Previa TCR10 headlight conversion. Help!

[NoLimePlease]

Hello guys!
So I just purchased a set of newer TCR10(?) headlights from ebay. $300 including shipping from Hong Kong. They came with the headlights, marker lights, and grill. But no bumper filler :-(
When I ordered, I had asked the seller beforehand if these would bolt into my 92 Prevvie. He told me yes, with minor modifications. When I got them and opened them up, I was SO HAPPY!!! They were just so beautiful! I knew right away that they were the answer to all my night blindness problems that I had endured for the last two years!
However, the blissful honeymoon dream ended abruptly the moment I tried to install these. They simply could never fit. WAY TOO BIG! I looked at them from so many different angles, tore apart the front of my van, and tried to be optimistic, but I could not see a way to make it work.
Then I came across "Previa Dude's" post on the conversion http://www.toyotavantech.com/forum/showthread.php?1178-91-toyota-previa-to-98-toyota-estima-conversion.
While he explained some, There is still a lot I am unsure of. 80% of the mounting locations are different, and there is a LOT of cutting to be done. And there is some cutting to be done for the side markers that was not discussed as well.
Before I start Butchering my wonderful van, I was hoping to get any input that I can on the subject. Because it looks like once I start cutting, there will be no turning back. My van will not accept the stock worthless candles anymore once I start cutting.
Thanks in advance!!!

[Kurtanius21]

I've been looking at getting some Kouki headlights and taillights myself. I think there is a difference between 1991-1993 headlights and 1994-1997. That may be why these headlights don't fit. Maybe there is a chance you could swap with the later ones if this cut is not successful. I don't much advice on this, but take pics of your work, so we can watch and learn!

[timsrv]

I haven't tried swapping early Previa headlights with later Previa headlights, so not sure what issues that might bring up. One thing that's important though is to get headlights for the same side drive. I got JDM headlights for my 91 Previa & they fit well (and much brighter), but they are for a right hand drive Previa (mine's a left hand drive). The problem comes from the way the light is diffused. The lights are made to keep light off the on-coming lane and to throw some extra light out towards the ditch side of the road. When you put right hand drive lights on a left hand vehicle (or visa versa) you end up throwing extra light into the on-coming lane........and this is a problem. When I 1st put mine on I was getting a lot of people flashing their brights at me.........so I kept adjusting them down. By the time the on-coming lane was happy, the lights were aimed too low. It's still better than the stock garbage Toyota put on our US vans, and it's awesome when I hit brights, but probably not worth the money, time or trouble that went into it.

TheMAN (member here) got some European headlights (left hand drive) that are glass and he's very happy with them. From what I understand those are hard to find. Tim

[NoLimePlease]

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Lots of pics, I have been documenting this pretty well. But I'm having a hard time uploading them.


This has been a major hack job, to say the least. Im doing the best I can, although I have taken many frustrated shortcuts and am paying dearly for it.
It looks like cosmetically from afar this will turn out OK, however up close it looks like some uber poor end body shop job. I havent resorted to duct tape or bailing wire yet, but I am close. Hmm. Duct tape! Yep, thats what I need!
This is not a conversion that I would recommend to anyone.

[NoLimePlease]

I haven't tried swapping early Previa headlights with later Previa headlights, so not sure what issues that might bring up. One thing that's important though is to get headlights for the same side drive. I got JDM headlights for my 91 Previa & they fit well (and much brighter), but they are for a right hand drive Previa (mine's a left hand drive). The problem comes from the way the light is diffused. The lights are made to keep light off the on-coming lane and to throw some extra light out towards the ditch side of the road. When you put right hand drive lights on a left hand vehicle (or visa versa) you end up throwing extra light into the on-coming lane........and this is a problem. When I 1st put mine on I was getting a lot of people flashing their brights at me.........so I kept adjusting them down. By the time the on-coming lane was happy, the lights were aimed too low. It's still better than the stock garbage Toyota put on our US vans, and it's awesome when I hit brights, but probably not worth the money, time or trouble that went into it.

TheMAN (member here) got some European headlights (left hand drive) that are glass and he's very happy with them. From what I understand those are hard to find. Tim


Thanks, Tim.
Yes, these are right hand drive lights. One of the reasons why Im kicking myself for even trying this.

[Previa dude]

Sorry for my late reply nolimit. Been sick, and had two deaths in the family so been unable to reply. So please message me with any and all questions and I would be glad to help you get your future estima an the road. Again I am sorry for the late reply.

[nynoah]

I have these same headlights that I imported in from Japan, which I am going to be putting into my Previa. I plan of using these headlights inside my RHD drive headlight buckets. This will correct them to LHD and solve the aiming beam pattern problem. You have to heat the bodies of the headlights. This will let the glue loosen. Once that is done pop off the lense and install these into the hole where the bulb would be. They screw in without cutting. I have a set of these on my Audi A4 and I LOVE THEM. Highbeam and low beam HID.

https://www.theretrofitsource.com/complete-retrofit-kits/bi-xenon-morimoto-mini-stage-3-kit-h1.html#.VtPHo_krLDc

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[RSheets]

I've also started this conversion. I've got a 94' AllTrac and realized just yesterday that I'd need to trim out some metal to get these to bolt in. Did you have to drill a hole in the top to mount the side of the headlight closest to the grill?

And for the trim piece that goes between the bumper and the lights, how did you mount that on the bottom. The tabs it looks like it should bolt to are just about a half an inch off. Also, the turn signals, they don't look like they mount the same way at all and it looks like just two screws hold it in. Is that correct or is there any cutting required for those as well.

Thanks in advance for the info. I've searched high and low and haven't been able to find a definitive answer.