Quality Aftermarket Lights - Toyota GR86, 86, FR-S and Subaru BRZ Forum & Owners Community

Fenix · 02-19-2016, 01:56 PM

I try to avoid poorly made aftermarket. A lot of you have replaced the OEM lights. Buying solely on looks would be a mistake. I

ed quite a bit. Any recommendations based on your experience? 'Avoid XYZ brand...'

jawn · 02-19-2016, 02:02 PM

Headlights? Tail lights? Side markers? Which lights are you referring to?

HachiRo · 02-19-2016, 02:36 PM

If you're talking about tails, I would recommend against fake Valentis. I heard the LEDs on them go out pretty quickly (within a year). Yes, there are fake Valentis and you can see which ones are fake by comparing them to the ones Valenti actually offer.

Fenix · 02-19-2016, 02:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jawn

Headlights? Tail lights? Side markers? Which lights are you referring to?

Headlights + Tail Lights. I plan to use JDM clear side markers.

Quote:

Originally Posted by HachiRo

If you're talking about tails, I would recommend against fake Valentis. I heard the LEDs on them go out pretty quickly (within a year). Yes, there are fake Valentis and you can see which ones are fake by comparing them to the ones Valenti actually offer.

I buy genuine parts. You might as well flush cash down the shitta buying knockoffs.

YamahaR86 · 02-19-2016, 03:42 PM

You're going to be spending around $1k+ for Headlights alone if you want quality. Or if you want to spend less you can essentially build your own by retrofitting a good projector in there.

swarb · 02-19-2016, 04:02 PM

Not from personal experience, but from what I've read on here. They will all go out eventually unless they are oem. Better aftermarket ones last longer, but the oem are the best.

Fenix · 02-19-2016, 04:36 PM

Both the BRZ and Euro GT86 headlights are nice. Either would cost approximately $1500.

ryoma · 02-19-2016, 04:39 PM

the best bang for your buck in regards to headlights is probably a good quality HID kit. it's way cheaper than buying aftermarket headlights. even though the stock FRS headlights are halogen projectors, they still do pretty well with HID bulbs. remember that you will need an HID "kit" which includes ballasts and wiring along with the HID bulbs. avoid buying cheap HID kits since there is usually a reason why they're cheap. a good place is either The Retrofit Source or Diode Dynamics. however, if you want to do it right, you can retrofit a projector into your housing yourself for a little more... but still cheaper than buying a new quality headlight

as for tail lights, I would say the TOMS are my favorite (I have the red tinted ones). the clear TOMS have problems with melting so try and avoid those. I previously had the clears and swapped them out for the reds after I got hit with the melting problem. a lot of people have Valenti's as well.

KungFuWaffle · 02-19-2016, 11:06 PM

Headlights I have Winjet, had them for a year and half, the clear coat is starting to peel now, nothing a sand and re clear coat won't fix. Besides that the winjet headlights haven't had any problems. But for headlights OEM is the best. Tail lights, don't buy any unless you get WARRANTY from the vender. If not then you'll be screwed when it condensates or melts. I had clear Tom's and the top part melted a bit cause of the SoCal sun. But for tail lights make sure to use the OEM foam gasket or it will be 50/50 it will leak. Been through 4 aftermarket tail lights so far cause of condensation or bad LED's

swarb · 02-19-2016, 11:14 PM

Even the red toms have problems. Some have the light leak(not the melting). It's not too noticeable but some still have it.

HachiRo · 02-19-2016, 11:49 PM

ModBargains is really good in terms of warrantying and helping you out with Valenti Tails in the event of any condensation (that isn't due to installer error.)

Mim · 02-20-2016, 12:01 AM

Bought genuine TOMS' clears and have been using them now for over a year. No issues at all. Bought via japanparts.com. Their quality looks top notch and still looks as new, but I garage my car at work and home so cant comment on the effects of exposure to the elements. Hmm knew I forgot something in my sig!

FirestormFlex · 02-20-2016, 07:58 AM

I've been looking into headlights for a while now - I've read a lot about the cheap aftermarket lights (Winjet etc) having issues with low quality and bad light output, as well as not having true HID projectors. I decided on a set of OEM Monogram headlights. Very pricey but the quality is gorgeous and I've now got OEM Toyota quality/reliability.

sw20monster · 03-01-2016, 03:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KungFuWaffle

Headlights I have Winjet, had them for a year and half, the clear coat is starting to peel now, nothing a sand and re clear coat won't fix. Besides that the winjet headlights haven't had any problems. But for headlights OEM is the best. Tail lights, don't buy any unless you get WARRANTY from the vender. If not then you'll be screwed when it condensates or melts. I had clear Tom's and the top part melted a bit cause of the SoCal sun. But for tail lights make sure to use the OEM foam gasket or it will be 50/50 it will leak. Been through 4 aftermarket tail lights so far cause of condensation or bad LED's

How's the brightness and light beam on the winjets? How simple was the wiring?

02-19-2016, 02:36 PM	#3
HachiRo Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2014 Drives: 2013 White-Out FRS Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 697 Thanks: 243 Thanked 211 Times in 142 Posts Mentioned: 9 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	If you're talking about tails, I would recommend against fake Valentis. I heard the LEDs on them go out pretty quickly (within a year). Yes, there are fake Valentis and you can see which ones are fake by comparing them to the ones Valenti actually offer. __________________ I live my life one quarter-pounder at a time.

02-19-2016, 04:39 PM	#8
ryoma Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Drives: 2015 Subaru BRZ Limited CWP Location: SoCal Posts: 1,561 Thanks: 34 Thanked 669 Times in 469 Posts Mentioned: 13 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	the best bang for your buck in regards to headlights is probably a good quality HID kit. it's way cheaper than buying aftermarket headlights. even though the stock FRS headlights are halogen projectors, they still do pretty well with HID bulbs. remember that you will need an HID "kit" which includes ballasts and wiring along with the HID bulbs. avoid buying cheap HID kits since there is usually a reason why they're cheap. a good place is either The Retrofit Source or Diode Dynamics. however, if you want to do it right, you can retrofit a projector into your housing yourself for a little more... but still cheaper than buying a new quality headlight as for tail lights, I would say the TOMS are my favorite (I have the red tinted ones). the clear TOMS have problems with melting so try and avoid those. I previously had the clears and swapped them out for the reds after I got hit with the melting problem. a lot of people have Valenti's as well. __________________ My 2015 CWP BRZ Build

02-19-2016, 11:49 PM	#11
HachiRo Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2014 Drives: 2013 White-Out FRS Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 697 Thanks: 243 Thanked 211 Times in 142 Posts Mentioned: 9 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	ModBargains is really good in terms of warrantying and helping you out with Valenti Tails in the event of any condensation (that isn't due to installer error.) __________________ I live my life one quarter-pounder at a time.

02-20-2016, 12:01 AM	#12
Mim Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2013 Drives: MY11 Maxima 350st, MY15 BRZ Location: Sydney, Australia Posts: 534 Thanks: 304 Thanked 342 Times in 185 Posts Mentioned: 3 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	Bought genuine TOMS' clears and have been using them now for over a year. No issues at all. Bought via japanparts.com. Their quality looks top notch and still looks as new, but I garage my car at work and home so cant comment on the effects of exposure to the elements. Hmm knew I forgot something in my sig! __________________ MY15 CWP A/T BRZ \| Leather heated seats \| STI CAI filter, A/T leather shifter, strut brace, V-brace, draw stiffener, battery tie down, Radiator cap, Oil cap, push start button \| TRD door stabilizer \| YoSpeed STI console garnish \| Pioneer AVIC-F70DAB + Rev-camera, TS-WX710A sub \| JL speakers, Amp \| TOMS' Clear Brake Lights \| Cusco 4.556 FD \| Driveshaft Shop aluminum shaft \| Tein FlexZ, EDFC AP+GPS \| Crawford BPB

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02-19-2016, 02:02 PM	#2
jawn Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2015 Drives: 2015 CWP BRZ Limited Location: NOVA Posts: 2,800 Thanks: 1,801 Thanked 3,946 Times in 1,757 Posts Mentioned: 105 Post(s) Tagged: 7 Thread(s)	Headlights? Tail lights? Side markers? Which lights are you referring to?

02-19-2016, 03:42 PM	#5
YamahaR86 JDM Vaping Stance Nation Join Date: May 2013 Drives: 2013 White Location: FL Posts: 710 Thanks: 650 Thanked 345 Times in 218 Posts Mentioned: 14 Post(s) Tagged: 2 Thread(s)	You're going to be spending around $1k+ for Headlights alone if you want quality. Or if you want to spend less you can essentially build your own by retrofitting a good projector in there.

02-19-2016, 04:02 PM	#6
swarb Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Drives: BRZ Location: Los Angeles Posts: 3,052 Thanks: 1,773 Thanked 2,451 Times in 1,271 Posts Mentioned: 79 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	Not from personal experience, but from what I've read on here. They will all go out eventually unless they are oem. Better aftermarket ones last longer, but the oem are the best.

02-19-2016, 11:06 PM	#9
KungFuWaffle Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2014 Drives: Whiteout Location: Irvine Posts: 564 Thanks: 12 Thanked 106 Times in 85 Posts Mentioned: 2 Post(s) Tagged: 1 Thread(s)	Headlights I have Winjet, had them for a year and half, the clear coat is starting to peel now, nothing a sand and re clear coat won't fix. Besides that the winjet headlights haven't had any problems. But for headlights OEM is the best. Tail lights, don't buy any unless you get WARRANTY from the vender. If not then you'll be screwed when it condensates or melts. I had clear Tom's and the top part melted a bit cause of the SoCal sun. But for tail lights make sure to use the OEM foam gasket or it will be 50/50 it will leak. Been through 4 aftermarket tail lights so far cause of condensation or bad LED's

02-19-2016, 11:14 PM	#10
swarb Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Drives: BRZ Location: Los Angeles Posts: 3,052 Thanks: 1,773 Thanked 2,451 Times in 1,271 Posts Mentioned: 79 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	Even the red toms have problems. Some have the light leak(not the melting). It's not too noticeable but some still have it.

02-20-2016, 07:58 AM	#13
FirestormFlex Member Join Date: Jul 2015 Drives: 2015 Turbo FR-S Location: Connecticut Posts: 98 Thanks: 35 Thanked 47 Times in 30 Posts Mentioned: 2 Post(s) Tagged: 2 Thread(s)	I've been looking into headlights for a while now - I've read a lot about the cheap aftermarket lights (Winjet etc) having issues with low quality and bad light output, as well as not having true HID projectors. I decided on a set of OEM Monogram headlights. Very pricey but the quality is gorgeous and I've now got OEM Toyota quality/reliability.

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