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Old 10-25-2012, 08:13 PM
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hid projector retro

I just got the stuff in the mail this afternoon. I should be done (at least enough for pictures) this weekend, but heres something to look at in the meantime

morimoto d2s projectors/ballasts/5000k

lowbeam output from one headlight:
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without the clear lens
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with lens
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Old 10-25-2012, 08:47 PM
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You would've been much happier with the H1s but they look good. The D2S' are still a great improvement over stock.
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Old 10-25-2012, 09:38 PM
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Originally Posted by DMad8724
I just got the stuff in the mail this afternoon. I should be done (at least enough for pictures) this weekend, but heres something to look at in the meantime

morimoto d2s projectors/ballasts/5000k

lowbeam output from one headlight:


without the clear lens


with lens
Not bad.
Originally Posted by ChrisMan287
You would've been much happier with the H1s but they look good. The D2S' are still a great improvement over stock.
Your 4G retro's are one of my favorites on any/all makes/models.
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Old 10-25-2012, 09:42 PM
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Originally Posted by shiloh51933
Your 4G retro's are one of my favorites on any/all makes/models.
Thank you sir
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Old 10-27-2012, 06:05 AM
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Yeah, after I ordered the D2S I keep finding evidence they werent as good as the H1s, I figure if I upgrade projectors maybe I can still use the ballasts and harness.

I went with the D2S because of the 35mm threaded ring, which fits perfect in the back of this housing, with a small amount of shaving

Got it all wired up last night and put the driver headlight in. Today I have to find a good way to mount the ballasts/control box and they should be done tonight.

difference from stock
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close up
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Old 10-27-2012, 06:16 AM
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I really envy your clear glass lenses. I'm afraid I won't be able to find any to re-do my BMW conversion in glass
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Old 10-27-2012, 07:50 AM
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The clear glass is/was the only good thing about those headlights

I was skeptical of using the aftermarket housing/bracket. And now I know why

comparing it when installed, to my 92 still in the driveway, it sticks out further,
the corner light wont even mount right (if its in the balljoint it wont meet flush at the back of the corner light) and the screw hole for the corner light isnt even close. I had to take the balljoint off to get the corner light to even sit right; and now it sits flush with the rubber under the headlight which it isnt supposed to do (at the front anyway)

now im thinking im going to have to mount this in a stock unit then paint/add clear cover

what a PITA
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Old 10-27-2012, 12:46 PM
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Alright, as far as Im concerned the housing/bracket that came with these clear glass lens are garbage. They're pretty close to the stock one but not close enough...the problem is with fitting the corner light.

So, since I only had the driver one done, I put the passenger one together this morning, this time in a stock 3G housing/bracket.

some pictures showing perfect fitment
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difference between black and chrome housings
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Old 10-27-2012, 08:10 PM
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Originally Posted by DMad8724
Yeah, after I ordered the D2S I keep finding evidence they werent as good as the H1s, I figure if I upgrade projectors maybe I can still use the ballasts and harness.

I went with the D2S because of the 35mm threaded ring, which fits perfect in the back of this housing, with a small amount of shaving

Got it all wired up last night and put the driver headlight in. Today I have to find a good way to mount the ballasts/control box and they should be done tonight.

difference from stock


close up
Good look! Is that a halo I see around it? I'm still trying to decide how I wanna mod my clears; but from what I've seen so far I'm thinking E36 lenses with projectors, I think I'll also go with a brow some how, on my clears.
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Old 10-27-2012, 09:05 PM
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Originally Posted by londonflu
Good look! Is that a halo I see around it? I'm still trying to decide how I wanna mod my clears; but from what I've seen so far I'm thinking E36 lenses with projectors, I think I'll also go with a brow some how, on my clears.
Nope, No halos here. I was thinking I would need some LEDs inside the housing (test fitted some) so that all the light wouldnt be just from the projector. Well the projector itself sits pretty far back in the housing so it illuminates it pretty well.

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I put e36 projectors in one of my old 3Gs. I would not recommend it. At all. At this point id like to say that I do myself prefer the double circle look of the bmw lights. But, compared to what I just did now with the clears. Its pretty much plug and play. I made the hole in the back of the stock headlight 7mm larger and popped the projector in. ran the wiring and stuff and thats about it.

the e36 conversion on the other hand you're going to be cutting and bending your radiator support. However you feel about that. Plus countless hours of whatever youll have to custom fab the housing. then your adding the glass and thats gotta be just right. Honestly if you're going to bother doing all that custom work I would look into HID projectors that arent as easy to install as mine. Even if you install e36 projectors (they're only halogen projectors, not HID, unless you upgrade) you're still not gonna have output comparable to this

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the driver headlight is aimed way too far to the right in this picture

Last edited by DMad8724; 10-27-2012 at 09:21 PM.
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Old 10-27-2012, 09:20 PM
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i would def sport that max if i had those lights!! sharp!!!
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Old 10-27-2012, 09:52 PM
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Originally Posted by DMad8724
Nope, No halos here. I was thinking I would need some LEDs inside the housing (test fitted some) so that all the light wouldnt be just from the projector. Well the projector itself sits pretty far back in the housing so it illuminates it pretty well.



I put e36 projectors in one of my old 3Gs. I would not recommend it. At all. At this point id like to say that I do myself prefer the double circle look of the bmw lights. But, compared to what I just did now with the clears. Its pretty much plug and play. I made the hole in the back of the stock headlight 7mm larger and popped the projector in. ran the wiring and stuff and thats about it.

the e36 conversion on the other hand you're going to be cutting and bending your radiator support. However you feel about that. Plus countless hours of whatever youll have to custom fab the housing. then your adding the glass and thats gotta be just right. Honestly if you're going to bother doing all that custom work I would look into HID projectors that arent as easy to install as mine. Even if you install e36 projectors (they're only halogen projectors, not HID, unless you upgrade) you're still not gonna have output comparable to this


the driver headlight is aimed way too far to the right in this picture
Point well taken; wasn't thinking about all the work that goes into it. Did you use a drummel tool to shave? And where did you come up with the 7mm?
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Old 10-28-2012, 07:13 AM
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Originally Posted by max ride 41
i would def sport that max if i had those lights!! sharp!!!
I <3 when newer maxima owners can stop and give props to a 3G thanks man

London: The hole that the stock 9004 bulb sits in, minus the little tabs that hold it, is 28MM. The Morimoto Unit I used (morimotos are "easy to install") has a 35MM back. So I used a dremel tip on my drill to make it larger, then the Projector fell right in. Screwed on the securing/locking rings and I've got what you see here. Although I wouldnt recommend the D2S projectors, go MH1 if you're going Morimoto (it has a smaller back, like 19mm but with the including hardware it should still work in this housing.

But if you'd like better output than what I'm working with then you should look into other projectors. the retrofit source has all kinds and thats where I got all this stuff.
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Old 10-28-2012, 08:49 AM
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I know I'm familiar with them they're here in Atlanta I will consult with them. Thanks D
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Old 10-28-2012, 09:01 AM
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I know I'm familiar with them they're here in Atlanta.
When I contacted them a couple of weeks ago they suggested to setup:

http://www.theretrofitsource.com/pro...roducts_id=227


I will consult with them further. Thanks D
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Old 10-28-2012, 09:30 AM
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Originally Posted by DMad8724
Alright, as far as Im concerned the housing/bracket that came with these clear glass lens are garbage. They're pretty close to the stock one but not close enough...the problem is with fitting the corner light.

So, since I only had the driver one done, I put the passenger one together this morning, this time in a stock 3G housing/bracket.

some pictures showing perfect fitment








difference between black and chrome housings


I swapped the clear lense assembly into the oem housing bracket for same reason.
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Old 10-29-2012, 08:52 AM
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Originally Posted by DMad8724


But if you'd like better output than what I'm working with then you should look into other projectors. the retrofit source has all kinds and thats where I got all this stuff.
I'm getting ready to retro fit my 5thgen('99)Lude with morimoto H1 with gatling shrouds and after seeing your 3gmax I think I might copp some for my 3rdgen. I was going to retro fit some E-36 projectors into my clear 3rdgen lenses because I like the look of the separate high beams but I might just go with the simplicity of the single bi-xenon h1 morimotos. You've been putting in that wrench time with your SE and I'm feeling it. Mine is coming along slowly but I haven't given up on the dream in my head. Keep up the good work brother!!
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Old 12-08-2012, 07:16 AM
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I have changed both of the headlights over to stock, all chrome housings, but I dont have any pictures with the car like that, and now Ive painted one of my headlight housings, and Ive got some better pictures

with the housings being all chrome, they tend to stick out a little too much, in certain lighting especially. I also wanted it to look more like an e36 conversion, but I didnt want it to neccessarily be flat or satin black, either. some threads on hidplanet referred to a product called Tamiya "smoke". Its a tint spray similar to nightshades but apparently lays down smoother. I bought two 6.oz cans hoping to achieve a 'black chrome' look. The stuff layed down incredibly well, used about 6 coats (almost an entire can) or so when I decided to stop and heres what I ended up with

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compared to the driver side which is still all chrome

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Old 12-08-2012, 09:39 AM
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looks good. what corner lights do you have? UKs? tinted regular clears?
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Old 12-08-2012, 10:51 AM
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These are the uks. The passenger light is missing the reflector so I can use the 194 bulb as well. The driver light looks lighter because of the sun hitting it, but it's also slightly not as dark as the pAss light. This one came from brads ve that he rolled
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