LS430 reflector + HIDs

[VIPCel]

Hey there,

Does anyone who owns a LS430 (2001) or LS430 head light have issues with the brightness of the reflector from HID's being reflected more upwards rather then focused on the road..

I have some Osram Xenarc D2R's and not sure whether it's due to having a UCF11 converted to UCF31 that the light pattern especially the highest intensity is focused up towards other drivers rather then down onto the road in the distance. Can the internal reflector housing be changed in anyway to aim the overall light reflected towards the ground more?

[KDotV]

how about doing a retrofit? also how bout aiming the headlights... just some suggestions...

[tbrack]

This is why projectors were created. HID was never meant for a halogen housing due to the light scatter. I would do a projector retrofit if it were me.

[VIPCel]

This is why projectors were created. HID was never meant for a halogen housing due to the light scatter. I would do a projector retrofit if it were me.

Yeah that's what I've been thinking, just seeing if there's any way of playing with the reflector to adjust the down tilt but from what I have seen and played with there isn't.

Has anyone done retro-fit projectors to LS430 lights here with pics?

[Dominik]

Well at least you have D2R globes in there, which should actually prevent alot of the scattered light. They are the type which has half of the globe painted to direct the light one direction only (They are the globes used in factory HID reflector lights). The reason that HID globes in halogen housings get such a bad rep is because EVERY SINGLE 'retrofit kit' uses D2S globes (meant for projectors) modified to use base mounts like halogen globes.

They do this because its the most impressive output of course; scattering light all over the road and trees etc...


Maybe get a pic of your lights shining against a wall so we can see where the light is being aimed?

[VIPCel]

Yeah the D2R help but still it's scattering pretty much at angle or probably 10 degree up from horizontal. They are light up the road side boards you go through that are above your car on the highway. It's not too bright but bright enough to get sworn at and flashed more nights. It's not too bad when I scraping along the ground at the front, but still blinds cars in front and side mirrors now and then.

Been thinking about pulling the bulb away from the housing to change the reflecting angle, but securing it is the next problem. I'll play around with how the xenon hb3 reflects which is my high beam - that's on the skipper high change controller so can play around with intensities on it.

Is there a neg in running D2R bulbs in a projector with its output?

[KDotV]

one other tip... if you do decide to get projectors, make sure you get hid projectors, not halogen projectors. halogen projectors aren't bad, but you wont see much of a cutoff, hid projectors have sharp cut-offs.

[Dominik]

Actually Halogen projectors can have razor sharp cutoffs too, even with HID bulbs in them. The difference is that Halogen projectors wont spread the light evenly and will get a 'hotspot' in the centre where its much brighter than than everywhere else. Not really much of a problem; but a proper HID projector will spread the light evenly and that results in more coverage on the sides etc (at the slight expense of not being *quite* as bright in the centre)

D2R bulbs in projectors will be a waste, because projectors are designed to have light all the way around the bulb; not just one side like the D2Rs have. If you are going to retrofit a projector in there, the LS430 projector is supposed to be the best and brightest projector in the world; though they arent cheap (for that reason!). Q45 'gattling gun' projectors are also popular

[LiCelsior]

interested in seeing how u gonna get the clear lenses for the UCF1x.

[KDotV]

Actually Halogen projectors can have razor sharp cutoffs too, even with HID bulbs in them. The difference is that Halogen projectors wont spread the light evenly and will get a 'hotspot' in the centre where its much brighter than than everywhere else. Not really much of a problem; but a proper HID projector will spread the light evenly and that results in more coverage on the sides etc (at the slight expense of not being *quite* as bright in the centre)

D2R bulbs in projectors will be a waste, because projectors are designed to have light all the way around the bulb; not just one side like the D2Rs have. If you are going to retrofit a projector in there, the LS430 projector is supposed to be the best and brightest projector in the world; though they arent cheap (for that reason!). Q45 'gattling gun' projectors are also popular


yeah the hot spot is horrible on halogen projectors, but yeah if you need information on hids/lighting. go to hidplanet. best source of hid information on the internet.

[charley240sx]

reflector hids almost always use d2s except g35 projectors if i remember correctly.

[Dominik]

g35 Projectors are not reflector HIDs......

Reflector HIDs is the one that does NOT use a projector, its just a reflective bowl like normal headlights; and they almost always use bulbs ending in R (R for Reflector)

[chrispy]

Older 350Z projectors use D2R bulbs. To this day I still don't know how those work.

[charley240sx]

my bad, completely flipped that around, almost all projector hid uses d2s with the exception of a few mentioned.
log onto hidplanet for more info.
Charley

[Dominik]

LoL i thought i had seen you on those forums so i was surprised to see that comment.

[charley240sx]

yeah, i have a bunch of projectors but no retro project finished yet. when money is tight, not much you can really do.
whats your current retro, ive read up on some of your posts before.
charley

[Dominik]

I'm still running the D1S Valeos (Audi projectors) that i put in a year or so ago.

I have RX330 Non-AFS projectors with 300ZX clear lenses and aftermarket chrome bezels to go in my next retrofit, but havent found any clear-lensed 5.75" round lights to put them in!

[charley240sx]

custom shield? this should be a big upgrade from valeo, arent these similar to e39/46
how much you pay for your z32 lenses. i wasnt able to get a hold of them for nothing.
my setup is either going to be sc430/e30. and rx330/e30 for highs maybe. i have 3 sets of rx330 that i dont really know what to do with.
im bummed because my ls430 wont fit in my housing, so i might just give those to my brother.
one of these days ill be able to do more work, money is just too tight, so i cant afford another set of lenses or anything.
Charley

[Dominik]

AUD$30 (USD$20?) for the pair of 300zx lenses, which was mainly the postage costs, from 2 separate owners of wrecked 300zxs ("you want WHAT now? the headlights are cracked... you know that right??")

Nice collection you have there! I am sure the OP would have been interested in your LS430s if only they where RHD :)