sde780

I've been looking at retrofits for a while now, and was always worried that my light output would suck and there wouldn't be a cut-off line due to the fluted lenses on my EF headlights. However, according to this thread,

https://honda-tech.com/forums/honda-crx-ef-civic-1988-1991-3/hid-projector-retro-fit-2582221/

fluted lenses won't make that big of a difference. I beg to differ. This whole week my spare time went to making this projector fit in my headlight perfect and straight, and I got everything together and sealed before testing it. Here's the pics, you decide.

Just the projector (looks pretty good)




Here's with the fluted lens on





As you can see, BIG difference. I consider this thing a failure because it's not much better than my stock headlights. The reason is, the fluted lens are designed to diffuse the light and scatter it. Ever taken off the lens but left your headlight on? You get a circle of light kinda like a flashlight. Once you put the fluted lens on, it scatters it into a flat beam.


Cliffs: Don't waste time retrofitting fluted lense headlights

{AJ}

Damn that sucks.

chawski

before you call it quits and call it a failure, there is still some work to be done. the flutes can be easily sanded off the plastic. to do this, go to home depot or whatever you have locally and get about a 3in (just a little bigger than the size of the projector lens) rotary sander that attaches to a drill. sand the flutes down so the lens is flat infront of the projector. Just make sure you dont burn the plastic. use some water if needed. at this point, its gonna look like crap...dont worry...youre not done yet. then start from about 800 grit and just work it flat, progressing to 1000, then 1500 wet, and finally finish it with a 2000 grit wetsand. Still its not gonna be quite perfect yet. then get some maguires plasticx. the stuff is magical. buff it in real well as per directions on the bottle. you might need a buffer for this. to finish it off, once everything is clean, hit it with some rainx. you will sand off any UV coating that was protecting the lens and it will look really oxidized quick if you dont protect it. Ive also seen guys clear coat it with similar outcomes(rainx is cheaper though, so it gets my vote)

Ive personally done this to a few sets that were in the same boat as you and it came out fantastic. Another option, but a little more money is to get an aftermarket headlight for your car that uses a clear lens and swap out the fluted one for the clear one.

either route you go, dont call it quits yet. youre 90% done. this last 10% is gonna make a HUGE difference, as youve already seen

SL0WEGG

I was satisfied with my retrofit into jdm eg headlights. I beg to differ when you say its not much better than stock.

e46civic

I wouldnt agree on failure, its alot better than a kit glare wise. I do agree a clear lens is the best route, though. I will also say I had a pair of E46 bixenons behind the JDM fluted lens for awhile befroe I got clear lens and it was more evenly spread, it actually looked like a reflector based HID headlight. I cant imagine stock being better or even close really.

sde780

The thing is, my headlights are glass. If they were plastic I would have no problem sanding the flutes down. Is it possible to sand down the glass? I just can't see it coming out clear if I do sand it...

I looked on Ebay, clear lens aftermarket lights are $100+

chawski

yea just get some aftermarket ones and swap the lens. Ive heard of it being done with glass but dont have a clue how to do it.

sde780

i bought some plexiglass, im gonna try make my own clear covers

chawski

you can also try some acrylic and vacuum form them. good luck. lets see the progess!

sde780

Made one today

nitewolf

im trying to see how this turns out. gl

barman_

how????pm me!

sde780

http://www.hidplanet.com/forums/show...product-post-1

I used my old lens as the mold and wrapped the heated plexiglass over it. I got the plexiglass from lowes.

I also used a heatgun to form it better at the corners/edges

vtechjunkie

iTrader: (2)

Ya, note to self........... no fluted lenses for retro-fits. That sucks man.