1G: 1GB Quad HID Retrofit in Progress

[GSLENK]

I needed a distraction form performance mods...

Here's the beginning of my retrofit. Im running "full strength" Bi-xenons in the low beam locations, and mini Bi-Xenons in the High beam holes.

Any more real progress is on hold until I get the second set in (back-ordered/custom order). I test fitted the outer beams (pictured) and sweet baby jesus these things are bright. I have never been in a car with brighter headlights (well maybe some new new cars, but not many)

I also blacked out the headlight housing completely. I was worried that the yellow background of the led halo would be ugly, but its got some batman swag in there. It turned out pretty good.

I'd debating doing devil eyes or halos as an offsetting effect. I might just do both, and decide once I mount them on the car (I am not opening these housings ever again!)

Should be finished in 2-3 weeks time permitting.


PARTS LIST (from demand...)
-Clear corners-EBAY ~30-35 (blacked out version discontinued)
-Clear Headlights- Good Luck Chuck. they are listed at 230 all discontinued, and people sell them for over $200 a pair
-Morimoto mini H1 kit (main lights) complete= $270-$360+ depending on options
-Morimoto Matchbox (secondary, "highbeams") kit complete $270-$365 depending on options
*kit includes: Projectors, Bulbs, Balasts, Relay harness, Shrouds, optional: Halo, resealing glue etc...)
-Phillips Lumileds 10-50 qty. $5-$20
-PWM: resistors, 555 switch, capacitors, wire, mini boards, diodes, socket... IDK, maybe $10-20-30?
-Red brake caliper paint $8 duplicolor
-Semi black, High temp engine enamel duplicolor $8 each
-Duplicolor adhesion promoter $6 each

You will need, Oven, screwdrivers, Wax/grease remover, masking tape, soldering iron/solder, bunch of basic tools, electrical edumacation, DDDRRREEEMMMMMEEEELLLLL (Dremel mad skill yo) probably more just be ready for anything. JUST DONT USE A HEAT GUN, THEY MELT SHIT!!!!

[iugrad92turbo]

Nice ill be following your progress.

[GSLENK]

Well you shouldn't see much of that for another 2 weeks. I have to do the other housing like this one, then wait for the rest of the parts to come in.

I should have these all finished and waiting for the high beam position HIDs by the end of the weekend. then a few days after parts come in, I will seal em back up and be done.

[jjaycxj]

Nice retro what projectors are you using? Also are you running relays for all of them?

[Evo_This]

Very nice, subbed

[squid267]

Love the concept, I wanna do quad on my 2g. Dont have the money for it right now though. Following your progress though!

[GSLENK]

Originally Posted by jjaycxj

Nice retro what projectors are you using? Also are you running relays for all of them?

Morimoto mini H1's 5000k, "phillips rebased 35w bulbs" for stock low beam positions.

Morimoto matchbox projector (with same bulbs, ballasts etc. as above except smaller projector, means slightly smaller output) for stock high beam positions.

Both are bi-xenon, so I will have all 4 HID's blasting away full time. when I want high beams, a little solenoid lifts the top cutoff out of the way.

Yes I'm running 2 pairs of relays. the harnesses are made of that really nice stuff that wire tuckers use (nylon braided sleeves, shrink wrap, plug and play connectors) Ill take pics of all that mess when I actually install it.

[jjaycxj]

Originally Posted by GSLENK

Morimoto mini H1's 5000k, "phillips rebased 35w bulbs" for stock low beam positions.

Morimoto matchbox projector (with same bulbs, ballasts etc. as above except smaller projector, means slightly smaller output) for stock high beam positions.

Both are bi-xenon, so I will have all 4 HID's blasting away full time. when I want high beams, a little solenoid lifts the top cutoff out of the way.

Yes I'm running 2 pairs of relays. the harnesses are made of that really nice stuff that wire tuckers use (nylon braided sleeves, shrink wrap, plug and play connectors) Ill take pics of all that mess when I actually install it.

Very nice I have morimoto h1 retrofitted into my dsm as well my next projector is going to be retrofit blazer fog lights as well

[GSLENK]

Here's some more pics of components as I have them completed...

Clear (black background corners) I think these look sooooooo much better than niteshades. Black on the inside ftw, black on the outside = fail. These were a pain in the ass to do. at least 2x as hard to separate and put back than the clear headlights IMO. and a lot more delicate.

I painted the insides of the sides of the lenses black. I think it should add to the blacked out effect without ever touching the outside or using fluke shades.

Close ups of the inner signal reflectors, had to stay shiny obviously. They make a chrome tint paint that I might try out... or maybe not.

Originally Posted by jjaycxj

Very nice I have morimoto h1 retrofitted into my dsm as well my next projector is going to be retrofit blazer fog lights as well

yeah those H1s are nice. and the biggest projector possible to squeeze in there with shrouds.

Blazers in the headlight retrofit? I hope you mean blazers in the fogs... and it looks like TRS no longer carries them. you should try matchboxes... they are Bi-Xenon for maximum fog dopeness

[blizz99]

How much does each kit cost?

[OutKastGSX]

Hey bro nice work. they look great wondering if you would b willing to do a pair for me if i paid if ## interested.

[Greedy Pimp]

GSLENK, where did you git your clear headlights, cant find them any more. Nice job on the retrofit headlights, they look bad ass.

[GSLENK]

Originally Posted by blizz99

How much does each kit cost?

too much lol. retail/expected value for the clear housings is around $200. each retrofit kit (pair of bulbs, projectors, ballasts, relays etc...) is $360. so i guess im in almost $1000.

but the light output is multiple times better than any bulb.

I guess I could have gone with the stock candles and bought a FP green. Eh next grand...

Originally Posted by Greedy Pimp

GSLENK, where did you git your clear headlights, cant find them any more. Nice job on the retrofit headlights, they look bad ass.

dude they are hard as hell to find. they are no longer manufactured or sold on ebay. classifieds and craigslist are four friend. expect to pay more than $200 for them since they are so rare.

Or learn how to vacuum mold lexan clear lenses.

Originally Posted by OutKastGSX

Hey bro nice work. they look great wondering if you would b willing to do a pair for me if i paid if ## interested.

pm sent

[jjaycxj]

Yeah I ment as a fogs lights. As for the matchboxes are they waterproof?. That's the only issue I see with the matchboxes as I want to get rid of my stock fog housings all together.

[blizz99]

If I already have the black housing and HIDs, what else would I need to get to do a retrofit?

[jjaycxj]

Projectors like these ones as these are the only ones that will fit in the dsm housing Bi-xenon Morimoto Mini Stage III Kit (H1) - Complete Retrofit Kits from The Retrofit Source Inc

[blizz99]

Since I already have a ballast can't I just get the projector and bulb to save on money?

[GSLENK]

if its a 35w ballast. and if it has the right plugs to plug into the bulb. the mini H1 isn't a "standard" HID size. those are rebased bulbs. and I'm pretty sure the "AMP" outputs of the morimoto ballasts aren't standard either. I could be wrong though.

[GSLENK]

Theres a muff uking devil in there!!!!!!

I completely tore apart the projectors. It was pretty tedious painting with Duplicolor high temp red caliper paint. these shields should certainly survive the heat in there. (BTW all the black previously done in the housing is 500* engine enamel)

The halo is waaaaaayyyyyyyy toooo bright. I think its gonna be one or the other at a time. which makes sense, cannot drive with the red on. can use the halos a DRL all day long. and halos outshine the red all day or night.

The only way to run both would be to make the halos dimmer... now how am i gonna do that?

How (can you even) dim leds?

[bryTSi]

Wow, that's an impressive HID setup. That cutoff is on par with the systems that are in new BMW, Lexus and Acura.

I just finished with my HID setup that was offered through SharpHID, but this is on a whole new level!

[GSLENK]

Originally Posted by bryTSi

Wow, that's an impressive HID setup. That cutoff is on par with the systems that are in new BMW, Lexus and Acura.

I just finished with my HID setup that was offered through SharpHID, but this is on a whole new level!

yeah this stuff is from the retrofit source. they only carry the highest end stuff. there is no economy option there. this is one of their relatively plug and play kits. and it blows a lot of stuff out of the water.

[Idaho AWD]

Those look beautiful! You have mad skills!! I am looking forward to seeing the finished product.

[talonsnwbrdr]

Any chance you will or can do a more full/detailed write up/tech article on this particular setup. This is a beautiful option for us 1GB guys who have diddly squat as far as upgrades and aftermarket options go. I would definately do this.

[chrisverneuil]

Yes you can dim leds. Its not easy but it can be done. Down and dirty you need a PWM(puls width modulation) to control the current. Just googled this. It has the info on how. Im pretty sure a pre-made board can be had. LED Dimmer Circuit - Lighting

[GSLENK]

Originally Posted by talonsnwbrdr

Any chance you will or can do a more full/detailed write up/tech article on this particular setup. This is a beautiful option for us 1GB guys who have diddly squat as far as upgrades and aftermarket options go. I would definately do this.

That's what I'm trying to do here. I'll add a list of "hard to decide" materials, and a rough how to. certain things like baking headlights should be mastered before trying this. I have more pics that Ill post later, but these should get you going.

Finally got the Halo AND demon to play nice together. PWM FTW!!!!! (#PWM PWN)

If I make it any dimmer the individual LEDS (each of 81 total i think) show up as white dots.

Im gonna try to find a potentiometer maybe, its gonna be hard from "0" to 2k ohm would be perfect.

Now I got the halo down to acceptable non DRL levels, its time to put a bunch more red leds in the eyes to brighten them up.

and heres a picture of the magic box. I can show you where I learned to do it but not how I did it lol.

Originally Posted by chrisverneuil

Yes you can dim leds. Its not easy but it can be done. Down and dirty you need a PWM(puls width modulation) to control the current. Just googled this. It has the info on how. Im pretty sure a pre-made board can be had. LED Dimmer Circuit - Lighting

I found another nice schematic, and used a circuit design program to troubleshoot. I made one. they can be bought on ebay/amazon for under $10. I made it all out of parts from my pops leftover electronic gizmos bin.

PS. bonus points to whoever can ID that hiding bottle

[Blurred Talon]

Watch the LEDs, heat will shorten their life span.

Looks good though. Nice to see someone doing HIDs right.

[Bud92gsx]

I would love to retrofit my new clear headliights..But I don't want to mess with there ballerness.

I will be following the progress.

[chrisverneuil]

Originally Posted by Blurred Talon

Watch the LEDs, heat will shorten their life span.

Looks good though. Nice to see someone doing HIDs right.

O.o Heat is a direct correlation to current. I'm pretty sure he will not be running them anywhere near there peak current lvls.

I could not find a hidden bottle anywhere.... Id love to check these out in person when there done

[GSLENK]

Originally Posted by Blurred Talon

Watch the LEDs, heat will shorten their life span.

Looks good though. Nice to see someone doing HIDs right.

Yeah i know.... Im gonna do it as best as i can and see how long it lasts. if it lasts a few years, I wont mind reopening to replace leds every 3 years or so.

I know you did red demon eyes or led something or other. how long did it last?

The Red will never be on when the projectors are on, and will rarely be on since they are illegal.

The halos will only be on as DRLs, so when the projectors are off. I never drive during dusk so I shouldnt have to worry about the hot headlamp HID burning the halo while its on as a DRL.

I do plan on under-powering them in an attempt to prolong life.

Originally Posted by chrisverneuil

I could not find a hidden bottle anywhere

You are not looking hard enough. its in 2 of the 3 pics of the last post.

[chrisverneuil]

the only bottle I can see is in the top left over by the SD card. Looks like some kind of spice to me. thats all I can really make of it though