1. Attachments are working again! Check out this thread for more details and to report any other bugs.

Headlight projector retrofit - HIDs to the max!

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Accessories & Modifications' started by F8L, Apr 29, 2011.

  1. macmaster05

    macmaster05 Senor Member

    Joined:
    Sep 27, 2009
    4,050
    727
    5
    Location:
    USA
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    Yah, hmm. I'm just wondering how cops discern what is aftermarket HID and how often that kind of thing gets ticketed. I vividly remember seeing a car with bright yellow HID foglights behind me on the freeway one time. It was bright and glaring, but not anything I'd deem unsafe. I was more of in a ooooo aaaaahh mode than I was frustrated with its brightness or concerned for my safety.

    I'm not trying to work you like a dog, I swear! Haha thanks again. :D
     
  2. KK6PD

    KK6PD _ . _ . / _ _ . _

    Joined:
    Mar 24, 2008
    4,003
    944
    118
    Location:
    Los Angeles Foothills
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    Justin, that turned out quite nice.! Good pics, thanks. Now I have a new goal!!
     
  3. ahmeow

    ahmeow Prius Lover

    Joined:
    Nov 11, 2010
    366
    70
    0
    Location:
    North CA
    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    Oh yes FL8, I made a mistake on the bulb type no. Thanks.
    Yes the stock fogligh is just for decoration only. No help to light up the ground. Even changed to 64 LEDs. I just use it to match the whiteness of the HID headlamps. Since you really want the foglight to light up the front ground, using HID is the only way. However due to your experience of blinding the coming driver and you switched to another type means you are considerate. A real good driver.:cheer2:
    Regards.
     
  4. flareak

    flareak Fleet Captain

    Joined:
    Mar 9, 2004
    1,016
    20
    0
    Location:
    St Louis, MO
    Vehicle:
    2005 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    So, which shrouds did you use, and do you think those shrouds are needed? I'm wondering if it's okay to just stick in the projector without a shroud
     
  5. F8L

    F8L Protecting Habitat & AG Lands

    Joined:
    Aug 14, 2006
    19,011
    4,080
    50
    Location:
    Grass Valley, CA.
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    Yeah, thanks to you and these close up shots I now see why my beam pattern isn't as clear as I would like., The inside of the OEM lens is streaked with something. :(

    I'm going to give it a couple of days worth of tweaking before I do the write up. I'm learning things that will help you get it right the first time. :rockon:

    Thanks, man. :)

    I used the E46-R extended. You do need some sort of shroud in most cases or you'll see ugly bolts or wires. There are other shrouds available in case you don't like mine. :) Projector Shrouds from The Retrofit Source Inc
     
    1 person likes this.
  6. F8L

    F8L Protecting Habitat & AG Lands

    Joined:
    Aug 14, 2006
    19,011
    4,080
    50
    Location:
    Grass Valley, CA.
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    I got my beams as level as they are going to get until I rotate the projectors. So I took some shots with my cell phone which seemed to work better than my camera.

    Headlight shot for mac.
    [​IMG] Better aimed
    [​IMG]


    Wall shot 1
    [​IMG]

    Wall shot 2. The whiter light on the bottom is from my foglights
    [​IMG]
     
    5 people like this.
  7. usbseawolf2000

    usbseawolf2000 HSD PhD

    Joined:
    Sep 22, 2004
    14,487
    2,994
    0
    Location:
    Fort Lee, NJ
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    Looks sharp and sweet!
     
  8. F8L

    F8L Protecting Habitat & AG Lands

    Joined:
    Aug 14, 2006
    19,011
    4,080
    50
    Location:
    Grass Valley, CA.
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    Thanks bru! I'm sure you'll love your kit. Feel free to call me if you have any issues at all. My main advice is to ensure everything is 100% clean before you rebake the headlight to seal it up. I noticed I have streaks on the inside of the lens and I had forgotten to wipe the projector lens perfectly clean also. Since I have to take the LED strips out I am not so concerned but if I wanted this to be a one time deal I would be pretty upset having to bake the headlights again just to clean. That is the drawback to doing mods while drugged up to combat chemo. lol

    I noticed that driving around in the city or lit up areas the headlights do not appear bright at all. It was rather underwhelming but once in the country or on dark roads you REALLY notice the difference and the width of the beams is great. One a three land highway I can drive in the middle lane and easily put a wall of light on either sides of the road (bush lined highways show the beams very well). During my morning commute I started to worry about my lights when I noticed this really bright bluish light reflecting off of the back of a big rig semi with a metallic boxcar. I was at least 20 cars lengths behind him and though "OMG are my lights that bad?". Then I looked in my rear view mirror and saw a riced out Honda pulling up behind me with a glaring Plug & Play kit in halogen housings. He moved over 2 lanes and immediately the horrid reflection on the semi truck's boxcar went away yet I was still behind the truck (20 car lengths away). I sighed in relief and then realized why I did this mod. Great light and no blinding effects on other drivers. :rockon:
     
  9. usbseawolf2000

    usbseawolf2000 HSD PhD

    Joined:
    Sep 22, 2004
    14,487
    2,994
    0
    Location:
    Fort Lee, NJ
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    What temp did you bake it at? For how long? Did you warp it up with anything?
     
  10. F8L

    F8L Protecting Habitat & AG Lands

    Joined:
    Aug 14, 2006
    19,011
    4,080
    50
    Location:
    Grass Valley, CA.
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    265degrees for 7min seemed to do the trick. I think I may have warped the orange reflector at the top but not from the oven directly. I think I pressed on it too hard while it was hot. I'm going to probably redo the lights this week as I may have some down time while waiting for flooring to come in for the new house. :)

    I'll send you the full instructions for retrofitting that TRS provides. Just shoot me a PM with your email.
     
  11. usbseawolf2000

    usbseawolf2000 HSD PhD

    Joined:
    Sep 22, 2004
    14,487
    2,994
    0
    Location:
    Fort Lee, NJ
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    I got the projectors + H1 bulbs + LED strips this morning. The postman rang the bell at 7am!!

    I am contemplating if I should put the LED strip in the headlight. I am afraid if one of the array dies, I'll have to remove the headlight and re-bake it to fix / remove the LED.

    KISS approach seems more appealing. :D
     
  12. F8L

    F8L Protecting Habitat & AG Lands

    Joined:
    Aug 14, 2006
    19,011
    4,080
    50
    Location:
    Grass Valley, CA.
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    Sweet!

    I still like the idea of the LED strip but if I keep it I will put it under the lip of the area that looks like false LEDs on the 2006+. It would hide the blackness of the strip but the light should look good. I'm not sure yet. lol

    When are you going to do the install, Dennis?
     
  13. Ryanpl

    Ryanpl Active Member

    Joined:
    Jun 24, 2010
    780
    158
    0
    Location:
    Brooklyn, NY
    Vehicle:
    2004 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    Based on what I've been learning about Dennis I'd say today.
     
  14. F8L

    F8L Protecting Habitat & AG Lands

    Joined:
    Aug 14, 2006
    19,011
    4,080
    50
    Location:
    Grass Valley, CA.
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    Yeah, he is not usually one to let a mod sit in a box for too long. The great thing is he is much more detailed than I am so by the time he is done, this thread will be a great "How To" article. :)
     
  15. usbseawolf2000

    usbseawolf2000 HSD PhD

    Joined:
    Sep 22, 2004
    14,487
    2,994
    0
    Location:
    Fort Lee, NJ
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    I am still waiting for the headlight to arrive. I hate UPS. They always come after 6pm. One time, I got a call at 8pm while having dinner at a restaurant because nobody was there to open the door. Duh!

    If I get it soon, dinner is going to be the headlight. It is going straight into to the oven! :D
     
  16. F8L

    F8L Protecting Habitat & AG Lands

    Joined:
    Aug 14, 2006
    19,011
    4,080
    50
    Location:
    Grass Valley, CA.
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    LOL! Do it man!

    I'll keep my phone near so call if you have any questions. Especially when you get to the bulb seating part. You don't want to screw that up. :)

    Headlights... It's what's for dinner.
     
  17. Ryanpl

    Ryanpl Active Member

    Joined:
    Jun 24, 2010
    780
    158
    0
    Location:
    Brooklyn, NY
    Vehicle:
    2004 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    Yumm baked headlights.
     
  18. usbseawolf2000

    usbseawolf2000 HSD PhD

    Joined:
    Sep 22, 2004
    14,487
    2,994
    0
    Location:
    Fort Lee, NJ
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    Took some picture of the projector. The last one is with the Mini Gatling Shroud.

    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
     

    Attached Files:

  19. F8L

    F8L Protecting Habitat & AG Lands

    Joined:
    Aug 14, 2006
    19,011
    4,080
    50
    Location:
    Grass Valley, CA.
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    Nice! I'm glad you went with a different shroud. It will be cool to see the difference.

    Would you mind looking at my write up as it is then adding in your experiences so I can compile them? I think we could make this nice "How To" thread between the two of us. Also take some pictures that I missed and that you think would help others.
     
  20. usbseawolf2000

    usbseawolf2000 HSD PhD

    Joined:
    Sep 22, 2004
    14,487
    2,994
    0
    Location:
    Fort Lee, NJ
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    Got the headlight.

    [​IMG]

    Just checking how the LED strip would look in there.

    [​IMG]
     

    Attached Files: