vision.

What i do when I go on back road, I bought a 24inch light bar, put it on a pair of 5 inch 120# magnets with silicone protectors (amazon), and wired it on a 12v extension with switch, would not drive 100mph with that setup, but following the speed limit is not a problem, and it light up the roads very well, probably 50% more light than my hid low beam and 80watts high beam together and it's removable. If you want something permanent, mount it behind the grill like a member did...

 

They might not be in a league with a complete projector/HID retrofit, but I replaced my stock bulbs with 9012 HIR bulbs and found it more than adequate. Really loving these things!

 

are 9012 HIR bulbs for the DRL or the highbeams? Special housing required? legal?

 

#1 your drl or daytime running lights use your high beams...
#2 9012 bulbs replace 9006 bulbs (low beam)...
#3 for high beam hir you need 9011...they do need to be physically modified to fit.. Google them to learn more..

 

You might try one of the headlight renewal systems available. For about $30, 3M has a system that sands and polishes the outer lens. these become dull and scratched over time. I just did mine and noticed a big difference.

Steve

 

Just what I was going to post. I'm amazed when walking through parking lots and seeing early 2k cars with headlight coverings totally yellowed out.

 

"9006 is low beam...9005 is high beam..."

And now some of you are saying that it is the same bulb.

Can someone please clarify???

 

i just looked thru this thread and i didnt see anyone say that 9005 and 9006 were the same bulb...9006 bulb is 50 or 55 watts and has a black coating at the tip...9005 will be 60 or 65 watts and has no coating on the tip...(9005 high beam)...(9006 low beam)

 

I know they arent the same bulb

 

In the previous post you asked for clarification...if you knew they are not the same bulb then what do you need clarified?

 

with dirty headlights, just use whitening toothpaste. I use dollar store brand whitening toothpaste

 

Headlights absolutely dim over time. Try replacing both bulbs and see the difference. You may also want to recondition the lens as they may have a bit of scratching dullness to them which will diminish the amount of light being illuminated.

 

Well, research has condluded that toshiba was the makers of the only 9011 / 9012 true hir. They have since quit making them. Philips now makes a bulb under the term HIR... but some people say that it isnt a true HIR ........ anyone comment on this?

 

From what the package said when I got mine, Philips is using some "combination of technologies" to achieve HIR performance - what THAT is supposed to mean. They also claim that the latest version, usually referred to as "generation 3" has an even longer life than the originals with the same or slightly higher lumens output. The biggest difference I can see between the new Philips and the old Toshiba bulbs is that the glass envelope is longer and the light is just slightly whiter to the eye. They look practically identical to a standard 9005 bulb, having no opaque glare shield on the tip. I'd have to go along with Philip's published specs for life span since I've only been using them for a few months.

I'd be leery of most of the less expensive bulbs being sold on Ebay since they're either counterfeit or older gen bulbs that no one wants any more. There's a wealth of information about them as well as a handy source to buy most any bulbs at:

Search

Yes, I'm a long time customer of this place and would certainly recommend them. There's an explanation at that link describing current HIR2 bulbs and how they work.

 

If you decide to buff out the scratches, be sure to preserve your work with a protective film. I ended up using some Weathertech Lampgard after doing the JDM headlight swap.

 

2012 - and as far as I've noticed, ALL the Toyota headlights using a 9006 bulb have a cap. The only headlights I've seen that don't have a cap are some older GM. The cap is just there so that oncoming drivers don't have to stare directly at the bulb..

 

that candle power place has some good pricing and a good rep. BUT, I live in Canada, and they want more money to ship those bulbs to me then my tires cost to ship hahahaha I will have to purchase from another source.

 

Do NOT use toothpaste to clean your headlights. They WILL get dull again within a month or less. Ask me how I know. You can you 3m kit or similar kit out there. Then wax to seal in. Or clear film.

 

Thanks for the info. I put 9012 bulbs into the low beams -- simple mod as noted -- and noted improvement in the light. My wife had the RAV out at night and liked the light, and she's not real sensitive to subtle things in the car's function. And she doesn't see very well at night.

 

Just replaced 9006 with 9012LL from AMAZON. It did not make a miracle, but a road visible better and light spreads wider and little bit farer in front of the car. I removed black plastic cover (unplug 9 plugs) and access to the light became very easy. To trim the bulb center tab I used wire cutter like this
ITEM # 134-62-160 from NWS Wire Cutters.
A nail clipper, as they claim on the web, did not cut.