Tutorial: HID conversion, bling headlights

[joedm]

MikePL,

I'm following in your footsteps... got my lights and ordered my bixenon projectors..
How did you hook up your harness???

 

[joedm]

ok ok.... I got around to getting mine done...

Here's a couple of pics:

 

[Salue]

Mike et al.,
You took out the projector it came with and installed a Lexus/Toyota projector in there. So I know it's not a good idea to just put a HID kit into our stock headlight housing but why can't we just take the aftermarket projector headlight and put an HID kit into the original projector? Is this stock projector housing plastic and can't handle the heat, or something else?

I'm interested in buying the projector headlights and then install an HID kit into the projector it comes in so as not to have to hack the housing....Unless there's a reason this shouldn't be done.

Thanks all,
Salue

 

[mot]

Salue,

I'm no expert, but let me take a stab at it...

It's usually a bad idea to put HID bulbs (with ballasts, etc... not just halogen bulbs with "Xenon gas" injected in them) in any headlights designed for halogen bulbs, especially non-projector headlights.

I'm not saying that you can put HID retro kits in projector headlights and get good results. But I've read sometimes, especially with good/quality HID kits, it produces decent results. For example, Toyota dealerships install such kits into the LX470(JDM Cygnus), etc...

I've also read, here on Mud I think, that someone has installed or bought one of the aftermarket projector headlight assys for the LC with HID's had (far) less than desirable(sp) results, with poor light patterns, etc...

As for the heat, I've read that 35w HID's actually produce less heat than 55/60w halogens. So heat "should" not be an issue.

"IF" you haven't already, http://www.hidplanet.com will have far more information about one cares to know about automobile lighting. I know I've spent hours dreaming about what I would love to have on my rig!

HTH's and good luck!!

 

[joedm]

The kit I bought came with HID bulbs/ballast but the output although better than halogen just wasn't up to spec...

I think it's to do with the fact that the projector inside these lights are halogen projectors, hence the reason why the HID bulbs that came with them were rebased to H1.

I ran the HID setup like that for over a month before swapping out the halogen projector for a HID one.

The beam pattern with the halogen projector and hid bulbs was all over the place. dark spots, lines....

If I find some pics I'll post them.

 

[MikePL]

As Mot and Joedm said. The main problem is the pattern. Sometimes the light output is decent (clear cutoff line, no hot spots or dark spots) and sometimes it is a mess. When we also add people who have different perception from one another, we might end up with really variable results. So to be on the safe side it is considered mandatory to change the projectors, but if you have some experience with automotive lighting you can experiment with the halogen projectors and see the results.

 

[Salue]

Thanks for the input everyone! From the sound of it, it is more desirable to have HID projectors in there due to the fact that there is a chance the halogen projectors just won't produce the desired results.
I'm thinking I might purchase the halogen projectors and install an HID kit into the projectors. If it comes out horrible, then I shall do a HID projector retrofit.
Based on the dimensions Mike provided regarding the halogen projector, was anyone able to find an HID projector that was a similar/exact size match?
Joedm- that would be great if you can post up some pics.

Cheers,
Salue

 

[95Fantasma80]

Based on the dimensions Mike provided regarding the halogen projector, was anyone able to find an HID projector that was a similar/exact size match?
Joedm- that would be great if you can post up some pics.

Yeah I am wondering the same thing, I see many people have done this MOD did they follow the instruction per this thread or were they able to find a Projector which fits like the original halogen projector??

 

[vladi80]

its gonna be hard to find one the size of the original halogen projector, I picked up a pair from a wrecked S55 AMG and are way bigger then the halogen ones.

 

[joedm]

awesome... can't wait to see your output pics....
really good to see more 80's attempting this mod.

I've already started thinking of the next version...

Here's my original opened up...

And this is what I ordered...

So the plan will be a quad setup bixenon and foglights....

Current: e55 bixenons replacing orig halogen projector
Future: FX-R bixenons replacing orig high beams
Future+1: es300s replacing the parking lights

 

[mot]

awesome... can't wait to see your output pics....
really good to see more 80's attempting this mod.

I've already started thinking of the next version...

Here's my original opened up...

And this is what I ordered...

So the plan will be a quad setup bixenon and foglights....

Current: e55 bixenons replacing orig halogen projector
Future: FX-R bixenons replacing orig high beams
Future+1: es300s replacing the parking lights

Awesome!

Will you run the FX-R's to run just when you turn the high beams on or low as well (Not sure of the legality, etc...)

I'm not sure if having just one pair of bi-xenon projectors would produce enough of the throw on high beams in the dark highway, but four shold be adequate, I hope.

Keep up the good work and keep us posted!

 

[joedm]

I currently have the e55's hooked up at lo and hi using the solenoid.

So, with the fx-r's I'll be doing the same but I think I'll add extra switches in the cab to individually select either the e55's or fx-r's or both. same will be done for the fogs.

That way, with the quad turned on I can have hi or lo. if it's too bright, I'll just turn one set off.

 

[mot]

Would it be possible to have the e55's on, but use the FX-R's to come on as high beams only (e55's would be on high at the same time as well).

But that might be hard on the ballast though...

I would love to have the 50/55w ballasts and have them run at 35w-ish on low, but at full power at high, if something like that is even possible.

The FX-R's are supposed to be pretty compact (Not sure how, in comparison with the e-55's though), so hopefully they'll fit better/easier.)

G'luck!!

Keep us posted!!

 

[joedm]

yup definitely possible..
But the fx-r's are known for their great width which is why I'd like to be able to use them in lo-beam as well.

I've seen some people mod ballasts to be adjustable in terms of output however I'll be sticking to 35w for the fx-r and maybe 50w for the e55's (to improve it a bit).

For now I'll just use the solenoid to implement the hi-beams, rather than play around with switching output...

Anyway, these will take another couple of months for me to get to.

 

[vladi80]

 

[Chef J]

yup definitely possible..
But the fx-r's are known for their great width which is why I'd like to be able to use them in lo-beam as well.

I've seen some people mod ballasts to be adjustable in terms of output however I'll be sticking to 35w for the fx-r and maybe 50w for the e55's (to improve it a bit).

For now I'll just use the solenoid to implement the hi-beams, rather than play around with switching output...

Anyway, these will take another couple of months for me to get to.

Update?

 

[lndcruz]

You will love the fx-r's!

 

[joedm]

I've been too busy lately with work and other projects that this has been on the backburner.

Also probably because the e55's have been so good compared to stock that there's been no urgent need.

I'll post when I get some tome to revisit.

 

[js93cruiser]

no one evrer answered that guyes question about the ebay housing fitting on an lx, can you just get a cruiser front grille?

 

[penntucky]

I love this mod! I have an LX and since one of my headlights is cracked I am going to buy the Ebay headlights. are they a direct fit or did you have to trim the grille?