HID retro?
Pole Position
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 380
Likes: 1
From: usa
no i hear ya on the hid being better setup for sure but i was just curious of the oem headlamps are underpaowered compared to other cars cuz it seems like my jeep is brighter than the gx470 comparing halogen to halogen... much much brighter
Thread Starter
Lexus Champion
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 1,812
Likes: 14
From: ★ᚱᚱ²²★
Are youre headlight lenses faded from sun damage? If so thats your problem, if not I dont know what to tell you. My headlights are decent in the rain at night. Maybe youre use to your Jeeps scatter light in the reflector as opposed to a more concentrated beam from the projector.
Lead Lap
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 684
Likes: 5
From: In the garage...
The halogens are certainly weaker than HIDs but should be closer to underwhelming not dangerous on the spectrum. You should check the alignment of your lights... Lexus' are notoriously aimed nanny state low... along the lines of the ridiculous "I Agree" for Nav. I've had a trifecta of low headlight alignment on my GX, GS and RX. I understand a "lower than normal" aim on HIDs but on halogens? Please...
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 1,213
Likes: 67
From: EARTH
No matter what mod you do on the OEM halogen projectors, they will not be good enough, becoz the lens are just Fresnel lens or call them Frosted lens. The lens plays a important role in the output of the light. The focal length output of the light is shorter than the aperture, a bit spherical. And the light output is dull. i guess it is like a camera.. based on what type of lens you are using will determine whether u get good upclose/far pics.Once you replace the lens to a clear lens, there is dramatic change to the output. These can be modded even more when you add Single or Double washer. Here are the image prior to the change and once the change is done a clear lens and the one I used was TSX clear lens, which is leader is Light Output.
1. The First Image is GX Pre-Mod with OEM Fresnel Lens at 5 ft away
2. The Second Image is GX Premod with OEM Fresnel Lens at 25 Feet away. Note the Spherical way the lite output deviates.
3. The Third Image the Projectors removed.
4. Both the Lens ( the left is Fresnel and the Rite one is TSX Clear lens up close.
5. The Outputs after Retro done.
Bulb Used was Philips 85122 D2S type, I replaced the Projector (LS430) for the Xenon Bulb housing reasons.
1. The First Image is GX Pre-Mod with OEM Fresnel Lens at 5 ft away
2. The Second Image is GX Premod with OEM Fresnel Lens at 25 Feet away. Note the Spherical way the lite output deviates.
3. The Third Image the Projectors removed.
4. Both the Lens ( the left is Fresnel and the Rite one is TSX Clear lens up close.
5. The Outputs after Retro done.
Bulb Used was Philips 85122 D2S type, I replaced the Projector (LS430) for the Xenon Bulb housing reasons.
Lead Lap
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 665
Likes: 9
From: NW
Cool to see how the DIY auto lighting fanatics are doing it.
Thread Starter
Lexus Champion
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 1,812
Likes: 14
From: ★ᚱᚱ²²★
Driver School Candidate
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 24
Likes: 0
From: UT
Looks good... I'm planning on doing a clear lens swap and removing squirrel finder tab and covering the squirrel finder hole then painting the beam cutoff black. I'd like to do a projector retro fit but the safety and emission folks would fail me, I need to be able to swap in the H11 halogen to pass safety. I will try to get some pics up after I'm done.
Thread Starter
Lexus Champion
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 1,812
Likes: 14
From: ★ᚱᚱ²²★
Pics added to my original post.
You should just throw a HID kit in there and call it a day.
I wouldn't mess w/ the squirrel finders if I were you. I've done it before on my MDX's H11 projectors and honestly there's no significant benefit. By covering them up you won't be able to see street signs very well. Even HID projectors have light bleed above the cutoff a little so drivers can see street signs at night. Painting the shields will help in reducing glare but again, it's so minimal it's not even worth the trouble.
I personally wouldn't mess w/ them but if you do make sure you get some extra sealant (butyl) for when you seal the headlights back up. It's not necessary but it's added insurance. The last thing you want is to remove your bumper and headlights a month down the road due to some condensation inside of them. You can use the 3M window stuff or the Nissan butyl. I've always used the Nissan butyl.
Why would they fail you? I've never had an inspection shop physically check the bulbs? Do they do that in UT? All they've ever made me do it turn the low / high beams on to make sure they're working.
I live in Florida now and we don't have any inspection or emission testing so nothing is off limits here.
I wouldn't mess w/ the squirrel finders if I were you. I've done it before on my MDX's H11 projectors and honestly there's no significant benefit. By covering them up you won't be able to see street signs very well. Even HID projectors have light bleed above the cutoff a little so drivers can see street signs at night. Painting the shields will help in reducing glare but again, it's so minimal it's not even worth the trouble.
I personally wouldn't mess w/ them but if you do make sure you get some extra sealant (butyl) for when you seal the headlights back up. It's not necessary but it's added insurance. The last thing you want is to remove your bumper and headlights a month down the road due to some condensation inside of them. You can use the 3M window stuff or the Nissan butyl. I've always used the Nissan butyl.
I live in Florida now and we don't have any inspection or emission testing so nothing is off limits here.