HID Projector Retrofits

[Dominik]

Has anyone got any experience or links for HID retrofits into round headlights (such as motorbike headlights, or Jeep Wrangler/Miata style lights)?

I am sick of not being able to see more than 20m infront of the car at night, but i refuse to just put HID bulbs in my halogen reflectors

[elpresidente]

We had another discussion going on about this..haha. I have the same issue as you, but it's an easy fix as long as you have casper shields or another device made to take the high glare out so you don't blind other cars:
http://www.vipstylecars.com/forums/showthread.php?t=6850

[widebody_Q]

hidplanet.com Theres alot of good info on there and the members for the most part are helpful and know their stuff.

[Dominik]

Elpresidente, i saw that discussion, but i am not convinced. Might as well just get brighter bulbs in that case. I also saw some websites explaining how the light output by the HID doesnt work well with standard reflectors.

I want actual projectors for the light output, and for that twinkle blue effect others will see lol... Not to mention it just looks hot during the day (with a well done retrofit). I am very tempted to do the F50 lights since they are almost exactly the right diameter. But for some reason there arent as many on Yahoo Japan as there used to be!

Thanks widebody, i will have a look around there...

[yeung]

Projector headlights are the BEST method of retrofit for HID into halogen headlight assemblies. But it is a lot of time and money and not everyone is willing to go that far for a set of headlights (such as me). Straight retrofitting HID into factory halogen housing is the worst idea but I did it anyways. I plan on compensating by adding casper shields.

[Dominik]

Well i do alot of longdistance driving at night time (my fav time to drive), and to me it gives the car a 'newer' look, so its something i am going to go ahead with. Already have the spare set of headlights to do this to, so it wont be long!

[marshun]

casper shields kinda give me mixed feelings. not as much glare (still a lot though) but you dont blind other cars....and you dont get as much light out of the headlight. i think on hidplanet a lot of people are doing the tl projector swap with the hid's so they can have high and low beam. big bucks though. im putting tsx projectors into my civic. (yeah i have a civic. i love it)

[hondaboi]

I knew someone before that charged $150USD for labour to retrofit a projector lense into a non HID headlight. of course, you would need to provide that person with the headlight and projectors.

The thing with retrofitting is that your headlight would need to be the clear type wo the reflector is not on the lense but on the headlight itself.

If you put a projector lense into a reflector lense headlight (ie:LS400's older models), it would not look good nor give a nice sharp cutoff. It would probably be better than a hid bulb on a reflector lense with no retrofit though I think :)

[widebody_Q]

I knew someone before that charged $150USD for labour to retrofit a projector lense into a non HID headlight. of course, you would need to provide that person with the headlight and projectors.

The thing with retrofitting is that your headlight would need to be the clear type wo the reflector is not on the lense but on the headlight itself.

If you put a projector lense into a reflector lense headlight (ie:LS400's older models), it would not look good nor give a nice sharp cutoff. It would probably be better than a hid bulb on a reflector lense with no retrofit though I think :)


People with reflector headlights can paint the insides black or color matched to the car (Not a fan of that on a non black car)

[Dominik]

$150 each light? Seems about right... But i want to DIY on this one

My headlights arent the clear type, but they are just plain simple 5.75" round lights (separate low and high - like early Beemers), and i only need to do my lowbeams for now. There are a few different aftermarket all-clear options available for me since a few different cars use that size.

I've been reading on HIDPlanet, and one which really stands out to me is the 3" Valeo Halogen projectors, which have an incredibly colourful (yet very clean) cutoff when you add a D2S HID bulb to it.

There are a couple of nice ideas on there... I will post more info when i get started!

[hondaboi]

$150 each light? Seems about right... But i want to DIY on this one

My headlights arent the clear type, but they are just plain simple 5.75" round lights (separate low and high - like early Beemers), and i only need to do my lowbeams for now. There are a few different aftermarket all-clear options available for me since a few different cars use that size.

I've been reading on HIDPlanet, and one which really stands out to me is the 3" Valeo Halogen projectors, which have an incredibly colourful (yet very clean) cutoff when you add a D2S HID bulb to it.

There are a couple of nice ideas on there... I will post more info when i get started!


it was actually $150usd for a pair. Thats just the labour...you add the parts.

Some people actually modify the lense or inside the projector to give a more colorful and sharper cutoff and people also mix match the glass lense and the projector to get the best output. However, I do not know the exact details as to what to use.

DIY is fun!!! But for the headlights, I cant seem to figure out how they attatch the projector into the stock housing.

Good luck!

[widebody_Q]

I've been reading on HIDPlanet, and one which really stands out to me is the 3" Valeo Halogen projectors, which have an incredibly colourful (yet very clean) cutoff when you add a D2S HID bulb to it.

There are a couple of nice ideas on there... I will post more info when i get started!

Thats what I had in my pontiac grand prix retrofits. They gave off a purple/blue tint when u would see them from far. Very nice output as well.

[RocKrawler]

I can get high quality HID kits for $169 on singles, $199 for duals with free shipping any color except 3K. I just put them in my 07 FJ and they work incredible. The JDM lights for the wifes Previa just showed up yesterday and the HID kits get ordered tomorrow: 6K for the headlights and 3K for the fogs. I'll post up pics when the arrive & get installed in the egg.

[hondaboi]

I can get high quality HID kits for $169 on singles, $199 for duals with free shipping any color except 3K. I just put them in my 07 FJ and they work incredible. The JDM lights for the wifes Previa just showed up yesterday and the HID kits get ordered tomorrow: 6K for the headlights and 3K for the fogs. I'll post up pics when the arrive & get installed in the egg.


Where did you get the jdm headlights for the minivan? and if you dont mind me asking...how much?

[RocKrawler]

$250 shipped & perfect shape with plugs & seals - I might have a line on another set if needed...

[Dominik]

RocKrawler I have no interest in HID "kits" in standard reflectors... I know what that ends up looking like and its not a look i want. This thread is about HID projector retrofits...

Btw i hope that wasnt a thinly veiled advertisement :thelaw:

[RocKrawler]

I did it personally for vision, not looks, because I wasnt happy with halogen bulbs output.

[chrispy]

LOL at HID kits for vision.

[Dominik]

Thanks for the pointer to HIDPlanet Widebody_Q.. they are being helpful, and theres alot of info on there. I cant wait to get started on this project!

[1_VIPd_LS]

+1 with the HIDplanet link! They are aswesome and can help you out alot with the fit, plus they know ways of makeing it cheap from what i understand. I wanna go projectors on my car and since I removed my amber reflector all together I want to add the projector shaped turn signal in it to match the projectors, kinda like some newer Mazdas.

http://a659.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/122/l_dffc1374c45c86bfffcc08b745120f5a.jpg
Right now I just have some amber bulbs and the chrome around them painted, looks kinda cool regardless but when I go projector I need the round turnsignals!

I wanna go with High, low and truns. I think that would be the best way to go or sometimes, on some cars,..... it looks like crap!

[widebody_Q]

Thanks for the pointer to HIDPlanet Widebody_Q.. they are being helpful, and theres alot of info on there. I cant wait to get started on this project!


No problem

[Dominik]

As an update... Thanks to a few helpful people on HIDPlanet i am doing the following:

5.75" Crystal clear lights from Ebay
2.5" Valeo D1S projectors (from an Audi) with an RHD "ECE" shaped shield (I actually prefer this over the more common DOT step shield)
Brand new 4300k D1S bulbs
and some used Osram D1S Ballasts

I dont want more than 4300k because i intend to mod the projectors to have more blue at the cutoff - they will appear blue and have that mad flicker you see with some OEM HID cars, but the light will be white for maximum visibility

Interestingly the setup above is not costing much more than your average HID "kit" which glares all over the place and doesnt project the light as cleanly. Will be a bit more work, but it will be fun

[TipStylez]

nice, i want projectors too...

Any ideas how the newer BMWs have their projectors flicker a diffrent color at angles but head on its pure white? I always thought that was cool.

[Dominik]

Its not just the newer BMWs, it happens on alot of OEM HID cars, but some more than others.

Anyway, the blue/purple/brown flicker you see is the prismatic diffusion of the light at the cut-off line. There are usually a few different colours at the cutoff line, but the amount of colours is different for each projector

But the big thing in the retrofit world is to mod the projectors to increase the colourband... here is a pic of the cutoff colour-modded Valeo projector like mine (this is a DOT step):
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v129/ScurRT/valeos_007.jpg

Thats why i am getting 4300k bulbs. I dont need them to be blue, because i should have that at the cutoff line :)

[hondaboi]

good luck on your project!!

[scottleone]

does anyone know the part #'s for the 2005 GS H.I.D. Headlights and Taillights, I think they give the GS a much more updated look and since they're OEM they're drop so why not.

[elpresidente]

It's funny you mentioned that Dom. I also bought four 5 3/4 round (the size of my stock headlights) tri-bar's with the H4 adapter cut-off shields (low beam only) and D2S/R bulbs with connectors for 9006 (low beams) and H4 bulbs with 9005 for my high beams. Way cheaper than going with the X308 dual-bar's and this way I get a more custom crystal clear look and the light power as well. Oh and of course my H3 3000k HID fogs. (high and low beam are 6000k)

[Dominik]

Got pics of the lights you mention? Do they have projectors in them?

These are the lights I got:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v257/dbloemhard/Cedric/Retrofit/2-1-1.jpg

I dont have pics of the actual projectors i got, but this is an idea of what i want it to look like:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v257/dbloemhard/Cedric/Retrofit/DSCF0253.jpg


But I was just doing some more reading (here: http://www.hidplanet.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=11326), and it turns out the BMW E30 lights have a pretty damn good cutoff and take well to HID. The lens is not so 'crystal' though...

[elpresidente]

No they don't have projectors..and that wasn't my intention. I'm not looking for max output. Just more output than now plus a better look. The stock X300 lenses are cross-hatched with all those lines and look sort of yellowish in appearance (this is without the lights even being on). This is what I was going to put it:
http://www.vipemporium.com/jag/dualbar.jpg

Those are the stock X308 dual bar headlights and are a direct fit as they too are 5 3/4" rounds...problem is they cost about $150 each. This is a typical upgrade done by many.

I found these:
http://www.vipemporium.com/jag/tribar.jpg

These are also 5 3/4 but with one more bar (tri bar..the bars you see going out from the center. Very typical on European luxury and classic exotics..plus streetrods and choppers)
I got 4 of these for the price of ONE of the X308 lights. They are glass housings crystal lenses.

[TipStylez]

^Shit looks crazy.

But are you going to throw in a projector housing in there? Or keep the lil projector lense thingy?

Cause ive seen H4s with the fake projector lense and the cutoff sucks.

[Dominik]

To be honest, i am a little worried about how it will be with an ultra sharp cutoff. Pics i have seen make it look like anything above the cutoff is hard to see. Looks good for pictures etc, but what about when i am looking for a house number? Or trying to see speed limit signs?

Anyway, I'll cross that bridge when i get to it. RIght now I cant really see street numbers or signs anyway because of the shitty H4 bulbs i have

[elpresidente]

^Shit looks crazy.

But are you going to throw in a projector housing in there? Or keep the lil projector lense thingy?

Cause ive seen H4s with the fake projector lense and the cutoff sucks.
No projectors planned as I stated. I will be perfectly happy with the cut-off created by the casper shields. They have a glow past the cutoff which will keep what Dom speaks of from happening, but won't blind other drivers...my HID 3000k fogs will also help light up the side of the road. No matter what they'll be brighter than the stock 9006 bulbs. I think the look is going to be awesome..give it more attitude from the front.

[Dominik]

You will need to register with HIDPlanet to view this thread, but it might change your mind about the casper shields:
http://www.hidplanet.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=17001

[elpresidente]

You will need to register with HIDPlanet to view this thread, but it might change your mind about the casper shields:
http://www.hidplanet.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=17001
That test doesn't tell me much at all, other than the fact that I don't drive a Tacoma or use Tacoma Halogen headlamps. The housing makes a HUGE difference. This looks NOTHING like ours:
http://images.1aauto.com/pics/plp/NPHL6073.jpg

Perfectly round housings create more even lighting and sharper cutoff than oblong or squares. I'll take pics after I get the set-up all together.

[Dominik]

Cool... Yeah, he mentions his headlights are fluted though which should actually aim the light a bit
Actually i aimed my lights against a wall the other day and it appears I already have an ECE cutoff with halogens in stock housings!!

If i could find some 300C housings i would love the tri-bar headlight housings they have...