OEM LED vs Morimoto

Right now I'm running a 2018 SR5 with halogen headlights. I'm undecided whether to go OEM LED or get crazy and go with the Morimotos. Has anyone went from OEM LED to the Morimotos? How much of an upgrade is it from the OEM LEDs to the Morimotos? I'm trying to get some real world naked eye opinions from driver's perspective, not just internet numbers read from various light meters. I know either is going to be leaps and bounds above my halogens, but just torn whether paying double for the Morimotos is actually worth it.

Apologies if this has been addressed in other threads, but i searched and couldn't find anything. I'm posting this in the 2.5 Gen sub instead of the lighting sub because it seems this sub is way more active. Thanks in advance!

 

I want to upgrade as well.

I would imagine that the only person that doesn't switch to morimotos are the ones who already have the OEM LEDs.

I like the look OEM better, but my guess is that the morimotos have a better and more even output. It all comes down to how much you want to spend.

 

Headlight Revolution actually did a video comparison between the OEM leds and the Morimotos. There is a key factor to keep in mind. The OEM leds are a LED reflector system and the Morimotos are projectors. They are 2 different output technologies. Both are great options. If you decide to get Morimotos, reach out to @memario1214 with Hotshot Offroad. He is our go to lighting guy.

1st pic is OEM leds





https://youtu.be/fQWXMGXDnLE

 

I couldn't agree more with everything you stated and suggested!

 

I went with the OEM Pro lights for the price and look. I figure by the time they need replaced the Mori's will be that much more improved and perhaps a lower price. The Morimoto tails are nice also !

 

The tails are hit and miss.....I didn't like the design. I have the Vleds conversion (also known as the hottails). Although I wasn't fond of the Morimoto tail design, the design for the 4Runner is even worse.

 

I have experience with both. I upgraded my 17 tundra halogens with factory leds and love them, best mod I’ve made. Later I upgraded my wife’s sequoia halogens but I went with the mori’s leds for 2 gen’s and I’m not happy with mori’s light out put compared to my factory leds on tundra. The mori’s are real bright but don’t direct they light down the road, more to the sides and in the straight in the sky. Even worse my led strip that runs on outside of light stopped blinking, so now I don’t have a blinker when turning. I purchased the mori’s from @memario1214 need to see if they would still be under warranty? Wish I would spend a little more on factory leds on the sequoia too. Note my mori’s aren’t projectors so maybe they improved down range projection but still aren’t going to have the Toyota factory reliability. I wonder if the mori’s led strip that used for blinker going out is common or I just go a bad set??

 

For the price, not sure how one could pass up OEM

 

I haven't heard of too many drl failures but Morimotos have a 5 year warranty. Are the fuses in the tap good?

 

Tacoma world posted a lot of drl failures in 2019 / 2020 and a mix of high beam or low beam failures. People had to send a $500 refundable deposit to get a replacement and send the old one back. I think most of the issues have been resolved but at the time it didn’t look good.

just a little Info nugget

 

I went back and forth on that question as well. I thought the Morimotos were cooler. But not twice as cool. Plus I’d never see them. Also couldn’t confirm that they were also 2x better. Ended up doing TRD Pro LEDs and OEM fogs for way less.

 

After watching the video, I'd probably go Stock OEM, and add/upgrade the driving lights and call it a day.

The brightness and beam pattern between the two are not visually a stunning +/- $700 difference. OEM + $700 buys you way more output than the Morimotos.

My only gripe with the OEM leds is that the high beam has limited roadside coverage, but that's minor as that's not the purpose of a highbeam.

 

yeah, I've seen that video like 10 times already, haha, great video and very informative, but looking for a real life naked eye comparison

 

this is kinda where my thinking is currently at... they look cooler, but not sure they look that much cooler to drop double the money, if they performed that much better to the driver's eye, then yeah, maybe

 

Curious why AlphaRex isn't in the discussion. I don't have experience with anything but my halgoens and will be upgrading to one of these three.

 

I believe the lows also remain on when the high beams are activated (this design was what was partially responsible for the wiring recall). So the highs are as wide as the lows, technically speaking.

Just get some good fogs (Diode dynamics or Baja Designs) and you'll be all set for the most part.

 

I have OEM led with led driving lights. Eventually I'll swap in DD SS3s, then figure out if I can wire them so they remain on with high beams. I have thier 42" bar in the bumper, and it's insanely bright, but obviously off road only.

 

I have the ss3 amber lens for my fogs. Outstanding.

 

right now this is where I'm leaning to, OEM LEDs with either DD or BD fogs, that combo puts me at the price point still below just the Morimotos...I just want to make the right call on the headlights since they are always on when driving at night, that seems like the most important piece, haha

I have not seen anyone knock the OEMs at all and everyone here speaks VERY highly of them. I was just hoping for a real life comparison from a driver's point of view of the OEM reflector vs the Morimoto projector before deciding to spend double the amount of cash.

 

3rd Gen HID vs LED vs Halogen H11 projector headlights | Tacoma World

There are both in there for Tacoma OEM reflectors and Morimoto projectors. I wouldn't think Morimoto would use different projectors across the Tacoma / Tundra but I don't know for sure.

Also shown Alpharex is a poor option.

even though not Tundra versions. OEM LED take the lead overall.

EDIT:

overview of fogs also since you are looking

The LED SAE J583 Fog Pod & Fog Light Review | Tacoma World

 

One more here for OEM. I looked at the MM but for the price, not worth it. You could buy 2 sets of OEM for the price of MM. I also did DD fogs which helps a lot over the OEM fogs.

 

OEM lights are pretty darn good for on-road conditions. Of course they don't compete with reputable offroad lights, but for civil use OEM is fully adequate and honestly does not need any improvement.

 

My 21 had OEM LED

my 17 has halogens and I upgraded to Morimoto. The morimotos output is not $700 better. Not at all. It’s like…. Maybe not even noticeable IMO (over OEM LED, blows halogen out of the water)


The way I see it is that I paid $700 more for amber DRL and no need for iHacker harness. I don’t know if I’m ok with that haha

 

There ya go. I paid $734 (including tax and shipping) for the Pro LEDs and OEM fogs. I was able to get a Sparks discount code from a YouTube video. I did have to buy the harness.

 

Reminds me that I need to submit my claim again. They keep denying it for not having the cause/remedy document from a dealer. It's bs bceuae the site says submit "any" of these documents listed below, not "all".

 

OEM, they do make a difference and look nice doing it!

 

Lol. I gave up on that. They specifically wrote in the email that any further submissions would be deleted right away without even looking at it. I give you props hanging in there. Atleast they have told you to go pound sand like they did me.

 

I went with OEM LED’s about 2 months ago now. Morimoto’s are just way too much cake for a marginal improvement over OEM. Sequential turns are nice tho.. to my knowledge the TRD pro housings are made by Morimoto? I believe I read that on here somewhere. Also get yourself an iHacker harness.

 

wow, there's a LOT of info in there, holy shit...i think it was my first time ever in an internet forum where two guys were disagreeing and the winning argument was "you just have to trust in the physics" haha

thanks, some a really good stuff in those two threads

 

awesome! thanks for the insight! i really appreciate it