Projector retrofit

[andyam]

Hi guys.

Before I start....I know the MOT regulations etc so please don't go on about this. This is a question for people who have NON Xenon headlights and would be looking to do a conversion with their current headlights.

So I'm about to purchase some mini h1 supper projectors to retrofit onto my car. Taking the plunge feeling confident.

Question for uou guys is... With the surrounds what would you recommend? I'm thinking of the cut off iris surrounds in chrome/black as shown in this video.

http://youtu.be/W6UvaSYdeDo

Seen an image with the mini gatling gun...but looks just crap on the B8 headlight.

Thoughts?
Cheers
Andy

[andyam]

So here is the finished producthttp://tapatalk.imageshack.com/v2/14/09/14/bf87e9c11b0a3553a71811d7d6d1a652.jpg
http://tapatalk.imageshack.com/v2/14/09/14/136d38e293d800e6166523274af77cfb.jpghttp://tapatalk.imageshack.com/v2/14/09/14/e31cdd3a2c41b3bd4d35b22de7d403b5.jpghttp://tapatalk.imageshack.com/v2/14/09/14/5858c33aeb985041a5ac3c1bdada6146.jpg

[Alex jb]

Badass.


Can you detail a little the costs and work involved?

I love how clean the beam is and the idea of not ******* about with cleaning jets for Xenon OEM style conversion is very tempting

[markp306]

Badass.


Can you detail a little the costs and work involved?

I love how clean the beam is and the idea of not ******* about with cleaning jets for Xenon OEM style conversion is very tempting

Mot testing guide suggests you don't have to fit washer jets with HID conversions though. It just says they must work where fitted, ie if fitted. Might be worth validating with someone at a testing station first if you really want Xenon.

http://www.motinfo.gov.uk/htdocs/m4s01000701.htm

[Alex jb]

I'm not bothered about HiD, good quality bulbs in projectors are still way better than stock A4 lights.
My wife's 56 plate Mazda5 has better lighting than my b8 which is a bit embarrassing.


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[Alex jb]

Digging up an old thread I know, but who else has done this projector mod and what did you pay for the kit?

I ask because I am an ing on doing it early in the new year and I have a quote for parts from DDM tuning in USA and even with the $80 shipping their kit is way cheaper than the UK seller above.
Just wanted to know If anyone else has used other kits and what the light output is like.


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[andyam]

Sorry mate missed your previous posts! Costing was over £100 if I remember correctly Trups is the lad you need to speak to. In regards to work involved there is a tutorial available on YouTube only slight difference dis that when taking the bulb cap out the front you need to bend it back and forth as you can't access the screw in them holding it. The shrouds will need to be trimmed down if you get the iris ones which I have. A fair bit needs cutting off

[Alex jb]

Cheers,
The DDM stuff is about $75 + $80 shipping which is still less than the €200 + shipping for the retrofit-lab kit


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[andyam]

Go with Trups mate he is on another forum and will help all the way. Good lad also

[Alex jb]

Ordered my kit from DDM, just over £100, will see what the import duties are.


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[Alex jb]

Got my kit!

DDM fulfilled the order direct from China.
I guess I knew most of this type of stuff comes from there anyway and what it meant is that it incurred no import taxes!
The kit looks good and seems solid.
Once I find donor lights I will start the update.


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[Alex jb]

First donor light found.
Striped of lense and H7 reflector
http://tapatalk.imageshack.com/v2/15/02/02/2ab32a6365fa818c5dcfaa3b5ae2044e.jpg

New projector
http://tapatalk.imageshack.com/v2/15/02/02/15cf5b875c11cb99749923f8b4a87709.jpg

Some fiddling and a bit of material removal from the back of the reflector and the projector fits in the reflector nicely.
http://tapatalk.imageshack.com/v2/15/02/02/cff22bc61647c1f893867fb586e9d161.jpg


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[andyam]

The shroud needs to go on from the back of the projector if you have the Gatling gun ones

[Alex jb]

Seems like a screw is needed through the plate in the projector into the shroud


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[Alex jb]

http://tapatalk.imageshack.com/v2/15/02/03/e29c8eb77e7d7ae01e9fbda703ce22aa.jpg
They slide on then need screws through the steel plate on the projector


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[andylef]

Loving the the build with pics - want to go the same way. Keep them coming and hope you don't have too much hic cups! :aargh4: :biglaugh:

[Alex jb]

Have the projector shroud in place and the LED DRL's in.
http://tapatalk.imageshack.com/v2/15/02/06/cbec16e04eefc21d0a6d6d41814e029e.jpg


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[Alex jb]

Got the back side together with HID in.
http://tapatalk.imageshack.com/v2/15/02/07/c06f70da316a2eed20a174e680b93e60.jpg

Then it was trial fit to the car time
http://tapatalk.imageshack.com/v2/15/02/07/32d37212da6eaa29ccd3843a7a12b5b6.jpg

Turn on fine.
http://tapatalk.imageshack.com/v2/15/02/07/a89c608090ebd163f89710e0ebda1d7b.jpg

After a little rotation the beam pattern looks good.
http://tapatalk.imageshack.com/v2/15/02/07/38b5fe1802a64446d59ecc3fdcbace11.jpg


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[Guest 2]

Impressive, I wouldn't have the patience to do that!

[Alex jb]

I'm too tight to pay £600 for OEM ones Chris!

Kit and shipping was just over £100 and the passenger side spare light to do the first build was £45 from eBay.


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[Alex jb]

New sealant in the groove and she's back in the oven.

http://tapatalk.imageshack.com/v2/15/02/08/f293b44b57d938ad11a29e95c157905c.jpg


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[Alex jb]

Soldered in the high beam shutter solenoid and glued the caps back in over the LED DRLs
http://tapatalk.imageshack.com/v2/15/02/08/f8b7cb562f89cdae2e5f5fa08d30c686.jpg


Got myself another used headlight on eBay yesterday too, so the drivers side process will start shortly also.

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[Alex jb]

The screw blu tac'd in place was just to hold the caps while positioning them.
Now sealed up with butyl sealer, same stuff that seals the lense to the housing.
http://tapatalk.imageshack.com/v2/15/02/09/4c5d2b7bccd276c0b78fa3d5c7425a38.jpg


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[andylef]

Congratulations - it's looking like a brillant piece of DIY - I especially like your heating facility. :biglaugh:

[Alex jb]

Yep, the wife was out so I thought I'd crack on, I made less mess than when she bakes, so shouldn't be an issue when the next headlight arrives!


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[Alex jb]

Drivers side headlight showed up today.
I will have to get up early and have the oven on while the wife's still in bed!
http://tapatalk.imageshack.com/v2/15/02/12/cf7c34cb0a6e28d3d8376ee854c1a61a.jpg


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[Alex jb]

So I looked at what I can get another lot of parts together for and I reckon I could do my spare light set into LED DRL and projector HID dipped for £250, any interest in a set pre-built?
I could just sell my original lights when I take them out, but they already have the LED's and I could build another projector set into them quite quick now.


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[Alex jb]

Significant progress today.

Second lense out and modified to take the projector.
http://tapatalk.imageshack.com/v2/15/02/21/ac1a04b5874b11e4902edc7591e0039d.jpg

Then lock the projector into the reflector and add the HID bulb, ready to thread back throught the headlight.
http://tapatalk.imageshack.com/v2/15/02/21/815302761ec4ad58bb9ecd2c06e1e18f.jpg

Best way to get the extra wire through to the high beam side is with a cable tie.
Wired up ready for soldering.
http://tapatalk.imageshack.com/v2/15/02/21/c20e729c9304c943f7bc26fcb0b44bcf.jpg

Then I went out for the afternoon with the kids.


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[Alex jb]

Had to get it done today though.
Test fit for beam angle, it was very close so adjusted and sealed her up, in the oven, clips back on, LED DRLs in and on the car!

http://tapatalk.imageshack.com/v2/15/02/21/667cfc5ccc05bc9504dfb15feaf55ca2.jpg

http://tapatalk.imageshack.com/v2/15/02/21/9ff11284b024919297bdc69f349054a2.jpg


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[Alex jb]

Flat beam pattern
http://tapatalk.imageshack.com/v2/15/02/21/8db9c9e3d48f5bbd4b6df55215a8a4fd.jpg


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[Alex jb]

OEM+ look?
http://tapatalk.imageshack.com/v2/15/02/22/e058f4c5df9af647af147383afcf0217.jpg


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[sportq]

No screen washers and no auto-leveling? Is that legal? I was watching Wheel Dealers on Quest at the weekend where they did this to a Lexus LS400 and an overlay said that since this was recorded it's now illegal to retrofit HID's to lights that do not have auto-leveling, they didn't mention washers.

I'll be honest, I'm sick of the headaches these retrofitted things induce at night. On my commute home there are two of them going in the opposite direction, a 2004 X-Type and a 2003 Honda Civic, I can pick them out a mile away, really blue light scattering everywhere.

Pete

[andyam]

No screen washers and no auto-leveling? Is that legal? I was watching Wheel Dealers on Quest at the weekend where they did this to a Lexus LS400 and an overlay said that since this was recorded it's now illegal to retrofit HID's to lights that do not have auto-leveling, they didn't mention washers.

I'll be honest, I'm sick of the headaches these retrofitted things induce at night. On my commute home there are two of them going in the opposite direction, a 2004 X-Type and a 2003 Honda Civic, I can pick them out a mile away, really blue light scattering everywhere.

Pete


From what has been read and stated, in England and Wales if they are present they need to be working.

Also with projecters they supply a beam pattern which don't scatter. I also hate what HIDS do without projectors hence why I fitted the projectors. The projectors work brilliantly without blinding on coming drivers...never had any issues also had friends drive towards me with them on and they never complained about the lights blinding or scattering.

IMO cheap and cheerful way for brighter lighting without causing a danger to other drivers.

[Alex jb]

/\
|
This ! [emoji1]


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[Alex jb]

I have a friend at work with an A6 with OEM HID, I'll see tomorrow if I can get home to park next to me facing the unit opposite, I will be surprised if there is enough discernible difference in beam pattern or color to warrant an MOT tester to pick issues with my car.

I had a 1993 LS400 back in 07 and did the £45 HID kit in a glass diffuser lense headlight and the spread was shocking (like that 03 Honda I'm guessing), wasn't even that good for visibility to be honest. I took it out and put Osram night breakers in as even though it passed MOT, I sold the LS to a policeman and he didn't want to be in the grey area.



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[sportq]

I have a friend at work with an A6 with OEM HID, I'll see tomorrow if I can get home to park next to me facing the unit opposite, I will be surprised if there is enough discernible difference in beam pattern or color to warrant an MOT tester to pick issues with my car.

A static test completely ignores the fact you don't have auto-leveling, I've no doubt that side-by-side on level ground they will be indistinguishable. However when you are heading uphill you'll be dazzling oncoming drivers. Manufacturers don't fit the system for giggles. I'd agree the washers are largely pointless though.

Pete

[Alex jb]

Is the tipping point for auto level a type of system or lumens output?
The Osram night breaker (road legal as far as I know) put out a seemingly more powerful and focused beam than an OEM H7 in the halogen set up and they seemed to be lots higher in the sky when I crest a hill on the way home from work.


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[sportq]

Is the tipping point for auto level a type of system or lumens output?
The Osram night breaker (road legal as far as I know) put out a seemingly more powerful and focused beam than an OEM H7 in the halogen set up and they seemed to be lots higher in the sky when I crest a hill on the way home from work.

According to VOSA it's 2000 lumens which even the enhanced legal ones like Osram Night Breakers and Philips Xtreme don't yet exceed (as far as I can find they 1600 lumens).

Peter

[Alex jb]

Well, I am due am MOT in March, maybe I'll keep my other set of headlighs for a month just in case!

One of my bike lights is 1600 lumens, 2000 doesn't sound like a massive amount for a car.
What are the OEM HID's kicking out (with leveling)?


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[Guest 2]

Looks like well put together project, I wouldn't have the patience or skill!

[andyam]

My MOT isn't till August so if it fails will Be taking out the HIDS and out some halogen h1 in will be better lighting with the projectors anyway