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My Headlight Mods: Mini H1, Blacked Housing and LEDs

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Accessories & Modifications' started by Justdidit, Jan 16, 2013.

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  1. USDM - With Amber lens and reflector

    27.3%
  2. JDM - No reflector and Amber LED bulb for parking light

    72.7%
  1. Justdidit

    Justdidit LVNPZEV

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    Which one is on the fence..

    The JDM look w/o Amber reflectors?
    These?
    Or just this in general?
     
  2. Unleashd

    Unleashd Junior Member

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    How is this project coming along?
     
  3. Justdidit

    Justdidit LVNPZEV

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    Daytime photo update:
    [​IMG]

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    I'll get some night shots soon. The output of these H1s are freaking amazing. Puts the OEM HID to shame. LEDs are awesome for DRLs.
     
  4. Unleashd

    Unleashd Junior Member

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    Looks awesome. I think the black trim paint brings out the looks much better. LEDs are looking very good too.
     
  5. Justdidit

    Justdidit LVNPZEV

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    Thanks for the ideas and help!
     
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  6. Unleashd

    Unleashd Junior Member

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    You've given me more ideas for a summer project :)
     
  7. Justdidit

    Justdidit LVNPZEV

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    This project was definitely fun. Not sure why not more people aren't doing do this mod. The LEDs themselves are fairly cheap. It just takes some patience and attention to detail. Some websites sell this 'mod' for up to $900. Time and effort wise, I definitely think parts aside its worth $200 in labor alone. All worth it. :)
     
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  8. Robert Meserole

    Robert Meserole Junior Member

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    What process/ steps did you take when painting the trim piece? Also what paint did you use?

    Thanks,
    Robert
     
  9. Justdidit

    Justdidit LVNPZEV

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    I used a Satin Black.. This to be exact:
    [​IMG]

    My Old OEM HID painted lights...

     
  10. Justdidit

    Justdidit LVNPZEV

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    Haven't had time to align my headlights yet, but here are a couple night shots of the light pattern.
    [​IMG]
    Pulling into the Garage
    [​IMG]
    A bit of the length of the cutoff - I'll get a better one later.
    [​IMG]
    Compare OEM HID 35w with 6000k DDM bulbs VS 55W DDM 6000k kit. Notice with the 6000k looks more white with the 55W. Makes the road light up nice and white...not as much blue.
    [​IMG]
     
  11. Justdidit

    Justdidit LVNPZEV

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    You can see from this photo, that there is some glare above the cut-off from not painting the housing black and leaving it chrome as it has been suggested. :(
     
  12. Robert Meserole

    Robert Meserole Junior Member

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    I assume that you sanded the chrome prior to painting it? What other steps did you take?
     
  13. Justdidit

    Justdidit LVNPZEV

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    Nope, just started with a light coat. Added 2 more coats after. Didn't seem to need to sand...prob wouldn't hurt tho. Other than taping off with green tape the areas I didn't want sprayed.

    As you can see from the photo:
    Make sure you have everything else covered. Mist and over-spray is horrible if it gets on anything you still want shiney!
     
  14. Robert Meserole

    Robert Meserole Junior Member

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  15. Robert Meserole

    Robert Meserole Junior Member

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    Sorry forgot to end the quote
     
  16. Justdidit

    Justdidit LVNPZEV

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    The 5mm LEDs i used aren't perfectly straight but taper a bit. They are very secured in the 3/16ths hold due to just friction. At one point I wanted to turn the LED in the hole and it took some needle nose pliers to even get the LED out.
    [​IMG]
    As shown the LEDs came prewired and this wire was clipped and tapped by solder to a 1 main pwr and ground. If I ever decide I want to swap out the amber reflector for a silver one, I may put a 'light barrier wall' to keep the light from the LEDs from entering the turn signal reflector area turning it a whitish-blue.

    Because i didn't use the amber lens covering the parking light this left a small slit to feed the wire back thru the reflector to a small hole i cut near the parking lamp bulb. I fed the wires thru that hole and connected them to the parking lamp wire pwr and ground.
     
  17. V8Cobrakid

    V8Cobrakid Green Handyman

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    i like the new look. glad you put back in the normal yellow reflectors as it's illegal in California to use anything else. I think it all shines really well. the black on chrome is a good ascent. I kinda like the idea of doing a two tone projector as you showed in that one photo (mazda?). Your normal all blacked out idea looked as if someone punched your prius in it's eyes.

    The results are soo good that i'm thinking of doing something similar. I love the clean cut offs. I don't know if id care to add the little LED row in. I like LEDs to replace all my halogens but the bands are a little overkill since everyone abuses that look. I'll definitely keep this info for changing out the projector and fogs.
     
  18. V8Cobrakid

    V8Cobrakid Green Handyman

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    btw.. with the heat buildup, your paint may peel... when you showed the spray-can i instantly thought of the bbq paint since its rated for 400+ degrees
     
  19. Justdidit

    Justdidit LVNPZEV

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    Ya, I agree with you...but I guess since I've done two other sets of headlights with this and no issues... I'd just use the rest of the can. BUT, yes, prob should have used Hi-Temp paint.
     
  20. Unleashd

    Unleashd Junior Member

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    If I aim the headlight at 2" lower at 20', I have the same issue on mine too. Though my reflector is painted black, the trim is still chrome and creates that glare above the cut -off. You can see that glare above the garage door handle in this picture. I have now aimed it at no drop off in 20' to avoid that glare and haven't been flipped off yet :)

    [​IMG]
     
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