Audi/BMW Style Custom Headlight Assembly for 2010 Prius

Hello fellow Prius Owners/Enthusiasts.

I have recently purchased the following Audi/BMW Style Custom Headlight Assembly from Rakuten Japan.
It costed me an arm and a leg (~$1200, plus international shipping, not mentioning inconveniencing my relatives at Japan because the merchant won't do international purchase or shipping), but the headlight is frigging awesome. Refer to the pictures below. Basically, there are 5 customizations:
1) Audi-style SMD white 27 individual LED lights underline
2) A blue electro-luminescent tube upperline
3) white LED rings around the LED low-beams
4) large white LED ring around the high beam mirror.

You can also see the item at en.item.rakuten.com "slash" atv-yours "slash" prius_new_package-p002 "slash".

However, I own a 2010 Prius II base model with halogen lights. When I initially purchased this, I naturally I want to update from halogen to LED lights, and since I was fairly comfortable with electric wiring, I went ahead and ordered the LED headlight assembly. I did some due diligent research before hand of course, and figured that it's all a matter of wiring. I spoke to Toyota dealership and also did some research on the forum, and concluded that the upgrade can be done. I know that the LED headlight assembly has auto-level system, but I decided that I don't need it for my Prius II model.

After weeks of anticipation, I received the unit. I was shocked to find that the LED assembly needs ECU sub-assembly that is not readily available for Prius II models. I paid $15 bucks at techinfo.toyota.com to look at the repair manual (something that I should have done before the purchase ... oh well, lesson learned) and confirmed this. Bottom line is, upgrading to a LED headlight assembly on a Prius II is far too complicated for what it's worth. I wanted to cry T_T.

I'm posting some pictures here, if anyone on the forum want to upgrade their LED headlight assembly and wish to take these off my hands, let me know.

 

My apologies, after I posted this, I realized that this post should go under accessories, not under PHV...

I tried to delete this post but for some reason I couldn't ... perhaps the moderator can be of assistance...

 

It only works on a V because only the V comes with LED headlight assembly. It fits a V with or without ATP package.

 

T_T

One major problem is that at the bottom of the LED headlight assembly is the headlight control ECU sub-assembly. It controls all sorts of functions for the model V, probably things like auto-dimming, auto-leveling, and so on.

These ECU sub-assemblies are pretty friggin' expensive. I looked at toyotapartszone.com, they are like, $400 each!! They practically cost more than the headlight assembly themselves! Basically the only sensible thing to do is to remove these from the OEM LED headlight assembly from the model V and put them on these ... Since I have the model II, I'm basically screwed.

It's amazing how intricate the lighting system is for the model V. I've looked at the circuit system diagram, and I'm blown away.

 

I painstakingly searched the forum, there were some discussions about people "thinking" of retrofitting LED lights, but that was about it. If you happen to remember where the posting is, I'd greatly appreciate it.

I took another stab at the lighting system circuit diagram, and it looked like both the V and non V low beam get their power from the integrated relay. I might be able to bypass the ECU sub-assembly and hard-wire the LED power feed ... keeping my fingers crossed.

 

If you are asking whether these Audi style LEDs can be used for night-time driving, then no. They are not meant to be directional, they are purely decorative. These are standard LED that runs on 12V 100mA.

 

Perhaps you meant the Prius Gen II? Prius Gen III moved away from HIDs, so these are LED headlights. The low beam is definitely LED, but there's a harness slot for high beam, which means you can use whatever bulb you want, be it halogen, HID.

 

I'm convinced that the LED lights requires a different power source than the halogen power. I stopped by a Toyota Service center earlier today, and chatted with a few service personnels. They are convinced that there is voltage transformation happening in the ECU sub-assembly, therefore I can't just connect the halogen power to the LED power.

In the lighting system diagram I found in the repair manual, it did not provide schematics for the ECU sub-assembly, so I have no idea what goes on in there. Oh, what to do.

Anyone have any idea what kind of power source or what voltage tranformation takes place to power the LED low-beam in model V?

 

Oh thank you so so very much!!! This was very very helpful! He's right!!

Initially when I powered the LED lights with 12V, it didn't light up. Naturally I thought either the LED lights were broken, or that it takes a different voltage. The misleading part was the repair manual lighting systems diagram, which states that both the LED and halogen lights were fed 12V from the integrated relay (I didn't realize the LED lights were hooked up in series; this means the ECU sub-assembly voltage-transforms 12V to 36V along the way, why does Toyota do that!?).

Knowing this, I took the head assembly apart. Apparently the custom shop put some nasty industrial strenght rubber glue to moisture-seal the housing so that disassembling the headlamp was a nightmare. In any case, I took it apart, broke everything you can possibly imagine along the way (including the angel eye LED halo ... luckily I was able to repair it and everything else I broke) . I reconnect the LED lights in parallel, and fed it 12V and it lit up!

I was able to bring out the LED low-beam wires. Now I was able to power everything. As for the slot where the ECU sub-assembly goes, I will probably custom-cut some plastic and moisture-seal the housing.

So now the plan is to buy harness so that I can connect to the existing Prius II light harness (2 parking light harness, and one low-beam harness). Looks like this might just work!