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

HID cutoff not as good as I thought?

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Accessories and Modifications' started by F8L, Apr 24, 2012.

  1. zhutton

    zhutton Junior Member

    Joined:
    May 27, 2012
    85
    21
    11
    Location:
    Staffordshire, UK
    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    The reason for the relay is because I just want the extra protection, I don't fancy rolling up at Toyota saying my lights won't work and them telling me that I fried the wiring, so it's just me being overprotective....
    I'm using a 35w kit 4300k Canbus.

    Ill get a photo of mine for comparison tomorrow night.

    I'm just running lows on hid, the highs are just on standard halogens. (don't use them often enough to warrant £50 on a kit)
     
  2. zhutton

    zhutton Junior Member

    Joined:
    May 27, 2012
    85
    21
    11
    Location:
    Staffordshire, UK
    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    It's very odd these days to have neither auto levelling or manual rotary levelling. The only lights I know to with no levelling are these with the pattern on the lens Range Rover P38 O/S/F DRIVERS SIDE Head Light & Good Frame FREE UK MAINLAND POST | eBay
     
  3. Feri

    Feri Active Member

    Joined:
    Jun 25, 2011
    761
    144
    0
    Location:
    Maldon Victoria Australia
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    III
    I think the relay is over kill. If it's a quality kit then the canbus ballast will perform adequately. You take a bigger risk splicing a wire to connect the relay. I'll be interested to see your cut off. Hope you have a better camera than mine.
     
  4. zhutton

    zhutton Junior Member

    Joined:
    May 27, 2012
    85
    21
    11
    Location:
    Staffordshire, UK
    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    You wouldn't have to splice In would you?
     
  5. Feri

    Feri Active Member

    Joined:
    Jun 25, 2011
    761
    144
    0
    Location:
    Maldon Victoria Australia
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    III
    With a normal relay, yes. I'm not sure if there are kits available from the HID manufacturers which avoid that.
     
  6. sfv41901

    sfv41901 Masta S

    Joined:
    May 5, 2010
    4,591
    5,292
    0
    Location:
    Palmdale, Ca
    Vehicle:
    2015 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    All of the relay kits I have seen, used & built never need to be sliced into the OEM harness. Only the power & ground leads need to be connected......but that's only to the battery & a body gnd. The other lead would be 1 plug going to the OEM headlight plug......& that's it. No cutting/splicing needed. Everything is pnp.
     
  7. zhutton

    zhutton Junior Member

    Joined:
    May 27, 2012
    85
    21
    11
    Location:
    Staffordshire, UK
    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    This is how mine looks :)

    Now to get off my butt and fit it!
     
  8. zhutton

    zhutton Junior Member

    Joined:
    May 27, 2012
    85
    21
    11
    Location:
    Staffordshire, UK
    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    Here are the photos of the road shot.

    4300k | 35W | H11

    High set to 2 (Halogen High)

    [​IMG]

    Low beam set to 5

    [​IMG]

    Low beam set to 0

    [​IMG]

    Let me know what you think of the pattern etc...
     
  9. mrstop

    mrstop PWR Mode

    Joined:
    Jun 22, 2012
    742
    329
    109
    Location:
    Cincinnati, OH
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    Hey F8L, what was the outcome? Did you find out the cutoff ended up being acceptable or not? Did you ever go a different route? I'm curious as the low beam's aren't real great and with winter darkness coming I'm starting to look for lighting upgrades.
     
  10. mrstop

    mrstop PWR Mode

    Joined:
    Jun 22, 2012
    742
    329
    109
    Location:
    Cincinnati, OH
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    Double post...
     
  11. mrstop

    mrstop PWR Mode

    Joined:
    Jun 22, 2012
    742
    329
    109
    Location:
    Cincinnati, OH
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    Did TRS ever figure out a quick retro option for you?
     
  12. wick1ert

    wick1ert Senior Member

    Joined:
    Dec 3, 2009
    1,311
    183
    2
    Location:
    Delawhere
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    III
    Actually, they just completed the quick retro and sent me back my head lights on Friday. I'm not sure when I'll get to installing/having them installed. I haven't even had a chance to open the box and take a look at them yet. You can try emailing TRS and seeing if they've got them on hand yet for sales or not.
     
  13. F8L

    F8L Protecting Habitat & AG Lands

    Joined:
    Aug 14, 2006
    19,011
    4,081
    50
    Location:
    Grass Valley, CA.
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    I have not done anything about my headlights. Ive only been flashed once and I always watch my cutoff to see if it is rising above the door on passing cars. It really only seems to do so just as the reach my front end and it appears rather dim. I should do a retro but I just can't bring myself to tear open a new set of headlights. I should make arrangements to find a set of headlights for my old GenII (my coworker owns it) then take the retrofitted headlights off it and use the FX-Rs on my car. :)
     
  14. F8L

    F8L Protecting Habitat & AG Lands

    Joined:
    Aug 14, 2006
    19,011
    4,081
    50
    Location:
    Grass Valley, CA.
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    I saw your email while I was in a workshop today. I'll re read it when I get back tomorrow. I can't wait to see what you have going on! :)
     
  15. mrstop

    mrstop PWR Mode

    Joined:
    Jun 22, 2012
    742
    329
    109
    Location:
    Cincinnati, OH
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    Thanks for the replies. I'm wrestling with the plug and play option versus the retrofit. The pics and feedback of the plug and play option looks acceptable and I like the price and ease of install.

    I believe the retro is the right thing to do, but like you don't want to tear apart the headlights. Unfortunately, I haven't found any pics on an actual retrofit to show the improvement over the plug and play. Maybe we will get to see one soon;)?
     
  16. wick1ert

    wick1ert Senior Member

    Joined:
    Dec 3, 2009
    1,311
    183
    2
    Location:
    Delawhere
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    III
    I have an appt to get the quick-retro from TRS headlights installed (I bought a spare set, just in case). It's about 3 weeks away still, but once they're in, I'll try to get some pictures. Not many options up here other than finding a random building to use, bc there's cars everywhere.

    I was pretty tight on funds after my Sept vacation, so I had to wait a few months to be able to afford the install cost!
     
  17. sfv41901

    sfv41901 Masta S

    Joined:
    May 5, 2010
    4,591
    5,292
    0
    Location:
    Palmdale, Ca
    Vehicle:
    2015 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    So far i think its just u & Wotcher who have these kits. Why do u do the install urself?
     
  18. wick1ert

    wick1ert Senior Member

    Joined:
    Dec 3, 2009
    1,311
    183
    2
    Location:
    Delawhere
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    III
    I only have 1 day a week where I don't have some obligation already. I also don't have a garage to work in, either.
     
  19. Feri

    Feri Active Member

    Joined:
    Jun 25, 2011
    761
    144
    0
    Location:
    Maldon Victoria Australia
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    III
    don't forget the projectors were designed for halogens. I don't think the bending beam is a big issue. I haven't had any body flash their lights at me in 80,000 kms or so.
     
  20. wick1ert

    wick1ert Senior Member

    Joined:
    Dec 3, 2009
    1,311
    183
    2
    Location:
    Delawhere
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    III
    Got the install done yesterday. Didn't have time to go do any sort of pictures, but I do know the alignment was way off on the lights. The shop guy said he did some adjustment in the shop. When I was driving, it was light having a light on the overhead signs (driver light) and the passenger aimed more towards the ground. I adjusted them both even more when I got home - we'll see how well I did, given it was after bowling league and drinking lol. I will try to go out tonight and get some pictures. It *seemed* like the light was much better concentrated on my garage door last night, and the beam on the edges bends downward towards the road now. These projectors definitely have a better cutoff than the OEM ones.