Notices
ES - 7th Gen (2019-2025) Discussion topics related to 2019-2025 ES models

Upgrade headlight?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Aug 17, 2023 | 10:23 PM
  #1  
Abadiseli's Avatar
Abadiseli
Thread Starter
Rookie
10 Year Member
Liked
 
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 42
Likes: 10
From: Ny
Default Upgrade headlight?

Hi,, anyone try to upgrade headlights from one lens to three lens oem is it plug and play ?



Reply
Old Aug 18, 2023 | 02:30 AM
  #2  
Denzlex's Avatar
Denzlex
Intermediate
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Jan 2022
Posts: 331
Likes: 197
From: Massachusetts
Default

Have you looked into the cost? I believe it’s about $5k for the factory triple beams.
Reply
Old Aug 18, 2023 | 06:19 AM
  #3  
cbus's Avatar
cbus
Pit Crew
 
Joined: Aug 2016
Posts: 112
Likes: 23
From: Philly
Default

No idea. Nothing on YouTube for this? Gut feeling is they would have a common harness, at least for the low/high beam inputs, but the triple beams have cornering lights that might not function on a car with the single-beam units.

I am in the market and triple beams are a must-have for the car I get.
Reply
Old Aug 18, 2023 | 06:43 AM
  #4  
toyotaman7's Avatar
toyotaman7
Pole Position
10 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 2,226
Likes: 904
From: Ontario
Default

I would think the connectors are very different as the tripple Beam has to talk to the car to rotate the lights in turns and as well as up and down. Base light does none of that.

Also, even base light has cornering lights on ES.
Reply
Old Aug 18, 2023 | 07:04 AM
  #5  
cbus's Avatar
cbus
Pit Crew
 
Joined: Aug 2016
Posts: 112
Likes: 23
From: Philly
Default

Originally Posted by toyotaman7
I would think the connectors are very different as the tripple Beam has to talk to the car to rotate the lights in turns and as well as up and down. Base light does none of that.

Also, even base light has cornering lights on ES.
Quick eBay Motors sleuth tells me the connectors are quite different, so OP is probably SOL.

And thank you for the knowledge - didn't know base lights had cornering function.
Reply
Old Aug 18, 2023 | 08:57 AM
  #6  
E46CT's Avatar
E46CT
Lexus Test Driver
10 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 9,526
Likes: 2,585
Default

the ones pictured in post 1 are aftermarket. they're still expensive.

yes base lights have side-illumination.

base main projection is shared with mazda 6, ford escape, etc. it's an off the shelf gen 1 K0IT0. same for gen 2.
Reply
Old Aug 18, 2023 | 09:11 AM
  #7  
BBQapple's Avatar
BBQapple
Instructor
 
Joined: Jan 2023
Posts: 909
Likes: 415
From: TX
Default

Unless you just think they’re awesome looking don’t bother, I have bi level on my ES and tripe beams on wife’s IS and they’re almost exactly the same. If anything the bi level lights are slightly brighter at night and the triple beams slightly more even.

If I could have the $1,100 extra that they cost back I’d do it in a heartbeat.
Reply
Old Aug 18, 2023 | 12:18 PM
  #8  
Abadiseli's Avatar
Abadiseli
Thread Starter
Rookie
10 Year Member
Liked
 
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 42
Likes: 10
From: Ny
Default

Originally Posted by Denzlex
Have you looked into the cost? I believe it’s about $5k for the factory triple beams.
I already have it and it’s cost me 2000$
Reply
Old Aug 18, 2023 | 12:22 PM
  #9  
Abadiseli's Avatar
Abadiseli
Thread Starter
Rookie
10 Year Member
Liked
 
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 42
Likes: 10
From: Ny
Default

Originally Posted by cbus
No idea. Nothing on YouTube for this? Gut feeling is they would have a common harness, at least for the low/high beam inputs, but the triple beams have cornering lights that might not function on a car with the single-beam units.

I am in the market and triple beams are a must-have for the car I get.
Nothing in the YouTube only for aftermarket
Reply
Old Aug 18, 2023 | 02:25 PM
  #10  
ESh's Avatar
ESh
Lexus Test Driver
10 Year Member
Photoriffic
Liked
Loved
 
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 5,006
Likes: 1,627
From: MI
Default

OEMs are not plug and play. The balast/functions are not the same.
Reply
Old Aug 18, 2023 | 07:42 PM
  #11  
dezymond's Avatar
dezymond
Instructor
10 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 1,000
Likes: 567
From: CA
Default

I recall someone in a FB group doing this modification with aftermarket headlights just like that and they were happy about it. They posted pictures and said they were happy with the light output and pattern. I personally thought it was a bit of a mess in terms of light distribution as I have the real triple beam on my car. Can't beat OEM.
Reply
Old Aug 19, 2023 | 06:23 PM
  #12  
LexFinally's Avatar
LexFinally
Pole Position
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Top Answer: 1
 
Joined: May 2021
Posts: 2,544
Likes: 1,362
From: IL
Default

Originally Posted by dezymond
I recall someone in a FB group doing this modification with aftermarket headlights just like that and they were happy about it. They posted pictures and said they were happy with the light output and pattern. I personally thought it was a bit of a mess in terms of light distribution as I have the real triple beam on my car. Can't beat OEM.
This is generally true of aftermarket headlight setups. It's a lot more complicated than people think. You don't want to just go around blinding oncoming motorists left and right.
Reply
Old Aug 19, 2023 | 07:30 PM
  #13  
BBQapple's Avatar
BBQapple
Instructor
 
Joined: Jan 2023
Posts: 909
Likes: 415
From: TX
Default

Originally Posted by LexFinally
You don't want to just go around blinding oncoming motorists left and right.
Back in the day Mini and BMW disabled the rear fog lights on North American cars, because people here are selfish and turned them on when not foggy to be cool making the cars more dangerous because the tail lights were more blinding and also makes it harder to see the brake light actuation.

So apparently yes, a lot of people are completely happy blinding other cars so long as their own cars are bright and look awesome.
Reply
Old Aug 19, 2023 | 09:12 PM
  #14  
Denzlex's Avatar
Denzlex
Intermediate
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Jan 2022
Posts: 331
Likes: 197
From: Massachusetts
Default

Originally Posted by Abadiseli
I already have it and it’s cost me 2000$
These are Lexus triple beams, or knock offs?
Reply
Old Aug 20, 2023 | 01:40 AM
  #15  
Abadiseli's Avatar
Abadiseli
Thread Starter
Rookie
10 Year Member
Liked
 
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 42
Likes: 10
From: Ny
Default

Originally Posted by Denzlex
These are Lexus triple beams, or knock offs?
yes lexus triple beams but without motors



Reply



All times are GMT -7. The time now is 06:33 PM.