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Prius Gen 3 HID Retrofit -- The Right Way. Lexus RX350 Bi-Xenon, German Osram, Denso

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Accessories and Modifications' started by E46Prius, Aug 15, 2015.

  1. E46Prius

    E46Prius Active Member

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    Hi all. I wanted to share my Lexus RX350 Bi-Xenon retrofit. Many have said the RX350 non-AFS bi-xenon projectors are a direct plug and play for 2010+ Toyota models that use halogen projectors. But nobody really confirmed this for the Gen 3 Prius. I looked for photos, could not find any.

    Long story short, this is true. However you will need to do some cutting. But very little. All in all, this project took me 10 hours. I'm experienced in wiring and lighting upgrades, so it may take you longer. It helps to have a spare car just in case you need to run to the store.

    I did not want to go cheap Chinese/generic/aftermarket HID. I wanted full quality and full engineering in my lighting. My BMW also has full bi-xenon lighting treatment (however from the factory and upgraded bulbs and software edit etc)

    Here's the list of parts I installed:

    1) Lexus RX350 Bi-Xenon -- About $200 (Non-AFS) units from TheRetrofitSource.com.

    2) STI-R clear lenses from TheRetrofitSource.com. About $40. This gives you more clarity and depending on how you tune your cutoff shields/projector lens, more color. You can read more on hidplanet.com regarding tuning. My lens is spaced with washers and the RV shield has been trimmed.

    3) Denso Slim D2S ballasts from TheRetrofitSource.com About $190 If you buy these ballasts, they will need to be "potted" or waterproofed with a special epoxy. you simply open up the ballasts (one screw) and remove lid and internal plastic insert and pour the solution of 1 to 1 parts mixed epoxy onto all the internals of the ballasts. Leave the stock jelly inside. Pour right over it. Let it cure for 5 days and reassemble. MG Chemicals Epoxy <-- Link to epoxy

    4) Osram D2S CBI <--Link (The best HID bulbs in the business) Made in Germany About $140 (used to be $200 a piece a couple years ago)

    5) Dual relay HID wiring harness. I bought this from a local car shop. You can get it from TRS. About $15-20

    For a DIY, you can check other sites on how to remove the headlights and top of the bumper. Take your time, go slow.

    SDP-104.jpg SDP-102.jpg

    The RX350 projector on top and stock Prius halogen on bottom. Hole patterns are same. But the bi-xenon solenoid on the RX350 projector hits the stock Prius frame. You'll need to trim just a bit. Use a dremel with cutoff tool. Wear eye protection and a mask. Don't breath in the dust.
    SDP-107.jpg
    Cut along the red line. Just trim a small piece of plastic. All you need to cut. Nothing else. After you trim that piece out, the projector bolts right on.
    SDP-103.jpg

    **Will update with output pics tonight** but I tested them and they run great. Bi-xenon works great! All in all, about a $500 project and 10 hours of time (if you take your time and do things right) The engine bay looks stock and all wiring is routed very nicely and neatly =)


    Here's the D2S Lexus projector and how it sits in the Prius headlight once everything is put back together.
    SDP-108.jpg

    I still have to figure out what to put on the back of the projector housing to seal it. Anyone run into this? It's not a big deal but i'd like to address it at some point. Right now I just want the lights in the car =D

    I'll update with night time output pictures tonight.
     

    Attached Files:

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  2. SubCode

    SubCode Senior Member

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    All man you went in......can't wait to see the results!
     
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  3. E46Prius

    E46Prius Active Member

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    These photos were edited to reflect the results as honestly as possible. Lights can be made to look brighter by using the automatic settings of a camera. So exposure was dialed down to achieve fairly accurate results representative of real world observation. They look really sharp. I'm happy with the result. Oh and a bonus pic of the LED turn signals I installed.

    The LED wedge (194) bulbs I installed in the headlights are too blue for my tastes. I want more conservative (yellower) bulbs but they are hard to find for some reason. Every LED bulb tends to be on the blue side. SDP-115.jpg SDP-113.jpg SDP-111.jpg SDP-110.jpg
     
  4. sect0r9

    sect0r9 Junior Member

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    Looks good! My wife just got a 2013 Prius 3 and refuses to drive it at night because she got spoiled with my Tacomas custom retrofitted headlights. Once I can get the funds I'm going to attempt a quad projector retrofit.


    iPhone ?
     
  5. slowpriusj

    slowpriusj Active Member

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    Good job I love how wide they are and the color on the cutoff is crazy!
     
  6. Vman455

    Vman455 Senior Member

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    Looks great! It's nice that you've confirmed the RX350 projectors bolt right up; that should save a lot of people some searching in the future.
     
  7. CaJoe

    CaJoe Junior Member

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    Thanks for posting. How does this deal from lightwerks sound? $530 shipped. Equipment seems similar, but I'm a noob. They do the potting for you.

    Complete TSX/RX330 Retrofit Stage 2
    shroud type: MC-R (Have many choices for shrouds. Not sure which one is best for 2010 Prius)
    Potting service. Epoxy waterproofing for $40
    Projector: Lexus RX330/TSX-R Lens
    Bulb Color Temp: Osram 66240 4300K (A few other options)
    Ballast Type: Denso Ballasts
    Harness Type: H1 (again a few other options)

    Benefit would also be I'm not very handy and don't want to cut, drill, epoxy etc.

     
  8. E46Prius

    E46Prius Active Member

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    The ballasts and bulbs are good but that sounds like it's going to be lots of modding necessary. I highly doubt the TSX has the same mounting points as the RX350 bi-xenon non-afs projectors. As far as I know, only the RX350 non-AFS bi-xenon projectors bolt right up. I am not sure the RX330 does.. doubt it cause i've never heard of that
     
  9. Zzzt

    Zzzt 2004 Salsa Red w/185,000 mi - now driven by my son

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    This may sound like a noob question, but where did you pull 12v power from in the fuse/relay panel? I'm going to do a similar mod using the Morimoto kit from TheRetroFitSource and have had the parts since Feb (just now getting around to installing). On my GenII Prius there was a simple terminal that you could tap into in the fuse/relay panel. No such animal in my 2015 GenIII, unless it is under that annoying cover that is a pain to pry open and lift up. That just looks like a high amp fuse with a bolt/stud at the bottom...
     
  10. Zzzt

    Zzzt 2004 Salsa Red w/185,000 mi - now driven by my son

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    Never mind... I found the answer to my question - just didn't do enough investigating. Sorry to bother you. You have a great looking mod, BTW. Congrats!
     
  11. E46Prius

    E46Prius Active Member

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    No problem. Yep I just screwed it down under the fuse panel box under the positive terminal flap. then neatly closed the box over the wire. easy peasy!I will shoot pictures later to show how I routed my cabling.
     
  12. Snow

    Snow Member

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    Awesome build thread! I just did the retro-quik install a couple months ago and am loving the output. Always am tweaking the height though as I always feel like I have them aimed a little too low because I don't want to blind people!
     
  13. E46Prius

    E46Prius Active Member

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    Can you post pics?
     
  14. Snow

    Snow Member

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    I've only got this one picture, but could always take one outside my driveway pointing down a road.

    I also took a video. I since have raised the height a little bit and I think I like where they're at right now. Good enough distance and rarely glares into oncoming traffic. I hate those damn hills, but I can't help that.


    _20150903_152942.JPG
     
  15. WolfpackBill

    WolfpackBill Senior Member

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    Looks great! So how did you end up sealing the back of the headlight assembly? I did a TSX retro with my previous car (2006 Accord) and I went the ghetto way by caulking it with silicone caulk.
     
  16. Kentoxic

    Kentoxic Junior Member

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    Great mod! I don't know if it would show up but I posted a thread on my rx350 installation as well as black outs and red demon eyes. Glad you seem to be enjoying the setup. Bixenon is the bomb. Do you have dual high beams or are you just using the projector highs?
     
  17. E46Prius

    E46Prius Active Member

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    Thanks. Yes I saw your thread but wasn't able to tell too much from it as far as what I needed to cut. So I decided to post some high quality photos for people who want to do this. I'm using dual highs just as in my BMW as well (except with the BMW, it's just lines of code in software) =)

    I sealed it using 90mm rubber caps. No silicone needed. 100% factory looking job. Someone posted the Prius uses 80mm caps and I want to say on the record that is WRONG. Thanks to that person for making me waste money!

    90mm caps fit perfectly.
     
  18. Kentoxic

    Kentoxic Junior Member

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    Yeah my thread wasn't meant to be any sort of guide just wanted to show others my process :)
     
  19. lemonsama

    lemonsama Junior Member

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  20. sfv41901

    sfv41901 Masta S

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    Dylan Doxey likes this.