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Mini H1 Projectors + 55W Ballast Retrofit All Done!

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Accessories & Modifications' started by weidake, Sep 3, 2011.

  1. weidake

    weidake Junior Member

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    Thats Great! I really think it is not worth the effort to put in the FX-Rs, and you can reuse your OEM headlight housing if you decide to sell your car.
     
  2. wick1ert

    wick1ert Senior Member

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    My friend with the OEM HIDs would love the better lighting output of these, I think. I doubt he'll spend the $$ to get it done, though.

    I gotta get my car into the shop to let them do the projector fogs that I got on ebay. I don't have the patience to do that stuff anymore. Hoping these are better than the bling lights that I have currently.
     
  3. usbseawolf2000

    usbseawolf2000 HSD PhD

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    Upgrade from OEM halogen provides the best bang for the buck. It is a great DIY project with under $200 budget.
     
  4. F8L

    F8L Protecting Habitat & AG Lands

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    I think it is an excellent mod that really helps with night driving. I just wish you didn't have to bake the headlights or the retrofit businesses didn't charge so much. Putting the minis in the Prius headlight is a couple hours worth of work at most. $400-$500 in labor is nuts.
     
  5. F8L

    F8L Protecting Habitat & AG Lands

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    I ordered the H1 4.0 projectors today. I hope to have them in by next weekend so I'll be ready for Green Drive Expo!

    TRS customer service is the best I've ever experienced.
     
  6. wick1ert

    wick1ert Senior Member

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    Even though I only worked directly with TRS once, I would have to highly recommend them to others. Your experiences with them helps me recommend them as well.

    I wish all car makers would shift towards the projectors vs reflectors.

    When I was with my friend on the Harley's, we were comparing the low/high beams on my LED headlight vs the reflector in his. He said "mine seems to light up ahead better". I said "no, it lights up the tree canopy better, mine lights up further down the road". Once he looked again, he agreed :)
     
  7. F8L

    F8L Protecting Habitat & AG Lands

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    Squirrel finders! lol
     
  8. usbseawolf2000

    usbseawolf2000 HSD PhD

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    What's new in 4.0? Did you get a new pair of headlights? Are you getting 06-09?
     
  9. F8L

    F8L Protecting Habitat & AG Lands

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    From the TRS website:

    What makes the MH1 4.1 from TRS better than ever? beefier solenoid inputs, better ground lock-ring threads, a machined (not cast) lock-ring, an improved reflector bowl coating, Morimoto Logo cast into the body, black cutoff shields, blocked squirrel finders, and a revised front lens frame which removes the "halo" from the beam pattern.


    I purchased a used set of 06-09 headlamp assemblies and they look good except a few parts are missing but I should be able to get them off of my old headlamps. I hope. There is one gouge in the outer lens too but I'll see what I can do about it. The price was nice though!
     
  10. usbseawolf2000

    usbseawolf2000 HSD PhD

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    Nice set of improvements! Let us know how 06-09 headlights fit in your 05. Interestingly, no one has done it before or knew the answer to it.
     
  11. F8L

    F8L Protecting Habitat & AG Lands

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    I'm crossing my fingers. :)
     
  12. weidake

    weidake Junior Member

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    I'm getting the Blazers projectors but not for my Prius :)
    I love the output of the mini and don't think I have the need to turn on my fogs ever again.
    And the mini handles the 55W like a champ.
     
  13. F8L

    F8L Protecting Habitat & AG Lands

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    I really like the blazers. I was getting a little silly earlier and considering trying to use my D2S minis for driving lights in place of the blazers. :eek:
     
  14. weidake

    weidake Junior Member

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    LoL, Actually I almost wanted to retro the fogs in my X6 with mini h1.
    But seems like the blazers are the right size.
     
  15. F8L

    F8L Protecting Habitat & AG Lands

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    The blazers are also sealed from water and such.
     
  16. weidake

    weidake Junior Member

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    I'm interested in seeing the output comparison between the mini d2s & h1. Hope you have time to snap some pix putig them side by side when you get your h1 shipment. :)
     
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  17. F8L

    F8L Protecting Habitat & AG Lands

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    I'll see what I can do. :)
     
  18. comatoes

    comatoes #GreenLife

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    What's the total cost going from stock HID's to Mini H1s and 55W ballast?
     
  19. F8L

    F8L Protecting Habitat & AG Lands

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    Skip the 55w ballast. Use your OEM HID ballast and spend the extra money saved on a better set of bulbs like the Morimoto XB35. Total cost would be about $155. $195 if you get the 55w ballast which isn't much better than the OEM 35w ballast plus you don't have to mount the aftermarket ballast.
     
  20. comatoes

    comatoes #GreenLife

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    So the lights are mini h1 projectors and the bulbs are Morimoto XB35? I have very little knowledge in this area.. but I know I like how your projectors looked and seeing at night is a good thing (IMO).. I saw the Mini H1s on Amazon for $122 shipped http://www.amazon.com/Bi-xenon-Projectors-Retrofit-Gatling-Headlight/dp/B004G90A5G and the Morimoto's for $74.02 shipped [ame=http://www.theretrofitsource.com/product_info.php?products_id=235]The Retrofit Source Inc[/ame]

    Also, Is there a cheaper place to buy?