Legality of a Projector Retrofit

[mike1305]

I've seen a few pictures of 3rd gens with the HID Projector headlight retrofit, and I have to say it looks AMAZING. Coupled with LED taillights, it gives the 3rd gen a refreshingly "modern" appearance and fits in with all the new cars that are coming out with the HID lighting. I have my heart set on my summer project: Installing LED tail lights, and retrofitting my headlights with HID projectors - preferrably the BMW halos.

Besides the ridiculous amount of time, prep, work, and money that goes into the project - what is it's legal standing? I know it's illegal to have HID lighting without the proper projector assembly, and there probably has to be a way to adjust the aim too. Is it okay to install the projectors into the existing housing and be street legal?

Examples:

Thanks guys!

 

[Rock Slide]

I don't know the law, but I feel that any tampering you do to your stock headlight housings (good or bad), results in them becoming illegal.

Granted, I've yet to have any legality issues with my projector retrofit, but that doesn't mean what I've done is legal.

For confirmation on what's legal and what's not, you might want to call your local law enforcement to verify.

 

[GottaBeTRD]

see i dont get the "legality" of them There are so many cars without the projectors that have HID's that arn't over bearingly bright either. here is my list that i can think of
Toyota Sienna (the fancy one)
Toyota Prius
The older Lexus's
some of the older Infiniti's
The Older Acura TL's
so anyway im interested in what makes them illegal if some cars dont even have the projectors? I agree that they do look good and the light out put is better with them but can you get away with just having the bulbs?? I mean stock cars have them so im just sayin... im very curious.

 

[Stick Figure]

it is illegal period. Will anyone care if you do it? probably not, i haven't gotten pulled over w/ mine and i just did the bulb swap.


As far as the older cars, they still are designed to have HIDs so they have at least a little better cut off than just a normal headlight.

 

[808TRDRunner]

If your car didn't come with them stock, it is illegal to retrofit them.

 

[RevengEngine]

If your car didn't come with them stock, it is illegal to retrofit them.

x2

 

[SCRUED]

I know it's not legal, but if you're going to put HIDs in your headlamps, do it the right way. Retrofit them with HID projectors, and make sure to aim them low so you don't blind other drivers on the road.

 

[GottaBeTRD]

ah thanks for the info, and i too hate the people that even have silver stars that are aimed right in your eyes. dont get me wrong those are nice but when aimed wrong your gona get all kinds of high beams at ya. The projectors are cool and with all the retro fitting goin on some after market company is bound to start makin some. You can prob get away with just the bulbs if you get the right ones that arnt annoying.

 

[Rock Slide]

projectors are cool and with all the retro fitting goin on some after market company is bound to start makin some. You can prob get away with just the bulbs if you get the right ones that arnt annoying.

It's not the bulb that causes the glare...it's the headlight housing itself. Yes, HID bulbs are brighter, but our 4Runner headlight housings cannot effectively distribute the light produced by them. 4Runner headlight housings were designed around halogen bulbs, not HIDs.

Just swapping out your halogen bulbs for a set of HIDs will help your light output some (simply b/c HID bulbs are brighter), but you're just short changing yourself by doing so. If you want to gain much more focused light spread and reach the full potiental of a HID bulb, a projector retrofit is your only solution.

 

[mike1305]

I know it's not legal, but if you're going to put HIDs in your headlamps, do it the right way. Retrofit them with HID projectors, and make sure to aim them low so you don't blind other drivers on the road.

I would NEVER put HID bulbs in the stock headlamps. that's just dumb. I plan to do the entire projector retrofit, like the thread title reads...

I guess the way it sounds is "no harm, no foul". If I install it correctly and it isn't blinding, then why would they have a reason to pull me over?

 

[Rock Slide]

I guess the way it sounds is "no harm, no foul". If I install it correctly and it isn't blinding, then why would they have a reason to pull me over?

IMO, they would not have a reason per se to pull you over if you do the retrofit correctly. Like I said, I've had zero legality issues with mine.

The only reason your headlights become illegal after the retro is the fact that your lights are no longer DOT approved. Granted, you could still be ticketed for having tampered w/ your headlights, but I have not personally seen a case where a cop gave someone a ticket for a "properly" installed retrofit.

If done correctly, you should be fine.

 

[SilverBullet01]

mike no one will pull you over for such a thing if done right. the issue lies in the fact that if you are pulled over for say.... speeding, they will most likely give you a fix it ticket for your lights....

now lies the decision of taking them out, getting them signed off on, and putting them back in and risking it again

 

[GottaBeTRD]

that makes sence a/b the housing not being set for the HID'S dern!! you know what would be cool is a housing with the projectors and a secondary light for some DRL's im sure someone can come up with somerhing. but ya man good luck on that project ill stay tuned.

 

[LINY4Runner]

Yes, HID bulbs are brighter, but our 4Runner headlight housings cannot effectively distribute the light produced by them.

Just swapping out your halogen bulbs for a set of HIDs will help your light output some (simply b/c HID bulbs are brighter), but you're just short changing yourself by doing so. If you want to gain much more focused light spread and reach the full potiental of a HID bulb, a projector retrofit is your only solution.

I disagree 100%

I have an aftermarket HID conversion kit and it was the best money I have ever spent on any type of headlight ever.
You really have to ride in my truck for you to actually understand, but as the old adage goes, "don't knock it 'till you try it"

I would never go so far as to modify my headlights with projectors and honestly I think it looks god-awful and would hardly yield any better visibility over HID in a factory beam.

Light focus looks factory when pointed at a wall from 25ft as you are supposed to when aiming, and I have never in the year and a half that I had them been flashed by oncoming drivers or been ticketed for having an aftermarket HID kit.

Don't knock it 'till you try it

out.

 

[SilverBullet01]

I disagree 100%

I have an aftermarket HID conversion kit and it was the best money I have ever spent on any type of headlight ever.
You really have to ride in my truck for you to actually understand, but as the old adage goes, "don't knock it 'till you try it"

I would never go so far as to modify my headlights with projectors and honestly I think it looks god-awful and would hardly yield any better visibility over HID in a factory beam.

Light focus looks factory when pointed at a wall from 25ft as you are supposed to when aiming, and I have never in the year and a half that I had them been flashed by oncoming drivers or been ticketed for having an aftermarket HID kit.

Don't knock it 'till you try it

out.

but in contrast, have you been pulled over with your hid's on, not just for the lights but for any other reason. and what state do you live in?

 

[Clemsonfan15]

but in contrast, have you been pulled over with your hid's on, not just for the lights but for any other reason. and what state do you live in?

He lives in New York.

 

[3rdgengrog]

check out this link, should definitivly answer questions about the legality issues.

http://orca.st.usm.edu/~jmneal/tiburon/hids.htm

 

[LINY4Runner]

but in contrast, have you been pulled over with your hid's on, not just for the lights but for any other reason. and what state do you live in?

I live on Long Island in New York. My truck has seen 16 states along the east coast and midwest and I have been pulled over, once, in Ohio for traveling at 87 in a 65.

 

[GottaBeTRD]

what if inspection time comes when its time to register?? whould they not pass you because of it not being DOT approved?

 

[LINY4Runner]

passed two inspections since installation



i can't speak for the projector swap