Hid's or Projector Headlights

[harper7]

Just got my MH1 kit, now I need some time to learn and do the job.
Also I'd like to upgrade the fog lights to "match" the HIDs...
What do you recommend?...

If your talking about retrofitting 2" projectors into the fog lights ,I have a set of Blazer's that I'm working on with 5k Morimoto's HID bulbs and 35w ballast. I'll try to get some DIY pics up when I get around to finshing them up.They'll retrofit right in the oem fog housings and use existing oem wiring.

They really won't function as fogs though and will be just to add light down low and a back-up for my headlights plus the coolness factor of 4 HIDS up front of course. :lightsaber: I have a pair of PIAA Crystal Ion 3k's up front for actual fog.

Here's a good write-up and discussion on some fog retrofit options...... FOG COMPARISON :: Hella, Blazer, Bosch, OEM Reflector..

 

[deekoi]

I used Silicone.

Do you have a lot of bouncing while you drive? I used Silicone too and couldn't stand it! I ended up gutting everything out and re-aiming with some epoxy but that's still a challenge. The epoxy I used was actually fairly forgiving, in terms of removing.

I am thinking about using bolts, I just think it will be tough do drill perfectly straight in order not to twist the projectors. I guess I'll decide once I get in there. Im interested to see how urs turn out.

I'm still in the process of finishing my aiming but I've been thinking about going this route too. If I have time this weekend, I plan on making a plate (first with wood then probably laser cut a plate), to mount into the headlight reflector, then mount the projects to the plate and aim with screws. Once everything's aimed, epoxy or silicone it all.

 

[harper7]

Do you have a lot of bouncing while you drive? I used Silicone too and couldn't stand it! I ended up gutting everything out and re-aiming with some epoxy but that's still a challenge. The epoxy I used was actually fairly forgiving, in terms of removing.

Mine don't bounce but I have the hole cut out in the headlight supporting the base of the projector and the silicone just securing it in place . Of course all projectors don't have the same shape and it was easy on my S2K's so YMMV because the base was only a little smaller then the hole for the halogen bulb. They fit pretty tight even without any silicone after I dremmeled the hole out . Also if the silcone is thick it gets pretty stiff.

There are some better pics here of the cutout and fit....HID Retrofit

 

[Dispense]

Well, I have her all zipped back up and everything is complete.

Overall I'm very pleased, the rotation isn't perfect, but acceptable. Left and right is fine. Will do a bit of adjusting tonight to try and tweak them.

Only problem I have, the bulbs just do not seem to seat well into the back of the projectors. My cut-offs are very colorful and I can tweak them blue/purple to orange/yellow or clean cut off depending on how I nudge the bulb. These are the Morimoto bulbs, I know I had Phillips 85122 last time...not sure if that makes a difference.

I'll get some pics up later!

Edit: I'm finding that others have complained of Morimoto bulbs not sitting in the projectors as they should. I've ordered another set of Philips D2S, see if they help!

 

[jevijavi]

Hello. I'm new to the forum. Fell in love with the retrofit kits. Want to buy one from TRS. I like the Iris shrouds. But i would like to see the gattling guns installed. Jesse1983 do you have any pics of these shrouds installed on your vehicle? thanks!

 

[Jesse1983]

Gatling gun shrouds don't fit without modification. I'm doing enough modifications to the lights so i didn't feel like messing with them too. I now have Orbit shrouds which are a good fit. however, my entire project got put on hold to help a friend move last weekend, and tomorrow I leave for my bachelor party, so they won't be done this weekend either. shooting for next weekend. these pics are making me nuts in the mean time.

Dispense - they look really good btw. great job.

 

[jevijavi]

thanks Jesse!

 

[windycity]

For those with the fx-r projectors. The two red wires under the projector, what are they for? Thanks.

 

[Jesse1983]

For those with the fx-r projectors. The two red wires under the projector, what are they for? Thanks.

I had to call and ask this as well. I was told they are for high beam, so I assume people on here just aren't hooking them up and using the stock high beam?

 

[windycity]

I had to call and ask this as well. I was told they are for high beam, so I assume people on here just aren't hooking them up and using the stock high beam?

Well on philsey's build he taped them into the oem HB harness so that both stock HB and hid HB work together. I'm gonna take a look at the wiring harness to see if it has some kind of connection for the solenoid, as of right now I don't want to tap into the oem wire harness.

 

[philsey]

...Well on philsey's build he taped them into the oem HB harness so that both stock HB and hid HB work together.[/B]....

This. (But 'tapped', not 'taped')
I figured "why not have all high beams on?" Others, Jaker and Harper come to mind, have retro'd with single Xenon lo beams (vs Bi-Xenon), thus choosing to have HID lows and halogen highs.

... I'm gonna take a look at the wiring harness to see if it has some kind of connection for the solenoid, as of right now I don't want to tap into the oem wire harness.

Don't think you'll find such a thing. IIRC, I had to open the oem loom and tap the solenoid wires into the oem HB wires. Easy peasey.

EDIT: I will say this. If I had this to do over, I'd pick the LS460 as Jaker did. They are considered the best LB HID projector - and I'd use halogen HBs with an upgraded bulb. I was dissuaded by Lightwerkz on the LS460 on the grounds they were not sure it'd fit, so I chose the FX-R as next best. Both are good choices, depending on what you want, and costs of course.

 

[RiDE]

I ended up using High Beam splitters from TRS. When I engage the HB i now have the HID HB from the projectors go on with the stock HB. It's ridiculously bright. I still have some 3k HID's to install in the fog location but I'm going to wire those so they stay on with the HB.

 

[Etremo04]

^^That's what I'm looking for (both HID at the same time), need to order the splitters.
Interested in how the HID fogs work.

Can't wait to do my retrofit...busy days
Btw: thanks guys for the replys ^

 

[windycity]

i just finished my fx-r retro fit last night. i think it came out pretty good. I'm on a pitched driveway,which is why it appears to ride up on the left side. Overall the cutoff came out pretty straight.

 

[Dispense]

Looks good WindyCity!

I'm actually in the process of having my original lights retrofitted by LightWerkz with the LS430 projectors. Thought about about going the LS460 route as well, but the more I read, the more it swayed me to the LS430s.

I do not think they look as good or as OEM as the FX-Rs/S2Ks/LS460s, but I was so impressed by the ouput shots in HIDplanet that I couldn't resist. :wow2: I thought it would be nice too to have another option out there for folks considering HID retrofits.

I honestly wasn't blown away by the FX-Rs that I did myself. My previous TSXs seemed to have a sharper cut-off and better output. So I figured, what the hell.

 

[windycity]

Keep us posted on the results of that retrofit. :frog:

I initially was going to pay for my retro, but after doing it(with alot of help) I kinda feel that $700+ for the labor is crazzzzzzy. If I ever chose to upgrade my retro I would knock this thing out myself again.

 

[Dispense]

I agree, it is expensive and certainly doable with a little research and some DIY skills. I've done two retrofits now on very different vehicles, it was all pretty easy, but time consuming.

But, I originally ordered the LS460 projector like Jaker, and was going to do it myself.

After getting the projectors, they really are a bit different animal than the TSX and FX-R that I've dealt with. The custom shrouds looked like more trouble to deal with; then decided on the LS430s; the shrouds are also quite different and more part of the projector then the tradional interchangeable shrouds that are appearance only. The LS430s and LS460s shrouds are actually functional helping to spread the beam pattern.

I didn't want to mess it up, sucked it up and decided to have the professioanls do it.

Lightwerkz has a few jobs already, I told them to take their time with my set. So it may be a bit longer for mine to be finished, I'll get plenty of pics up when I get them though.

 

[Jaker]

I didn't want to mess it up, sucked it up and decided to have the professioanls do it.

Lightwerkz has a few jobs already, I told them to take their time with my set. So it may be a bit longer for mine to be finished, I'll get plenty of pics up when I get them though.

Excellent decision. You will love the new setup. The LS460 projectors look absolutely amazing in our housings. :guitar3:

 

[windycity]

@jaker. Maybe it was just the pic u posted, but is ur drivers side light slightly off on the rotation???

 

[Jaker]

@jaker. Maybe it was just the pic u posted, but is ur drivers side light slightly off on the rotation???

Hmm. Not sure to which pic you're referring. Do you mean the way it's mounted or the way it's projecting? Everything is aligned correctly at the moment. It might just be the angle of the picture or a camera effect.