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I am here to figure out how to convert my Fiance's 2007 prius halogen lights to an LED option

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Accessories & Modifications' started by Halogen2LED, Dec 18, 2018.

  1. Halogen2LED

    Halogen2LED New Member

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    I have found several options on Ebay and from Spyder, but From what I have read so far they are prob not the best options, will be reading up on what seems to work, retrofitting mini H1 projectors looks like a win, I am fully capable with electronics and have a budget around $400. If there is a good plug and play option that you are using please respond with links so I can research them. Thank you. I also have all the dremel heads, mini saws and can purchase whatever gasketing material I need for upgrading to projectors, the low beams right now are actually pretty dangerous in the rain on the free way up here in Washington. Looking for super bright options for the low beam with good cutoff for oncoming traffic.
     
  2. Fred Norris

    Fred Norris New Member

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    I replaced my 2009 Prius headlights with this upgrade. They are super bright and work great. Even during day time driving on coming drivers flash their headlights at me. If you have any questions about the install please feel free to ask.

     
  3. sam spade 2

    sam spade 2 Senior Member

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    That doesn't strike me as a good thing.
    And your "link" didn't show up in the post.....even though it is there, but maybe in a wrong format.

    And for the OP:
    Does the owner of this car approve of this modification that you intend to do ??
    Would hate to see you end up on Judge Judy if it doesn't go good. :ROFLMAO:
     
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  4. Halogen2LED

    Halogen2LED New Member

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    Yeah my Fiance is well aware of the Mods I plan on doing to her car, we bought a house together and it is a matter of safety to get the lights brighter, they are like the brightness of 2 almost dead headlamps, its flat out scary to drive at night. I sent a message to TRS, may go with the recommended 35 watt ballast..
     
  5. Halogen2LED

    Halogen2LED New Member

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    there are a ton of posts about how bad using reflectors with LED bulbs are, your prob literally blinding oncoming traffic, I want projectors with a crisp cutoff and tons of output with the low beams. I was gonna go this route until I read up on the subject. My budget is high enough to do the retrofits correctly. I appreciate you trying to help, can you post your low beam pics on a wall from 20 ft away at night so I can see the output and cutoff, thanks.
     
  6. TMR-JWAP

    TMR-JWAP Senior Member

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    I replaced my 2009 Prius headlights with this upgrade. They are super bright and work great. Even during day time driving on coming drivers flash their headlights at me. If you have any questions about the install please feel free to ask.

    This doesn't raise any concerns to you?? Like maybe you're blinding the F out of everyone else? Maybe making the road a little more dangerous?
     
  7. Kevin_Denver

    Kevin_Denver Active Member

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    I would go with a HID retrofit kit, which provides better results than LED. Morimoto Mini H1 7.0 are supposed to be some of the best at a reasonable cost. Retrofitting involves baking the headlights, opening them up, mounting the kit, and resealing.

    If you want to do less work, there are projector headlights for the Prius available online for around $350USD that will work okay with aftermarket HID or LED bulbs. They will be fairly easy to install (just replace headlights including removing bumper and aim), but will not have nearly as good of a light pattern or brightness as the Morimotos.

    Definitely don't do as is suggested in this thread and put LED bulbs in your halogen reflector housings. The glare to other drivers is dangerous.
     
  8. VFerdman

    VFerdman Senior Member

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    I have retrofitted my halogens with HID projector setup from TRS. I went with the ACME kit which comes with Morimoto harness, ACME projectors and ACME bulbs. I really like the result. It was not very difficult to do and cost under $150. Well worth the effort. The cutoff line is nice and crisp, the brightness is pretty good if not spectacular. I went with 4300K color after trying the 5000K. I just prefer the warmer color and my eyes seem to make things out better in it. Maybe it's just years and years of driving with halogens. In any case, the HID retrofit from TRS is very good, their service is excellent and the quality seems to be very good as well. I have had the kit on for around a month now and am loving it.

    Also, if you are still deciding and will not make a decision soon, just go and buy a pair of cheap replacement halogen bulbs for the interim. They will be an improvement over the old ones. Halogens do degrade with time and become much dimmer, so the new ones will at least help in the meantime. It is a matter of safety.
     
  9. TMR-JWAP

    TMR-JWAP Senior Member

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    Along with new bulbs, any hazing of the lenses will cause a significant degradation of the beams.

    I was a semi-non believer in the lens restoration kits until yesterday. I helped a friend out with a 2005 Audi A4 convertible. The headlights were HID and they looked like crap. They were actually so bad they were yellowish. We looked online for high rated kits and one that showed up around #2 or #3 of the top 5 for 2018 was a Turtle Wax kit available at Walmart.com for ~$6. We went to the closest WallyWorld, grabbed 2 of them (each supposedly good for 2 lights) and found that they were $8.99? in store.

    We removed the headlights from the car to do this. The only thing we did different from the directions was to hit the lenses with some 1500 grit wet/dry and 2000 wet/dry prior to using the kit components.

    Holy crap they look good. I would never have believed it if I hadn't been involved in doing it. I may never buy a new headlight again. We only used one kit, so the second kit is mine to do my 2007 Prius lenses when I have time.

    Turtle Wax T240KT Headlight Lens Restorer Kit - Walmart.com
     
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  10. sam spade 2

    sam spade 2 Senior Member

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    Or maybe even a not-so-cheap pair of "high intensity" replacement bulbs.
    You might find that you don't need to change the basic system at all.

    Sylvania has some but old reports say their lifespan isn't too long. Silverstar, I think.
    PIAA seems to get the highest recommendation; good light output and long life.
     
  11. VFerdman

    VFerdman Senior Member

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    I would caution AGAINST the high intensity halogens. I went that way at first before retrofitting with HID. I bought a pair of PIAA for around $50 and they were actually pretty good. Bright, good color. But! They failed after only 11 months of service. I do not run lights all the time, only at night and during rain, but dang! $50/year is a lot for headlights. For under $150 I went with HID retrofit and am hoping the HID bulbs will last more than 3 years. Also, the replacement HID bulbs are only $20/pair at TRS and they usually run a 10% off coupon.
     
  12. Fred Norris

    Fred Norris New Member

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    Hey Happy Holidays,
    You can read many reviews if you check out
    Sealight X2 H4 LED Headlight Conversion Kit. The tech's at our shop use them, that's how I found out.
    Our shop (50 tech's) is 1out of 5 for a large municipality just fire trucks and police cars at our shop.
     
  13. MagnusAG99

    MagnusAG99 Senior Member

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    I would personally not just upgrade to HID/DRL bulbs in a reflector housing... U will get alot of people flashing their lights at u cause it glares as all hell. I see these cars that got LED and Xenons in the reflectors and its horrible meeting them at the road. They may be cheap kit`s the ones ive met, and some more expensive kit`s may not glare as much cause theyre made with reflectors in mind. But still..

    If i had a gen 2 i would upgrade to headlights like these, a projector is way better at spreading light at the right places then a reflector. These r DOT and SAE certified (legal on-road). I dont know if these r made for halogen or xenon, i imagine its made to just slap the original halogens in, but i would instead slap some LED`s or HID`s in them. These would concentrate the light output way better the any reflectors.

    Anzo 121291 | ANZO USA Toyota Prius Projector Headlights W/ Halo Black (Ccfl); 2004-2009 [​IMG]
     
  14. Halogen2LED

    Halogen2LED New Member

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    I ended up getting the Morimoto Mini Ds2 5.0 Bi-xenon projectors, a little intimidated to start the project, I am more than capable of doing it, It's just a lot of work. Probably happening this weekend, will try to post before and after pics.
     
  15. Halogen2LED

    Halogen2LED New Member

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    I got the 50watt ballasts and bulbs
     
  16. Halogen2LED

    Halogen2LED New Member

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    Going to pull the headlights out today begin the retrofit of the Mini DS2 5.0 Bi-XENON projectors, any interest in my filming this whole process? Will prob be following along with a couple of youtube videos and some of the tutorials on here. Wish me luck!
     
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  17. VFerdman

    VFerdman Senior Member

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    Best of luck! Not sure about filming a video, but good photographic documentation is always helpful. I continue to enjoy my ACME retrofit. It is really nice to have lights I can see the road with and not blind anyone in the process.
     
  18. Halogen2LED

    Halogen2LED New Member

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    Everything works. Morimoto ds2 5.0 projectors
     

    Attached Files:

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  19. Halogen2LED

    Halogen2LED New Member

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    Filmed the entire process over 3 days
     
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  20. VFerdman

    VFerdman Senior Member

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    That looks great! Why is it tilted? Is the car not on a level surface? Mine was the same, but my driveway is way uneven. I went to a supermarket parking lot later at night and behind the building they had a good level space with a wall and I adjusted the beams there.

    Make sure you adjust them properly or you'll be blinding people on the other side of the road, which is one of my big pet peeves. Will you post the video?