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Message
Do Your Headlights Suck? Do a Retrofit (picture heavy)
Posted on 1/28/17 at 11:49 pm
Posted on 1/28/17 at 11:49 pm
So the factory headligts on my 2010 Yukon really suck and I had tried dropping in a set of plug-and-play HIDs (tons of glare and dangerous to oncoming traffic) and plug-and-play LEDs (not enough distance and bad high beams). I had done a retrofit on my personal car in the past and had done a few with friends and decided it was time to upgrade this one.
You're probably curious what a retrofit is. A retrofit is taking a set of headights, opening them up and putting a quality HID projector where the original lights were. I chose a set from Amazon rather than using my already-old factory headlights. To open most headlights, put them in the oven at 225-250 for about 10 minutes. Some headlights can take longer and it just depends what sealant the manufacturer used to seal them.
I took the old halogen projectors out of the headlights and used the brackets to attach the new projectors in their place. This required cutting off the old projector bowl with a Dremel. Why didn't I use the regular halogen projectors? Because the set I got from the Retrofit Source has much better output and high beam capability (called bi-xenon).
Headlights opened after being baked (I did not reuse the crappy LED running lights because I prefer an OEM look):
Old projectors (lenses removed because I was in the process of taking them out):
Old projector bowl bracket (with bowl still attached):
Old projector bracket with bowl cut out:
Old bracket mockup with new projector:
New projector bolted to bracket:
Testing projector:
You're probably curious what a retrofit is. A retrofit is taking a set of headights, opening them up and putting a quality HID projector where the original lights were. I chose a set from Amazon rather than using my already-old factory headlights. To open most headlights, put them in the oven at 225-250 for about 10 minutes. Some headlights can take longer and it just depends what sealant the manufacturer used to seal them.
I took the old halogen projectors out of the headlights and used the brackets to attach the new projectors in their place. This required cutting off the old projector bowl with a Dremel. Why didn't I use the regular halogen projectors? Because the set I got from the Retrofit Source has much better output and high beam capability (called bi-xenon).
Headlights opened after being baked (I did not reuse the crappy LED running lights because I prefer an OEM look):
Old projectors (lenses removed because I was in the process of taking them out):
Old projector bowl bracket (with bowl still attached):
Old projector bracket with bowl cut out:
Old bracket mockup with new projector:
New projector bolted to bracket:
Testing projector:
This post was edited on 7/24/17 at 6:15 pm
4
Posted on 1/28/17 at 11:56 pm to bapple
Testing and aiming on vehicle:
New projectors mounted and headlights sealed back up:
On truck and output shot:
I also spliced in an LED in the high beam spot on the new lights with the solenoids that control the high beams on the projectors. This allows me to "flash-to-pass" in the daytime without any confusion. I unfortunately chose yellow LEDs by accident but I guess that makes them even more noticeable.
This solenoid controls the high beam function by moving the cutoff shield when energized. I also added a dab of high temp silicone to prevent any vibration:
I know this is a lot of work to have improved lights but the difference is absolutely night and day - more width, more distance, better color, safer for other drivers (due to cutoff line), better appearance, better high beams, etc. Overall a very fun upgrade for the car enthusiast.
New projectors mounted and headlights sealed back up:
On truck and output shot:
I also spliced in an LED in the high beam spot on the new lights with the solenoids that control the high beams on the projectors. This allows me to "flash-to-pass" in the daytime without any confusion. I unfortunately chose yellow LEDs by accident but I guess that makes them even more noticeable.
This solenoid controls the high beam function by moving the cutoff shield when energized. I also added a dab of high temp silicone to prevent any vibration:
I know this is a lot of work to have improved lights but the difference is absolutely night and day - more width, more distance, better color, safer for other drivers (due to cutoff line), better appearance, better high beams, etc. Overall a very fun upgrade for the car enthusiast.
This post was edited on 7/24/17 at 6:18 pm
Posted on 1/29/17 at 12:21 am to bapple
been wanting to do this bc i blind the shite out of people
just gonna pay you to do it for me
just gonna pay you to do it for me
Posted on 1/29/17 at 12:42 am to bapple
Was thinking about doing this...but My goodness that does seem like a lot of work. What kinda money you think you've got in the upgrade?
Posted on 1/29/17 at 12:47 am to bapple
Man I'm exhausted just looking at the pics. No thanks I'll stick with normal headlights.
Posted on 1/29/17 at 3:06 am to SportTiger1
I did one on my Tacoma, it's not really that hard. The most time consuming is getting the headlights apart and then resealed.
This post was edited on 1/29/17 at 3:09 am
Posted on 1/29/17 at 7:15 am to bapple
Projector Xenons are awesome.
Posted on 1/29/17 at 8:05 am to Raz4back
quote:
just gonna pay you to do it for me
As long as I'm well-compensated!
quote:
What kinda money you think you've got in the upgrade?
Well let's see... The projector kit with the relay, ballasts, bulbs, and hardware was $270 before I added the discount coupon for like 10% off. So around $250 for the whole kit. Then the headlights were $178 plus the $25 LEDs in the high beams. Also I put regular 194 bulbs as place holders in the LED running light spots (I didn't use them though and they aren't wired in) and that was like $5 on Amazon. So I guess that puts me in the neighborhood of $450-$500.
But the upside is that the kit from TRS has a 5 year warranty on all parts and obviously the output is absolutely phenomenal. You just have to decide if it's worth it for you.
EDIT: I did forget to mention that if you have factory halogen projectors you can plug-and-play a set of HIDs and you'll get much improved output. But since the projector is not made for HID bulbs, the output won't be quite as good as a tried and true HID projector.
quote:
The most time consuming is getting the headlights apart and then resealed.
Luckily my headlights were easy to open up because the sealant was easy to work with. I was most worried about the cutoff lines not being level but they ended up being pretty much perfect from all my measurements I did earlier. Very tedious but worth it in the end.
This post was edited on 1/29/17 at 8:14 am
Posted on 1/29/17 at 8:19 am to bapple
quote:
On truck
I don't see a truck in any of the pictures posted
Posted on 1/29/17 at 9:13 am to Raz4back
Razorback, those the morimoto projectors? Been really thinking about it as of late, though I'm not the biggest fan of the look of projectors in the second gen tacoma headlights.
I have HIDs in there right now that I reaimed to avoid blinding people.
I have HIDs in there right now that I reaimed to avoid blinding people.
Posted on 1/29/17 at 9:31 am to bapple
Looks really good.
I've replaced the entire headlight assemblies on 3 older commercial trucks. Maybe I should've put more thought into the selection each time, but they sure are better than the old OEM ones, and make the trucks look new.
Each time, I just selected one off of ebay or Amazon.
Maybe I need you to be my personal product selector.
I've replaced the entire headlight assemblies on 3 older commercial trucks. Maybe I should've put more thought into the selection each time, but they sure are better than the old OEM ones, and make the trucks look new.
Each time, I just selected one off of ebay or Amazon.
Maybe I need you to be my personal product selector.
Posted on 1/29/17 at 9:37 am to MadtownTiger
quote:
Razorback, those the morimoto projectors
Yes, D2S projectors with Apollo shrouds
Posted on 1/29/17 at 9:38 am to Passing Wind
quote:This. I thought the buffing your truck thread was odd. This just adds to it.
No thanks I'll stick with normal headlights
Posted on 1/29/17 at 9:47 am to Grassy1
quote:
Razorback, those the morimoto projectors?
I used the Morimoto mini H1 7.0s even though I would've preferred to use the Mini D2S 3.0. They have a little better output and you can use OEM bulbs but the lens is 3" instead of 2.5" so they wouldn't have fit my new headlight housings. I am still quite thrilled with the Mini H1s and I honestly think they outperform most factory HID projectors, mainly because of the clear lenses (most factory vehicles have "fresnel" lenses that have a slight opaqueness to them).
quote:
Maybe I need you to be my personal product selector.
These headlights are honestly very cheap and you can tell when you compare it to the factory housing. But since I used most of my own components I really just used it as a foundation for my retrofit. Time will tell if the plastic can handle sunlight and rain as well as a factory set of lights. The Mini H1 and Mini D2S both have a threaded end where you can slide it directly in where the factory headlights go. This is really only if your vehicle has standard headlight reflectors though since the hardware will look slightly different for a factory projector setup. The Retrofit Source and Lightwerkz both make adapter plates for putting HID projectors in halogen projector headlights if you have that idea in mind.
Posted on 1/29/17 at 9:56 am to AlxTgr
quote:
This. I thought the buffing your truck thread was odd. This just adds to it.
You got to hand it to bap, when he does something, he doesn't cut corners.
I half arse everything.
Posted on 1/29/17 at 11:47 am to SportTiger1
No question. I'd like to see how his white shirts are hung
Posted on 1/29/17 at 1:13 pm to bapple
Wow, bapple, for me, this is more impressive than your gun vid's. I would love to do this's but would be afraid to eff it up. You should YouTube this and put on your channel. 
This post was edited on 1/29/17 at 1:14 pm
Posted on 1/29/17 at 2:23 pm to SportTiger1
100% chance he gets his underwear dry cleaned and pressed
Posted on 1/29/17 at 2:44 pm to SportTiger1
Practically all of the aftermarket projector lights like that are pure garbage.
I had a set of headlights retrofitted and painted to match on my F250, they look great and perform much better than stock.
I had a set of headlights retrofitted and painted to match on my F250, they look great and perform much better than stock.
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