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HID Retrofit - DONE RIGHT

dustyduff

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 19, 2009
Messages
425
Location
Mantua, NJ
Before I start, don't ask how much it cost, because it was really expensive and most people probably won't pull the trigger on it. I paid a premium penny to have it done professionally vice attempting it myself. As you can see, there was an extensive amount of cutting involved and I didn't want to ruin a set of 93' headlights if I screwed up. I've seen several threads about people saying that they were going to attempt it, but haven't seen any pictures besides the one's that Curtis has done.

They started off as stock 1993 headlights. The chrome was flaking and peeling off on the inside of the housings, so the housings were painted semi flat black, and Morimoto Mini H1 Bixenon projectors were added in the low beam section of the headlights. The E46 shrouds were painted white and then the front was masked off to create a small white ring around the shrouds. The headlights are being powered by a set of Denso ballasts, LW H1 5000K Bulbs, and a plug & play wiring harness. The rear section of the headlights were repainted a semi flat black to freshen up the look. The OEM sealant with the Koito butyl sealant for superior protection. Conversion performed by LightWerkz in NJ.

The mounting brackets aren't shown in the pictures, but were painted to freshen up the lights too.







Since the projectors are bi-xenon, I didn't have a need for the high beam section of the headlight. Since the chrome was peeling, it was painted flat black to match the projector side. I'll likely be adding an LED bulb and use that side for my day time running lights.

Opinions welcome.
 

curtis

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Joined
May 4, 2003
Messages
11,892
Location
Clarksville TN
I approve this message. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif


If you want them even blacker looking installed tape the glass off and paint all 4 sides. They do look badass, congrats.
 
Last edited:

dustyduff

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 19, 2009
Messages
425
Location
Mantua, NJ
Curtis: I was trying to hold out for you brother, but I know you have a long list of things to do. You were my only option before sending them out to be done professionally. As the master of retrofit on the board, I'm glad you approve. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

They'll look good with the foglights you did!
 

IncorpoRatedX

Well-known member
Joined
May 28, 2003
Messages
5,593
Location
Arizona
Is that JB weld on the back side...?
 

turbowop

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Joined
Apr 29, 2001
Messages
11,971
Location
Yakima, WA
I trashed the idea after I did some measurements and realized that the minis wouldn't fit without major modifications. I'll stick with halogens for now.

They look great though. Get some pics up when you get them mounted on the car.
 

dustyduff

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 19, 2009
Messages
425
Location
Mantua, NJ
Quoting Alpha Male:
Is that JB weld on the back side...?



It's actually epoxy of some sort to seal the projector to the housing.

Wop: I was hoping that the housing was large enough to go with a better projector, but there really isn't any other option besides the MH1. I think Jeremy put a set of TSX projectors when he did his headlights, but I believe he had to hack the housings up pretty good. Appreciate the comment coming from you. I was curious what you would say once you read HID retrofit in the subject(figuring it was another ebay kit). /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/worthy.gif

I'll have them mounted on the car next weekend.
 

GSX_TC

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Joined
Apr 7, 2011
Messages
3,722
Location
Houston, Texas
I like em, would like to see them on the car aswell.
 

jnava

Staff member
Joined
Apr 18, 2008
Messages
2,073
Location
Arlington, Tx
They look great! Install pic please...
 

mitsuturbo

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Joined
Jun 2, 2008
Messages
3,544
Location
Near Seattle, Washington
Soooo.... the high beam has no reflector behind it? Just black paint?

Looks cool, but the functionality of the high beam looks like it's been seriously compromised, no?
 

dustyduff

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Joined
Apr 19, 2009
Messages
425
Location
Mantua, NJ
Quoting mitsuturbo:
Soooo.... the high beam has no reflector behind it? Just black paint?

Looks cool, but the functionality of the high beam looks like it's been seriously compromised, no?



You are correct in the first sentence, as the reflector was painted black. WRT to the second comment, I would have to disagree. The projector is bi-xenon, meaning the projector will have low and high beam functionality. If the projector was only for low beam, then you would be correct. Since the projector is both high/low, the high beam section of the headlight will now be used with an LED bulb for day time running lights.
 

dustyduff

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 19, 2009
Messages
425
Location
Mantua, NJ
Not exactly sure on what LED setup I'm going with, but the color will likely be yellow to match the JDM foglights that I had Curtis modify a year or two ago.

img.php


I was thinking something like the one listed below with a yellow output.

$(KGrHqYOKjgE3uNHus7LBOEtFjeG2Q~~_12.JPG


My main concern is that a yellow halogen bulb will likely be too hot for the paint inside the housing.
 

mitsuturbo

Well-known member
Joined
Jun 2, 2008
Messages
3,544
Location
Near Seattle, Washington
Quoting dustyduff:
Quoting mitsuturbo:
Soooo.... the high beam has no reflector behind it? Just black paint?

Looks cool, but the functionality of the high beam looks like it's been seriously compromised, no?



You are correct in the first sentence, as the reflector was painted black. WRT to the second comment, I would have to disagree. The projector is bi-xenon, meaning the projector will have low and high beam functionality. If the projector was only for low beam, then you would be correct. Since the projector is both high/low, the high beam section of the headlight will now be used with an LED bulb for day time running lights.



Awesome. So it really was "done right". Outstanding!

It should look VERY nice when mounted and functional.
 

dustyduff

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 19, 2009
Messages
425
Location
Mantua, NJ

Threw them on the car really quick to see how they'd look. No output shots for a while though. I need to move my power steering lines that run to the PS cooler before I finish mounting them completely.

img.php
 

JSchleim18

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Joined
Oct 16, 2006
Messages
4,801
Location
Long Island, NY
Pics DO NOT do these lights justice. They look fantastic on the car.

Beautiful car Mike can't wait to see it all finished!
 

GSX_TC

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 7, 2011
Messages
3,722
Location
Houston, Texas
looks very good on white like that. for some reason that tiny lil pic wont blow up though.
 

dustyduff

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 19, 2009
Messages
425
Location
Mantua, NJ
Quoting JSchleim18:
Pics DO NOT do these lights justice. They look fantastic on the car.

Beautiful car Mike can't wait to see it all finished!



Thanks Jeremy!!! The photo was taken with my i-phone, so the quality isn't the best. I'll get better photos when the car is road worthy in the next few weeks. The JDM bumper was there for test fitting while I figure out the paint scheme (you can't even see the clarity of the modified JDM fogs). I'll post some better ones in my build thread next week. I'll update this thread whenever I get some output shots.
 
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