black magic

Hello all,

I decided to do a HID retrofit because besides the cool look I also do a lot of backroad driving and I hate my shitty aftermarket headlights. I had bought them because I wanted projectors (stock output blows). The output on those headlights were OK, but the housing was way too flashy. Anyways, hope you guys find this helpful.

What you'll need:
- D2S bulbs
- D2S projectors (I used a pair from a TL)
- Wiring harness
- ZKW lens or replica clear lens (optional)
- Shrouds (or you can make your own)
- Ballasts (I used a pair from a TL)
- LED rings (optional)
- Flat head and philips screwdrivers and 10mm socket wrench
- Primer and paint (optional)
- Adhesive/glue
- About 7 hours





1) I had to start off with some splicing so my TL projectors can plug into the ballasts without any trouble.







2) I took my stock headlights apart (by putting them in the oven at 375 degrees for 4min each). I had to cut the stock housing to fit the projectors. I used a jigsaw to cut the housing and a drill press to drill a 3.25" hold in the reflector.




















3) Then I tested the projectors in my basement







4) As you can see in this pic, the projectors stuck out too much and wouldn't fit into the car.



5) To fix this, I had to cut into the reflector more which kinda sucked because I didn't want to make a shroud. No, biggie though. Eventually I got it to fit, then I mounted the reflector back to the headlight housing.





6) Now to cover the projector, I had to make a shroud. I used a top piece from those lawn lamps that you can put infront of your house.



7) I used a drill press to drill a hole into it





8) After some more cutting, it fit nicely into the reflector



9) Here's what it'll look like with the LED ring around it



10) I primed the shroud and painted it with chrome spray paint to match with the reflector








11) For fun, I also decided to mount these red LED's into the shroud. I quickly drilled some holes into the shorud and mounted them. I ended up applying another layer of paint after I drilled the holes.









12) Next I mounted the LED ring to the shroud



13) Then I mounted the shourd to the headlight reflector





14) Next you have to disassemble your front bumper. There is a screw in each wheel well, 7 plastic screws around the grill and 2 bolts under the bumper.



15) Remove the headlights. Each headlight has 4 bolts holding it.



16) I mounted the HID's to make sure they fit okay (and they did)



17) Then I took my aftermarket headlights apart by putting them in the oven for 375 degrees for 4 min. My reason for doing so was because I wanted to use their cover since it was cleaner and more clear than my stock ones. So I just swapped them from the aftermarket headlights to my stock headlights.









18) Here you can see the difference between both covers.



19) Mounting it is easy, there's only 1 secrew required for the aftermarket cover







20) Then I mounted it on to the headlights. Use any strong adhesive/glue to do this.



21) After I mounted the retrofitted headlights I had to do all the wiring which took a bit of time. I wired the red LEDs and the LED rings to the ignition wire that way they light up as soon as I start the car instead of the day time running lights (which are required in Canada)



22) Put the bumper back on and then you're all done! This DIY might make this project seem easy, but its quite time consuming. It took me a little over 6 hours.
















I dont have any pics of output yet... I still need to do some alignment when it gets dark. It was way too hard to do during the day. I'll post pics up when I'm done, though.

Hope you guys enjoyed this! I really like the way it turned out becuase the stock headlights are so much nice than the POS ones I had on.

Before:



After:




Modified by black magic at 9:36 PM 8/21/2008

black magic

Some night time pics. I only had time to adjust the left headlight. I'll have to leave the right one until tomorrow.

RC000E

Wouldn't be bad if you had the cutoffs matching from each light. Overall it's descent except for all the ricer crap you added at the end.

The LED ring and the red lights are gay as hell....JMO.

black magic

Thanks for the comment. To each his own, I guess.

black magic

Here are some more pics of the finished product:

SLUGFEST

pretty cool idea but wouldnt it be easier 2 just buy a pair of hid"S?

black magic

With those plug and play hid kits; output isn't as good, there is glare everywhere and there isn't a projector to evenly distribute the light. You won't fine those problems if you do a proper retrofit, though

hgem1si

Doesn't all the hacking and cutting make the lens subjectable to water from the inside? Also what about the bulb?

black magic

Not if you seal them up good. I used aluminum foil, tape, adhesive and a cottage cheese container and sealed them from the inside and outside

sde780

Nice job! I'm not feeling the LEd's either, but to each his own. How much did this whole thing run you? Could you possibly post pics of the wiring?

tontonpacute

Great job lol at the cottage cheese container

PatrickGSR94

iTrader: (1)

dang man, that's all not all that necessary I don't think.

My projectors have several holes around the base where the bulb is mounted, and I don't have any moisture problems. I might get some condensation in one like once or twice a year, but it goes away after driving for a few minutes.

black magic

yeah, I didn't think it was all that necessary either. But better be safe than sorry

EK9Rider

nice job - not feeling the leds but hey if it works for you then great.

you should have gone with a metal can, like a bean can - painted it gun metal - the projectors will get hot and plastic and heat don't blend well.

Andy_EJ8

I'm also doing a retrofit.

can you fix the pictures, so I can get an idea how your shrouds look.

black magic

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Andy_EJ8 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I'm also doing a retrofit.

can you fix the pictures, so I can get an idea how your shrouds look. </TD></TR></TABLE>

The pictures are just inactive right now because I've exceeded my bandwidth limit for my photobucket account. It resets on the 17th of every month so they should be working by Thursday.

nek0

Bad ***! I need to redo mine with new headlights, TSX projector and trying to get a hold of 50w ballast & 50w bulbs.

black magic

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by nek0 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Bad ***! I need to redo mine with new headlights, TSX projector and trying to get a hold of 50w ballast & 50w bulbs.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Thanks. Sounds like you have a good plan!

black magic

Turned off the LED rings/angel eyes the other day:



Here's a day time pic for those interested:



... and cutoff (sorry, pavement was a little uneven):

aznlaoboi315

nice retro

hmm... nice Si gauge cluster.. i hope you have something beefier than a D

DoWnfall

nice setup, they seem low for on the go driving and usefullness but theyre stylish


and does that gauge on your wheel only read vacuum?

black magic

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by aznlaoboi315 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">nice retro

hmm... nice Si gauge cluster.. i hope you have something beefier than a D</TD></TR></TABLE>

An engine beefier than a D? I don't think anything like that even exists!


<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by DoWnfall &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">nice setup, they seem low for on the go driving and usefullness but theyre stylish


and does that gauge on your wheel only read vacuum?</TD></TR></TABLE>

Well, I use my car as a dd, and I think these hids are x100 better than the stock and aftermarket headlights I've had. I'm quite happy with them

Yes, its just a vacuum gauge.