1998 LX470 headlight replacement
- Thread starter noahconti
- Start date
This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate
links, including eBay, Amazon, Skimlinks, and others.
You can have a retro-fitter replace your current low beam lens with a Acura TSX lens. After that you can add HID preferably in 4300k. The member 2000UZJ works for the "retrofit source".....you might try sending him a pm. Another good place is www.lightwerkz.net
I went with Denso ballasts, Philips D2S+ 4300K 35 watt bulbs.
For the Fogs an HIR bulb is probably your best bet. They were originally designed for John Deer tractors...they hold up to a ton of vibration like wash board roads.
PHILIPS 9012LL/HIR2 X 2 BULBS C1 12V 55W PX22D STOCK COLOR COMPATIBLE HEAD LIGHT | eBay
I went with Denso ballasts, Philips D2S+ 4300K 35 watt bulbs.
For the Fogs an HIR bulb is probably your best bet. They were originally designed for John Deer tractors...they hold up to a ton of vibration like wash board roads.
PHILIPS 9012LL/HIR2 X 2 BULBS C1 12V 55W PX22D STOCK COLOR COMPATIBLE HEAD LIGHT | eBay
I'm running the stock lens and 4300k Phillips bulbs. Great light output. I also upgraded the High beam to an HIR style Phillips bulb. Wow. Big difference with the light coming out of the truck.
I'm starting to get a crackle look inside my passenger side light housing. I'm not sure why this is or if it's even something to worry about.
The fogs, I'm running 3000k HIDs and I'm really not impressed. The housing is too small and low to the ground for them to be effective. As well the 3000k have a green tint for my bulb manufacturer. I'm considering an HIR bulb here but I haven't found any that fit the odd H3 bulb type of the LX fog lights. It's comical that Lexus thought they'd be offering projector style'd fog housings.
I'm starting to get a crackle look inside my passenger side light housing. I'm not sure why this is or if it's even something to worry about.
The fogs, I'm running 3000k HIDs and I'm really not impressed. The housing is too small and low to the ground for them to be effective. As well the 3000k have a green tint for my bulb manufacturer. I'm considering an HIR bulb here but I haven't found any that fit the odd H3 bulb type of the LX fog lights. It's comical that Lexus thought they'd be offering projector style'd fog housings.
HID's in the LX fog lights aren't really ideal since they are so small the optics get way out of whack with a PnP. Try a 3700K bulb and see if that takes the green tint out. 3K is to low for GA fog, I'm not sure about out west. What bulbs are you running? and how many hours on them?
As for the OP: You can swap the lens and add HID's. The OEM projectors on the LX are some of the best projectors out there. They are made my Koito and they did not take short cuts with designing the output.
2000UZJ - what's the deal with the crackling on the chrome inside the housing? Something to be concerned about and/or fixed?
Also, what's a better bulb in the LX fogs? I'm having trouble finding a suitable replacement (like HIR). I'd rather pull the HID system down there so I can keep it for spares for the lo-beams. It's a Phillips systems in the lo's and a knock-off in the fogs. The 4300k lo's are absolutely awesome but the 3000k knock-off brand fogs are just embarassing.
Edit update - oh yes, the hours, well the fogs have enough that they should be burned in by now. I'm not sure really how many hours but over 50-ish
Also, what's a better bulb in the LX fogs? I'm having trouble finding a suitable replacement (like HIR). I'd rather pull the HID system down there so I can keep it for spares for the lo-beams. It's a Phillips systems in the lo's and a knock-off in the fogs. The 4300k lo's are absolutely awesome but the 3000k knock-off brand fogs are just embarassing.
Edit update - oh yes, the hours, well the fogs have enough that they should be burned in by now. I'm not sure really how many hours but over 50-ish
Is the chrome in the projector bowl flaking? If it's just the shroud peeling I wouldn't worry about it. You could certainly separate the housing and repaint it with the color of your choice. I would think the best bulb (I have not played with a LX fog light, but if somebody has one and reads it. PM me) would be a H3C. It's optics are almost identical to a halogen bulb and will give you the best output due to the arc being in the proper position. HID's color shift at about 500+ hours. When this happens that 3K will shift to a 3400K and the cycle will start over. I see you have a "phillips" system in the lows...where did you purchase this system? Photos? I have never heard of a Phillips HID kit.
I'm using Phillips bulbs; I shouldn't be calling them a phillips system. I'll check the exactness of where the chrome is peeling.
I hope you didn't pay to much for the "Phillips" bulbs. They do not make a Phillips H3 bulb.
lexi4darin, is this the HID setup you were using?
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001NLVI88/ref=noref?ie=UTF8&psc=1&s=automotive
Zenex HID Conversion Kit H3
Comes with ZENEX Exclusive 3 YEAR Warranty
35W AC Zenex High Quality HID bulbs & Digital ballasts
German advanced technology
Ready to install right-out-of-the-box
100% Plug in Play installation (no wire cutting required)
I'm looking to replace the fogs (just one out) on a gx470 and it looks like they are also H3 like the 100s.
I know you weren't impressed with 3k, but that's all they have - but the price ($48.99) and reviews are looking good for HID...
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001NLVI88/ref=noref?ie=UTF8&psc=1&s=automotive
Zenex HID Conversion Kit H3
Comes with ZENEX Exclusive 3 YEAR Warranty
35W AC Zenex High Quality HID bulbs & Digital ballasts
German advanced technology
Ready to install right-out-of-the-box
100% Plug in Play installation (no wire cutting required)
I'm looking to replace the fogs (just one out) on a gx470 and it looks like they are also H3 like the 100s.
I know you weren't impressed with 3k, but that's all they have - but the price ($48.99) and reviews are looking good for HID...
I don't think Darin is trolling the 100 section. His LX was tboned and totaled. He's cruising around in his FJ Cruiser and thinking about a 200 last I checked.
