KevinG
New member
Hot Damn Phil!!!! I am very upset that I couldnt follow your lead and keep up the agreement we had. Those are insane! I cant wait to see them installed...nice choice and very well done by Lightwerkz.
Who’s interested in a HID/Projector retrofit?
- Thread starter philsey
- Start date
Hot Damn Phil!!!! I am very upset that I couldnt follow your lead and keep up the agreement we had. Those are insane! I cant wait to see them installed...nice choice and very well done by Lightwerkz.
T4Fun
Banned
LOL. Look at your headlights pal. Dont you have a TE
harper7
Senior Member
$1000 is cheap for what you get.It cost more then that when it's an option on a new car.I think it was a $1700 option on my Beemer.You won't really appreciate the upgrade until you have driven a car or truck with a good set of HID projector headlights.
These retrofits are using the best of the factory HID projectors and factory Philips HID bulbs.They will be on par with the GX460 HID's or better.
Here is a good read on why they are worth $1000. H.I.D. Lights Work Better than Halogen | Cars
harper7
Senior Member
T4Fun .....did you get the HID's on your GX460?
Wondering if they are self leveling? Only thing I could find is that they are "HID headlamps with Adaptive Front Lighting system"
What does it mean by Adaptive?
T4Fun
Banned
cutt off likely better. But gx's are autoleveling and turn into corners, the headlights are amazing! I got the premium so it has everything minus the lane departure, radar cruise control, all around camera system, and RSES.
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harper7
Senior Member
I just read up and saw some videos on the Lexus Adaptive Lighting.........nice!!:thumb3:
I rescind the remark about the retrofits being equal or better then the GX460's!lol
[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YbwvD3nr49c]YouTube - Adaptive Front Lighting Systems[/ame]
They parts themselves aren't worth $1000. You can get projectors, bulbs, ballasts, shrouds, and harness for $350-$450 depending on what projectors you use. What your really paying for is the labor if you have someone else make them. And if you buy an extra set of headlights to use.
I've done several retro's for myself and friends, and spent about $350ish on each one. Do it yourself and you'll save half your money.
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T4Fun
Banned
I beg to differ. Buy a new set of TE Headlights, $400.
Buy a GOOD Set of BAllasts. - probably 150 atleast.
Buy a GOOD set of Projectors - probably $200 min (s2000 -400 a pair).
d2s sylvania bulbs 99 each
Youre already up to 948 not including labor.
Oh, and by the way, these new 4runner headlights are not epoxied together with that black tar that you can easily pry apart with heat. They are CRIMPED together, making it probably a little more difficult to take apart. In that regard, I have no idea how Caesar did this, and hats off to him for great work. There were some screws on the back of the housing, but I dont know if that made for separation of the parts to place the projectors or not inside
harper7
Senior Member
Well Phil already mentioned you can get the whole kit for cheaper here...http://www.theretrofitsource.com/product_info.php?products_id=141
Yes the labor is what cost unless as he said you do it your self.
I picked up mint s2k ap1 projectors for $250,new Philips 85122 D2S bulbs for $55 and $20 for shrouds, all off ebay and I already have some Hella/Philips ballast so $325 total so far.
Turns out the headlight front lenses do come off with heat as demonstrated by 9hooker.The outside lens is in two pieces and is what is permanently crimped.
philsey
New member
So Gary ..... gonna DIY?
harper7
Senior Member
Still in research phase and probably will!! lol
Our lights actually look pretty easy to do because they are so big.
My big worry was separating the lense and 9hooker eased my mind on that. Been doing research on the hidplanet forum,youtube and the net the last couple of days and will keep researching til Thanksgiving when I have free time so I don't have to rush.
philsey
New member
I beg to differ ..... look at the link Harper posted.... you are nearly 3X too high. Remember, I resold the spare headlights for only slightly less than I paid for them.
TOYSTRY
New member
Why don't you just tell everyone what you paid, instead of having a guessing game going on here. You keep promoting the product, so tell us what you paid so we can decide if this is a mod "worth" doing.
:flamewar:
harper7
Senior Member
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He might have gotten a better rate being the first and can't disclose! I don't always tell people cost either as being the first and promoting sometimes pays dividends.Plus there are so many combos of what you could go with and what's available ,so the prices vary.
Not that top secret!!! All you have to do is e-mail Caesar and he'll get back to you right away unlike some companies. Contact LightWerkz | LightWerkz.net
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TOYSTRY
New member
Possibly..........I guess my only gripe is the fact that everyone's interested in this mod since we're following it and all we have is uninstalled pics and no price as to what it "may" cost the follow on customers.
I'm just being grumpy today and want answers :crybaby:
philsey
New member
OK, look, I was hoping that by not responding you'd get the hint that I prefer not to discuss what I spend in an open forum.
Multiple links to Lightwerkz, and TRS, and suggestions to contact Caesar @ LW, have been posted. If you want to know so badly, make a couple clicks and find out - it's easy peasey dude.
Please, keep this thread nice. It's a mod I wanted to do. There seem to be members interested, so I post the milestones as they occur - I can't do more than that. It's a work-in-progress. Relax man, I'm every bit as excited to finish this as anyone else.
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TOYSTRY
New member
Seriously, ignoring someone was your best solution? Why not just say "I'm not at liberty to discuss the price since they gave me a discount for being the first customer" or send a PM.
Their website doesn't list a price, it's piece-mealed together, etc which is why I asked you since you are the first person to own a set for the 5th GEN. I don't email vendors as 99% of the time they don't email you back, however I haven't called as I figured you'd post up eventually. :hatsoff:
I think I am keeping it nice, however, IMO, when you post a mod that has this much interest it's cordial to at least respond to the other members here instead of ignoring them, especially since the thread started to become a debate amongst the group on how much it would cost if Lightwerkz built them or individuals built their own.
Listen, in all seriousness, I'm not looking to start trash, harass you or create a problem on this thread but instead comment that it would have been nice if you responded when the opportunity presents itself regarding the price you paid, even if it's a simple "I got a special price, please contact the vendor" or "I'm not at liberty to discuss the price".......since numerous members are subscribed to this thread waiting to hear/see the final outcome. At the end of the day my life will go on, it just frustrated me that you chose to not answer the members when asked about the pricing.
On a "VERY" positive note, your lights look great and I look forward to seeing them installed on your 4Runner. Hope they are everything you expect them to be and more.
Sincerely......no sarcasm. :cheers:
