Building Custom Retrofit Headlights For A 3RD Gen 4Runner!

Building a set of custom retrofit headlights for the 3rd gen (1996-2002) Toyota 4Runner!
Merch!: avrcustoms.com/
Follow me on Instagram! / austinniemela
Parts used in this video:
D2S projectors: ebay.us/rRLgSR
Panamera switchback shrouds amzn.to/3qF7NEy
H4 harness: amzn.to/3seXuHG
Headlight sealant: amzn.to/3slph9h
Black side marker lights: ebay.us/ahrUoJ
4runner build list:
Front Bumper: avrcustoms.com/collections/bu...
Smittybilt XRC Winch: amzn.to/3BjOCp5
Wheels: ebay.us/bdMZb2
Tires: ebay.us/WDYaPe
Lug Nuts: ebay.us/B11aZw
Front Bilstein 5100: amzn.to/3gEbBDJ
Rear Bilstein 5100: amzn.to/3BmbpRd
Front OME springs: amzn.to/3oE980q
Rear OME springs: amzn.to/3afAIbE
SPC Upper Control Arms: amzn.to/2WKFivo
Diff Drop Kit: amzn.to/2WScrpe
Energy Steering Rack Bushings: amzn.to/3lejvWm
D2S projectors: amzn.to/3afbVom
Panamera switchback shrouds: ebay.us/Aafpuy
Headlight harness: amzn.to/3iEUjXz
Headlight sealant: amzn.to/3ac4PAG
Black side marker lights: ebay.us/ahrUoJ
Tail Lights: ebay.us/14If6u
Grill: ebay.us/RFOLa7
Grill mesh: amzn.to/3mw5rHm
Headunit: amzn.to/3mwVZmW
Deck Plate: amzn.to/3lgSRw1
Right Ball Joint: amzn.to/3AiQzB1
Left Ball Joint: amzn.to/3BjiulE
CV Boots: www.offroadsolutions.com/prod...
Camera equipment used in the video!
Sony A7II Camera: amzn.to/2yprn1p
GoPro Hero 8 Black: amzn.to/31avsTg
Tripod: amzn.to/35P7oY5
Send me stuff!
PO Box 133
Chattaroy WA 99003

[@levimonsen1006]

Thank you so much for this video. I really want retrofits for my 4Runner, but don’t wanna pay 600 bucks for some nomad retrofits. I’ve looked for DIY videos but none were any good excerpt for maybe Will from Nomad’s video. Defiantly think I’m gonna be doing this. Also, for anyone that wants the blacked out side markers, put your existing ones in a bucket of Purple Power for an hour, it removes the chrome inside and gets the same effect.

[@flexapex9801]

That kid Will from nomad took a lot of peoples money he’s a thief pos.

[@justinjenkins2391]

Do i take the cover off them and if so how?

[@scubbarookie]

Nice work! Thank you for the step by step coverage, and attention to detail on this retrofit installation. This should encourage many enthusiasts to take this project on. 👍

[@austinniemela]

Glad it was helpful!

[@arvindriddick]

Austin You are not just a mechanic You are a car hero 😅

[@mapledixie]

Best video I've seen so far on this. Showing the grinding of the necessary parts on the projector is absolutely key.

[@austinniemela]

Thanks! Glad i can help!!

[@willb3018]

I wish I lived somewhere where you got light fluffy snow you could blow off like that. When not getting sleet or ice, 90% of the snow is heavy wet stuff. Love the work you do. Common sense budget friendly mods.

[@smplyizzy]

Boy it would interesting to have guy you got this truck from see it when your done.

[@NaveenKumar-oj7xh]

The what?

[@xraydoge5430]

I would see love that to too also bro

[@MySunroofWorks]

"What's Austin doing with that leaf blower?" mindblown. I feel like my whole life has been a waste now.🤣🤣🤣

[@austinniemela]

😂😂

[@troyhodulik5542]

I can't believe I missed this notification for over 7 minutes! Austin posts; I watch.

[@beso4247]

Hey Austin love watching you and Devin the passion for cars is unmatched. Can you make a playlist with just the runner?

[@austinniemela]

Thanks man! Yeah I’ll make a playlist 👍👍

[@RedRabbit4230]

​@austinniemela I wished you weren't so far away from me. I'd drive my vehicle to you and let YOU DO MY LIGHTS FO ME!!! 😢😢😢😢 SOUTHEASTERN DISABLED VET.

[@AR-ji4ih]

Austin, like alway you make it look so easy. Thanks for all the good advice. Very helpful.

[@2endsformacircle762]

Damn bro. I'm digging all your builds.

[@AntonioClaudioMichael]

Same as the custom set I made really love the panameras got the 2.0 IN mine

[@AntonioClaudioMichael]

These 3rd gen runners are pretty easy retro fits compared to others

[@christopherbrown5338]

Thank you very much for the info on the DRL's. Oh, I see you can just pull a fuse under the hood as well.

[@Anders0nic]

Very nice work all the way through. Blackout housings really aren’t my cup of tea. It feels like now you have a lot more work in that font end to make it worthwhile. Maybe an 01 Tacoma front end swap? That Taco grill would look great with those new headlight housings. Regardless, top notch my friend!

[@dhu1042476]

Nice install vid!! I upgraded to an HID kit from a different source on a 2nd gen 4runner and am amazed at the difference compared to stock even with the cheaper projector I bought. Might break them apart again to paint the reflector black. I kinda' dig that. Love the channel.

[@SteveJayWiseman]

Thank you for a great tutorial!!!! I’m going to do mine next!!!

[@andrewesposito5650]

I really appreciate your attention to detail and patience,it makes watching the videos very enjoyable!

[@austinniemela]

Thanks!!

[@deniseyanez8596]

I'm so jealous I never knew you can do that to your headlights. Your 4runner looks great !!! I have a 2001 4runner and I get a lot of ideas but since I'm a woman there are somethings I will leave to a professional. What an AWESOME job you did. Keep up the good work...

[@austinniemela]

Thank you!!!

[@Jmonzy1]

Nice work, it also provides confidence as the tools and stuff you use is not out of reach for most home mechanics.

[@Vang_Outdoors]

Nice DIY deciding to do my own too this helps a lot! I was wondering how long did it take you?

[@DonnieDeLo4577]

Dude heck yea! I’m gonna be using this similar method for my Xterra headlights soon! Thanks so much

[@bubbafringman1864]

So, when you click your heels together when you get in the car, that lets you know you're not in Kansas anymore?

[@melidigitaki1475]

Wow ...... amazing transformation to the lights bro!!!! Just wow!!!!

[@austinniemela]

Thanks!!

[@bdk323]

Had to add another comment for those who are worried about putting your housing into the oven you can use a heat gun it takes longer to get the housing open but works that's how I got my housings open.

[@KRIS-hi4wt]

Salut PERFEKT very nice 🤩 FRANCE

[@RobBread1]

That looks so good. I wish I can do the same mod for my CR-V

[@projectjster]

This video is awesome, I recently put Mini D2s 5.0s in my 01 4Runner. Second set I’ve done. First set with my 2000 4Runner. Don’t have access to a sand blaster so used oven cleaner to dissolve the chrome bits. I’m thinking of maybe redoing mine and going with that Panamera shroud. I have the demon eyes in mine and love the look but I still want more. Thank you for all the 4Runner videos. Love your work!

[@austinniemela]

Sweet!! Thanks!!

[@noahbaird1901]

Thank you so much for your help and some new ideas!

[@reinholdw1800]

Thanks for the video. Very informative.

[@luigisobreruedas2749]

Muy buen trabajo 👌🏻

[@JEREMY120983]

Of the nicest effect! Good job.

[@austinniemela]

Thanks!

[@baileyboyens]

Dude awesome you made me realize this is totally something I could do myself!! It looks sick

[@austinniemela]

Do it!!!

[@knuth80]

Alright!! This is how I got hooked! The retrofit on the red truck got the subscription to the channel 😀

[@Elpelondelasmotos]

Thanks bro, it's being helpful for me.

[@kayleighdrouin6378]

Thank you for the work up. In a 3rd gen owning lady and can't wait to do it myself

[@luismiguelherrerap]

Wow looks fantastic 👍

[@MrQdawgs]

Another stellar custom job!!! What paint did you use? Does it have to be a special paint to withstand the heat inside and to adhere to the plastic housing?

[@cadencefinley7946]

Hoping to do my 2001 4Runner here soon!!! Awesome video!! What HID kit did you use specifically. It gives me many options but I’m not sure which to be choosing

[@ernestorodriguez6869]

Exelente video, saludos desde mexico brother!👋

[@landodon9247]

I’m glad you didn’t make this build a 10 min one it’s detailed 😊

[@emanuelrosales2078]

Saludos gente desde Hidalgo México buen trabajo

[@monkeybarmonkeyman]

Don't cut the wire - just pull the pin and tape it off.

[@peterlindvall7671]

Looks great! Why did you get D2S over H1? I'm doing a similar swap on Ur Tacoma, and run the shrouds for the DRL.

[@jerrykeyser2336]

Your work is so cool

[@spikemullikin]

Nice job - thank you.

[@gsamgale5185]

They look amazing keep it up

[@captainc7123]

nothing better than a leaf blower on the fluffy stuff

[@Miguel-vc6rr]

Turned out nice!

[@Ohiocountryboy-se2cn]

I love 4runners. The rear window goes down. I used it to pull the hot air out in the summer.

[@cmart9240]

Man that looks sick af. Now you just need black turns and tails to match.

[@douglasthompson2740]

Are those HID lights? If so why did you choose them over LED's? I have been running 6500K and 7000K LED's for several years with very good results and the cost was good. Just twist out the old and twist in the new. Dead simple and quick.

[@jaromnord8325]

Spray tint over the amber part of the side markers!

[@matthewmattucci5712]

Just about to put my lenses back on for my 3rd gen, making my first video on it! love the channel!

[@scottkailey1]

Super cool!

[@AntonioClaudioMichael]

My side markers are blacked out with White reflectors looks way better then the orange alot cleaner

[@realizt420]

Yall got that pretty snow my snow is wet and icy and slushy need a ice scrapper.

[@mattk6222]

You’re the GOAT for making this video

[@RPyne]

I'm super jealous of your snow! I'm stuck in the hell hot vegas heat.

[@pemghustlewomanlife6425]

AWESOME!✔👍 Can I just send you mine, and you send me a bill? Nice Outro!

[@michaellindon5688]

Super job!

[@MussaKZN]

Never before have I had snow on my vehicle but when you hit the wipers I said to myself that was easy you should just use a blower to get the rest of the snow off!! Next minute the blower comes out!!! “Toyota minds think alike”

[@austinniemela]

👌👌

[@kyledurrett8134]

Long one, appreciate the videos tho dude. Keep up the good work!

[@deimosphob]

SRQ makes clear black corners

[@jimmadonna1436]

You look happy. Glad to see that! Nice work as usual! How long did you leave the lights in the oven to take apart the lens?

[@austinniemela]

Took about 15 minutes

[@jimmadonna1436]

@@austinniemela thanks.

[@aaronwhite979]

Looks good man! Those amber lenses were not on the outside only on my Tacoma. I found a set of “depo” corner lights on eBay that are black housing and clear reflectors for it.

[@billpiech7564]

Yeah but they cost a ton of money. I looked at them yesterday.

[@jason328d6]

If I send you some factory Ram lights can you build them for me? You have a budding business here. Your attention to detail is on point.

[@gregjohnson4760]

finding those those sidemarkers without the amber and by themselves was pretty tough even for my 1st gen taco

[@eddieellison7679]

New leather on the seats should be next. That would transform that thing for sure.

[@1uzfe]

Clear the amber next? 👀👀 Looks awesome either way

[@defiancegarage9896]

I think that I would have made a small spanner wrench that would fit two of the notches in the nut. then just tighten it up

[@victorduchene5194]

Hi there, Love what you doing on 4x4! Great work! Would you have some advice led projector for a 2nd gen 4runner? thanks

[@FlynDirty1]

Nice job

[@JoseOrtega-zj9xx]

Mexican troka se mira perrona 😅

[@ML-dl1cp]

was it an aesthetic choice to paint the housings black? Or it it necessary to keep from blinding oncoming traffic? I want to do the same conversion but I don't like the black housing look. Could it be done without painting the reflectors? Or maybe painting them in a mat silver that doesn't reflect as much?

[@waihale]

that is awesome

[@Umarov_us_]

Wow super

[@farkookneebah]

Hey Champ, should of re-chromed the lights. It will project up to 50% more light. But as usual great job :)

[@xotic8617]

Awesome job though they look gr8

[@terrylaskiwski2349]

Great video! What year of 4runner did you install those on? I have an 02, and need to disable the DLR's as well, heard its different procedure on different year trucks, so just double checking and hoping that an 02 as well :)

[@austinniemela]

Mine is a 02 as well!

[@terrylaskiwski2349]

@@austinniemela Awesome! Thanks for the reply! I've had the stuff to build new headlights for a couple years now, and with you video I think I can get it done right the first time :) Thanks again!

[@robnymontero2060]

Hello Austin, great job man, you are mi inspiration. I didi the same with my Four runner 3rd gen. but i would like to know how you do to allign thats lights, I mean, the height, the distance between the car and the wall, and the distance between both lights. Please I trust on you can help me. Thanks

[@Elnatural187]

Good shit!

[@bdk323]

Everyone pay attention to what Austin just did it's the standard for HID retrofit. Too many just purchase bulbs that fit into your standard reflective housing that's not right. Look at the light when he turns the bulbs on and notice how the lights make a sharp line across the wall granted in a Z type pattern but basically a line. That insures your not blinding oncoming traffic and will keep you from attracting police attention if your in a state that's picky with light laws.

[@jamiegerman8021]

They've just made it illegal in the UK to chuck in LED/HID in halogen units as so many people was doing this & obviously blinding oncoming traffic! I want to retrofit some decent HID units onto my X Trail.

[@nam3tag11q7]

I wish people actually understood how to put LED’s into headlights,,,, its not as simple as changing a bulb site you can do it that way but it’s not right

[@AntonioClaudioMichael]

Yours dosent have the daytime running light Box next to the battery?

[@xotic8617]

How come u d/c the daytime running lights, isn’t it only the side markers that are on and not the headlights ?? Then you would have had the leds in the rings u installed come on with the drl yeah?

[@jso726]

THANK YOU !!!

[@wtrdogg20]

Dedicated work...Good work... but I personally leave that SUV details and features as original as possible, perhaps respect for an iconic Toyota model. There are high quality LED bulbs to get a great night driving illumination without messing with the stock headlamps.

[@alexhafko5667]

No matter how much you want to maintain stock on your vehicle, do not put leds in reflector housings. You blind the hell out of other drivers and usually leds in reflectors put out even less light than stock. Visibility in bad weather is pretty awful too. Been there done it. If you want leds, you have to do a proper retrofit. End of story.

[@alfredolopez8211]

The lights look great. I have a Tacoma 2002, to put the lights on where can I find the parts ? And how would I put them on? Thank you very much .

[@PyrateRumRunner]

You are powering straight off the battery but did I miss how you are connecting to the stock harness for on/off control?

[@NaveenKumar-oj7xh]

Dang Son. Hopefully your next mod will be a mesh grill.

[@ibutd]

Smoke those turn signals and led them bro ;)

[@mundovilla257]

What's up dude, I have a 2000 Camry and my question is does the same process apply to the my Camry headlights? Awesome video by the way, very detailed.

[@saelee33]

Got a questions. Just did mine but I have 3 wires on my only. Red,white and black. Do I hook up the same way? I want the colors to turn on my heads lights is on.. please help. Thank you

[@beingabdaal950]

If you want to you can laminx the amber on your side park lights

[@hugomeza7674]

Nice vid. you are very creative. I have a question Austin, can I do the black out thing and keep the original reflector? I'm planning in doing it on a 90 series prado, I'm at a country where I can't buy from amazon/ebay to get the projectors. would you get bad illumination if you keep the stock projector assembly?

[@natedoghd1986]

Did you ever do this?

[@hugomeza7674]

@@natedoghd1986 nop

[@paultruesdale7768]

Where can we find these parts today. Would like to do this mod but the parts are no longer available ? Is there some newer stuff out now ? Any help would be so appreciated

[@contagiousingenuityagency5273]

Hi Austin, do you ever go downtown Spokane? I could've sworn I've seen your rig with the Porsche style shrouds multiple times from the Ice Ribbon on Spokane Falls Blvd.

[@wilstonwright297]

How much would charge for this service. I need to have my 3rd Gen fixed just like yours. Great Job !!

[@ryanfischer2]

In the video you said you got all of the parts from DDMtuning, yet your parts list is all from amazon and eBay which are different brands. Just curious which one it is so I can have the same wiring/parts to follow your video. Thanks.

[@carabkismayo6287]

Tnks bro